As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 2014

File No. 001-36285

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Amendment No. 4 to

Form 10

GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

Pursuant to Section 12(b) or (g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

  

46-4559529

(I.R.S. employer
Identification number)

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, Florida

(Address of principal executive offices)

  

32207

(Zip Code)

904-357-4600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act

 

Title of Each Class to be so Registered

  

Name of Each Exchange on which Each Class is to be
Registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

   New York Stock Exchange

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  ¨

   Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  x

   Smaller reporting company  ¨


RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET BETWEEN INFORMATION STATEMENT

AND ITEMS OF FORM 10

Certain information required to be included herein is incorporated by reference to specifically identified portions of the body of the information statement filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1. None of the information contained in the information statement shall be incorporated by reference herein or deemed to be a part hereof unless such information is specifically incorporated by reference.

 

Item 1. Business .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Information Statement Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business,” “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions,” and “Where You Can Find More Information.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Risk Factors.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2. Financial Information .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements,” “Selected Historical Combined Financial Data of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3. Properties .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Business.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 4. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5. Directors and Executive Officers .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Management.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 6. Executive Compensation .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and “Executive Compensation.” These sections are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 7. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Management” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 8. Legal Proceedings .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Business—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Market Price of, and Dividends on, the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Dividend Policy,” “Capitalization,” “The Separation and Distribution,” and “Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 10. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Description of Material Indebtedness” and “Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock—Sale of Unregistered Securities.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 11. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered .

The information required by this item is contained under the sections of the information statement entitled “Dividend Policy,” “The Separation and Distribution,” and “Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock.” Those sections are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12. Indemnification of Directors and Officers .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock—Limitations on Liability, Indemnification of Officers and Directors, and Insurance.” That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 13. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data .

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” and the financial statements referenced therein. That section is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure .

None.

 

Item 15. Financial Statements and Exhibits .

 

(a) Financial Statements and Schedule

The information required by this item is contained under the section of the information statement entitled “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” and the financial statements and schedule referenced therein. That section is incorporated herein by reference. All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

 

(b) Exhibits

See below.


The following documents are filed as exhibits hereto:

 

   Exhibit
  Number
   Exhibit Description
  2.1    Separation and Distribution Agreement by and between Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. dated as of May 28, 2014*†
  3.1    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (f/k/a Rayonier Holding Company)**
  3.2    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (f/k/a Rayonier Holding Company)**
  4.1    Indenture among Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., the guarantors party thereto from time to time and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, dated as of May 22, 2014*
  10.1    Form of Transition Services Agreement by and between Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.*
  10.2    Form of Tax Matters Agreement by and between Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (f/k/a Rayonier Holding Company)**
  10.3    Form of Employee Matters Agreement by and between Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.*
  10.4    Form of Intellectual Property Agreement by and between Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.*
  10.5    Form of Indemnification Agreement between Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. and individual directors or officers*
  10.6    Agreement between Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. and Paul G. Boynton Regarding Special Stock Grant, dated May 28, 2014*
  10.7    Chemical Cellulose Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2012, by and between Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC and Eastman Chemical Company*††
  10.8    Amendment to Chemical Cellulose Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2012, by and between Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC and Eastman Chemical Company*††
  10.9    Cellulose Specialties Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2012, by and between Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC and Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co., Ltd.*††
  10.10    Amendment No. 1 to Cellulose Specialties Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2012, by and between Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC and Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co., Ltd.*††
  10.11    Amended and Restated Cellulose Specialties Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2012, by and between Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC and Daicel Corporation*††
  10.12    Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Cellulose Specialties Agreement, effective as of February 15, 2013, by and between Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC and Daicel Corporation*††
  10.13    Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Incentive Stock Plan*
  10.14    Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Non-Equity Incentive Plan*
  10.15    Form of Transaction Bonus Agreement and Schedule of Executive Officer Transaction Bonus Amounts**
  21.1    List of subsidiaries**
  99.1    Information Statement of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., preliminary and subject to completion, dated May 29, 2014*

 

* Filed herewith.

 

** Previously filed.

 

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted. The registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any omitted schedule or similar attachment to the SEC upon request.

 

†† Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

By:

 

/s/ PAUL G. BOYNTON

  Name: Paul G. Boynton
  Title: Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: May 29, 2014

Exhibit 2.1

SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

RAYONIER INC.

AND

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

DATED AS OF MAY 28, 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     2   

ARTICLE II THE SEPARATION

     12   

2.1

   Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities      12   

2.2

   SpinCo Assets; Rayonier Assets      15   

2.3

   SpinCo Liabilities; Rayonier Liabilities      16   

2.4

   Approvals and Notifications      18   

2.5

   Novation of Liabilities      21   

2.6

   Release of Guarantees      22   

2.7

   Termination of Agreements      23   

2.8

   Treatment of Shared Contracts      24   

2.9

   Bank Accounts; Cash Balances      25   

2.10

   Ancillary Agreements      26   

2.11

   Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties      26   

2.12

   SpinCo Financing Arrangements; Cash Transfers      26   

2.13

   Financial Information Certifications      27   

2.14

   Transition Committee      27   

ARTICLE III THE DISTRIBUTION

     28   

3.1

   Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation      28   

3.2

   Actions Prior to the Distribution      28   

3.3

   Conditions to the Distribution      29   

3.4

   The Distribution      31   

ARTICLE IV MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

     32   

4.1

   Release of Pre-Distribution Claims      32   

4.2

   Indemnification by SpinCo      34   

4.3

   Indemnification by Rayonier      35   

4.4

   Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts      36   

4.5

   Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims      36   

4.6

   Additional Matters      39   

4.7

   Right of Contribution      40   

4.8

   Covenant Not to Sue      40   

4.9

   Remedies Cumulative      41   

4.10

   Survival of Indemnities      41   

ARTICLE V CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

     41   

5.1

   Insurance Matters      41   

5.2

   Late Payments      43   

5.3

   Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes      44   

5.4

   Inducement      44   

5.5

   Post-Effective Time Conduct      44   

 

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ARTICLE VI EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

     44   

6.1

   Agreement for Exchange of Information      44   

6.2

   Ownership of Information      45   

6.3

   Compensation for Providing Information      45   

6.4

   Record Retention      45   

6.5

   Limitations of Liability      46   

6.6

   Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information      46   

6.7

   Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation      46   

6.8

   Privileged Matters      47   

6.9

   Confidentiality      49   

6.10

   Protective Arrangements      50   

ARTICLE VII DISPUTE RESOLUTION

     51   

7.1

   Good-Faith Negotiation      51   

7.2

   Mediation      51   

7.3

   Arbitration      52   

7.4

   Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration      53   

7.5

   Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process      53   

ARTICLE VIII FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

     53   

8.1

   Further Assurances      53   

8.2

   Wayne County Loan Agreement      54   

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION

     55   

9.1

   Termination      55   

9.2

   Effect of Termination      55   

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

     55   

10.1

   Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power      55   

10.2

   Governing Law      56   

10.3

   Assignability      56   

10.4

   Third-Party Beneficiaries      57   

10.5

   Notices      57   

10.6

   Severability      58   

10.7

   Force Majeure      58   

10.8

   No Set-Off      59   

10.9

   Publicity      59   

10.10

   Expenses      59   

10.11

   Headings      59   

10.12

   Survival of Covenants      59   

10.13

   Waivers of Default      59   

10.14

   Specific Performance      60   

10.15

   Amendments      60   

10.16

   Interpretation      60   

10.17

   Limitations of Liability      60   

10.18

   Performance      61   

10.19

   Mutual Drafting      61   

 

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SCHEDULES

 

Schedule 1.2    SpinCo Discontinued or Divested Businesses
Schedule 1.3    SpinCo Contracts
Schedule 1.4    SpinCo Intellectual Property
Schedule 1.5    Transferred Entities
Schedule 2.1(a)    Plan of Reorganization
Schedule 2.2(a)(x)    SpinCo Assets
Schedule 2.2(b)(iii)    Rayonier Intellectual Property
Schedule 2.2(b)(v)    Rayonier Assets
Schedule 2.3(a)    SpinCo Liabilities
Schedule 2.3(b)    Rayonier Liabilities
Schedule 2.5(a)    Novation of SpinCo Liabilities
Schedule 2.7(b)(ii)    Intercompany Agreements
Schedule 4.3(e)    Specified Rayonier Information
Schedule 10.10    Allocation of Certain Costs and Expenses

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
Exhibit B    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

 

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SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of May 28, 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“ Rayonier ”), and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ SpinCo ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article I .

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Rayonier (the “ Rayonier Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of Rayonier and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the SpinCo Business;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Rayonier Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the SpinCo Business from the Rayonier Business (the “ Separation ”) and, following the Separation, make a distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of Rayonier Shares on the Record Date of all the outstanding SpinCo Shares owned by Rayonier (the “ Distribution ”);

WHEREAS, SpinCo has been incorporated solely for these purposes and has not engaged in activities except in preparation for the Separation and the Distribution;

WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the contribution by Rayonier of the SpinCo Assets and the SpinCo Liabilities to SpinCo (the “ Contribution ”) and the Distribution, taken together, are intended to qualify as a transaction that is tax-free under Section 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;

WHEREAS, Rayonier expects to receive a private letter ruling from IRS substantially to the effect that, among other things, the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code (the “ IRS Ruling ”);

WHEREAS, SpinCo and Rayonier have prepared, and SpinCo has filed with the SEC, the Form 10, which includes the Information Statement, and which sets forth disclosure concerning SpinCo, the Separation and the Distribution; and

WHEREAS, each of Rayonier and SpinCo has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Separation and the Distribution and certain other agreements that will govern certain matters relating to the Separation and the Distribution and the relationship of Rayonier, SpinCo and the members of their respective Groups following the Distribution.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Action ” shall mean any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.

Affiliate ” shall mean, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purpose of this definition, “ control ” (including with correlative meanings, “ controlled by ” and “ under common control with ”), when used with respect to any specified Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise. It is expressly agreed that, prior to, at and after the Effective Time, for purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, (a) no member of the SpinCo Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the Rayonier Group and (b) no member of the Rayonier Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the SpinCo Group.

Agent ” shall mean the trust company or bank duly appointed by Rayonier to act as distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the SpinCo Shares in connection with the Distribution.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Ancillary Agreement ” shall mean all agreements (other than this Agreement) entered into by the Parties or the members of their respective Groups (but as to which no Third Party is a party) in connection with the Separation, the Distribution, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement, the Intellectual Property Agreement, the Sublease Agreement and the Transfer Documents.

Approvals or Notifications ” shall mean any consents, waivers, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, notices, registrations or reports to be submitted to, or other filings to be made with, any third Person, including any Governmental Authority.

Arbitration Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a) .

Assets ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the assets, properties, claims and rights (including goodwill) of such Person, wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other third Persons or elsewhere), of every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent, in each case whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial

 

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statements of such Person, including rights and benefits pursuant to any contract, license, permit, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, agreement, concession, franchise, instrument, undertaking, commitment, understanding or other arrangement.

Cash Transfers ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12 .

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Contribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

CPR ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 .

Delayed Rayonier Asset ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(h) .

Delayed Rayonier Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(h) .

Delayed SpinCo Asset ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c) .

Delayed SpinCo Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c) .

Disclosure Document ” shall mean any registration statement (including the Form 10) filed with the SEC by or on behalf of any Party or any member of its Group, and also includes any information statement (including the Information Statement), prospectus, offering memorandum, offering circular, periodic report or similar disclosure document, whether or not filed with the SEC or any other Governmental Authority, in each case which describes the Separation or the Distribution or the SpinCo Group or primarily relates to the transactions contemplated hereby.

Dispute ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Distribution Date ” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the Rayonier Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

Distribution Ratio ” shall mean a number equal to one divided by three.

Effective Time ” shall mean 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Date.

Employee Matters Agreement ” shall mean the Employee Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or the members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Environmental Law ” shall mean any Law relating to pollution, protection or restoration of or prevention of harm to the environment or natural resources, including the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, Release or discharge of Hazardous Materials or the protection of or prevention of harm to human health and safety.

 

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Environmental Liabilities ” shall mean all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from any Hazardous Materials, Environmental Law or contract or agreement relating to environmental, health or safety matters (including all removal, remediation or cleanup costs, investigatory costs, response costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injury damages, costs of compliance with any product take back requirements or with any settlement, judgment or other determination of Liability and indemnity, contribution or similar obligations) and all costs and expenses, interest, fines, penalties or other monetary sanctions in connection therewith.

Exchange Act ” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

First Cash Transfer ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .

First SpinCo Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .

Force Majeure ” shall mean, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the control of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf), which event (a) does not arise or result from the fault or negligence of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf) and (b) by its nature would not reasonably have been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it would reasonably have been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes, epidemics, war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor problems or unavailability of parts, or, in the case of computer systems, any failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other acquisition proposal, even if unforeseen or unavoidable, and such Party’s response thereto shall not be deemed an event of Force Majeure .

Form 10 ” shall mean the registration statement on Form 10 filed by SpinCo with the SEC to effect the registration of SpinCo Shares pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the Distribution, as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Distribution.

Governmental Approvals ” shall mean any Approvals or Notifications to be made to, or obtained from, any Governmental Authority.

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

Group ” shall mean either the SpinCo Group or the Rayonier Group, as the context requires.

Hazardous Materials ” shall mean any chemical, material, substance, waste, pollutant, emission, discharge, release or contaminant that could result in Liability under, or that

 

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is prohibited, limited or regulated by or pursuant to, any Environmental Law, and any natural or artificial substance (whether solid, liquid or gas, noise, ion, vapor or electromagnetic) that could cause harm to human health or the environment, including petroleum, petroleum products and byproducts, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, electronic, medical or infectious wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, radioactive substances, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances.

Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a) .

Indemnitee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a) .

Indemnity Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a) .

Information ” shall mean information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names, communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data; provided that “Information” shall not include Registrable IP.

Information Statement ” shall mean the information statement to be sent to the holders of Rayonier Shares in connection with the Distribution, as such information statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time prior to the Distribution.

Initial Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

Insurance Proceeds ” shall mean those monies:

(a) received by an insured from an insurance carrier; or

(b) paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured;

in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments) and net of any costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof; provided , however , with respect to a captive insurance arrangement, Insurance Proceeds shall only include amounts received by the captive insurer in respect of any reinsurance arrangement.

Intellectual Property ” shall mean all of the following whether arising under the Laws of the United States or of any other foreign or multinational jurisdiction: (a) patents, patent applications (including patents issued thereon) and statutory invention registrations, including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions, renewals, extensions and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, and all rights in any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names,

 

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service names, trade dress, logos and other source or business identifiers, including all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and any and all common law rights in and to any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, and all reissues, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, (c) Internet domain names, registrations and related rights, (d) copyrightable works, copyrights, moral rights, mask work rights, database rights and design rights, in each case, other than Software, whether or not registered, and all registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, and all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, (e) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, invention disclosures, processes and know-how, in each case, other than Software, and (f) intellectual property rights arising from or in respect of any Technology.

Intellectual Property Agreement ” shall mean the Intellectual Property Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

IRS ” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

IRS Ruling ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Law ” shall mean any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any income tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

Liabilities ” shall mean all debts, guarantees, assurances, commitments, liabilities, responsibilities, Losses, remediation, deficiencies, damages, fines, penalties, settlements, sanctions, costs, expenses, interest and obligations of any nature or kind, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, claim (including any Third-Party Claim), demand, Action, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment or undertaking, or any fines, damages or equitable relief that is imposed, in each case, including all costs and expenses relating thereto.

Linked ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

Losses ” shall mean actual losses (including any diminution in value), costs, damages, penalties and expenses (including legal and accounting fees and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim.

Mediation Request ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2 .

 

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NYSE ” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

Other IP ” shall mean all Intellectual Property, other than Registrable IP, that is owned by either Party or any member of its Group as of the Effective Time.

Parties ” shall mean the parties to this Agreement.

Permits ” means permits, approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses or certificates issued by any Governmental Authority.

Person ” shall mean an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

Plan of Reorganization ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) .

Prime Rate ” means the rate that Bloomberg displays as “Prime Rate by Country United States” at  www.bloomberg.com/markets/rates-bonds/key-rates/ or on a Bloomberg terminal at PRIMBB Index.

Privileged Information ” means any information, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, including any communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memoranda and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), as to which a Party or any member of its Group would be entitled to assert or have asserted a privilege, including the attorney-client and attorney work product privileges.

Project ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.2 .

Rayonier ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Rayonier Accounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

Rayonier Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) .

Rayonier Board ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Rayonier Business ” shall mean all businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any member of its Group, other than the SpinCo Business.

Rayonier Group ” shall mean Rayonier and each Person that is a Subsidiary of Rayonier (other than SpinCo and any other member of the SpinCo Group).

Rayonier Indemnitees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 .

 

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Rayonier Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b) .

Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks ” shall mean the names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers of either Party or any member of its Group using or containing “RAYONIER”, either alone or in combination with other words or elements, and all names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers confusingly similar to or embodying any of the foregoing either alone or in combination with other words or elements, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing.

Rayonier Shares ” shall mean the common shares of Rayonier.

Record Date ” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the Rayonier Board as the record date for determining holders of Rayonier Shares entitled to receive SpinCo Shares pursuant to the Distribution.

Record Holders ” shall mean the holders of record of Rayonier Shares as of the Record Date.

Registrable IP ” shall mean all patents, patent applications, statutory invention registrations, registered trademarks, registered service marks, registered Internet domain names and copyright registrations.

Release ” shall mean any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, injection, deposit, disposal, dispersal, leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into the environment (including, ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata).

Representatives ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys or other representatives.

SEC ” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Second Cash Transfer ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .

Second SpinCo Borrowing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .

Security Interest ” shall mean any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

Separation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Shared Contract ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(a) .

 

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Software ” shall mean any and all (a) computer programs, including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form, (b) databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (c) descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, (d) screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons and (e) documentation, including user manuals and other training documentation, relating to any of the foregoing.

Sublease Agreement ” shall mean the Sublease Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or the members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

SpinCo ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

SpinCo Accounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

SpinCo Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) .

SpinCo Balance Sheet ” shall mean the pro forma combined balance sheet of the SpinCo Business, including any notes and subledgers thereto, as of March 31, 2014, as presented in the Information Statement mailed to the Record Holders.

SpinCo Business ” shall mean (a) the business, operations and activities of the Performance Fibers segment of Rayonier conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by either Party or any of their current or former Subsidiaries and (b) any terminated, divested or discontinued businesses, operations and activities that, at the time of termination, divestiture or discontinuation, primarily related to the business, operations or activities described in clause (a) as then conducted, including those set forth on Schedule 1.2 .

SpinCo Bylaws ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Bylaws of SpinCo, substantially in the form of Exhibit B .

SpinCo Certificate of Incorporation ” shall mean the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SpinCo, substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

SpinCo Contracts ” shall mean the following contracts and agreements to which either Party or any member of its Group is a party or by which it or any member of its Group or any of their respective Assets is bound, whether or not in writing; provided that SpinCo Contracts shall not include (x) any contract or agreement that is contemplated to be retained by

 

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Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group from and after the Effective Time pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or (y) any contract or agreement that would constitute SpinCo Software or SpinCo Technology:

(a) any vendor contracts or agreements with a Third Party pursuant to which such Third Party provides information technology, human resources or financial services to either Party or any member of its Group primarily used or primarily held for use in the SpinCo Business as of the Effective Time;

(b) other than any vendor contracts or agreements with a Third Party pursuant to which such Third Party provides information technology, human resources or financial services to either Party or any member of its Group (which contracts and agreements are addressed in clause (a) above to the extent that they shall constitute a SpinCo Contract), (i) any customer, distribution, supply or vendor contract or agreement entered into prior to the Effective Time exclusively related to the SpinCo Business and (ii) with respect to any customer, distribution, supply or vendor contract or agreement entered into prior to the Effective Time that relates to the SpinCo Business but is not exclusively related to the SpinCo Business, that portion of any such customer, distribution, supply or vendor contract or agreement that relates to the SpinCo Business;

(c) other than any vendor contracts or agreements with a Third Party pursuant to which such Third Party provides information technology, human resources or financial services to either Party or any member of its Group (which contracts and agreements are addressed in clause (a) above to the extent that they shall constitute a SpinCo Contract), (i) any license entered into prior to the Effective Time exclusively related to the SpinCo Business and (ii) with respect to any license agreement entered into prior to the Effective Time that relates to the SpinCo Business but is not exclusively related to the SpinCo Business, that portion of any such license agreement that relates to the SpinCo Business;

(d) any guarantee, indemnity, representation, covenant, warranty or other Liability of either Party or any member of its Group in respect of any other SpinCo Contract, any SpinCo Liability or the SpinCo Business;

(e) any employment, change of control, retention, consulting, indemnification, termination, severance or other similar agreements with any SpinCo Group Employee or consultants of the SpinCo Group that are in effect as of the Effective Time;

(f) any contract or agreement that is otherwise expressly contemplated pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to be assigned to SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group;

(g) any interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements related exclusively to the SpinCo Business or entered into by or on behalf of any division, business unit or member of the SpinCo Group; and

(h) any contracts, agreements or settlements listed on Schedule 1.3 , including the right to recover any amounts under such contracts, agreements or settlements.

 

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SpinCo Designees ” shall mean any and all entities (including corporations, general or limited partnerships, trusts, joint ventures, unincorporated organizations, limited liability entities or other entities) designated by SpinCo that will be members of the SpinCo Group as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

SpinCo Financing Arrangements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .

SpinCo Group ” shall mean (a) prior to the Effective Time, SpinCo and each Person that will be a Subsidiary of SpinCo as of immediately after the Effective Time, including the Transferred Entities, even if, prior to the Effective Time, such Person is not a Subsidiary of SpinCo; and (b) on and after the Effective Time, SpinCo and each Person that is a Subsidiary of SpinCo.

SpinCo Indemnitees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 .

SpinCo Intellectual Property ” shall mean (a) the Registrable IP set forth on Schedule 1.4 and (b) all Other IP owned by, licensed by or to, or sublicensed by or to either Party or any member of its Group as of the Effective Time primarily used or primarily held for use in the SpinCo Business, including any Other IP set forth on Schedule 1.4 .

SpinCo Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) .

SpinCo Permits ” shall mean all Permits owned or licensed by either Party or member of its Group primarily used or primarily held for use in the SpinCo Business as of the Effective Time.

SpinCo Shares ” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of SpinCo.

SpinCo Software ” shall mean all Software owned or licensed by either Party or member of its Group primarily used or primarily held for use in the SpinCo Business as of the Effective Time.

SpinCo Technology ” shall mean all Technology owned or licensed by either Party or any member of its Group primarily used or primarily held for use in the SpinCo Business as of the Effective Time.

Tangible Information ” means information that is contained in written, electronic or other tangible forms.

Tax Matters Agreement ” shall mean the Tax Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Tax Return ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

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Tax ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

Technology ” shall mean all technology, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, discoveries, processes, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development, technical data, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship in any media, confidential, proprietary or nonpublic information, and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses and other writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing in any form whether or not listed herein, in each case, other than Software.

Third Party ” means any Person other than the Parties or any members of their respective Groups.

Third-Party Claim ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a) .

Transfer Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) .

Transferred Entities ” shall mean the entities set forth on Schedule 1.5 .

Transition Committee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.14 .

Transition Services Agreement ” shall mean the Transition Services Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or any members of their respective Groups in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Unreleased SpinCo Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a)(ii) .

Unreleased Rayonier Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii) .

Wayne County Bonds ” shall mean the $15,000,000 principal amount of Wayne County Tax Exempt Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds, Series 2000, floating interest rate, of Rayonier, due May 1, 2020.

Wayne County Loan Agreement ” shall mean the Loan Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2000, between Wayne County Industrial Development Authority and Rayonier.

ARTICLE II

THE SEPARATION

2.1 Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities .

(a) On or prior to the Effective Time, but in any case, prior to the Distribution, in accordance with the plan and structure set forth on Schedule 2.1(a) (the “ Plan of Reorganization ”):

(i) Transfer and Assignment of SpinCo Assets . Rayonier shall, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to, contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to SpinCo, or the applicable SpinCo Designees, and SpinCo or such SpinCo Designees shall accept from Rayonier and the applicable members of the Rayonier Group, all of Rayonier’s and such Rayonier Group member’s respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to all of the SpinCo Assets (it being understood that if any SpinCo Asset shall be held by a Transferred Entity or a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Transferred Entity, such SpinCo Asset may be assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to SpinCo as a result of the transfer of all of the equity interests in such Transferred Entity from Rayonier or the applicable members of the Rayonier Group to SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Designee);

 

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(ii) Acceptance and Assumption of SpinCo Liabilities . SpinCo and the applicable SpinCo Designees shall accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all the SpinCo Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms. SpinCo and such SpinCo Designees shall be responsible for all SpinCo Liabilities, regardless of when or where such SpinCo Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such SpinCo Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any SpinCo Liabilities arising out of claims made by Rayonier’s or SpinCo’s respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates;

(iii) Transfer and Assignment of Rayonier Assets . Rayonier and SpinCo shall cause SpinCo and the SpinCo Designees to contribute, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Rayonier or certain members of the Rayonier Group designated by Rayonier, and Rayonier or such other members of the Rayonier Group shall accept from SpinCo and the SpinCo Designees, all of SpinCo’s and such SpinCo Designeess’ respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to all Rayonier Assets held by SpinCo or a SpinCo Designee; and

(iv) Acceptance and Assumption of Rayonier Liabilities . Rayonier and certain of members of the Rayonier Group designated by Rayonier shall accept and assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all of the Rayonier Liabilities held by SpinCo or any SpinCo Designee and Rayonier and the applicable members of the Rayonier Group shall be responsible for all Rayonier Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms, regardless of when or where such Rayonier Liabilities arose or arise, whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Time, where or against whom such Rayonier Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any such Rayonier Liabilities arising out of claims made by Rayonier’s or SpinCo’s respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of

 

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whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

(b) Transfer Documents . In furtherance of the contribution, assignment, transfer, conveyance and delivery of the Assets and the assumption of the Liabilities in accordance with Section 2.1(a) , (i) each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, quitclaim deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of such Party’s and the applicable members of its Group’s right, title and interest in and to such Assets to the other Party and the applicable members of its Group in accordance with Section 2.1(a) , and (ii) each Party shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the applicable members of its Group to execute and deliver, to the other Party such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the Liabilities by such Party the applicable members of its Group in accordance with Section 2.1(a) . All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.1(b) shall be referred to collectively herein as the “ Transfer Documents .”

(c) Misallocations . In the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party (or any member of such Party’s respective Group) shall receive or otherwise possess any Asset that is allocated to the other Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Asset to the Party so entitled thereto (or to any member of such Party’s Group), and such Party (or member of such Party’s Group) shall accept such Asset. Prior to any such transfer, the Person receiving or possessing such Asset shall hold such Asset in trust for any such other Person. In the event that at any time or from time to time (whether prior to, at or after the Effective Time), one Party hereto (or any member of such Party’s respective Group) shall receive or otherwise assume any Liability that is allocated to the other Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party shall promptly transfer, or cause to be transferred, such Liability to the Party responsible therefor (or to any member of such Party’s Group), and such Party (or member of such Party’s Group) shall accept, assume and agree to faithfully perform such Liability.

(d) Waiver of Bulk-Sale and Bulk-Transfer Laws . SpinCo hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the Rayonier Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the SpinCo Assets to any member of the SpinCo Group. Rayonier hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the SpinCo Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the Rayonier Assets to any member of the Rayonier Group.

 

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2.2 SpinCo Assets; Rayonier Assets .

(a) SpinCo Assets . For purposes of this Agreement, “ SpinCo Assets ” shall mean:

(i) all issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of the Transferred Entities that are owned by either Party or any members of its Group as of the Effective Time;

(ii) all Assets of either Party or any of members of its Group included or reflected as assets of the SpinCo Group on the SpinCo Balance Sheet, subject to any dispositions of such Assets subsequent to the date of the SpinCo Balance Sheet; provided that the amounts set forth on the SpinCo Balance Sheet with respect to any Assets shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Assets that are included in the definition of SpinCo Assets pursuant to this clause (ii);

(iii) all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Assets being included as Assets of SpinCo or members of the SpinCo Group on a pro forma combined balance sheet of the SpinCo Group or any notes or subledgers thereto as of the Effective Time (were such balance sheet, notes and subledgers to be prepared on a basis consistent with the determination of the Assets included on the SpinCo Balance Sheet), it being understood that (x) the SpinCo Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Assets that are included in the definition of SpinCo Assets pursuant to this subclause (iii); and (y) the amounts set forth on the SpinCo Balance Sheet with respect to any Assets shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Assets that are included in the definition of SpinCo Assets pursuant to this subclause (iii);

(iv) all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be transferred to SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group;

(v) all SpinCo Contracts as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

(vi) all SpinCo Intellectual Property, SpinCo Software and SpinCo Technology as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time, and any license of Intellectual Property of Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group to SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group pursuant to the terms of the Intellectual Property Agreement;

(vii) all SpinCo Permits as of the Effective Time and all rights, interests or claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group thereunder as of the Effective Time;

 

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(viii) all Assets of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time that are exclusively related to the SpinCo Business;

(ix) all rights, interests and claims of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time with respect to Information that is exclusively related to the SpinCo Assets, the SpinCo Liabilities, the SpinCo Business or the Transferred Entities and, subject to the provisions of the applicable Ancillary Agreements, a non-exclusive right to all Information that is related to, but not exclusively related to, the SpinCo Assets, the SpinCo Liabilities, the SpinCo Business or the Transferred Entities; and

(x) any and all Assets set forth on Schedule 2.2(a)(x) .

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the SpinCo Assets shall not in any event include any Asset referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of Section 2.2(b) .

(b) Rayonier Assets . For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Rayonier Assets ” shall mean all Assets of the either Party or the members of its Group as of the Effective Time, other than the SpinCo Assets, it being understood that the Rayonier Assets shall include:

(i) all Assets that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Assets to be retained by Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group;

(ii) all contracts of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the SpinCo Contracts);

(iii) all Intellectual Property of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the SpinCo Intellectual Property and other than any license of Intellectual Property of Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group to SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group pursuant to the terms of the Intellectual Property Agreement), including the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks and the Intellectual Property set forth on Schedule 2.2(b)(iii) ;

(iv) all Permits of either Party or any of the members of its Group as of the Effective Time (other than the SpinCo Permits); and

(v) any and all Assets set forth on Schedule 2.2(b)(v) .

2.3 SpinCo Liabilities; Rayonier Liabilities .

(a) SpinCo Liabilities . For the purposes of this Agreement, “ SpinCo Liabilities ” shall mean the following Liabilities of either Party or any of the members of its Group:

(i) all Liabilities included or reflected as liabilities or obligations of SpinCo or the members of the SpinCo Group on the SpinCo Balance Sheet, subject to any discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the SpinCo Balance Sheet;

 

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provided that the amounts set forth on the SpinCo Balance Sheet with respect to any Liabilities shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Liabilities that are included in the definition of SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (i);

(ii) all Liabilities as of the Effective Time that are of a nature or type that would have resulted in such Liabilities being included or reflected as liabilities or obligations of SpinCo or the members of the SpinCo Group on a pro forma combined balance sheet of the SpinCo Group or any notes or subledgers thereto as of the Effective Time (were such balance sheet, notes and subledgers to be prepared on a basis consistent with the determination of the Liabilities included on the SpinCo Balance Sheet ), it being understood that (x) the SpinCo Balance Sheet shall be used to determine the types of, and methodologies used to determine, those Liabilities that are included in the definition of SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (ii); and (y) the amounts set forth on the SpinCo Balance Sheet with respect to any Liabilities shall not be treated as minimum amounts or limitations on the amount of such Liabilities that are included in the definition of SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to this subclause (ii);

(iii) all Liabilities, including any Environmental Liabilities, relating to, arising out of or resulting from the actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent that such Liabilities relate to, arise out of or result from the SpinCo Business or a SpinCo Asset;

(iv) any and all Liabilities that are expressly provided by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (or the Schedules hereto or thereto) as Liabilities to be assumed by SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the SpinCo Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

(v) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Contracts, the SpinCo Intellectual Property, the SpinCo Software, the SpinCo Technology, the SpinCo Permits or SpinCo Financing Arrangements;

(vi) any and all Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(a) ;

(vii) all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including Rayonier’s or SpinCo’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Business or the SpinCo Assets or the other business, operations, activities or Liabilities referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above;

provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties agree that the Liabilities set forth on Schedule 2.3(b) shall not be SpinCo Liabilities but instead shall be Rayonier Liabilities.

 

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(b) Rayonier Liabilities . For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Rayonier Liabilities ” shall mean (i) all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time) of any member of the Rayonier Group and, prior to the Effective Time, any member of the SpinCo Group, in each case that are not SpinCo Liabilities, including any and all Liabilities set forth on  Schedule 2.3(b) ; and (ii) all Liabilities arising out of claims made by any Third Party (including Rayonier’s or SpinCo’s respective directors, officers, shareholders, employees and agents) against any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Rayonier Business or the Rayonier Assets.

2.4 Approvals and Notifications .

(a) Approvals and Notifications for SpinCo Assets . To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any SpinCo Asset, the assumption of any SpinCo Liability, the Separation, or the Distribution requires any Approvals or Notifications, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications as soon as reasonably practicable; provided , however , that, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or as otherwise agreed between Rayonier and SpinCo, neither Rayonier nor SpinCo shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Person in order to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications.

(b) Delayed SpinCo Transfers . If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the SpinCo Group of any SpinCo Asset or assumption by the SpinCo Group of any SpinCo Liability would be a violation of applicable Law or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Separation or the Distribution that has not been obtained or made by the Effective Time then, unless the Parties mutually shall otherwise determine, the transfer or assignment to the SpinCo Group of such SpinCo Assets or the assumption by the SpinCo Group of such SpinCo Liabilities, as the case may be, shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Approvals or Notifications have been obtained or made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such SpinCo Assets or SpinCo Liabilities shall continue to constitute SpinCo Assets and SpinCo Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

(c) Treatment of Delayed SpinCo Assets and Delayed SpinCo Liabilities . If any transfer or assignment of any SpinCo Asset or any assumption of any SpinCo Liability intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is not consummated on or prior to the Effective Time, whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(b) or for any other reason (any such SpinCo Asset, a “ Delayed SpinCo Asset ” and any such SpinCo Liability, a “ Delayed SpinCo Liability ”), then, insofar as reasonably possible and subject to applicable Law, the member of the Rayonier Group retaining such Delayed SpinCo Asset or such Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Delayed SpinCo

 

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Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, for the use and benefit of the member of the SpinCo Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the SpinCo Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the Rayonier Group retaining such Delayed SpinCo Asset or such Delayed SpinCo Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the SpinCo Group to whom such Delayed SpinCo Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the SpinCo Group in a substantially similar position as if such Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to the SpinCo Group.

(d) Transfer of Delayed SpinCo Assets and Delayed SpinCo Liabilities . If and when the Approvals or Notifications, the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Delayed SpinCo Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Delayed SpinCo Liability pursuant to Section 2.4(b) , are obtained or made, and, if and when any other legal impediments for the transfer or assignment of any Delayed SpinCo Asset or the assumption of any Delayed SpinCo Liability have been removed, the transfer or assignment of the applicable Delayed SpinCo Asset or the assumption of the applicable Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.

(e) Costs for Delayed SpinCo Assets and Delayed SpinCo Liabilities . Any member of the Rayonier Group retaining a Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability due to the deferral of the transfer or assignment of such Delayed SpinCo Asset or the deferral of the assumption of such Delayed SpinCo Liability, as the case may be, shall not be obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced (or otherwise made available) by SpinCo or the member of the SpinCo Group entitled to the Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability, other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys’ fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by SpinCo or the member of the SpinCo Group entitled to such Delayed SpinCo Asset or Delayed SpinCo Liability.

(f) Approvals and Notifications for Rayonier Assets . To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any Rayonier Asset or the assumption of any Rayonier Liability requires any Approvals or Notifications, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications as soon as reasonably practicable; provided , however , that, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements or as otherwise agreed between Rayonier and SpinCo, neither Rayonier nor SpinCo shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Person in order to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications.

 

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(g) Delayed Rayonier Transfers . If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the Rayonier Group of any Rayonier Asset or assumption by the Rayonier Group of any Rayonier Liability would be a violation of applicable Law or require any Approval or Notification that has not been obtained or made by the Effective Time then, unless the Parties mutually shall otherwise determine, the transfer or assignment to the Rayonier Group of such Rayonier Assets or the assumption by the Rayonier Group of such Rayonier Liabilities, as the case may be, shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Approval or Notification has been obtained or made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Rayonier Assets or Rayonier Liabilities shall continue to constitute Rayonier Assets and Rayonier Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

(h) Treatment of Delayed Rayonier Assets and Delayed Rayonier Liabilities . If any transfer or assignment of any Rayonier Asset or any assumption of any Rayonier Liability intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is not consummated on or prior to the Effective Time whether as a result of the provisions of this Section 2.4(h) or for any other reason (any such Rayonier Asset, a “ Delayed Rayonier Asset ” and any such Rayonier Liability, a “ Delayed Rayonier Liability ”), then, insofar as reasonably possible, the member of the SpinCo Group retaining such Delayed Rayonier Asset or such Delayed Rayonier Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier Liability, as the case may be, for the use and benefit of the member of the Rayonier Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the Rayonier Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the SpinCo Group retaining such Delayed Rayonier Asset or such Delayed Rayonier Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice. Such member of the SpinCo Group shall also take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the Rayonier Group to which such Delayed Rayonier Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Delayed Rayonier Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the Rayonier Group in a substantially similar position as if such Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier Liability, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Time to the Rayonier Group.

(i) Transfer of Delayed Rayonier Assets and Delayed Rayonier Liabilities . If and when the Approvals or Notifications, the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Delayed Rayonier Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Delayed Rayonier Liability, are obtained or made, and, if and when any other legal impediments for the transfer or assignment of any Delayed Rayonier Asset or the assumption of any Delayed Rayonier Liability have been removed, the transfer or assignment of the applicable Delayed Rayonier Asset or the assumption of the applicable Delayed Rayonier Liability, as the case may be, shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.

(j) Costs for Delayed Rayonier Assets and Delayed Rayonier Liabilities . Any member of the SpinCo Group retaining an Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier

 

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Liability due to the deferral of the transfer or assignment of such Delayed Rayonier Asset or the deferral of the assumption of such Delayed Rayonier Liability, as the case may be, shall not be obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced (or otherwise made available) by Rayonier or the member of the Rayonier Group entitled to the Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier Liability, other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys’ fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by Rayonier or the member of the Rayonier Group entitled to such Delayed Rayonier Asset or Delayed Rayonier Liability.

2.5 Novation of Liabilities .

(a) Novation of SpinCo Liabilities .

(i) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.5(a) , each of Rayonier and SpinCo, at the request of the other, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, as soon as reasonably practicable, any consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all SpinCo Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of each member of the Rayonier Group that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, the members of the SpinCo Group shall be solely responsible for such SpinCo Liabilities; provided , however , that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, neither Rayonier nor SpinCo shall be obligated to contribute any capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any third Person from whom any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release is requested.

(ii) If Rayonier or SpinCo is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release and the applicable member of the Rayonier Group continues to be bound by such agreement, lease, license or other obligation or Liability (each, an “ Unreleased SpinCo Liability ”), SpinCo shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such member of the Rayonier Group, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the Rayonier Group that constitute Unreleased SpinCo Liabilities from and after the Effective Time and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance or discharge prior to any demand for such payment, performance or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the Rayonier Group. If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased SpinCo Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Rayonier shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and SpinCo or the applicable SpinCo Group member shall assume, such Unreleased SpinCo Liabilities without exchange of further consideration.

(b) Novation of Rayonier Liabilities .

(i) Each of Rayonier and SpinCo, at the request of the other, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, as soon as

 

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reasonably practicable, any consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all Rayonier Liabilities and obtain in writing the unconditional release of each member of the SpinCo Group that is a party to any such arrangements, so that, in any such case, the members of the Rayonier Group shall be solely responsible for such Rayonier Liabilities; provided , however , that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, neither Rayonier nor SpinCo shall be obligated to contribute any capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any third Person from whom any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release is requested.

(ii) If Rayonier or SpinCo is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release and the applicable member of the SpinCo Group continues to be bound by such agreement, lease, license or other obligation or Liability (each, an “ Unreleased Rayonier Liability ”), Rayonier shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such member of the SpinCo Group, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the SpinCo Group that constitute Unreleased Rayonier Liabilities from and after the Effective Time and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance or discharge prior to any demand for such payment, performance or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the SpinCo Group. If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased Rayonier Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, SpinCo shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and Rayonier or the applicable Rayonier Group member shall assume, such Unreleased Rayonier Liabilities without exchange of further consideration.

2.6 Release of Guarantees . In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the obligations set forth in Section 2.5 :

(a) On or prior to the Effective Time or as soon as practicable thereafter, each of Rayonier and SpinCo shall, at the request of the other Party and with the reasonable cooperation of such other Party and the applicable member(s) of such Party’s Group, use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) have any member(s) of the Rayonier Group removed as guarantor of or obligor for any SpinCo Liability to the extent that they relate to SpinCo Liabilities, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any Rayonier Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such SpinCo Liability; and (ii) have any member(s) of the SpinCo Group removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Rayonier Liability to the extent that they relate to Rayonier Liabilities, including the removal of any Security Interest on or in any SpinCo Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Rayonier Liability.

(b) To the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee of:

(i) any member of the Rayonier Group, SpinCo shall execute a guarantee agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, which agreement shall include the

 

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removal of any Security Interest on or in any Rayonier Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such Rayonier Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (i) with which SpinCo would be reasonably unable to comply or (ii) which SpinCo would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching; and

(ii) any member of the SpinCo Group, Rayonier shall execute a guarantee agreement in the form of the existing guarantee or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, which agreement shall include the removal of any Security Interest on or in any SpinCo Asset that may serve as collateral or security for any such SpinCo Liability, except to the extent that such existing guarantee contains representations, covenants or other terms or provisions either (i) with which Rayonier would be reasonably unable to comply or (ii) which Rayonier would not reasonably be able to avoid breaching.

(c) If Rayonier or SpinCo is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required removal or release as set forth in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.6 , (i) the Party or the relevant member of its Group that has assumed the Liability with respect to such guarantee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the guarantor or obligor against or from any Liability arising from or relating thereto in accordance with the provisions of Article IV and shall, as agent or subcontractor for such guarantor or obligor, pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor or obligor thereunder; and (ii) each of Rayonier and SpinCo, on behalf of itself and the other members of their respective Group, agree not to renew or extend the term of, increase any obligations under, or transfer to a Third Party, any loan, guarantee, lease, contract or other obligation for which the other Party or a member of its Group is or may be liable unless all obligations of such other Party and the members of such other Party’s Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation satisfactory in form and substance to such other Party.

2.7 Termination of Agreements .

(a) Except as set forth in Section 2.7(b) , in furtherance of the releases and other provisions of Section 4.1 , SpinCo and each member of the SpinCo Group, on the one hand, and Rayonier and each member of the Rayonier Group, on the other hand, hereby terminate any and all agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, whether or not in writing, between or among SpinCo and/or any member of the SpinCo Group, on the one hand, and Rayonier and/or any member of the Rayonier Group, on the other hand, effective as of the Effective Time. No such terminated agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding (including any provision thereof which purports to survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after the Effective Time. Each Party shall, at the reasonable request of the other Party, take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be necessary to effect the foregoing.

(b) The provisions of Section 2.7(a) shall not apply to any of the following agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any of the provisions thereof): (i) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other agreement or instrument expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by any of the Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups or to be continued from and after

 

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the Effective Time); (ii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings listed or described on Schedule 2.7(b)(ii) ; (iii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Third Party is a party thereto; (iv) any intercompany accounts payable or accounts receivable accrued as of the Effective Time that are reflected in the books and records of the Parties or otherwise documented in writing in accordance with past practices, which shall be settled in the manner contemplated by Section 2.7(c) ; (v) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of Rayonier or SpinCo, as the case may be, is a party (it being understood that directors’ qualifying shares or similar interests will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned); and (vi) any Shared Contracts.

(c) All of the intercompany accounts receivable and accounts payable between any member of the Rayonier Group, on the one hand, and any member of the SpinCo Group, on the other hand, outstanding as of the Effective Time shall, as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, be repaid, settled or otherwise eliminated by means of cash payments, a dividend, capital contribution, a combination of the foregoing, or otherwise as determined by Rayonier in its sole and absolute discretion.

2.8 Treatment of Shared Contracts .

(a) Subject to applicable Law and without limiting the generality of the obligations set forth in Section 2.1 , unless the Parties otherwise agree or the benefits of any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding described in this Section 2.8 are expressly conveyed to the applicable Party pursuant to this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement, any contract or agreement, a portion of which is a SpinCo Contract, but the remainder of which is a Rayonier Asset (any such contract or agreement, a “ Shared Contract ”), shall be assigned in relevant part to the applicable member(s) of the applicable Group, if so assignable, or appropriately amended prior to, on or after the Effective Time, so that each Party or the member of its Group shall, as of the Effective Time, be entitled to the rights and benefits, and shall assume the related portion of any Liabilities, inuring to its respective businesses; provided , however , that (i) in no event shall any member of any Group be required to assign (or amend) any Shared Contract in its entirety or to assign a portion of any Shared Contract which is not assignable (or cannot be amended) by its terms (including any terms imposing consents or conditions on an assignment where such consents or conditions have not been obtained or fulfilled) and (ii) if any Shared Contract cannot be so partially assigned by its terms or otherwise, or cannot be amended or if such assignment or amendment would impair the benefit the parties thereto derive from such Shared Contract, then the Parties shall, and shall cause each of the members of their respective Groups to, take such other reasonable and permissible actions (including by providing prompt notice to the other Party with respect to any relevant claim of Liability or other relevant matters arising in connection with a Shared Contract so as to allow such other Party the ability to exercise any applicable rights under such Shared Contract) to cause a member of the SpinCo Group or the Rayonier Group, as the case may be, to receive the rights and benefits of that portion of each Shared Contract that relates to the SpinCo Business or the Rayonier Business, as the case may be (in each case, to the extent so related), as if such Shared Contract had been assigned to (or amended to allow) a member of the applicable Group pursuant to this Section 2.8 , and to bear the burden of the corresponding Liabilities (including any Liabilities that may arise by reason of such arrangement), as if such Liabilities had been assumed by a member of the applicable Group pursuant to this Section 2.8 .

 

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(b) Each of Rayonier and SpinCo shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, (i) treat for all Tax purposes the portion of each Shared Contract inuring to its respective businesses as Assets owned by, and/or Liabilities of, as applicable, such Party, or the members of its Group, as applicable, not later than the Effective Time, and (ii) neither report nor take any Tax position (on a Tax Return or otherwise) inconsistent with such treatment (unless required by applicable Law).

(c) Nothing in this Section 2.8 shall require any member of any Group to make any non- de minimis payment (except to the extent advanced, assumed or agreed in advance to be reimbursed by any member of the other Group), incur any non- de minimis obligation or grant any non- de minimis concession for the benefit of any member of any other Group in order to effect any transaction contemplated by this Section 2.8 .

2.9 Bank Accounts; Cash Balances .

(a) Each Party agrees to take, or cause the members of its Group to take, at the Effective Time (or such earlier time as the Parties may agree), all actions necessary to amend all contracts or agreements governing each bank and brokerage account owned by SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group (collectively, the “ SpinCo Accounts ”) and all contracts or agreements governing each bank or brokerage account owned by Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group (collectively, the “ Rayonier Accounts ”) so that each such SpinCo Account and Rayonier Account, if currently Linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter “ Linked ”) to any Rayonier Account or SpinCo Account, respectively, is de-Linked from such Rayonier Account or SpinCo Account, respectively.

(b) It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Section 2.9(a) , there will be in place a cash management process pursuant to which the SpinCo Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one (1) or more accounts maintained by SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group.

(c) It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Section 2.9(a) , there will continue to be in place a cash management process pursuant to which the Rayonier Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one (1) or more accounts maintained by Rayonier or a member of the Rayonier Group.

(d) With respect to any outstanding checks issued or payments initiated by Rayonier, SpinCo, or any of the members of their respective Groups prior to the Effective Time, such outstanding checks and payments shall be honored following the Effective Time by the Person or Group owning the account on which the check is drawn or from which the payment was initiated, respectively.

(e) As between Rayonier and SpinCo (and the members of their respective Groups), all payments made and reimbursements received after the Effective Time by either Party (or member of its Group) that relate to a business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or

 

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member of its Group), shall be held by such Party in trust for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto and, promptly following receipt by such Party of any such payment or reimbursement, such Party shall pay over, or shall cause the applicable member of its Group to pay over to the other Party the amount of such payment or reimbursement without right of set-off.

2.10 Ancillary Agreements . Effective on or prior to the Effective Time, each of Rayonier and SpinCo will, or will cause the applicable members of their Groups to, execute and deliver all Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party.

2.11 Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties . EACH OF RAYONIER (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE RAYONIER GROUP) AND SPINCO (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE SPINCO GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, IS REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING IN ANY WAY AS TO THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES TRANSFERRED OR ASSUMED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, AS TO ANY CONSENTS OR APPROVALS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AS TO THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF SUCH PARTY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFENSES OR RIGHT OF SETOFF OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ANY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF ANY PARTY, OR AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING HEREOF OR THEREOF. EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED ON AN “AS IS,” “WHERE IS” BASIS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM OF DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (I) ANY CONVEYANCE WILL PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST, AND (II) ANY NECESSARY APPROVALS OR NOTIFICATIONS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR MADE OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.

2.12 SpinCo Financing Arrangements; Cash Transfers .

(a) Prior to the Effective Time and pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization, (i) Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. will enter into one or more financing arrangements and agreements pursuant to which Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. shall borrow a principal amount of $875 million dollars (the “ First SpinCo Borrowing ”); (ii) Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. shall transfer all or a portion of the proceeds from the First SpinCo Borrowing to Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. as a distribution (together, the “ First Cash Transfer ”); (iii) SpinCo will enter into

 

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one or more financing arrangements and agreements pursuant to which it shall borrow a principal amount of $75 million dollars (the “ Second SpinCo Borrowing ” and together with the First SpinCo Borrowing, the “ SpinCo Financing Arrangements ”); and (iv) SpinCo shall transfer to Rayonier the proceeds from the Second SpinCo Borrowing as partial consideration for the transfer of SpinCo Assets to SpinCo in the Contribution pursuant to Section 2.1 (the “ Second Cash Transfer ” and together with the First Cash Transfer, the “ Cash Transfers ”). Rayonier and SpinCo agree to take all necessary actions to assure the full release and discharge of Rayonier and the other members of the Rayonier Group from all obligations pursuant to the SpinCo Financing Arrangements as of no later than the Effective Time. The parties agree that SpinCo or another member of the SpinCo Group, as the case may be, and not Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group, are and shall be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the SpinCo Financing Arrangements.

(b) Prior to the Effective Time, Rayonier and SpinCo shall cooperate in the preparation of all materials as may be necessary or advisable to execute the SpinCo Financing Arrangements.

2.13 Financial Information Certifications . Rayonier’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as each is contemplated by the Exchange Act) are currently applicable to SpinCo as its Subsidiary. In order to enable the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of SpinCo to make the certifications required of them under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Rayonier, within thirty-five (35) days of the end of any fiscal quarter during which SpinCo remains Rayonier’s Subsidiary, shall provide SpinCo with one or more certifications with respect to such disclosure controls and procedures, its internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness thereof. Such certification(s) shall be provided by Rayonier (and not by any officer or employee in their individual capacity).

2.14 Transition Committee . Prior to the Effective Time, the Parties shall establish a transition committee (the “ Transition Committee ”) that shall consist of an equal number of members from Rayonier and SpinCo. The Transition Committee shall be responsible for monitoring and managing all matters related to any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreements. The Transition Committee shall have the authority to (a) establish one or more subcommittees from time to time as it deems appropriate or as may be described in any Ancillary Agreements, with each such subcommittee comprised of one or more members of the Transition Committee or one or more employees of either Party or any member of its respective Group, and each such subcommittee having such scope of responsibility as may be determined by the Transition Committee from time to time; (b) delegate to any such committee any of the powers of the Transition Committee; and (c) combine, modify the scope of responsibility of, and disband any such subcommittees and (d) modify or reverse any such delegations. The Transition Committee shall establish general procedures for managing the responsibilities delegated to it under this Section 2.14 , and may modify such procedures from time to time. All decisions by the Transition Committee or any subcommittee thereof shall be effective only if mutually agreed by both Parties. The Parties shall utilize the procedures set forth in Article VII to resolve any matters as to which the Transition Committee is not able to reach a decision.

 

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ARTICLE III

THE DISTRIBUTION

3.1 Sole and Absolute Discretion; Cooperation .

(a) Rayonier shall, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine the terms of the Distribution, including the form, structure and terms of any transaction(s) and/or offering(s) to effect the Distribution and the timing and conditions to the consummation of the Distribution. In addition, Rayonier may, at any time and from time to time until the consummation of the Distribution, modify or change the terms of the Distribution, including by accelerating or delaying the timing of the consummation of all or part of the Distribution. Nothing shall in any way limit Rayonier’s right to terminate this Agreement or the Distribution as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in Article IX .

(b) SpinCo shall cooperate with Rayonier to accomplish the Distribution and shall, at Rayonier’s direction, promptly take any and all actions necessary or desirable to effect the Distribution, including in respect of the registration under the Exchange Act of SpinCo Shares on the Form 10. Rayonier shall select any investment bank or manager in connection with the Distribution, as well as any financial printer, solicitation and/or exchange agent and financial, legal, accounting and other advisors for Rayonier. SpinCo and Rayonier, as the case may be, will provide to the Agent any information required in order to complete the Distribution.

3.2 Actions Prior to the Distribution . Prior to the Effective Time and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Parties shall take, or cause to be taken, the following actions in connection with the Distribution:

(a) Notice to NYSE . Rayonier shall, to the extent possible, give the NYSE not less than ten (10) days’ advance notice of the Record Date in compliance with Rule 10b-17 under the Exchange Act.

(b) SpinCo Certificate of Incorporation and SpinCo Bylaws . On or prior to the Distribution Date, Rayonier and SpinCo shall take all necessary actions so that, as of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Certificate of Incorporation and the SpinCo Bylaws shall become the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of SpinCo, respectively.

(c) SpinCo Directors and Officers . On or prior to the Distribution Date, Rayonier and SpinCo shall take all necessary actions so that as of the Effective Time: (i) the directors and executive officers of SpinCo shall be those set forth in the Information Statement mailed to the Record Holders prior to the Distribution Date, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties; (ii) each individual referred to in clause (i) shall have resigned from his or her position, if any, as a member of the Rayonier Board and/or as an executive officer of Rayonier; and (iii) SpinCo shall have such other officers as SpinCo shall appoint.

(d) NYSE Listing . SpinCo shall prepare and file, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have approved, an application for the listing of the SpinCo Shares to be distributed in the Distribution on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution.

 

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(e) Securities Law Matters . SpinCo shall file any amendments or supplements to the Form 10 as may be necessary or advisable in order to cause the Form 10 to become and remain effective as required by the SEC or federal, state or other applicable securities Laws. Rayonier and SpinCo shall cooperate in preparing, filing with the SEC and causing to become effective registration statements or amendments thereof which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any employee benefit and other plans necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements. Rayonier and SpinCo will prepare, and SpinCo will, to the extent required under applicable Law, file with the SEC any such documentation and any requisite no-action letters which Rayonier determines are necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distribution, and Rayonier and SpinCo shall each use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the SEC with respect thereto as soon as practicable. Rayonier and SpinCo shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under the securities or blue sky laws of the United States (and any comparable Laws under any foreign jurisdiction) in connection with the Distribution.

(f) Mailing of Information Statement . Rayonier shall, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the Form 10 is declared effective under the Exchange Act and the Rayonier Board has approved the Distribution, cause the Information Statement to be mailed to the Record Holders.

(g) The Distribution Agent . Rayonier shall enter into a distribution agent agreement with the Agent or otherwise provide instructions to the Agent regarding the Distribution.

(h) Stock-Based Employee Benefit Plans . Rayonier and SpinCo shall take all actions as may be necessary to approve the grants of adjusted equity awards by Rayonier (in respect of Rayonier shares) and SpinCo (in respect of SpinCo shares) in connection with the Distribution in order to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.

3.3 Conditions to the Distribution .

(a) The consummation of the Distribution will be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Rayonier in its sole and absolute discretion, of the following conditions:

(i) The SEC shall have declared effective the Form 10; no order suspending the effectiveness of the Form 10 shall be in effect; and no proceedings for such purposes shall have been instituted or threatened by the SEC.

(ii) The Information Statement shall have been mailed to Record Holders.

(iii) Rayonier shall have received the IRS Ruling to the effect that, among other things, the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, shall qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and certain transactions related to (A) the transfer to SpinCo or the other members of the SpinCo Group of certain SpinCo Assets and the assumption by SpinCo or other members of the SpinCo Group of certain of the SpinCo Liabilities in

 

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connection with the Separation, and (B) the transfer to certain members of the Rayonier Group of certain Rayonier Assets and the assumption by certain members of the Rayonier Group of certain Rayonier Liabilities in connection with the Separation, in each case shall not result in the recognition of any gain or loss to Rayonier, SpinCo, the other members of the Rayonier Group and the SpinCo Group, respectively, Rayonier’s shareholders or SpinCo’s stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and such IRS Ruling shall not have been revoked or modified in any material respect.

(iv) Rayonier shall have received an opinion from its outside counsel to the effect that the Contribution and the Distribution, taken together, shall qualify as a transaction that is described in Sections 355(a) and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code.

(v) The transfer of the SpinCo Assets (other than any Delayed SpinCo Asset) and SpinCo Liabilities (other than any Delayed SpinCo Liability) contemplated to be transferred from Rayonier to SpinCo on or prior to the Distribution shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1, and the transfer of the Rayonier Assets (other than any Delayed Rayonier Asset) and Rayonier Liabilities (other than any Delayed Rayonier Liability) contemplated to be transferred from SpinCo to Rayonier on or prior to the Distribution Date shall have occurred as contemplated by Section 2.1 , in each case pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization.

(vi) The actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable U.S. federal, U.S. state or other securities Laws or blue sky Laws and the rules and regulations thereunder shall have been taken or made, and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted.

(vii) Each of the Ancillary Agreements shall have been duly executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto.

(viii) No order, injunction or decree issued by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Separation, the Distribution or any of the transactions related thereto shall be in effect.

(ix) The SpinCo Shares to be distributed to the Rayonier shareholders in the Distribution shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of distribution.

(x) Rayonier shall have received the proceeds from the Cash Transfers and shall be satisfied in its sole and absolute discretion that, as of the Effective Time, it shall have no further Liability whatsoever under the SpinCo Financing Arrangements.

(xi) No other events or developments shall exist or shall have occurred that, in the judgment of the Rayonier Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the Separation, the Distribution or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

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(b) The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Rayonier and shall not give rise to or create any duty on the part of Rayonier or the Rayonier Board to waive or not waive any such condition or in any way limit Rayonier’s right to terminate this Agreement as set forth in Article IX or alter the consequences of any such termination from those specified in Article IX . Any determination made by the Rayonier Board prior to the Distribution concerning the satisfaction or waiver of any or all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.3(a) shall be conclusive and binding on the Parties. If Rayonier waives any material condition, it shall promptly issue a press release disclosing such fact and file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC describing such waiver.

3.4 The Distribution .

(a) Subject to Section 3.3 , on or prior to the Effective Time, SpinCo will deliver to the Agent, for the benefit of the Record Holders, book-entry transfer authorizations for such number of the outstanding SpinCo Shares as is necessary to effect the Distribution, and shall cause the transfer agent for the Rayonier Shares to instruct the Agent to distribute at the Effective Time the appropriate number of SpinCo Shares to each such holder or designated transferee or transferees of such holder by way of direct registration in book-entry form. SpinCo will not issue paper stock certificates in respect of the SpinCo Shares. The Distribution shall be effective at the Effective Time.

(b) Subject to Sections 3.3 and 3.4(c) , each Record Holder will be entitled to receive in the Distribution a number of whole SpinCo Shares equal to the number of Rayonier Shares held by such Record Holder on the Record Date multiplied by the Distribution Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole number.

(c) No fractional shares will be distributed or credited to book-entry accounts in connection with the Distribution, and any such fractional shares interests to which a Record Holder would otherwise be entitled shall not entitle such Record Holder to vote or to any other rights as a stockholder of SpinCo. In lieu of any such fractional shares, each Record Holder who, but for the provisions of this Section 3.4(c) , would be entitled to receive a fractional share interest of a SpinCo Share pursuant to the Distribution, shall be paid cash, without any interest thereon, as hereinafter provided. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Rayonier shall direct the Agent to determine the number of whole and fractional SpinCo Shares allocable to each Record Holder, to aggregate all such fractional shares into whole shares, and to sell the whole shares obtained thereby in the open market at the then-prevailing prices on behalf of each Record Holder who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional share interests (with the Agent, in its sole and absolute discretion, determining when, how and through which broker-dealer and at what price to make such sales), and to cause to be distributed to each such Record Holder, in lieu of any fractional share, such Record Holder’s or owner’s ratable share of the total proceeds of such sale, after deducting any Taxes required to be withheld and applicable transfer Taxes, and after deducting the costs and expenses of such sale and distribution, including brokers fees and commissions. None of Rayonier, SpinCo or the Agent will be required to guarantee any minimum sale price for the fractional SpinCo Shares sold in accordance with this Section 3.4(c) . Neither Rayonier nor SpinCo will be required to pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares. Neither the Agent nor the broker-dealers through which the aggregated fractional shares are sold shall be Affiliates of Rayonier or SpinCo. Solely for purposes of

 

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computing fractional share interests pursuant to this Section 3.4(c) and Section 3.4(d) , the beneficial owner of Rayonier Shares held of record in the name of a nominee in any nominee account shall be treated as the Record Holder with respect to such shares.

(d) Any SpinCo Shares or cash in lieu of fractional shares with respect to SpinCo Shares that remain unclaimed by any Record Holder one hundred and eighty (180) days after the Distribution Date shall be delivered to SpinCo, and SpinCo shall hold such SpinCo Shares for the account of such Record Holder, and the Parties agree that all obligations to provide such SpinCo Shares and cash, if any, in lieu of fractional share interests shall be obligations of SpinCo, subject in each case to applicable escheat or other abandoned property Laws, and Rayonier shall have no Liability with respect thereto.

(e) Until the SpinCo Shares are duly transferred in accordance with this Section 3.4 and applicable Law, from and after the Effective Time, SpinCo will regard the Persons entitled to receive such SpinCo Shares as record holders of SpinCo Shares in accordance with the terms of the Distribution without requiring any action on the part of such Persons. SpinCo agrees that, subject to any transfers of such shares, from and after the Effective Time (i) each such holder will be entitled to receive all dividends payable on, and exercise voting rights and all other rights and privileges with respect to, the SpinCo Shares then held by such holder, and (ii) each such holder will be entitled, without any action on the part of such holder, to receive evidence of ownership of the SpinCo Shares then held by such holder.

ARTICLE IV

MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

4.1 Release of Pre-Distribution Claims .

(a) SpinCo Release of Rayonier. Except as provided in Sections 4.1(c) and 4.1(d) , effective as of the Effective Time, SpinCo does hereby, for itself and each other member of the SpinCo Group, and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the SpinCo Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge (i) Rayonier and the members of the Rayonier Group, and their respective successors and assigns, and (ii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Rayonier Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and (iii) all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time are or have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of a Transferred Entity and who are not, as of immediately following the Effective Time, directors, officers or employees of SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group, in each case from: (A) all SpinCo Liabilities, (B) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the SpinCo Business, the SpinCo Assets or the SpinCo Liabilities.

 

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(b) Rayonier Release of SpinCo. Except as provided in (i)  Sections 4.1(c) and 4.1(d) , effective as of the Effective Time, Rayonier does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Rayonier Group and their respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent permitted by Law, all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been shareholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Rayonier Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge SpinCo and the members of the SpinCo Group and their respective successors and assigns, from (A) all Rayonier Liabilities, (B) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the Distribution and (C) all Liabilities arising from or in connection with actions, inactions, events, omissions, conditions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time (whether or not such Liabilities cease being contingent, mature, become known, are asserted or foreseen, or accrue, in each case before, at or after the Effective Time), in each case to the extent relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Rayonier Business, the Rayonier Assets or the Rayonier Liabilities.

(c) Obligations Not Affected . Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) or 4.1(b) shall impair any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that are specified in Section 2.7(b) or the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, in each case in accordance with its terms. Nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) or 4.1(b) shall release any Person from:

(i) any Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any members of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group that is specified in Section 2.7(b) or the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Effective Time, or any other Liability specified in Section 2.7(b) as not to terminate as of the Effective Time;

(ii) any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed, transferred, assigned or allocated to the Group of which such Person is a member in accordance with, or any other Liability of any member of any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;

(iii) any Liability for the sale, lease, construction or receipt of goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business by a member of one Group from a member of the other Group prior to the Effective Time;

(iv) any Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise for claims brought against the Parties by third Persons, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Article IV and Article V and, if applicable, the appropriate provisions of the Ancillary Agreements; or

(v) any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to this Section 4.1 .

 

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In addition, nothing contained in Section 4.1(a) shall release any member of the Rayonier Group from honoring its existing obligations to indemnify any director, officer or employee of SpinCo who was a director, officer or employee of any member of the Rayonier Group on or prior to the Effective Time, to the extent such director, officer or employee becomes a named defendant in any Action with respect to which such director, officer or employee was entitled to such indemnification pursuant to such existing obligations; it being understood that, if the underlying obligation giving rise to such Action is a SpinCo Liability, SpinCo shall indemnify Rayonier for such Liability (including Rayonier’s costs to indemnify the director, officer or employee) in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article IV .

(d) No Claims . SpinCo shall not make, and shall not permit any member of the SpinCo Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(a) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(a) . Rayonier shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the Rayonier Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification against SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 4.1(b) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 4.1(b) .

(e) Execution of Further Releases . At any time at or after the Effective Time, at the request of either Party, the other Party shall cause each member of its respective Group to execute and deliver releases reflecting the provisions of this Section 4.1 .

4.2 Indemnification by SpinCo . Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, SpinCo shall, and shall cause the other members of the SpinCo Group to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless Rayonier, each member of the Rayonier Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees and agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Rayonier Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the Rayonier Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

(a) any SpinCo Liability;

(b) any failure of SpinCo, any other member of the SpinCo Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any SpinCo Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, on or after the Effective Time;

(c) any breach by SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

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(d) except to the extent it relates to a Rayonier Liability, any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation, surety bond or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding for the benefit of any member of the SpinCo Group by any member of the Rayonier Group that survives following the Distribution; and

(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if SpinCo shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document, other than the matters described in clause (e) of Section 4.3 .

4.3 Indemnification by Rayonier . Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, Rayonier shall, and shall cause the other members of the Rayonier Group to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless SpinCo, each member of the SpinCo Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees or agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ SpinCo Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the SpinCo Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, any of the following items (without duplication):

(a) any Rayonier Liability;

(b) any failure of Rayonier, any other member of the Rayonier Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Rayonier Liabilities in accordance with their terms, whether prior to, on or after the Effective Time;

(c) any breach by Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

(d) except to the extent it relates to a SpinCo Liability, any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation, surety bond or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding for the benefit of any member of the Rayonier Group by any member of the SpinCo Group that survives following the Distribution; and

(e) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to statements made explicitly in Rayonier’s name in the Form 10, the Information Statement (as amended or supplemented if SpinCo shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or any other Disclosure Document; it being agreed that the statements set forth on Schedule 4.3(e)  shall be the only statements made explicitly in Rayonier’s name in the Form 10, the Information Statement or any other Disclosure Document, and all other information contained in the Form 10, the Information Statement or any other Disclosure Document shall be deemed to be information supplied by SpinCo.

 

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4.4 Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds and Other Amounts .

(a) The Parties intend that any Liability subject to indemnification, contribution or reimbursement pursuant to this Article IV or Article V will be net of Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of any indemnifiable Liability. Accordingly, the amount which either Party (an “ Indemnifying Party ”) is required to pay to any Person entitled to indemnification or contribution hereunder (an “ Indemnitee ”) will be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds or other amounts actually recovered (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) from any Person by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of the related Liability. If an Indemnitee receives a payment (an “ Indemnity Payment ”) required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds or any other amounts in respect of the related Liability, then the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds or such other amounts (net of any out-of-pocket costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof) had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.

(b) The Parties agree that an insurer that would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility with respect thereto or, solely by virtue of any provision contained in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, have any subrogation rights with respect thereto, it being understood that no insurer or any other Third Party shall be entitled to a “windfall” ( i.e. , a benefit they would not be entitled to receive in the absence of the indemnification provisions) by virtue of the indemnification and contribution provisions hereof. Each Party shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the probability of success on the merits and the cost of expending such efforts, including attorneys’ fees and expenses) to collect or recover any Insurance Proceeds that may be collectible or recoverable respecting the Liabilities for which indemnification or contribution may be available under this Article IV . Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Indemnifying Party may not delay making any indemnification payment required under the terms of this Agreement, or otherwise satisfying any indemnification obligation, pending the outcome of any Action to collect or recover Insurance Proceeds, and an Indemnitee need not attempt to collect any Insurance Proceeds prior to making a claim for indemnification or contribution or receiving any Indemnity Payment otherwise owed to it under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

4.5 Procedures for Indemnification of Third-Party Claims .

(a) Notice of Claims . If, at or following the date of this Agreement, an Indemnitee shall receive notice or otherwise learn of the assertion by a Person (including any Governmental Authority) who is not a member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group of any claim or of the commencement by any such Person of any Action (collectively, a “ Third-Party Claim ”) with respect to which an Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to Section 4.2 or 4.3 , or any other Section of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party

 

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written notice thereof as soon as practicable, but in any event within fourteen (14) days (or sooner if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires) after becoming aware of such Third-Party Claim. Any such notice shall describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail, including the facts and circumstances giving rise to such claim for indemnification, and include copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of an Indemnitee to provide notice in accordance with this Section 4.5(a) shall not relieve an Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent to which the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by the Indemnitee’s failure to provide notice in accordance with this Section 4.5(a) .

(b) Control of Defense. An Indemnifying Party may elect to defend (and seek to settle or compromise), at its own expense and with its own counsel, any Third-Party Claim; provided that, prior to the Indemnifying Party assuming and controlling defense of such Third-Party Claim, it shall first confirm to the Indemnitee in writing that, assuming the facts presented to the Indemnifying Party by the Indemnitee being true, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify the Indemnitee for any such Liabilities to the extent resulting from, or arising out of, such Third-Party-Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Indemnifying Party assumes such defense and, in the course of defending such Third-Party Claim, (i) the Indemnifying Party discovers that the facts presented at the time the Indemnifying Party acknowledged its indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim were not true in all material respects and (ii) such untruth provides a reasonable basis for asserting that the Indemnifying Party does not have an indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim, then (A) the Indemnifying Party shall not be bound by such acknowledgment, (B) the Indemnifying Party shall promptly thereafter provide the Indemnitee written notice of its assertion that it does not have an indemnification obligation in respect of such Third-Party Claim and (C) the Indemnitee shall have the right to assume the defense of such Third-Party Claim. Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 4.5(a) (or sooner, if the nature of the Third-Party Claim so requires), the Indemnifying Party shall provide written notice to the Indemnitee indicating whether the Indemnifying Party shall assume responsibility for defending the Third-Party Claim. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third-Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.5(a) , then the Indemnitee that is the subject of such Third-Party Claim shall be entitled to continue to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

(c) Allocation of Defense Costs . If an Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim, then such Indemnifying Party shall be solely liable for all fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the defense of such Third-Party Claim and shall not be entitled to seek any indemnification or reimbursement from the Indemnitee for any such fees or expenses incurred by the Indemnifying Party during the course of the defense of such Third-Party Claim by such Indemnifying Party, regardless of any subsequent decision by the Indemnifying Party to reject or otherwise abandon its assumption of such defense. If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending any Third-Party Claim or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election within thirty (30) days after receipt of a notice from an Indemnitee as provided in Section 4.5(a) , and the Indemnitee conducts and controls the defense of such Third-Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party has an indemnification obligation

 

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with respect to such Third-Party Claim, then the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for all reasonable fees and expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with the defense of such Third-Party Claim.

(d) Right to Monitor and Participate. An Indemnitee that does not conduct and control the defense of any Third-Party Claim, or an Indemnifying Party that has failed to elect to defend any Third-Party Claim as contemplated hereby, nevertheless shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) of its own choosing to monitor and participate in (but not control) the defense of any Third-Party Claim for which it is a potential Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, and the provisions of Section 4.5(c) shall not apply to such fees and expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, but subject to Sections 6.7 and 6.8 , such Party shall cooperate with the Party entitled to conduct and control the defense of such Third-Party Claim in such defense and make available to the controlling Party, at the non-controlling Party’s expense, all witnesses, information and materials in such Party’s possession or under such Party’s control relating thereto as are reasonably required by the controlling Party. In addition to the foregoing, if any Indemnitee shall in good faith determine that such Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party have actual or potential differing defenses or conflicts of interest between them that make joint representation inappropriate, then the Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel as necessary) and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, and the Indemnifying Party shall bear the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for all Indemnitees.

(e) No Settlement. Neither Party may settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, unless such settlement or compromise is solely for monetary damages, does not involve any finding or determination of wrongdoing or violation of Law by the other Party and provides for a full, unconditional and irrevocable release of the other Party from all Liability in connection with the Third-Party Claim. The Parties hereby agree that if a Party presents the other Party with a written notice containing a proposal to settle or compromise a Third-Party Claim for which either Party is seeking to be indemnified hereunder and the Party receiving such proposal does not respond in any manner to the Party presenting such proposal within thirty (30) days (or within any such shorter time period that may be required by applicable Law or court order) of receipt of such proposal, then the Party receiving such proposal shall be deemed to have consented to the terms of such proposal.

(f) Tax Matters Agreement Governs . The above provisions of this Section 4.5 and the provisions of Section 4.6 do not apply to Taxes (Taxes being governed by the Tax Matters Agreement). In the case of any conflict between this Agreement and the Tax Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Tax Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement shall prevail.

 

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4.6 Additional Matters .

(a) Timing of Payments. Indemnification or contribution payments in respect of any Liabilities for which an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV shall be paid reasonably promptly (but in any event within thirty (30) days of the final determination of the amount that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Article IV ) by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee as such Liabilities are incurred upon demand by the Indemnitee, including reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such indemnification or contribution payment, including documentation with respect to calculations made and consideration of any Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of such Liabilities. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Article IV shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Indemnitee, and (ii) the knowledge by the Indemnitee of Liabilities for which it might be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(b) Notice of Direct Claims . Any claim for indemnification or contribution under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement that does not result from a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by written notice given by the Indemnitee to the applicable Indemnifying Party; provided , that the failure by an Indemnitee to so assert any such claim shall not prejudice the ability of the Indemnitee to do so at a later time except to the extent (if any) that the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced thereby. Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period of thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30)-day period, such specified claim shall be conclusively deemed a Liability of the Indemnifying Party under this Section 4.6(b) or, in the case of any written notice in which the amount of the claim (or any portion thereof) is estimated, on such later date when the amount of the claim (or such portion thereof) becomes finally determined. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30)-day period or rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnitee shall, subject to the provisions of Article VII , be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to such party as contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, without prejudice to its continuing rights to pursue indemnification or contribution hereunder.

(c) Pursuit of Claims Against Third Parties. If (i) a Party incurs any Liability arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; (ii) an adequate legal or equitable remedy is not available for any reason against the other Party to satisfy the Liability incurred by the incurring Party; and (iii) a legal or equitable remedy may be available to the other Party against a Third Party for such Liability, then the other Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the incurring Party, at the incurring Party’s expense, to permit the incurring Party to obtain the benefits of such legal or equitable remedy against the Third Party.

(d) Subrogation . In the event of payment by or on behalf of any Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third-Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third-Party Claim or

 

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against any other Person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.

(e) Substitution . In the event of an Action in which the Indemnifying Party is not a named defendant, if either the Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party shall so request, the Parties shall endeavor to substitute the Indemnifying Party for the named defendant. If such substitution or addition cannot be achieved for any reason or is not requested, the named defendant shall allow the Indemnifying Party to manage the Action as set forth in Section 4.5 and this Section 4.6 , and the Indemnifying Party shall fully indemnify the named defendant against all costs of defending the Action (including court costs, sanctions imposed by a court, attorneys’ fees, experts fees and all other external expenses), the costs of any judgment or settlement and the cost of any interest or penalties relating to any judgment or settlement.

4.7 Right of Contribution .

(a) Contribution . If any right of indemnification contained in Section 4.2 or Section 4.3 is held unenforceable or is unavailable for any reason, or is insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnitee in respect of any Liability for which such Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification hereunder, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by the Indemnitees as a result of such Liability (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and the members of its Group, on the one hand, and the Indemnitees entitled to contribution, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

(b) Allocation of Relative Fault . Solely for purposes of determining relative fault pursuant to this Section 4.7 : (i) any fault associated with the business conducted with the Delayed SpinCo Assets or Delayed SpinCo Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of a member of the Rayonier Group) or with the ownership, operation or activities of the SpinCo Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo and the other members of the SpinCo Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group; (ii) any fault associated with the business conducted with Delayed Rayonier Assets or Delayed Rayonier Liabilities (except for the gross negligence or intentional misconduct of a member of the SpinCo Group) shall be deemed to be the fault of Rayonier and the other members of the Rayonier Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group; and (iii) any fault associated with the ownership, operation or activities of the Rayonier Business prior to the Effective Time shall be deemed to be the fault of Rayonier and the other members of the Rayonier Group, and no such fault shall be deemed to be the fault of SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group.

4.8 Covenant Not to Sue . Each Party hereby covenants and agrees that none of it, the members of such Party’s Group or any Person claiming through it shall bring suit or otherwise assert any claim against any Indemnitee, or assert a defense against any claim asserted by any Indemnitee, before any court, arbitrator, mediator or administrative agency anywhere in the world, alleging that: (a) the assumption of any SpinCo Liabilities by SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary

 

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Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason; (b) the retention of any Rayonier Liabilities by Rayonier or a member of the Rayonier Group on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements is void or unenforceable for any reason, or (c) the provisions of this Article IV are void or unenforceable for any reason.

4.9 Remedies Cumulative . The remedies provided in this Article IV shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of Article VIII , shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party.

4.10 Survival of Indemnities . The rights and obligations of each of Rayonier and SpinCo and their respective Indemnitees under this Article IV shall survive (a) the sale or other transfer by either Party or any member of its Group of any assets or businesses or the assignment by it of any liabilities; or (b) any merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of all or substantially all of its Assets, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving either Party or any of the members of its Group.

ARTICLE V

CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS

5.1 Insurance Matters .

(a) Rayonier and SpinCo agree to cooperate in good faith to provide for an orderly transition of insurance coverage from the date hereof through the Effective Time. In no event shall Rayonier, any other member of the Rayonier Group or any Rayonier Indemnitee have Liability or obligation whatsoever to any member of the SpinCo Group in the event that any insurance policy or other contract or policy of insurance shall be terminated or otherwise cease to be in effect for any reason, shall be unavailable or inadequate to cover any Liability of any member of the SpinCo Group for any reason whatsoever or shall not be renewed or extended beyond the current expiration date.

(b) From and after the Effective Time, with respect to any losses, damages and Liability incurred by any member of the SpinCo Group prior to the Effective Time, Rayonier will provide SpinCo with access to, and SpinCo may, upon ten (10) days’ prior written notice to Rayonier, make claims under, Rayonier’s third-party insurance policies in place immediately prior to the Effective Time and Rayonier’s historical policies of insurance, but solely to the extent that such policies provided coverage for members of the SpinCo Group prior to the Effective Time; provided that such access to, and the right to make claims under, such insurance policies, shall be subject to the terms and conditions of such insurance policies, including any limits on coverage or scope, any deductibles and other fees and expenses, and shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

(i) SpinCo shall report any claim to Rayonier, as promptly as practicable, and in any event in sufficient time so that such claim may be made in accordance with Rayonier’s claim reporting procedures in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (or in accordance with any modifications to such procedures after the Effective Time communicated by Rayonier to SpinCo in writing);

 

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(ii) SpinCo and the members of the SpinCo Group shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Rayonier and the members of the Rayonier Group for any deductibles, self-insured retention, fees and expenses incurred by Rayonier or any members of the Rayonier Group to the extent resulting from any access to, any claims made by SpinCo or any other members of the SpinCo Group under, any insurance provided pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) , including any indemnity payments, settlements, judgments, legal fees and allocated claims expenses and claim handling fees, whether such claims are made by SpinCo, its employees or third Persons; and

(iii) SpinCo shall exclusively bear (and neither Rayonier nor any members of the Rayonier Group shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group for) and shall be liable for all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts of all such claims made by SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group under the policies as provided for in this Section 5.1(b) . In the event an insurance policy aggregate is exhausted, or believed likely to be exhausted, due to noticed claims, the SpinCo Group, on the one hand, and the Rayonier Group, on the other hand, shall be responsible for their pro rata portion of the reinstatement premium, if any, based upon the losses of such Group submitted to Rayonier’s insurance carrier(s) (including any submissions prior to the Effective Time). To the extent that the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group is allocated more than its pro rata portion of such premium due to the timing of losses submitted to Rayonier’s insurance carrier(s), the other party shall promptly pay the first party an amount so that each Group has been properly allocated its pro rata portion of the reinstatement premium. Subject to the following sentence, Rayonier may elect not to reinstate the policy aggregate. In the event that Rayonier elects not to reinstate the policy aggregate, it shall provide prompt written notice to SpinCo, and SpinCo may direct Rayonier in writing to, and Rayonier shall, in such case, reinstate the policy aggregate; provided that SpinCo shall be responsible for all reinstatement premiums and other costs associated with such reinstatement.

In the event that any member of the Rayonier Group incurs any losses, damages or Liability prior to or in respect of the period prior to the Effective Time for which such member of the Rayonier Group is entitled to coverage under SpinCo’s third-party insurance policies, the same process pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) shall apply, substituting “Rayonier” for “SpinCo” and “SpinCo” for “Rayonier.”

(c) Except as provided in Section 5.1(b) , from and after the Effective Time, neither SpinCo nor any member of the SpinCo Group shall have any rights to or under any of the insurance policies of Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group. At the Effective Time, SpinCo shall have in effect all insurance programs required to comply with SpinCo’s contractual obligations and such other insurance policies required by Law or as reasonably necessary or appropriate for companies operating a business similar to SpinCo’s. Such insurance programs may include general liability, commercial auto liability, workers’ compensation, employer’s liability, product liability, professional services liability, property, cargo, employment practices liability, employee dishonesty/crime, directors’ and officers’ liability and fiduciary liability.

 

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(d) Neither SpinCo nor any member of the SpinCo Group, in connection with making a claim under any insurance policy of Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group pursuant to this Section 5.1 , shall take any action that would be reasonably likely to (i) have an adverse impact on the then-current relationship between Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group, on the one hand, and the applicable insurance company, on the other hand; (ii) result in the applicable insurance company terminating or reducing coverage, or increasing the amount of any premium owed by Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group under the applicable insurance policy; or (iii) otherwise compromise, jeopardize or interfere with the rights of Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group under the applicable insurance policy.

(e) All payments and reimbursements by SpinCo pursuant to this Section 5.1 will be made within fifteen (15) days after SpinCo’s receipt of an invoice therefor from Rayonier. If Rayonier incurs costs to enforce SpinCo’s obligations herein, SpinCo agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Rayonier for such enforcement costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to Section 4.6 . Rayonier shall retain the exclusive right to control its insurance policies and programs, including the right to exhaust, settle, release, commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve disputes with respect to any of its insurance policies and programs and to amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs, notwithstanding whether any such policies or programs apply to any SpinCo Liabilities and/or claims SpinCo has made or could make in the future, and no member of the SpinCo Group shall erode, exhaust, settle, release, commute, buyback or otherwise resolve disputes with Rayonier’s insurers with respect to any of Rayonier’s insurance policies and programs, or amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs. SpinCo shall cooperate with Rayonier and share such information as is reasonably necessary in order to permit Rayonier to manage and conduct its insurance matters as it deems appropriate. Neither Rayonier nor any of the members of the Rayonier Group shall have any obligation to secure extended reporting for any claims under any Liability policies of Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group for any acts or omissions by any member of the SpinCo Group incurred prior to the Effective Time.

(f) This Agreement shall not be considered as an attempted assignment of any policy of insurance or as a contract of insurance and shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of any member of the Rayonier Group in respect of any insurance policy or any other contract or policy of insurance.

(g) SpinCo does hereby, for itself and each other member of the SpinCo Group, agree that no member of the Rayonier Group shall have any Liability whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of Rayonier and the members of the Rayonier Group as in effect at any time, including as a result of the level or scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, the terms and conditions of any policy, the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential claim or otherwise.

5.2 Late Payments . Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (and any amounts billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that are not paid within thirty (30) days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to Prime Rate plus two (2%) percent.

 

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5.3 Treatment of Payments for Tax Purposes . For all tax purposes, the Parties agree to treat (i) any payment required by this Agreement (other than payments with respect to interest accruing after the Effective Time) as either a contribution by Rayonier to SpinCo or a distribution by SpinCo to Rayonier, as the case may be, occurring immediately prior to the Effective Time or as a payment of an assumed or retained Liability; and (ii) any payment of interest as taxable or deductible, as the case may be, to the Party entitled under this Agreement to retain such payment or required under this Agreement to make such payment, in either case except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

5.4 Inducement . SpinCo acknowledges and agrees that Rayonier’s willingness to cause, effect and consummate the Separation and the Distribution has been conditioned upon and induced by SpinCo’s covenants and agreements in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including SpinCo’s assumption of the SpinCo Liabilities pursuant to the Separation and the provisions of this Agreement and SpinCo’s covenants and agreements contained in Article IV .

5.5 Post-Effective Time Conduct . The Parties acknowledge that, after the Effective Time, each Party shall be independent of the other Party, with responsibility for its own actions and inactions and its own Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the conduct of its business, operations and activities following the Effective Time, except as may otherwise be provided in any Ancillary Agreement, and each Party shall (except as otherwise provided in Article IV ) use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent such Liabilities from being inappropriately borne by the other Party.

ARTICLE VI

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

6.1 Agreement for Exchange of Information .

(a) Subject to Section 6.9 and any other applicable confidentiality obligations, each of Rayonier and SpinCo, on behalf of itself and each member of its Group, agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or make available, or cause to be provided or made available, to the other Party and the members of such other Party’s Group, at any time before, on or after the Effective Time, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, any information (or a copy thereof) in the possession or under the control of such Party or its Group which the requesting Party or its Group to the extent that (i) such information relates to the SpinCo Business, or any SpinCo Asset or SpinCo Liability, if SpinCo is the requesting Party, or to the Rayonier Business, or any Rayonier Asset or Rayonier Liability, if Rayonier is the requesting Party; (ii) such information is required by the requesting Party to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (iii) such information is required by the requesting Party to comply with any obligation imposed by any Governmental Authority; provided , however , that, in the event that the Party to whom the request has been made determines that any such provision of information could be detrimental to the Party providing the information, violate any Law or agreement, or waive any privilege available under

 

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applicable Law, including any attorney-client privilege, then the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit compliance with such obligations to the extent and in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence. The Party providing information pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall only be obligated to provide such information in the form, condition and format in which it then exists, and in no event shall such Party be required to perform any improvement, modification, conversion, updating or reformatting of any such information, and nothing in this Section 6.1 shall expand the obligations of a Party under Section 6.4 .

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, until the first SpinCo fiscal year end occurring after the Effective Time (and for a reasonable period of time afterwards as required for each Party to prepare consolidated financial statements or complete a financial statement audit for the fiscal year during which the Distribution Date occurs), each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Party’s information requests to enable (i) the other Party to meet its timetable for dissemination of its earnings releases, financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Items 307 and 308, respectively, of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (ii) the other Party’s accountants to timely complete their review of the quarterly financial statements and audit of the annual financial statements, including, to the extent applicable to such Party, its auditor’s audit of its internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the SEC’s and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s rules and auditing standards thereunder and any other applicable Laws.

6.2 Ownership of Information . The provision of any information pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.7 shall not affect the ownership of such information (which shall be determined solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements), or constitute a grant of rights in or to any such information.

6.3 Compensation for Providing Information . The Party requesting information agrees to reimburse the other Party for the reasonable costs, if any, of creating, gathering, copying, transporting and otherwise complying with the request with respect to such information (including any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in any review of information for purposes of protecting the Privileged Information of the providing Party or in connection with the restoration of backup media for purposes of providing the requested information). Except as may be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any other agreement between the Parties, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the providing Party’s standard methodology and procedures.

6.4 Record Retention . To facilitate the possible exchange of information pursuant to this Article VI and other provisions of this Agreement after the Effective Time, the Parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts, which shall be no less rigorous than those used for retention of such Party’s own information, to retain all information in their respective possession or control on the Effective Time in accordance with the policies of Rayonier as in effect on the Effective Time (including Rayonier Corporate Policy Nos. 5.6 and 5.8) or such other policies as may be adopted by Rayonier after the Effective Time ( provided , in

 

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the case of SpinCo, that Rayonier notifies SpinCo of any such change); provided , however , that in the case of any information relating to Taxes, such retention period shall be extended to the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (giving effect to any extensions thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 9.02 of the Tax Matters Agreement will govern the retention of Tax related records, and Section 9.01 of the Employee Matters Agreement will govern the retention of employment and benefits related records.

6.5 Limitations of Liability . Neither Party shall have any Liability to the other Party in the event that any information exchanged or provided pursuant to this Agreement is found to be inaccurate in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Party providing such information. Neither Party shall have any Liability to any other Party if any information is destroyed after commercially reasonable efforts by such Party to comply with the provisions of Section 6.4 .

6.6 Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information .

(a) The rights and obligations granted under this Article VI are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange, retention or confidential treatment of information set forth in any Ancillary Agreement.

(b) Any party that receives, pursuant to request for information in accordance with this Article VI , Tangible Information that is not relevant to its request shall (i) return it to the providing Party or, at the providing Party’s request, destroy such Tangible Information; and (ii) deliver to the providing Party written confirmation that such Tangible Information was returned or destroyed, as the case may be, which confirmation shall be signed by an authorized representative of the requesting Party.

6.7 Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation .

(a) After the Effective Time, except in the case of an adversarial Action or Dispute between Rayonier and SpinCo, or any members of their respective Groups, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the other Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available without undue burden, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with any Action in which the requesting Party (or member of its Group) may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder. The requesting Party shall bear all costs and expenses in connection therewith.

(b) If an Indemnifying Party chooses to defend or to seek to compromise or settle any Third-Party Claim, the other Party shall make available to such Indemnifying Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available

 

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without undue burden, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be, and shall otherwise cooperate in such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be.

(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall cooperate and consult to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any Actions.

(d) Without limiting any provision of this Section 6.7 and subject to the terms of the Intellectual Property Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to cooperate, and to cause each member of its respective Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense of any infringement or similar claim with respect any Intellectual Property and shall not claim to acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group to claim to acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any Intellectual Property of a third Person in a manner that would hamper or undermine the defense of such infringement or similar claim.

(e) The obligation of the Parties to provide witnesses pursuant to this Section 6.7 is intended to be interpreted in a manner so as to facilitate cooperation and shall include the obligation to provide as witnesses inventors and other officers without regard to whether the witness or the employer of the witness could assert a possible business conflict (subject to the exception set forth in the first sentence of Section 6.7(a) ).

6.8 Privileged Matters .

(a) The Parties recognize that legal and other professional services that have been and will be provided prior to the Effective Time have been and will be rendered for the collective benefit of each of the members of the Rayonier Group and the SpinCo Group, and that each of the members of the Rayonier Group and the SpinCo Group should be deemed to be the client with respect to such services for the purposes of asserting all privileges which may be asserted under applicable Law in connection therewith. The parties recognize that legal and other professional services will be provided following the Effective Time, which services will be rendered solely for the benefit of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group, as the case may be.

(b) The Parties agree as follows:

(i) Rayonier shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the Rayonier Business and not to the SpinCo Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the Rayonier Group or any member of the SpinCo Group. Rayonier shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any Rayonier Liabilities resulting from any Actions that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the Rayonier Group or any member of the SpinCo Group; and

 

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(ii) SpinCo shall be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to the SpinCo Business and not to the Rayonier Business, whether or not the Privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the SpinCo Group or any member of the Rayonier Group. SpinCo shall also be entitled, in perpetuity, to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any Privileged Information that relates solely to any SpinCo Liabilities resulting from any Actions that are now pending or may be asserted in the future, whether or not the privileged Information is in the possession or under the control of any member of the SpinCo Group or any member of the Rayonier Group.

(iii) If the Parties do not agree as to whether certain information is Privileged Information, then such information shall be treated as Privileged Information, and the Party that believes that such information is Privileged Information shall be entitled to control the assertion or waiver of all privileges and immunities in connection with any such information unless the Parties otherwise agree. The Parties shall use the procedures set forth in Article VII to resolve any disputes as to whether any information relates solely to the Rayonier Business, solely to the SpinCo Business, or to both the Rayonier Business and the SpinCo Business.

(c) Subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 6.8 , the Parties agree that they shall have a shared privilege or immunity with respect to all privileges and immunities not allocated pursuant to Section 6.8(b) and all privileges and immunities relating to any Actions or other matters that involve both Parties (or one or more members of their respective Groups) and in respect of which both Parties have Liabilities under this Agreement, and that no such shared privilege or immunity may be waived by either Party without the consent of the other Party.

(d) If any Dispute arises between the Parties or any members of their respective Group regarding whether a privilege or immunity should be waived to protect or advance the interests of either Party and/or any member of their respective Group, each Party agrees that it shall (i) negotiate with the other Party in good faith; (ii) endeavor to minimize any prejudice to the rights of the other Party; and (iii) not unreasonably withhold consent to any request for waiver by the other Party. Further, each Party specifically agrees that it shall not withhold its consent to the waiver of a privilege or immunity for any purpose except in good faith to protect its own legitimate interests.

(e) In the event of any adversarial Action or Dispute between Rayonier and SpinCo, or any members of their respective Groups, either Party may waive a privilege in which the other Party or member of such other Party’s Group has a shared privilege, without obtaining consent pursuant to Section 6.8(c) ; provided that such waiver of a shared privilege shall be effective only as to the use of information with respect to the Action between the Parties and/or the applicable members of their respective Groups, and shall not operate as a waiver of the shared privilege with respect to any Third Party.

(f) Upon receipt by either Party, or by any member of its respective Group, of any subpoena, discovery or other request that may reasonably be expected to result in the

 

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production or disclosure of Privileged Information subject to a shared privilege or immunity or as to which another Party has the sole right hereunder to assert a privilege or immunity, or if either Party obtains knowledge that any of its, or any member of its respective Group’s, current or former directors, officers, agents or employees have received any subpoena, discovery or other requests that may reasonably be expected to result in the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of the existence of the request (which notice shall be delivered to such other Party no later than five (5) business days following the receipt of any such subpoena, discovery or other request) and shall provide the other Party a reasonable opportunity to review the Privileged Information and to assert any rights it or they may have under this Section 6.8 or otherwise, to prevent the production or disclosure of such Privileged Information.

(g) Any furnishing of, or access or transfer of, any information pursuant to this Agreement is made in reliance on the agreement of Rayonier and SpinCo set forth in this Section 6.8 and in Section 6.9 to maintain the confidentiality of Privileged Information and to assert and maintain all applicable privileges and immunities. The Parties agree that their respective rights to any access to information, witnesses and other Persons, the furnishing of notices and documents and other cooperative efforts between the Parties contemplated by this Agreement, and the transfer of Privileged Information between the Parties and members of their respective Groups pursuant to this Agreement, shall not be deemed a waiver of any privilege that has been or may be asserted under this Agreement or otherwise.

(h) In connection with any matter contemplated by Section 6.7 or this Section 6.8 , the Parties agree to, and to cause the applicable members of their Group to, use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain their respective separate and joint privileges and immunities, including by executing joint defense and/or common interest agreements where necessary or useful for this purpose.

6.9 Confidentiality .

(a) Confidentiality. Subject to Section 6.10 , from and after the Effective Time until the five-year anniversary of the Effective Time, each of Rayonier and SpinCo, on behalf of itself and each member of its respective Group, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective Representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to Rayonier’s confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time, all confidential and proprietary information concerning the other Party or any member of the other Party’s Group or their respective businesses that is either in its possession (including confidential and proprietary information in its possession prior to the date hereof) or furnished by any such other Party or any member of such Party’s Group or their respective Representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise, and shall not use any such confidential and proprietary information other than for such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder, except, in each case, to the extent that such confidential and proprietary information has been (i) in the public domain or generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by such Party or any member of such Party’s Group or any of their respective Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) later lawfully acquired from other sources by such Party (or any member of such Party’s Group) which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation or other contractual, legal

 

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or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality with respect to such confidential and proprietary information, or (iii) independently developed or generated without reference to or use of any proprietary or confidential information of the other Party or any member of such Party’s Group. If any confidential and proprietary information of one Party or any member of its Group is disclosed to the other Party or any member of such other Party’s Group in connection with providing services to such first Party or any member of such first Party’s Group under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, then such disclosed confidential and proprietary information shall be used only as required to perform such services.

(b) No Release; Return or Destruction . Each Party agrees not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any information addressed in Section 6.9(a) to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such information in their capacities as such (who shall be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such information), and except in compliance with Section 6.10 . Without limiting the foregoing, when any such information is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, each Party will promptly after request of the other Party either return to the other Party all such information in a tangible form (including all copies thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or notify the other Party in writing that it has destroyed such information (and such copies thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon).

(c) Third-Party Information; Privacy or Data Protection Laws . Each Party acknowledges that it and members of its Group may presently have and, following the Effective Time, may gain access to or possession of confidential or proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties (i) that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements entered into between such Third Parties, on the one hand, and the other Party or members of such Party’s Group, on the other hand, prior to the Effective Time; or (ii) that, as between the two Parties, was originally collected by the other Party or members of such Party’s Group and that may be subject to and protected by privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws. Each Party agrees that it shall hold, protect and use, and shall cause the members of its Group and its and their respective Representatives to hold, protect and use, in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary information of, or personal information relating to, Third Parties in accordance with privacy, data protection or other applicable Laws and the terms of any agreements that were either entered into before the Effective Time or affirmative commitments or representations that were made before the Effective Time by, between or among the other Party or members of the other Party’s Group, on the one hand, and such Third Parties, on the other hand.

6.10 Protective Arrangements . In the event that a Party or any member of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any information pursuant to applicable Law or receives any request or demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide information of the other Party (or any member of the other Party’s Group) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such Party shall notify the other Party (to the extent legally permitted) as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prior to disclosing or providing such information and shall cooperate, at the expense of the other Party, in seeking any appropriate protective order requested by the other Party. In the event that such other Party fails to receive such appropriate protective order in a timely manner and the Party receiving the request or demand reasonably determines that its

 

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failure to disclose or provide such information shall actually prejudice the Party receiving the request or demand, then the Party that received such request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by its counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority, and the disclosing Party shall promptly provide the other Party with a copy of the information so disclosed, in the same form and format so disclosed, together with a list of all Persons to whom such information was disclosed, in each case to the extent legally permitted.

ARTICLE VII

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

7.1 Good-Faith Negotiation . Subject to Section 7.4 , either Party seeking resolution of any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Ancillary Agreement (including regarding whether any Assets are SpinCo Assets, any Liabilities are SpinCo Liabilities or the validity, interpretation, breach or termination of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement) (a “ Dispute ”), shall provide written notice thereof to the other Party (the “ Initial Notice ”), and within thirty (30) days of the delivery of the Initial Notice, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to negotiate a resolution of the Dispute. The negotiations shall be conducted by executives who hold, at a minimum, the title of vice president and who have authority to settle the Dispute. All such negotiations shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence. If the Parties are unable for any reason to resolve a Dispute within thirty (30) days after the delivery of such notice or if a Party reasonably concludes that the other Party is not willing to negotiate as contemplated by this Section 7.1 , the Dispute shall be submitted to mediation in accordance with Section 7.2 .

7.2 Mediation . Any Dispute not resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 shall, at the written request of a Party (a “ Mediation Request ”), be submitted to nonbinding mediation in accordance with the then current International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“ CPR ”) Mediation Procedure, except as modified herein. The mediation shall be held in (i) Jacksonville, Florida, if the Parties each maintain corporate headquarters in such city at the time a Mediation Request is submitted, (ii) Atlanta, Georgia, if one or both of the Parties does not maintain corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida at the time a Mediation Request is submitted, or (iii) such other place as the Parties may mutually agree in writing. The Parties shall have twenty (20) days from receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request to agree on a mediator. If no mediator has been agreed upon by the Parties within twenty (20) days of receipt by a party of a Mediation Request, then a Party may request (on written notice to the other Party), that CPR appoint a mediator in accordance with the CPR Mediation Procedure. All mediation pursuant to this clause shall be confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for purposes of applicable rules of evidence, and no oral or documentary representations made by the Parties during such mediation shall be admissible for any purpose in any subsequent proceedings. No Party shall disclose or permit the disclosure of any information about the evidence adduced or the documents produced by the other Party in the mediation proceedings or about the existence, contents or results of the mediation without the prior written consent of such other Party, except in the course of a judicial or regulatory proceeding or as may be required by Law or requested by a Governmental Authority or securities exchange. Before making any disclosure permitted by the preceding sentence, the Party intending to make such

 

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disclosure shall, to the extent reasonably practicable, give the other Party reasonable written notice of the intended disclosure and afford the other party a reasonable opportunity to protect its interests. If the Dispute has not been resolved within sixty (60) days of the appointment of a mediator, or within ninety (90) days after receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing, then the Dispute shall be submitted to binding arbitration in accordance with Section 7.3 .

7.3 Arbitration .

(a) In the event that a Dispute has not been resolved within sixty (60) days of the appointment of a mediator in accordance with Section 7.2 , or within ninety (90) days after receipt by a Party of a Mediation Request (whichever occurs sooner), or within such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing, then such Dispute shall, upon the written request of a Party (the “ Arbitration Request ”) be submitted to be finally resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. The arbitration shall be held in the same location as the mediation pursuant to Section 7.2 . Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties in writing, any Dispute to be decided pursuant to this Section 7.3 will be decided (i) before a sole arbitrator if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals less than $2 million; or (ii) by a panel of three (3) arbitrators if the amount in dispute, inclusive of all claims and counterclaims, totals $2 million or more.

(b) The panel of three (3) arbitrators will be chosen as follows: (i) within fifteen (15) days from the date of the receipt of the Arbitration Request, each Party will name an arbitrator; and (ii) the two (2) Party-appointed arbitrators will thereafter, within thirty (30) days from the date on which the second of the two (2) arbitrators was named, name a third, independent arbitrator who will act as chairperson of the arbitral tribunal. In the event that either Party fails to name an arbitrator within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request, then upon written application by either Party, that arbitrator shall be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. In the event that the two (2) Party-appointed arbitrators fail to appoint the third, then the third, independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure. If the arbitration will be before a sole independent arbitrator, then the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed by agreement of the Parties within fifteen (15) days of the date of receipt of the Arbitration Request. If the Parties cannot agree to a sole independent arbitrator, then upon written application by either party, the sole independent arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

(c) The arbitrator(s) will have the right to award, on an interim basis, or include in the final award, any relief which it deems proper in the circumstances, including money damages (with interest on unpaid amounts from the due date), injunctive relief (including specific performance) and attorneys’ fees and costs; provided that the arbitrator(s) will not award any relief not specifically requested by the parties and, in any event, will not award any indirect, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages of the other arising in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such Liability with respect to a Third-Party Claim). Upon selection of the arbitrator(s) following any grant of interim relief by a special arbitrator or court pursuant to Section 7.4 , the arbitrator(s) may affirm or disaffirm that relief, and the parties will seek modification or rescission of the order entered by the court as necessary to accord with the decision of the arbitrator(s). The award

 

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of the arbitrator(s) shall be final and binding on the Parties, and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The initiation of mediation or arbitration pursuant to this Article VII will toll the applicable statute of limitations for the duration of any such proceedings.

7.4 Litigation and Unilateral Commencement of Arbitration . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article VII , (a) a Party may seek preliminary provisional or injunctive judicial relief with respect to a Dispute without first complying with the procedures set forth in Section 7.1 , Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 if such action is reasonably necessary to avoid irreparable damage and (b) either Party may initiate arbitration before the expiration of the periods specified in Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 if (i) such Party has submitted a Mediation Request or Arbitration Request, as applicable, and the other party has failed, within the applicable periods set forth in Section 7.3 , to agree upon a date for the first mediation session to take place within thirty (30) days after the appointment of such mediator or such longer period as the Parties may agree to in writing or (ii) such Party has failed to comply with Section 7.3 in good faith with respect to commencement and engagement in arbitration. In such event, the other Party may commence and prosecute such arbitration unilaterally in accordance with the CPR Arbitration Procedure.

7.5 Conduct During Dispute Resolution Process . Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective members of their Group to, continue to honor all commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to the extent required by such agreements during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article VII , unless such commitments are the specific subject of the Dispute at issue.

ARTICLE VIII

FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

8.1 Further Assurances .

(a) In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts, prior to, on and after the Effective Time, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, regulations and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the Effective Time, each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other Party, and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party, to execute and deliver, or use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all Approvals or Notifications of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument (including any consents or Governmental Approvals), and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the other Party from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the SpinCo Assets and the Rayonier Assets and the assignment and assumption

 

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of the SpinCo Liabilities and the Rayonier Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Without limiting the foregoing, each Party will, at the reasonable request, cost and expense of the other Party, take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to vest in such other Party good and marketable title to the Assets allocated to such Party under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, free and clear of any Security Interest, if and to the extent it is practicable to do so.

(c) On or prior to the Effective Time, Rayonier and SpinCo in their respective capacities as direct and indirect shareholders of the members of their Groups, shall each ratify any actions which are reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by Rayonier, SpinCo or any of the members of their respective Groups, as the case may be, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

(d) Rayonier and SpinCo, and each of the members of their respective Groups, waive (and agree not to assert against any of the others) any claim or demand that any of them may have against any of the others for any Liabilities or other claims relating to or arising out of: (i) the failure of SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group, on the one hand, or of Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group, on the other hand, to provide any notification or disclosure required under any state Environmental Law in connection with the Separation or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the transfer by any member of any Group to any member of the other Group of ownership or operational control of any Assets not previously owned or operated by such transferee; or (ii) any inadequate, incorrect or incomplete notification or disclosure under any such state Environmental Law by the applicable transferor. To the extent any Liability to any Governmental Authority or any third Person arises out of any action or inaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the transferee of the applicable Asset hereby assumes and agrees to pay any such Liability.

8.2 Wayne County Loan Agreement . The Parties acknowledge that: (a) as of the Separation, SpinCo or a member of the SpinCo Group will hold the solid waste disposal facilities (the “ Project ”) that were built to serve manufacturing facilities of SpinCo located near Jesup, Georgia; and (b) the Wayne County Loan Agreement, which is a contract that will be retained by Rayonier or a member of the Rayonier Group, contains covenants relating to the Project that, if breached, could result in a Liability to Rayonier or a member of the Rayonier Group. Accordingly, from and after the Separation, SpinCo shall, and shall cause the applicable members of the SpinCo Group to, use reasonable best efforts to comply with the covenants contained in the Wayne County Loan Agreement relating to the Project, including the covenants set forth in Sections 2.5 and 3.3 of the Wayne County Loan Agreement, as if such covenants were made by SpinCo. In the event that SpinCo fails or expects to fail to comply with such covenants, then SpinCo shall promptly notify Rayonier in writing of such failure or expected failure, and SpinCo shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Rayonier Indemnitees from and against any and all Liabilities of the Rayonier Indemnitees relating to, arising out of or resulting from, directly or indirectly, such failure or expected failure, including (i) any pre-payment premiums, penalties or “make-whole” payments payable with respect to the Wayne County Loan Agreement or the Wayne County Bonds and (ii) in the event that Rayonier or a member of the Rayonier Group shall refinance the outstanding principal amount of the Wayne County Bonds in connection with such failure or expected failure, any costs and expenses in connection with such refinancing, including any excess or default interest, costs or other

 

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expenses above the amount that Rayonier or the applicable member of the Rayonier Group would have had to pay if the Wayne Loan Agreement or the Wayne County Bounds continued to be in effect; provided , however , that nothing in this Section 8.2 shall obligate SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group to indemnify, defend or hold harmless the Rayonier Indemnitees from and against the outstanding principal amount of the Wayne County Bonds (or, if the Wayne County Bonds are refinanced, the principal amount of such refinanced borrowing) and any unpaid interest thereon that accrued prior to the date of such failure or expected failure, even if such amount becomes due and payable as liquidated damages pursuant to the Wayne County Loan Agreement (or such refinanced borrowing, as the case may be).

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION

9.1 Termination . This Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements may be terminated and the Distribution may be amended, modified or abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by Rayonier, in its sole and absolute discretion, without the approval or consent of any other Person, including SpinCo. After the Effective Time, this Agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of each of the Parties.

9.2 Effect of Termination . In the event of any termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time, no Party (nor any of its directors, officers or employees) shall have any Liability or further obligation to the other Party by reason of this Agreement.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

10.1 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power .

(a) This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

(b) This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits, Schedules and appendices hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

(c) Rayonier represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the Rayonier Group, and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the SpinCo Group, as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

(ii) this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

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(d) Each Party acknowledges that it and each other Party is executing certain of the Ancillary Agreements by facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature, and that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it will not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause each such Ancillary Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

10.2 Governing Law . This Agreement and, unless expressly provided therein, each Ancillary Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or thereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein and therein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware irrespective of the choice of laws principles of the State of Delaware including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

10.3 Assignability . Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and the parties thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that neither Party nor any such party thereto may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto or other parties thereto, as applicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (except as may be otherwise provided in any such Ancillary Agreement) in whole ( i.e. , the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant party thereto by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party. Nothing herein is intended to, or shall be construed to, prohibit either Party or any member of its Group from being party to or undertaking a change of control.

 

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10.4 Third-Party Beneficiaries . Except for the indemnification rights under this Agreement of any Rayonier Indemnitee or SpinCo Indemnitee in their respective capacities as such, (a) the provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder, and (b) there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any third person with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

10.5 Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement and, to the extent, applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under each of the Ancillary Agreements shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.5 ):

If to Rayonier (prior to the Effective Time), to:

Rayonier Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: General Counsel

and

Rayonier Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with a copy to:

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention: David K. Lam

If to Rayonier (from and after the Effective Time), to:

Rayonier Inc.

225 Water St., Suite 1400

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attention: General Counsel

 

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and

Rayonier Inc.

225 Water St., Suite 1400

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to SpinCo, to:

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: General Counsel

and

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

with a copy (prior to the Effective Time) to:

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attention: David K. Lam

A Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

10.6 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby. Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties.

10.7 Force Majeure . No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, any Ancillary Agreement for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation (other than a payment obligation) hereunder or thereunder so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligation is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance of such obligations (other than a

 

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payment obligation) shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide written notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable.

10.8 No Set-Off . Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement or as otherwise mutually agreed to in writing by the Parties, neither Party nor any member of such Party’s group shall have any right of set-off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to the other Party or any member of its Group arising out of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

10.9 Publicity . Prior to the Effective Time, each of SpinCo and Rayonier shall consult with each other prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to the Separation, the Distribution or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby or under any Ancillary Agreement and prior to making any filings with any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.

10.10 Expenses . Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, all costs and expenses incurred on or prior to the Effective Time in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, the Separation, the Registration Statement, the plan of Separation and the Distribution and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will be borne by the Party or its applicable Subsidiary incurring such fees, costs or expenses. The Parties agree that certain specified costs and expenses shall be allocated between the Parties as set forth on Schedule 10.10 .

10.11 Headings . The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and in the Ancillary Agreements are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

10.12 Survival of Covenants . Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein, shall survive the Separation and the Distribution and shall remain in full force and effect.

10.13 Waivers of Default . Waiver by a Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the other Party. No failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof prejudice any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

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10.14 Specific Performance . Subject to the provisions of Article VII , in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief in respect of its or their rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties.

10.15 Amendments . No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by a Party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

10.16 Interpretation . In this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) as a whole (including all of the Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement (or such Ancillary Agreement); (c) Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit and Appendix references are to the Articles, Sections, Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement; (e) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (f) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (g) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days; (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the United States or Jacksonville, Florida; (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall all be references to May 28, 2014.

10.17 Limitations of Liability . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but without limiting any recovery expressly provided by Section 8.2 , neither SpinCo or any member of the SpinCo Group, on the one hand, nor Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group, on the other hand, shall be liable under this Agreement to the other for any indirect, punitive, exemplary, remote, speculative or similar damages in excess of compensatory damages of the other arising in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than any such Liability with respect to a Third-Party Claim).

 

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10.18 Performance . Rayonier will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the Rayonier Group. SpinCo will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the SpinCo Group. Each Party (including its permitted successors and assigns) further agrees that it will (a) give timely notice of the terms, conditions and continuing obligations contained in this Agreement and any applicable Ancillary Agreement to all of the other members of its Group and (b) cause all of the other members of its Group not to take any action or fail to take any such action inconsistent with such Party’s obligations under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

10.19 Mutual Drafting . This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Separation and Distribution Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

RAYONIER INC.
By:  

/s/ H. Edwin Kiker

  Name:   H. Edwin Kiker
  Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.
By:  

/s/ Paul G. Boynton

  Name:   Paul G. Boynton
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Separation and Distribution Agreement]

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC.

as Company

and the Guarantors party hereto from time to time

5.50% Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of May 22, 2014

 

 

and

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

as Trustee

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE   
SECTION 1.01   

Definitions

     1   
SECTION 1.02   

Other Definitions

     39   
SECTION 1.03   

Rules of Construction

     40   
ARTICLE II   
THE NOTES   
SECTION 2.01   

Amount of Notes

     41   
SECTION 2.02   

Form and Dating

     42   
SECTION 2.03   

Execution and Authentication

     42   
SECTION 2.04   

Registrar and Paying Agent

     43   
SECTION 2.05   

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

     43   
SECTION 2.06   

Holder Lists

     44   
SECTION 2.07   

Transfer and Exchange

     44   
SECTION 2.08   

Replacement Notes

     45   
SECTION 2.09   

Outstanding Notes

     45   
SECTION 2.10   

Cancellation

     45   
SECTION 2.11   

Defaulted Interest

     45   
SECTION 2.12   

CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc.

     46   
SECTION 2.13   

Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes

     46   
ARTICLE III   
REDEMPTION   
SECTION 3.01   

Redemption

     46   
SECTION 3.02   

Applicability of Article

     46   
SECTION 3.03   

Notices to Trustee

     46   
SECTION 3.04   

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed

     47   
SECTION 3.05   

Notice of Optional Redemption

     47   
SECTION 3.06   

Effect of Notice of Redemption

     48   
SECTION 3.07   

Deposit of Redemption Price

     48   
SECTION 3.08   

Notes Redeemed in Part

     48   
SECTION 3.09   

Special Mandatory Redemption

     48   
ARTICLE IV   
COVENANTS   
SECTION 4.01   

Payment of Notes; Segregated Account

     49   
SECTION 4.02   

Reports and Other Information

     49   

 

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          Page  

SECTION 4.03

  

Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock

     51   

SECTION 4.04

  

Limitation on Restricted Payments

     57   

SECTION 4.05

  

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries

     63   

SECTION 4.06

  

Asset Sales

     65   

SECTION 4.07

  

Transactions with Affiliates

     68   

SECTION 4.08

  

Change of Control

     70   

SECTION 4.09

  

Compliance Certificate

     72   

SECTION 4.10

  

Further Instruments and Acts

     72   

SECTION 4.11

  

Future Guarantors

     72   

SECTION 4.12

  

Liens

     72   

SECTION 4.13

  

[Intentionally Omitted]

     73   

SECTION 4.14

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     73   

SECTION 4.15

  

Existence

     74   

SECTION 4.16

  

Covenant Suspension

     74   
ARTICLE V   
SUCCESSOR COMPANY   

SECTION 5.01

  

When Company and Guarantors May Merge or Transfer Assets

     75   
ARTICLE VI   
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES   

SECTION 6.01

  

Events of Default

     77   

SECTION 6.02

  

Acceleration

     79   

SECTION 6.03

  

Other Remedies

     79   

SECTION 6.04

  

Waiver of Past Defaults

     79   

SECTION 6.05

  

Control by Majority

     79   

SECTION 6.06

  

Limitation on Suits

     80   

SECTION 6.07

  

Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment

     80   

SECTION 6.08

  

Collection Suit by Trustee

     80   

SECTION 6.09

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     80   

SECTION 6.10

  

Priorities

     81   

SECTION 6.11

  

Undertaking for Costs

     81   

SECTION 6.12

  

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     81   
ARTICLE VII   
TRUSTEE   

SECTION 7.01

  

Duties of Trustee

     82   

SECTION 7.02

  

Rights of Trustee

     83   

SECTION 7.03

  

Individual Rights of Trustee

     84   

SECTION 7.04

  

Trustee’s Disclaimer

     84   

SECTION 7.05

  

Notice of Defaults

     84   

SECTION 7.06

  

Reports by Trustee to the Holders

     85   

SECTION 7.07

  

Compensation and Indemnity

     85   

SECTION 7.08

  

Replacement of Trustee

     86   

 

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          Page  

SECTION 7.09

  

Successor Trustee by Merger

     87   

SECTION 7.10

  

Eligibility; Disqualification

     87   

SECTION 7.11

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

     87   
ARTICLE VIII   
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE   

SECTION 8.01

  

Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance

     87   

SECTION 8.02

  

Conditions to Defeasance

     88   

SECTION 8.03

  

Application of Trust Money

     90   

SECTION 8.04

  

Repayment to Company

     90   

SECTION 8.05

  

Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

     90   

SECTION 8.06

  

Reinstatement

     90   
ARTICLE IX   
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS   

SECTION 9.01

  

Without Consent of the Holders

     90   

SECTION 9.02

  

With Consent of the Holders

     91   

SECTION 9.03

  

Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

     92   

SECTION 9.04

  

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

     92   

SECTION 9.05

  

Trustee to Sign Amendments

     93   

SECTION 9.06

  

Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount

     93   

SECTION 9.07

  

Compliance with the Trust Indenture Act

     93   
ARTICLE X   
[Intentionally Omitted]   
ARTICLE XI   
[Intentionally Omitted]   
ARTICLE XII   
GUARANTEE   

SECTION 12.01

  

Guarantee

     93   

SECTION 12.02

  

Limitation on Liability

     95   

SECTION 12.03

  

[Intentionally Omitted]

     96   

SECTION 12.04

  

Successors and Assigns

     96   

SECTION 12.05

  

No Waiver

     96   

SECTION 12.06

  

Modification

     96   

SECTION 12.07

  

Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors

     96   

SECTION 12.08

  

Non-Impairment

     96   

 

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          Page  
ARTICLE XIII   
MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 13.01

  

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     97   

SECTION 13.02

  

Notices

     97   

SECTION 13.03

  

Communication by the Holders with Other Holders

     98   

SECTION 13.04

  

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

     98   

SECTION 13.05

  

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

     98   

SECTION 13.06

  

When Notes Disregarded

     98   

SECTION 13.07

  

Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar

     99   

SECTION 13.08

  

Legal Holidays

     99   

SECTION 13.09

  

GOVERNING LAW

     99   

SECTION 13.10

  

No Recourse Against Others

     99   

SECTION 13.11

  

Successors

     99   

SECTION 13.12

  

Multiple Originals

     99   

SECTION 13.13

  

Table of Contents; Headings

     99   

SECTION 13.14

  

Indenture Controls

     99   

SECTION 13.15

  

Severability

     99   

SECTION 13.16

  

Waiver of Jury Trial

     99   

SECTION 13.17

  

U.S.A. Patriot Act

     100   

 

Appendix A       Provisions Relating to Initial Notes and Additional Notes

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit A       Form of Note
Exhibit B       Form of Transferee Letter of Representation
Exhibit C       Form of Supplemental Indenture

 

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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA

Section

  

Indenture

Section

310 (a)(1)

   7.10

(a)(2)

   7.10

(a)(3)

   7.10

(a)(4)

   7.10

(b)

   7.08; 7.10

(c)

   N.A.

311 (a)

   7.11

(b)

   7.11

312 (a)

   2.06

(b)

   13.03

(c)

   13.03

313 (a)

   7.06

(b)(1)

   7.06

(b)(2)

   7.06

(c)

   7.06

(d)

   7.06

314 (a)

   4.02; 4.09

(b)

   N.A.

(c)(1)

   13.04

(c)(2)

   13.04

(c)(3)

   N.A.

(d)

   N.A.

(e)

   13.05

(f)

   4.10

315 (a)

   7.01

(b)

   7.05

(c)

   7.01

(d)

   7.01

(e)

   6.11

316 (a) (last sentence)

   13.06

(a)(1)(A)

   6.05

(a)(1)(B)

   6.04

(a)(2)

   N.A.

(b)

   6.07

317 (a)(1)

   6.08

(a)(2)

   6.09

(b)

   2.05

318 (a)

   13.01

N.A. Means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purposes, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.


INDENTURE, dated as of May 22, 2014, among RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Company ”), which on the Contribution Date (as defined below) shall become a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, “ RYAM ”), RYAM, the other Guarantors party hereto from time to time (as defined below) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee (as defined below).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of (i) $550,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.50% Senior Notes due 2024 issued on the date hereof (the “ Initial Notes ”) and (ii) Additional Notes issued from time to time (together with the Initial Notes, the “ Notes ”):

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01 Definitions .

Acquired Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into or became a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person, and

(2) Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.

Acquired Indebtedness will be deemed to have been Incurred, with respect to clause (1) of the preceding sentence, on the date such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and, with respect to clause (2) of the preceding sentence, on the date of consummation of such acquisition of such assets.

Additional Notes ” means the Notes issued under the terms of this Indenture subsequent to the Issue Date.

Additional Refinancing Amount ” means, in connection with the Incurrence of any Refinancing Indebtedness, the aggregate principal amount of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay accrued and unpaid interest, premiums (including tender premiums), expenses, defeasance costs and fees in respect thereof.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

Applicable Premium ” means, with respect to any Note on any applicable redemption date, as determined by the Company, the greater of:

(1) 1% of the then outstanding principal amount of the Note; and


(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such redemption date of (i) the redemption price of the Note, at June 1, 2019 (such redemption price being set forth in Paragraph 5 of the Note) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through June 1, 2019 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such redemption date plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the then outstanding principal amount of the Note.

Asset Sale ” means:

(1) the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of Sale/ Leaseback Transactions) outside the ordinary course of business of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (each referred to in this definition as a “ disposition ”); or

(2) the issuance or sale of Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign nationals or other third parties to the extent required by applicable law) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions),

in each case other than:

(a) a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete, damaged or worn out property or equipment in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, RYAM or any other Guarantor in a manner permitted pursuant to Section 5.01 or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;

(c) any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under Section 4.04;

(d) any disposition of assets of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, which assets or Equity Interests so disposed or issued in any single transaction or series of related transactions have an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of less than $25.0 million;

(e) any disposition of property or assets, or the issuance of securities, by RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(f) any exchange of assets (including a combination of assets and Cash Equivalents) for assets related to a Similar Business of comparable or greater market value or usefulness to the business of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(g) foreclosure or any similar action with respect to any property or other asset of RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

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(h) any disposition of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(i) the lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property in the ordinary course of business;

(j) any sale of inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business;

(k) any grant in the ordinary course of business of any license of patents, trademarks, know-how or any other intellectual property;

(l) any swap of assets, or lease, assignment or sublease of any real or personal property, in exchange for services (including in connection with any outsourcing arrangements) of comparable or greater value or usefulness to the business of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a whole, as determined in good faith by the Company;

(m) a transfer of assets of the type specified in the definition of “Securitization Financing” (or a fractional undivided interest therein), including by a Securitization Subsidiary in a Qualified Securitization Financing;

(n) any financing transaction with respect to property built or acquired by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, including any Sale/Leaseback Transaction or asset securitization permitted by this Indenture;

(o) dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;

(p) any disposition of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement or other obligation with or to a Person (other than RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) from whom such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired or from whom such Restricted Subsidiary acquired its business and assets (having been newly formed in connection with such acquisition), made as part of such acquisition and in each case comprising all or a portion of the consideration in respect of such sale or acquisition;

(q) the sale of any property in a Sale/Leaseback Transaction; provided that the Fair Market Value of all such property sold pursuant to Sale/Leaseback Transactions in reliance on this clause (q) shall not exceed the greater of $50 million and 2.0% of Total Assets at the time such Sale/Leaseback Transaction is consummated;

(r) dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar arrangements;

(s) any surrender, expiration or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release, recovery on or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;

(t) any disposition or issuance or sale of Equity Interests of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary made as part of the Pre-Spin Transactions;

(u) dispositions of brownfield properties (and related assets) owned by Southern Wood Piedmont Company or Rayonier Properties LLC or their respective successors or assigns that are Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(v) dispositions by RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to charitable foundations, not-for-profits or other similar organizations with an aggregate Fair Market Value not to exceed $5 million in any calendar year.

 

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Attributable Debt ” means, as of any date of determination, as to Sale/Leaseback Transactions, the total obligation (discounted to present value at the rate of interest implicit in the lease included in such transaction) of the lessee for rental payments (other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items which do not constitute payments for property rights) during the remaining portion of the term (including extensions which are at the sole option of the lessor) of the lease included in such transaction.

Bank Indebtedness ” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of (a) the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time (including after termination of the Credit Agreement), including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof, including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to RYAM or the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof and (b) whether or not the Indebtedness referred to in clause (a) remains outstanding, if designated by the Company to be included in this definition, one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, reserve-based loans, securitization or receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, restructured, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of such Person or any direct or indirect parent of such Person (or, if such Person is a partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of such Person) or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law to close in New York City or the place of payment.

Capital Markets Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness consisting of bonds, debentures, notes or other similar debt securities issued in (a) a public offering registered under the Securities Act or (b) a private placement to institutional investors that is resold in accordance with Rule 144A or Regulation S of the Securities Act, whether or not it includes registration rights entitling the holders of such debt securities to registration thereof with the SEC. The term “Capital Markets Indebtedness” (i) shall not include the Notes (including, for the avoidance of doubt any Additional Notes) and (ii) for the avoidance of doubt, shall not be construed to include any Indebtedness issued to institutional investors in a direct placement of such Indebtedness that is not resold by an intermediary (it being understood that, without limiting the foregoing, a financing that is distributed to not more than ten Persons (provided that multiple

 

-4-


managed accounts and affiliates of any such Persons shall be treated as one Person for the purposes of this definition) shall be deemed not to be underwritten), or any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, commercial bank or similar Indebtedness, Capitalized Lease Obligation or recourse transfer of any financial asset or any other type of Indebtedness incurred in a manner not customarily viewed as a “securities offering.”

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock or shares;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP; provided that obligations of RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, or of a special purpose or other entity not consolidated with RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, either existing on the Issue Date or created thereafter that (a) initially were not included on the consolidated balance sheet of RYAM or the Company as capital lease obligations and were subsequently recharacterized as capital lease obligations or, in the case of such a special purpose or other entity becoming consolidated with RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries were required to be characterized as capital lease obligations upon such consideration, in either case, due to a change in accounting treatment or otherwise, or (b) did not exist on the Issue Date and were required to be characterized as capital lease obligations but would not have been required to be treated as capital lease obligations on the Issue Date had they existed at that time, shall for all purposes not be treated as Capitalized Lease Obligations or Indebtedness.

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(1) U.S. dollars, pounds sterling, euros, the national currency of any member state in the European Union or such local currencies held by RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from time to time in the ordinary course of business;

(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any country that is a member of the European Union or any agency or instrumentality thereof in each case maturing not more than two years from the date of acquisition;

(3) certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances, in each case with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplusin excess of $250.0 million and whose long-term debt is rated “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency);

 

-5-


(4) repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3) above;

(5) commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;

(6) readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having at least a rating of Aa3 from Moody’s or a rating of AA- from S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(7) Indebtedness issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A2” or higher from Moody’s (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized ratings agency) in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition;

(8) investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses (1) through (7) above; and

(9) instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (1) through (8) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above and commonly used by corporations for cash management purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States of America to the extent reasonably required in connection with any business conducted by any Subsidiary organized in such jurisdiction.

cash management services ” means cash management services for collections, treasury management services (including controlled disbursement, overdraft, automated clearing house fund transfer services, return items and interstate depository network services), any demand deposit, payroll, trust or operating account relationships, commercial credit cards, merchant card, purchase or debit cards, non-card e-payables services, and other cash management services, including electronic funds transfer services, lockbox services, stop payment services and wire transfer services.

CFC ” means a “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following, in each case, after the Distribution Date:

(1) the sale, lease or transfer (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the assets of RYAM and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) other than to RYAM, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries;

(2) RYAM becomes aware (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) of the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation, amalgamation

 

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or other business combination or purchase of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision), of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of RYAM, in each case, other than an acquisition where the holders of the voting stock of RYAM as of immediately prior to such acquisition hold 50% or more of the Voting Stock of the ultimate parent of RYAM or successor thereto immediately after such acquisition (provided no holder of the voting stock of RYAM as of immediately prior to such acquisition owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of RYAM immediately after such acquisition); or

(3) RYAM, together with its direct or indirect Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, ceases to own 100% of the Company’s Voting Stock.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense, including the amortization of intangible assets and deferred financing fees and amortization of unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses related to pensions and other post-employment benefits, of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date, the ratio of (i) Secured Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting First-Priority Obligations as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) less the amount not to exceed $100 million of cash and Cash Equivalents in excess of any Restricted Cash that would be stated on the balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries and held by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination to (ii) EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. For purposes of calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

In the event that RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period; provided that the Company may elect pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred at such time, in which case any subsequent Incurrence of Indebtedness under such commitment shall not be deemed, for purposes of this calculation, to be an Incurrence at such subsequent time.

 

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To the extent (i) the Company elects pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee to treat all or any portion of the commitment under any Indebtedness as being Incurred or (ii) RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary elects to treat Indebtedness as having been Incurred prior to the actual Incurrence thereof pursuant to Section 4.03(c)(3), the Company shall deem all or such portion of such commitment or such Indebtedness, as applicable, as having been Incurred and to be outstanding for purposes of calculating the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for any period in which the Company makes any such election and for any subsequent period until such commitments or such Indebtedness, as applicable, are no longer outstanding.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, restructurings or reorganizations that RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “ pro forma event ”) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, restructurings or reorganizations (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, restructuring or reorganization, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, restructuring or reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. If since the beginning of such period any Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, to reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event within 12 months of the date the applicable event is consummated; provided that the aggregate amount of operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies for the period for which the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated shall not exceed 20% of EBITDA for such period (determined after giving effect to any such adjustments).

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate

 

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of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

(1) consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to interest rate Hedging Obligations, amortization of deferred financing fees and original issue discount, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses, expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees and non-cash interest expense attributable to movement in mark to market valuation of Hedging Obligations or other derivatives (in each case permitted hereunder) under GAAP); plus

(2) consolidated capitalized interest of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

(3) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any Securitization Financing which are payable to Persons other than RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; minus

(4) interest income for such period.

For purposes of this definition, interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Interest Expense for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis; provided , however , that:

(1) any net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) or expenses or charges, any severance expenses, relocation expenses, restructuring expenses, curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans, excess pension charges, any expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternate uses and fees, expenses or charges relating to facilities closing costs, acquisition integration costs, facilities

 

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opening costs, project start-up costs, business optimization costs, signing, retention or completion bonuses, expenses or charges related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or issuance, repayment, refinancing, amendment or modification of Indebtedness (in each case, whether or not successful), and any fees, expenses, charges or change in control payments related to the Transactions (including any costs relating to auditing prior periods, any transition-related expenses, and transaction expenses incurred before, on or after the Issue Date), in each case, shall be excluded;

(2) effects of purchase accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to such Person and such Subsidiaries and including, without limitation, the effects of adjustments to (A) Capitalized Lease Obligations or (B) any other deferrals of income) in amounts required or permitted by GAAP, resulting from the application of purchase accounting or the amortization or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, shall be excluded;

(3) the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;

(4) any net after-tax income or loss from disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations or fixed assets and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of disposed, abandoned, transferred, closed or discontinued operations or fixed assets shall be excluded;

(5) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to business dispositions or asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by management of the Company) shall be excluded;

(6) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses or charges relating thereto) attributable to the early extinguishment of indebtedness, Hedging Obligations or other derivative instruments shall be excluded;

(7) (a) the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period and (b) the Net Income for such Period shall include any dividend, distribution or other payment in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) received by the referent Person or a Subsidiary thereof (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such referent Person) from any Person in excess of, but without duplication of, the amounts included in subclause (a);

(8) solely for the purpose of determining the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (1) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit,” the Net Income for such period of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Guarantor) shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary of its Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (which has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by the operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, unless such restrictions with respect to the payment of dividends or similar distributions have been legally waived; provided that the Consolidated Net Income of such Person shall be increased by the amount of dividends or other distributions or other payments actually paid in cash (or converted into cash) by any such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person, to the extent not already included therein;

 

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(9) an amount equal to the amount of Tax Distributions actually made to any parent or equity holder of such Person in respect of such period in accordance with Section 4.04(b)(xii) shall be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by such Person for such period;

(10) any impairment charges or asset write-offs, in each case pursuant to GAAP, and the amortization of intangibles and other fair value adjustments arising pursuant to GAAP shall be excluded;

(11) any non-cash expense realized or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or post-employment benefit plans, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other rights shall be excluded;

(12) any (a) non-cash compensation charges, (b) costs and expenses after the Issue Date related to employment of terminated employees, or (c) costs or expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options or other rights existing on the Issue Date of officers, directors and employees, in each case of such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary, shall be excluded;

(13) accruals and reserves that are established or adjusted within 12 months after the Issue Date and that are so required to be established or adjusted in accordance with GAAP or as a result of adoption or modification of accounting policies shall be excluded;

(14) non-cash gains, losses, income and expenses resulting from fair value accounting required by the applicable standard under GAAP and related interpretations shall be excluded;

(15) any currency translation gains and losses related to currency remeasurements of Indebtedness, and any net loss or gain resulting from hedging transactions for currency exchange risk, shall be excluded;

(16) (a) to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer and only to the extent that such amount is (i) not denied by the applicable carrier in writing within 180 days and (ii) in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date of such evidence (with a deduction for any amount so added back to the extent not so reimbursed within 365 days), expenses with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be excluded and (b) amounts actually received from insurance in respect of lost revenues or earnings in respect of liability or casualty events or business interruption shall be included; and

(17) non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances shall be excluded.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries or Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under Section 4.04 pursuant to clauses (4) and (5) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit.”

 

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For purposes of calculating Consolidated Net Income for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Non-Cash Charges ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the non-cash expenses (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries reducing Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that if any such non-cash expenses represent an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future period, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future period shall be subtracted from EBITDA in such future period to the extent paid, but excluding from this proviso, for the avoidance of doubt, amortization of a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Non-Cash Charges for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Taxes ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including, without limitation, state, franchise, property and similar taxes, foreign withholding taxes (including penalties and interest related to such taxes or arising from tax examinations) and any Tax Distributions taken into account in calculating Consolidated Net Income. For purposes of calculating Consolidated Taxes for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum (without duplication) of (1) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any undrawn letters of credit) consisting of bankers’ acceptances and Indebtedness for borrowed money, plus (2) the aggregate amount of all outstanding Disqualified Stock of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and all Preferred Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries, with the amount of such Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock equal to the greater of their respective voluntary or involuntary liquidation preferences, in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person, at any date, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of calculation (determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP) less the amount not to exceed $100 million of cash and Cash Equivalents in excess of any Restricted Cash that would be stated on the balance sheet of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries and held by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date of determination to (ii) EBITDA of such Person for the four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding such date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred. For purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

In the event that RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Consolidated

 

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Total Net Leverage Ratio is made (the “ Consolidated Total Net Leverage Calculation Date ”), then the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, restructurings or reorganizations that RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “ pro forma event ”) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, restructurings or reorganizations (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, restructuring or reorganization, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, restructuring or reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. If since the beginning of such period any Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, to reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event within 12 months of the date the applicable event is consummated; provided that the aggregate amount of operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies for the period for which the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio is being calculated shall not exceed 20% of EBITDA for such period (determined after giving effect to any such adjustments).

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during

 

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the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

Contingent Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“ primary obligations ”) of any other Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

(2) to advance or supply funds:

(a) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation; or

(b) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor; or

(3) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

Contribution ” means the contribution by Rayonier Inc. of the SpinCo Assets and SpinCo Liabilities (each as defined in the Form of Separation and Distribution Agreement attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Form 10) to RYAM.

Contribution Date ” means the date of the consummation of the Contribution.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the designated office of the Trustee in the United States of America at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the holders and the Company).

Credit Agreement ” means (i) the credit agreement expected to be entered into prior to the Distribution Date among the Company, the guarantors named therein, the financial institutions named therein and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified from time to time, including any agreement or indenture extending the maturity thereof, refinancing, replacing or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or any successor or replacement agreement or agreements or indenture or indentures or increasing the amount loaned or issued thereunder or altering the maturity thereof (except to the extent any such refinancing, replacement or restructuring is designated by the Company not to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement”)

 

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and (ii) whether or not the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) remains outstanding, if designated by the Company to be included in the definition of “Credit Agreement,” one or more (A) debt facilities or commercial paper facilities, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, securitization or receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, (B) debt securities, indentures or other forms of debt financing (including convertible or exchangeable debt instruments or bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances), or (C) instruments or agreements evidencing any other Indebtedness, in each case, with the same or different borrowers or issuers and, in each case, as amended, supplemented, modified, waived, extended, restructured, repaid, renewed, refinanced, restated, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise) or refunded in whole or in part from time to time.

Credit Agreement Documents ” means the collective reference to any Credit Agreement, any notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto, as amended, supplemented, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether or not upon termination, and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), restructured, repaid, refinanced or otherwise modified, in whole or in part, from time to time.

Cumulative Credit ” means the sum of (without duplication):

(1) (a) $125 million plus (b) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of RYAM for the period (taken as one accounting period) from April 1, 2014 to the end of RYAM’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (or, in the case such Consolidated Net Income for such period is a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit), plus

(2) 100% of the aggregate net proceeds, including cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash, received by RYAM after the Issue Date (other than net proceeds to the extent such net proceeds have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiii)) from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent entity of RYAM (excluding Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions, and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), plus

(3) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of RYAM received in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by RYAM after the Issue Date (other than the Contribution, Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock, and Disqualified Stock and other than contributions to the extent such contributions have been used to incur Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock, or Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xiii)), plus

(4) 100% of the principal amount of any Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issued after the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock issued to a Restricted Subsidiary) which has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests in RYAM (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM ( provided , in the case of any such parent, such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock is retired or extinguished), plus

 

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(5) 100% of the aggregate amount received by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash and the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of property other than cash received by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from:

(A) the sale or other disposition (other than to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of Restricted Investments made by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) and from repayments of loans or advances, and releases of guarantees, which constituted Restricted Investments (other than in each case to the extent that the Restricted Investment was made pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(vii)),

(B) the sale (other than to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or

(C) a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus

(6) in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the Investment of RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary (which, if the Fair Market Value of such Investment shall exceed $25.0 million, shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) (other than in each case to the extent that the designation of such Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary was made pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(vii) or constituted a Permitted Investment).

Default ” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Designated Non-cash Consideration ” means the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of non-cash consideration received by RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.

Designated Preferred Stock ” means Preferred Stock of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM (other than Disqualified Stock), that is issued for cash (other than to RYAM or any of its Subsidiaries or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by RYAM or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof.

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event:

(1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (other than as a result of a change of control or asset sale),

 

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(2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or

(3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part (other than solely as a result of a change of control or asset sale), in each case prior to 91 days after the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes or the date the Notes are no longer outstanding; provided , however , that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , however , that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of RYAM, the Company or their Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by such Person in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; provided , further , that any class of Capital Stock of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Capital Stock that is not Disqualified Stock shall not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

Distribution Date ” means the date (determined by the Board of Directors of Rayonier Inc. in its sole and absolute discretion) of the consummation of the Spinoff.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

EBITDA ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period plus , without duplication, to the extent the same was deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income:

(1) Consolidated Taxes; plus

(2) Fixed Charges and costs of surety bonds in connection with financing activities; plus

(3) Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense; plus

(4) Consolidated Non-Cash Charges; plus

(5) any expenses or charges (other than Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense) related to any issuance of Equity Interests, Investment, acquisition, disposition, recapitalization or the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by this Indenture (including a refinancing thereof) (whether or not successful), including (i) such fees, expenses or charges related to the Transactions, the Notes or any Bank Indebtedness, (ii) any amendment or other modification of the Notes or other Indebtedness and (iii) commissions, discounts, yield and other fees and charges (including any interest expense) related to any Qualified Securitization Financing; plus

(6) business optimization expenses and other restructuring charges, reserves or expenses (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the effect of facility closures, facility consolidations, retention, severance, systems establishment costs, contract termination costs, future lease commitments and excess pension charges); plus

(7) the amount of loss or discount on sale of assets to a Securitization Subsidiary in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; plus

 

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(8) any costs or expense incurred pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or any stock subscription or shareholder agreement, to the extent that such cost or expenses are funded with cash proceeds contributed to the capital of the Company or any Guarantor or net cash proceeds of an issuance of Equity Interests of RYAM (other than Disqualified Stock) solely to the extent that such net cash proceeds are excluded from the calculation of the Cumulative Credit; plus

(9) with respect to any joint venture that is not a Subsidiary and solely to the extent relating to any net income referred to in clause (7) of the definition of “Consolidated Net Income,” an amount equal to the proportion of those items described in clauses (1) and (2) above relating to such joint venture corresponding to RYAM’s, the Company’s and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ proportionate share of such joint venture’s Consolidated Net Income (determined as if such joint venture were a Subsidiary); plus

(10) one-time costs associated with commencing Public Company Compliance; plus

(11) all adjustments of the nature used in connection with the calculation of “Adjusted EBITDA” as set forth in the “Summary Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data” under “Summary” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent such adjustments, without duplication, continue to be applicable to such period; and

less , without duplication, to the extent the same increased Consolidated Net Income,

(12) non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding the recognition of deferred revenue or any items which represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that reduced EBITDA in any prior period and any items for which cash was received in a prior period).

For purposes of calculating the EBITDA for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Effective Time ” means 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Date.

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

Equity Offering ” means any public or private sale after the Issue Date of common Capital Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company, as applicable (other than Disqualified Stock), other than:

(1) public offerings with respect to the Company’s or such direct or indirect parent’s common stock registered on Form S-4 or Form S-8;

(2) issuances to any Subsidiary of the Company; and

(3) any such public or private sale that constitutes an Excluded Contribution.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

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Excluded Contributions ” means the Cash Equivalents or other assets (valued at their Fair Market Value as determined in good faith by senior management or the Board of Directors of the Company) received by RYAM after the Issue Date from:

(1) contributions to its common equity capital, and

(2) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company or to any Subsidiary management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of RYAM,

in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate.

Excluded Subsidiary ” means (a) each Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) each Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (for so long as such Subsidiary remains a non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary), (c) each Domestic Subsidiary that is prohibited from guaranteeing the Notes by any requirement of law or that would require consent, approval, license or authorization of a governmental authority to guarantee the Notes (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received), (d) each Domestic Subsidiary that is prohibited by any applicable contractual requirement from guaranteeing the Notes on the Issue Date or at the time such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary (to the extent not incurred in connection with becoming a Subsidiary and in each case for so long as such restriction or any replacement or renewal thereof is in effect), (e) any Foreign Subsidiary, (f) any Domestic Subsidiary (i) that owns no material assets (directly or through its Subsidiaries) other than equity interests of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries that are CFCs or (ii) that is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary that is a CFC, (g) any Securitization Subsidiary and (h) any Subsidiary that is not a Material Subsidiary and that taken together with all other Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries being excluded pursuant to this clause (h), as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of RYAM most recently ended, did not have assets with a value in excess of 7.5% of the Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 7.5% of total revenues (including third party revenues but excluding intercompany revenues) of RYAM, the Company and their Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date.

Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

First-Priority Obligations ” means (i) all Secured Bank Indebtedness, (ii) Other First-Priority Obligations and (iii) if such Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services have been secured in the collateral that secures the First-Priority Obligations, all other obligations of RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services in each case owing to a Person that is a holder of Secured Bank Indebtedness or an Affiliate of such holder at the time of entry into such Hedging Obligations or obligations in respect of cash management services.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of EBITDA of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. For purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

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In the event that RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than in the case of any Qualified Securitization Financing, in which case interest expense shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period) or issues, repurchases or redeems Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the “ Fixed Charge Calculation Date ”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, and any operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, restructurings or reorganizations that RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has determined to make and/or made during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Fixed Charge Calculation Date (each, for purposes of this definition, a “ pro forma event ”) shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, discontinued operations and other operational changes, business realignment projects or initiatives, restructurings or reorganizations (and the change of any associated fixed charge obligations and the change in EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period shall have made any Investment, acquisition, disposition, merger, consolidation, amalgamation, discontinued operation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, restructuring or reorganization, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, operational change, business realignment project or initiative, restructuring or reorganization had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period. If since the beginning of such period any Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary, then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any pro forma event, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable good faith determination of the Company as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, to reflect operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies reasonably expected to result from the applicable event within 12 months of the date the applicable event is consummated; provided that the aggregate amount of operating expense reductions and other operating improvements or synergies for the period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated shall not exceed 20% of EBITDA for such period (determined after giving effect to any such adjustments).

If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Fixed Charge Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation has a remaining term in excess of 12 months). Interest

 

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on a Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate reasonably determined by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capitalized Lease Obligation in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of making the computation referred to above, interest on any Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility computed on a pro forma basis shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during the applicable period. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a Eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as the Company may designate.

For purposes of this definition, any amount in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for such currency for the most recent twelve month period immediately prior to the date of determination in a manner consistent with that used in calculating EBITDA for the applicable period.

Fixed Charges ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of: (1) Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding amortization or write-off of deferred financing costs) of such Person for such period, and (2) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any series of Preferred Stock or Disqualified Stock of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries. For purposes of calculating Fixed Charges for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Restricted Subsidiary not organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

Form 10 ” means the Form 10 registration statement and any exhibit thereto, in each case, filed by RYAM with the Commission (as amended, supplemented as modified from time to time prior to the Issue Date or after the Issue Date so long as such amendments, supplements and modifications are not materially adverse to the holders of the Notes as determined in good faith by the Company).

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of this Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations. The amount of any guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such person in good faith.

Guarantee ” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes by any Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Guarantor ” means (x) the Initial Guarantors and (y) any Subsidiary of RYAM (other than the Company) that Incurs a Guarantee after the Contribution Date; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such Person shall cease to be a Guarantor.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and

(2) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

holder ” or “ noteholder ” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

Incur ” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided , however , that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) the principal of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, (a) in respect of borrowed money, (b) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), (c) representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property (except any such balance that constitutes (i) a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor Incurred in the ordinary course of business that is not overdue by more than 90 days (or, if overdue by more than 90 days, as to which a dispute exists and adequate reserves in conformity with GAAP have been established on the books of such Person), (ii) any earn-out obligations until such obligation becomes a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP and (iii) liabilities accrued in the ordinary course of business), which purchase price is due more than twelve months after the date of placing the property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, (d) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations, or (e) representing any Hedging Obligations, if and to the extent that any of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(2) to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, the obligations referred to in clause (1) of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and

(3) to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided , however , that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of: (a) the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of such asset at such date of determination, and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person;

 

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provided , however , that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (1) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in respect of borrowed money; (2) deferred or prepaid revenues; (3) purchase price holdbacks in respect of a portion of the purchase price of an asset to satisfy warranty or other unperformed obligations of the respective seller; (4) Obligations under or in respect of Qualified Securitization Financing; (5) trade and other ordinary course payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by more than 90 days; (6) obligations in respect of cash management services; (7) in the case of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (x) all intercompany Indebtedness having a term not exceeding 364 days (inclusive of any roll-over or extensions of terms) and made in the ordinary course of business and (y) intercompany liabilities in connection with cash management, tax and accounting operations of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries; and (8) any obligations under Hedging Obligations; provided that such agreements are entered into for bona fide hedging purposes of RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good faith by the board of directors or senior management of the Company, whether or not accounted for as a hedge in accordance with GAAP) and, in the case of any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement, futures contract, option contract or other similar agreement, such agreements are related to business transactions of RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and, in the case of any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement, such agreements substantially correspond in terms of notional amount, duration and interest rates, as applicable, to Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries Incurred without violation of this Indenture.

Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, Indebtedness shall not include, and shall be calculated without giving effect to, the effects of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 and related interpretations to the extent such effects would otherwise increase or decrease an amount of Indebtedness for any purpose under this Indenture as a result of accounting for any embedded derivatives created by the terms of such Indebtedness; and any such amounts that would have constituted Indebtedness under this Indenture but for the application of this sentence shall not be deemed an Incurrence of Indebtedness under this Indenture.

Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Independent Financial Advisor ” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant, in each case of nationally recognized standing, that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

Initial Guarantors ” means RYAM and each of the Initial Subsidiary Guarantors.

Initial Subsidiary Guarantors ” means (i) Rayonier Performance Fibers Global Sales and Distribution Company, LLC; (ii) Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC; (iii) Rayonier Properties, LLC; (iv) Rayonier Wood Procurement, LLC; (v) Rayonier China Limited; (vi) Rayonier Industries Ltd; (vii) Rayonier Far East Ltd; and (viii) Southern Wood Piedmont Company.

Interest Payment Date ” has the meaning set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency in the event that either Moody’s and/or S&P has not then rated the Notes.

 

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Investment Grade Securities ” means:

(1) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents),

(2) securities that have a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or equivalent) by S&P, but excluding any debt securities or loans or advances between and among RYAM and its Subsidiaries,

(3) investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) which fund may also hold material amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution, and

(4) corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition.

Investments ” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business and any assets or securities received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss and any prepayments and other credits to suppliers made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of such Person in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property. For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and Section 4.04:

(1) “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to (A) at all times prior to the Contribution Date, the Company’s or RYAM’s, as applicable, equity interest in such Subsidiary and (B) from and after the Contribution Date, RYAM’s equity interest in such Subsidiary (other than the Company)) of the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by RYAM or the Company, as applicable) of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, (i) at all times prior to the Contribution Date, the Company or RYAM, as applicable, and (ii) from and after the Contribution Date, RYAM, shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to:

(a) its “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less

(b) the portion (proportionate to its equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by RYAM or the Company, as applicable) at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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Issue Date ” means the date on which the Notes are originally issued.

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or similar encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any lease in the nature thereof); provided that in no event shall an operating lease or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

Material Subsidiary ” means (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date, any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of the Company or RYAM and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, any Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary of RYAM (other than the Company), in each case, that as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of RYAM most recently ended, had assets with a value in excess of 2.5% of the Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 2.5% of total revenues (including third party revenues but excluding intercompany revenues) of RYAM, the Company and their Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of such date.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends. For purposes of calculating Net Income for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Net Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (including Tax Distributions and after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related solely to such disposition), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to Section 4.06(b)) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

Notes Obligations ” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture and the Guarantees.

Obligations ” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’

 

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acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of third parties other than the Trustee and the holders of the Notes.

Offering Memorandum ” means the offering memorandum, dated May 8, 2014, relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes.

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of such Person.

Officers’ Certificate ” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed on behalf of such Person by two Officers of such Person, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person, which meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

Opinion of Counsel ” means, with respect to any Person, a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to such Person.

Other First-Priority Obligations ” means other Indebtedness or Obligations of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries that are equally and ratably secured with Secured Bank Indebtedness.

Pari Passu Indebtedness ” means: (a) with respect to the Company, the Notes and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, its Guarantee and any Indebtedness which ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee.

Permitted Investments ” means:

(1) any Investment in RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;

(3) any Investment by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Person that is engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 4.06 or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;

(5) any Investment existing on, or made pursuant to binding commitments existing on, the Issue Date or an Investment consisting of any extension, modification or renewal of any Investment existing on the Issue Date; provided that the amount of any such Investment may be increased (x) as required by the terms of such Investment as in existence on the Issue Date or (y) as otherwise permitted under this Indenture;

 

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(6) loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries (i) in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate outstanding amount (valued at the time of the making thereof, and without giving effect to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) not to exceed $30 million at the time of Incurrence, (ii) in respect of payroll payments and expenses in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in connection with such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM solely to the extent that the amount of such loans and advances shall be contributed to the Company in cash as common equity;

(7) any Investment acquired by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable, or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

(8) Hedging Obligations permitted under Section 4.03(b)(x);

(9) any Investment by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Similar Business having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the sum of (x) the greater of $100 million and 4.0% of Total Assets at the time such Investment is made, plus (y) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) additional Investments by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (10) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the sum of (x) the greater of $150 million and 6.0% of Total Asset as of the date of such Investment plus (y) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (10) is made in any Person that is not RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (10) for so long as such Person continues to be RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(11) loans and advances to officers, directors or employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or to fund such person’s purchase of Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM;

 

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(12) Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of RYAM (other than Disqualified Stock) or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM, as applicable; provided , however , that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (3) of the definition of “Cumulative Credit”;

(13) any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.07(b) (except transactions described in clauses (ii), (iv), (vi), (ix)(B) and (xvi) of Section 4.07(b));

(14) guarantees issued in accordance with Section 4.03 and Section 4.11 including, without limitation, any guarantee or other obligation issued or incurred under the Credit Agreement in connection with any letter of credit issued for the account of RYAM or any of its Subsidiaries (including with respect to the issuance of, or payments in respect of drawings under, such letters of credit);

(15) Investments consisting of or to finance purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials, services or equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property;

(16) any Investment in a Securitization Subsidiary or any Investment by a Securitization Subsidiary in any other Person in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Securitization Financing or any related Indebtedness;

(17) any Investment in an entity which is not a Restricted Subsidiary to which a Restricted Subsidiary sells Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Financing;

(18) Investments of a Restricted Subsidiary acquired after the Issue Date or of an entity merged into, amalgamated with, or consolidated with RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a transaction that is not prohibited by Section 5.01 after the Issue Date to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation and were in existence on the date of such acquisition, merger, amalgamation or consolidation;

(19) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

(20) advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(21) any Investment in any Subsidiary of RYAM or any joint venture in connection with intercompany cash management arrangements or related activities arising in the ordinary course of business; and

(22) the purchase of Equity Interests in each of CoBank, ACB and the other applicable Farm Credit Lenders (or their designated affiliates) in accordance with each such Farm Credit Lender’s applicable bylaws and capital plan in connection with the Credit Agreement expected to be entered into prior to the Distribution Date.

 

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Permitted Liens ” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) pledges or deposits and other Liens granted by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(2) Liens imposed by law, such as landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other like Liens securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;

(3) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(4) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar obligations issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(5) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, trackage rights, special assessments, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

(6) (A) Liens on assets of a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor securing Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03;

(B) Liens securing (x) Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) and (y) any other Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under this Indenture if, as of the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, and after giving pro forma effect thereto and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated First Lien NetLeverage Ratio of RYAM does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00; and

(C) Liens securing Obligations in respect of Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred pursuant to clause (iv), (xiv) (to the extent such guarantees are issued in respect of any Indebtedness) or (xvi) of Section 4.03(b);

 

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(7) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than Liens in favor of the lenders under the Credit Agreement);

(8) Liens on assets, property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens (other than Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xvi)) are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided , further , however , that such Liens (other than Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xvi)) may not extend to any other property owned by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than pursuant to after-acquired property clauses in effect with respect to such Lien at the time of acquisition on property of the type that would have been subject to such Lien notwithstanding the occurrence of such acquisition);

(9) Liens on assets or property at the time RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the assets or property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that such Liens (other than Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xvi)) are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided , further , however , that the Liens (other than Liens to secure Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(xvi)) may not extend to any other property owned by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than pursuant to after-acquired property clauses in effect with respect to such Lien at the time of acquisition on property of the type that would have been subject to such Lien notwithstanding the occurrence of such acquisition);

(10) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary owing to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(11) Liens securing Hedging Obligations not incurred in violation of this Indenture; provided that with respect to Hedging Obligations relating to Indebtedness, such Lien extends only to the property securing such Indebtedness (other than Hedging Obligations constituting First Priority Obligations);

(12) Liens on inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of documentary letters of credit, bank guarantees or bankers’ acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

(13) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

(14) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases or other obligations not constituting Indebtedness;

(15) Liens in favor of RYAM, the Company or any Guarantor;

(16) Liens on assets of the type specified in the definition of “Securitization Financing” Incurred in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing;

(17) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

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(18) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(19) leases or subleases, and licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to intellectual property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business;

(20) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (15) and (25) of this definition; provided , however , that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property (including any after acquired property to the extent it would have been subject to the original Lien) that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on and accessions to such property, proceeds and products thereof, customary security deposits and any other assets pursuant to the after-acquired property clauses to the extent such assets secured (or would have secured) the Indebtedness being refinanced, refunded, extended, renewed or replaced), and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) or, if greater, committed amount of the applicable Indebtedness described under clauses (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), (15) and (25) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under this Indenture, (B) unpaid accrued interest and premiums (including tender premiums), and (C) an amount necessary to pay any underwriting discounts, defeasance costs, commissions, fees and expenses related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement; provided , further , however , that in the case of any Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal of Indebtedness secured by a Lien referred to in clause (6)(B) or (6)(C), the principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred for such refinancing, refunding, extension or renewal shall be deemed secured by a Lien under clause (6)(B) or (6)(C) and not this clause (20) for purposes of determining the principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (6)(B) or (6)(C);

(21) Liens on equipment of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary granted in the ordinary course of business to RYAM’s, the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s client at which such equipment is located;

(22) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(23) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or similar arrangements for the sale or purchase of goods entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(24) Liens incurred to secure cash management services or to implement cash pooling arrangements in the ordinary course of business;

(25) other Liens securing obligations the outstanding principal amount of which does not, taken together with the principal amount of all other obligations secured by Liens incurred under this clause (25) that are at that time outstanding, exceed the greater of $125 million and 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of incurrence;

(26) any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to Capital Stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement securing obligations of such joint venture or pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement;

 

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(27) any amounts held by a trustee in the funds and accounts under an indenture securing any revenue bonds issued for the benefit of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, under any indenture issued in escrow pursuant to customary escrow arrangements pending the release thereof, or under any indenture pursuant to customary discharge, redemption or defeasance provisions;

(28) Liens (i) arising by virtue of any statutory or common law provisions relating to banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a depository or financial institution, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

(29) Liens (i) in favor of credit card companies pursuant to agreements therewith and (ii) in favor of customers;

(30) Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Lien; provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Lien shall not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Lien prior to such replacement, extension or renewal; provided , further , that the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Lien are permitted under this Indenture;

(31) Liens that are contractual rights of set-off relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers, suppliers or service providers of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(32) in the case of real property that constitutes a leasehold interest, any Lien to which the fee simple interest (or any superior leasehold interest) is subject;

(33) agreements to subordinate any interest of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any accounts receivable or other prices arising from inventory consigned by RYAM, the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(34) Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents under clause (4) of the definition thereof; and

(35) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable unearned insurance premiums.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

Preferred Stock ” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

Pre-Spin Transactions ” means, collectively, the transactions to be undertaken by RYAM, the Company and their Subsidiaries concurrently with, prior to, or within ten (10) business days after the

 

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Distribution Date, including (i) transfers of any assets of RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries or any Equity Interests in RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries, (ii) any dividends or distributions by the Company to Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. or by RYAM to Rayonier Inc., (iii) the repayment of any intercompany indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries to Rayonier Inc. or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) the assumption of liabilities by RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, (v) any transaction described in the Form 10 and (vi) any related intercompany transactions that RYAM or the Company deems reasonably necessary or beneficial in connection therewith.

Public Company Compliance ” means compliance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the rules of national securities exchange listed companies (in each case, as applicable to companies with equity or debt securities held by the public), including procuring directors’ and officers’ insurance, legal and other professional fees, and listing fees.

Qualified Securitization Financing ” means any Securitization Financing of a Securitization Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

(1) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined in good faith that such Qualified Securitization Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is in the aggregate economically fair and reasonable to the Company and the Securitization Subsidiary;

(2) all sales of Securitization Assets and related assets to the Securitization Subsidiary are made at Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company); and

(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Company) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

The grant of a security interest in any Securitization Assets of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Securitization Subsidiary) to secure Bank Indebtedness, Indebtedness in respect of the Notes or any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect to the Notes shall not be deemed a Qualified Securitization Financing.

Rating Agency ” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15cs-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

Record Date ” has the meaning specified in Exhibit A hereto.

Restricted Cash ” means cash and Cash Equivalents held by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries that would appear as “restricted” on a consolidated balance sheet of RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Restricted Investment ” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person. Unless otherwise indicated in this Indenture, all references

 

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to Restricted Subsidiaries shall (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date, mean Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company and RYAM and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, mean Restricted Subsidiaries of RYAM (other than the Company).

Sale/Leaseback Transaction ” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between any of RYAM, the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Secured Bank Indebtedness ” means any Bank Indebtedness that is secured by a Permitted Lien incurred or deemed incurred pursuant to clause (6) of the definition of Permitted Liens, as designated by the Company to be included in this definition.

Secured Indebtedness ” means any Consolidated Total Indebtedness secured by a Lien.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

Securitization Assets ” means any of the following assets (or interests therein) from time to time originated, acquired or otherwise owned by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in which RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has any rights or interests, in each case, without regard to where such assets or interests are located: (1) accounts receivable (including any bills of exchange), (2) royalty and other similar payments made related to the use of trade names and other intellectual property, business support, training and other services, (3) revenues related to distribution and merchandising of the products of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, (4) intellectual property rights relating to the generation of any of the foregoing types of assets, (5) parcels of or interests in real property, together with all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and equipment, incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof and (6) any other assets and property to the extent customarily included in securitization transactions of the relevant type in the applicable jurisdictions (as determined by the Company in good faith).

Securitization Fees ” means distributions or payments made directly or by means of discounts with respect to any participation interests issued or sold in connection with, and all other fees paid to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with, any Securitization Financing.

Securitization Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries pursuant to which RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to (a) a Securitization Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by RYAM or any of its Subsidiaries); and (b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Securitization Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any Securitization Assets (whether now existing or arising in the future) of RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including, without limitation, all collateral securing such Securitization Assets, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such Securitization Assets, proceeds of such Securitization Assets and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving Securitization Assets and any Hedging Obligations entered into by RYAM, the Company or any such Subsidiary in connection with such Securitization Assets.

 

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Securitization Repurchase Obligation ” means any obligation of a seller of Securitization Assets in a Qualified Securitization Financing to repurchase Securitization Assets arising as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a Securitization Asset or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

Securitization Subsidiary ” means a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary (or another Person formed for the purposes of engaging in Qualified Securitization Financing with RYAM or the Company in which RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries makes an Investment and to which RYAM, the Company or any their Subsidiary transfers Securitization Assets and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of Securitization Assets of RYAM, the Company and their Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of RYAM or the Company (as provided below) as a Securitization Subsidiary and:

(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of which (i) is guaranteed by RYAM, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates RYAM, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or (iii) subjects any property or asset of RYAM, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

(b) with which neither RYAM, the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Company reasonably believes to be no less favorable to RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Company (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings); and

(c) to which neither RYAM, the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results (other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings).

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of RYAM or the Company, as applicable, shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of RYAM or the Company giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

Separation ” means the separation of (x) the business, operations and activities of the Performance Fibers segment of Rayonier Inc. conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by Rayonier Inc., RYAM or any of their current or former respective subsidiaries and any terminated, divested or discontinued businesses, operations and activities that, at the time of termination, divestiture or discontinuation, primarily related to the foregoing as then conducted from (y) all other businesses, operations and activities (whether or not such businesses, operations or activities are or have been terminated, divested or discontinued) conducted at any time prior to the Effective Time by Rayonier Inc. or its subsidiaries.

 

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Significant Subsidiary ” means (a) at all time prior to the Contribution Date, any Initial Subsidiary Guarantor and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provisions).

Similar Business ” means any business (x) the majority of whose revenues are derived from business or activities conducted by RYAM, the Company and their Subsidiaries on the Issue Date, (y) that is a natural outgrowth or reasonable extension, development, expansion of any business or activities conducted by RYAM, the Company and their subsidiaries on the Issue Date or any business similar, reasonably related, incidental, complementary or ancillary to any of the foregoing and (z) any business that in the Company’s good faith business judgment constitutes a reasonable diversification of businesses conducted by RYAM, the Company and their Subsidiaries.

Spinoff ” means the distribution by Rayonier Inc., on a pro rata basis, of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of RYAM owned by Rayonier Inc. to holders of common shares of Rayonier Inc. on the applicable record date.

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and guarantees of performance entered into by RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries which the Company has determined in good faith to be customary in a Securitization Financing including, without limitation, those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Securitization Subsidiary, it being understood that any Securitization Repurchase Obligation shall be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

Subordinated Indebtedness ” means (a) with respect to the Company, any Indebtedness of the Company which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, and (b) with respect to any Guarantor, any Indebtedness of such Guarantor which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to its Guarantee.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, and (2) any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (y) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Suspension Period ” means the period of time between a Covenant Suspension Event and the related Reversion Date.

Tax Distributions ” means any distributions described in Section 4.04(b)(xii).

 

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TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

Total Assets ” means the total consolidated assets of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of RYAM, calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any subsequent acquisition or disposition of a Person or business. For purposes of calculating Total Assets for RYAM, (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date pro forma effect will be given to the consummation of the Separation, Contribution and Spinoff and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, such calculation shall be made in respect of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries.

Transactions ” means the (a) the issuance and sale of the Notes pursuant to the Offering Memorandum, (b) the entering into of the Credit Agreement and the making of borrowings thereunder and (c) the Separation and Spinoff (and the transactions related thereto) as described in the Form 10.

Treasury Rate ” means, as of the applicable redemption date, as determined by the Company, the yield to maturity as of such redemption date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such redemption date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such redemption date to June 1, 2019; provided , however , that if the period from such redemption date to June 1, 2019, as applicable, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Trust Officer ” means:

(1) any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, and

(2) who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Trustee ” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items.

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means:

(1) (a) at all times prior to the Contribution Date, any Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company and (b) from and after the Contribution Date, any Subsidiary of RYAM (other than the Company) that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of RYAM or the Company, as applicable, in the manner provided below; and

(2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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RYAM or the Company may designate any Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company, as applicable (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless at the time of such designation such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated, in each case at the time of such designation; provided, however, that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries unless otherwise permitted under Section 4.04; provided , further , however , that either:

(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or

(b) if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under Section 4.04.

RYAM or the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided , however , that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

(x) (1) RYAM could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a) or (2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of RYAM would be no less than such ratio immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation, and

(y) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

Any such designation by RYAM or the Company shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof of RYAM or the Company, as applicable, giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

U.S. Government Obligations ” means securities that are:

(1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or

(2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in each case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depository receipt.

Voting Stock ” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

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Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by (2) the sum of all such payments.

Wholly Owned Domestic Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary ” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or shares required pursuant to applicable law) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

SECTION 1.02 Other Definitions .

 

Term

  

Section

$

   1.03(j)

Affiliate Transaction

   4.07(a)

Agent Members

   Appendix A

Asset Sale Offer

   4.06(b)

Authentication Order

   2.03

Bankruptcy Law

   6.01

Change of Control Offer

   4.08(b)

Company

   Preamble

covenant defeasance option

   8.01(b)

Covenant Suspension Event

   4.16

Custodian

   6.01

Definitive Note

   Appendix A

Depository

   Appendix A

Event of Default

   6.01

Excess Proceeds

   4.06(b)

Global Notes

   Appendix A

Global Notes Legend

   Appendix A

Guaranteed Obligations

   12.01(a)

IAI

   Appendix A

incorporated provision

   13.01

Increased Amount

   4.12(d)

Initial Notes

   Preamble

legal defeasance option

   8.01(b)

Notes

   Preamble

Notes Custodian

   Appendix A

Notice of Default

   6.01

Offer Period

   4.06(d)

Paying Agent

   2.04(a)

Permitted Jurisdictions

   5.01(a)

 

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Term

  

Section

protected purchaser

   2.08

QIB

   Appendix A

Refinancing Indebtedness

   4.03(b)(xv)

Refunding Capital Stock

   4.04(b)(ii)

Registrar

   2.04(a)

Regulation S

   Appendix A

Regulation S Global Notes

   Appendix A

Regulation S Notes

   Appendix A

Regulation S Permanent Global Note

   Appendix A

Regulation S Temporary Global Note

   Appendix A

Restricted Notes Legend

   Appendix A

Restricted Payments

   4.04(a)

Restricted Period

   Appendix A

Retired Capital Stock

   4.04(b)(ii)

Reversion Date

   4.16

Rule 144A

   Appendix A

Rule 144A Global Notes

   Appendix A

Rule 144A Notes

   Appendix A

Rule 501

   Appendix A

RYAM

   Preamble

Second Commitment

   4.06(b)

Special Mandatory Redemption

   3.09(a)

Special Mandatory Redemption Date

   3.09(b)

Special Mandatory Redemption Price

   3.09(a)

Successor Company

   5.01(a)(i)

Successor Guarantor

   5.1(b)(i)

Suspended Covenants

   4.16

Tax Group

   4.04(b)(xii)

Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes

   Appendix A

Transfer Restricted Global Notes

   Appendix A

Transfer Restricted Notes

   Appendix A

Trigger Date

   3.09(a)

Trustee

   Preamble

U.S. dollars

   1.03(j)

Unrestricted Definitive Notes

   Appendix A

Unrestricted Global Notes

   Appendix A

SECTION 1.03 Rules of Construction . Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

(d) “including” means including without limitation;

 

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(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(f) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(g) the principal amount of any non-interest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(h) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

(i) unless otherwise specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(j) “ $ ” and “ U.S. dollars ” each refer to United States dollars, or such other money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

ARTICLE II

THE NOTES

SECTION 2.01 Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture on the Issue Date is $550,000,000.

The Company may from time to time after the Issue Date issue Additional Notes under this Indenture in an unlimited principal amount, so long as (i) the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Additional Notes is at such time permitted by Section 4.03 and (ii) such Additional Notes are issued in compliance with the other applicable provisions of this Indenture. With respect to any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 3.08, 4.06(e), 4.08(c) or Appendix A), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and (b) (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officers’ Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture;

(2) the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue; and

(3) if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.2 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be exchanged

 

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in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof.

If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or an indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.

The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes may, at the Company’s option, be treated as a single class of securities for all purposes under this Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number, if applicable.

SECTION 2.02 Form and Dating . Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A , which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (i) Initial Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication and (ii) any Additional Notes (if issued as Transfer Restricted Notes) and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage ( provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without interest coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, provided that Notes may be issued in denominations of less than $2,000 solely to accommodate book-entry positions that have been created by the Depository in denominations of less than $2,000.

SECTION 2.03 Execution and Authentication . The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company (an “ Authentication Order ”) (a) Initial Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000 and (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount to be determined at the time of issuance and specified therein. Such Authentication Order shall specify the amount of separate Note certificates to be authenticated, the principal amount of each of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes or Additional Notes, the registered holder of each of the Notes and delivery instructions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or Appendix A, any issuance of Additional Notes after the Issue Date shall be in a principal amount of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or PDF signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent as described immediately below) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

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The Trustee may appoint one or more authenticating agents reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Trust Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Company. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.04 Registrar and Paying Agent .

(a) The Company shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “ Registrar ”) and (ii) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (the “ Paying Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “ Registrar ” includes any co-registrars. The term “ Paying Agent ” includes the Paying Agent and any additional paying agents. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and the Notes Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.

(b) The Company may enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company, RYAM or any their wholly owned domestically organized Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

(c) The Company may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Company and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Registrar or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Company and the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee may resign as Paying Agent or Registrar only if the Trustee also resigns as Trustee in accordance with Section 7.08.

SECTION 2.05 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust . Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of and interest on any Note, the Company shall deposit with each Paying Agent (or if RYAM, the Company or any of their wholly owned domestically organized Subsidiaries is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that a Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of holders or the Trustee all money held by a Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If RYAM, the Company or any of their wholly owned domestically organized Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.05, a Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

 

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SECTION 2.06 Holder Lists . The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of holders.

SECTION 2.07 Transfer and Exchange . The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A . When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements (including, among other things, the furnishing of appropriate endorsements and transfer documents) therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Company shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of Notes to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

None of the Trustee, Registrar or Paying Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.

 

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SECTION 2.08 Replacement Notes . If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the holder (a) satisfies the Company and the Trustee within a reasonable time after such holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company and the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “ protected purchaser ”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Company and the Trustee. Such holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee, with respect to the Trustee, and the Company, with respect to the Company, to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar, as applicable, from any loss or liability that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment. The Company and the Trustee may charge the holder for their expenses in replacing a Note (including without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements in replacing such Note). In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.

Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Company.

The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.

SECTION 2.09 Outstanding Notes . Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Subject to Section 13.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08 (other than a mutilated Note surrendered for replacement), it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser. A mutilated Note ceases to be outstanding upon surrender of such Note and replacement thereof pursuant to Section 2.08.

If a Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and no Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.10 Cancellation . The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and each Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures. The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes they have redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. The Trustee shall not authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.11 Defaulted Interest . If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, the Company shall pay the defaulted interest then borne by the Notes ( plus interest on such defaulted

 

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interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the Persons who are holders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed to each affected holder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.12 CUSIP Numbers, ISINs, Etc . The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use any such CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided , however , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption, that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall advise the Trustee in writing of any change in any such CUSIP numbers, ISINs and “Common Code” numbers.

SECTION 2.13 Calculation of Principal Amount of Notes . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the principal amount of the Notes at such date of determination. With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes, such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the holders of which have so consented, by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, and Section 13.06 of this Indenture. Any calculation of the Applicable Premium made pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall be made by the Company and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate.

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01 Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed, in whole or from time to time in part, subject to the conditions and at the redemption prices set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Note set forth in Exhibit A hereto, which is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

SECTION 3.02 Applicability of Article . Redemption of Notes at the election of the Company or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and this Article III.

SECTION 3.03 Notices to Trustee . If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Note, the Company shall notify the Trustee in an Officers’ Certificate of (i) the Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price. The Company shall give notice to the Trustee provided for in this paragraph at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date if the redemption is a redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note. The Company may also include a request in such Officers’ Certificate that the Trustee give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense and setting forth the information to be stated

 

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in such notice as provided in Section 3.05. Any such notice may be canceled if written notice from the Company of such cancellation is actually received by the Trustee on the Business Day immediately prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to any holder or otherwise delivered in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depository and shall thereby be void and of no effect. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.04.

SECTION 3.04 Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed . In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed (and the Company shall notify the Trustee of any such listing), or if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable or by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and, in such manner that complies with the requirements of the Depository, if applicable); provided that no Notes of $2,000 (and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) or less shall be redeemed in part. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Notes that have denominations larger than $2,000. Notes and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $2,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.05 Notice of Optional Redemption .

(a) At least 30 but not more than 60 days before a redemption date pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Note, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, or delivered electronically if held by the Depository, a notice of redemption to each holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), except that redemption notices may be mailed or otherwise delivered more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article VIII.

Any such notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:

(i) the redemption date;

(ii) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to, but excluding, the redemption date;

(iii) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(iv) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest;

(v) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers and principal amounts of the particular Notes to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(vi) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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(vii) the CUSIP number, ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and

(viii) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number or ISIN and/or “Common Code” number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.

(b) At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall deliver the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense. In such event, the Company shall notify the Trustee of such request at least seven (7) Business Days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date such notice is to be provided to holders. Such notice may not be canceled once delivered to holders of Notes.

SECTION 3.06 Effect of Notice of Redemption . Once notice of redemption is mailed or otherwise delivered in accordance with Section 3.05, Notes called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, except as provided in the final paragraph of paragraph 5 of the Notes. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date; provided , however , that if the redemption date is after a regular Record Date and on or prior to the next Interest Payment Date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant Record Date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other holder.

SECTION 3.07 Deposit of Redemption Price . With respect to any Notes, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if RYAM, the Company or any of their wholly owned domestically organized Subsidiaries is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Company has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed, unless the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.08 Notes Redeemed in Part . If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Upon surrender and cancellation of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the holder (at the Company’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered and cancelled.

SECTION 3.09 Special Mandatory Redemption .

(a) In the event that the Distribution Date does not occur on or prior to September 15, 2014, or the Spinoff is abandoned at any time prior thereto (September 15, 2014 or such earlier date of abandonment, the “ Trigger Date ”), then the Company will redeem in whole and not in part (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption ”) the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest from the Issue Date to, but excluding, the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Price ”) (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date). For the avoidance of doubt, it is acknowledged and agreed that in no event shall the Trustee have any responsibility to determine the Special Mandatory Redemption Price.

 

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(b) The Company shall cause a notice of special mandatory redemption to be mailed to the Trustee and mailed, or delivered electronically if held by the Depository, to the holders of the Notes at their registered addresses in accordance with clauses (i) through (viii) (except clause (v)) of Section 3.05(a) no later than the business day following the Trigger Date, which shall provide for the redemption of the Notes on the third business day (the “ Special Mandatory Redemption Date ”) following the date of such notice. Upon the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of all notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date with the Trustee or the Paying Agent on or before such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, the Notes will cease to bear interest and all rights under the Notes shall terminate.

(c) The provisions described in this Section 3.09 may not be waived or modified without the written consent of all holders of the Notes.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01 Payment of Notes; Segregated Account . The Company shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. An installment of principal of or interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful.

The Company shall maintain the proceeds of the Initial Notes in a segregated account to fund any redemption required by Section 3.09 until such time as the Company shall have made a dividend or other distribution of such proceeds to Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. in connection with the Separation.

SECTION 4.02 Reports and Other Information .

(a) Notwithstanding that RYAM and the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, RYAM will file with the SEC (and upon written request provide the Trustee and holders with copies thereof, without cost to each holder, within 5 days after receipt of such request):

(i) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers, annual reports on Form 10-K (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form), except to the extent permitted to be excluded by the SEC;

(ii) within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations for non-accelerated filers (except for any delay permitted by Rule 13a-13(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act), reports on Form 10-Q (or any successor or comparable form) containing the information

 

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required to be contained therein (or required in such successor or comparable form), except to the extent permitted to be excluded by the SEC; provided that such report for the fiscal quarter ending on June 30, 2014 shall not be required to be filed (or provided to the Trustee or the holders, if so requested) any earlier than 90 days after the end of such fiscal quarter;

(iii) promptly from time to time after the occurrence of an event required to be therein reported (and in any event within the time period specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations), such other reports on Form 8-K (or any successor or comparable form), except to the extent permitted to be excluded by the SEC; and

(iv) subject to the foregoing, any other information, documents and other reports which RYAM would be required to file with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

provided , however , that RYAM shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event RYAM will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the holders, in each case, within 5 days after the time RYAM would be required to file such information with the SEC if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as provided above; provided , further , that such reports will not be required to contain the separate financial information for the Company or the Guarantors contemplated by Rule 3-10 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC (or any successor provision); provided, however , that textual disclosure of assets, revenue, EBITDA and liabilities of non-Guarantors (if any) shall be included. In addition to providing such information to the Trustee, RYAM shall make available to the holders, prospective investors, market makers affiliated with any initial purchaser of the Notes and securities analysts the information required to be provided pursuant to the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), by posting such information to its website or on IntraLinks or any comparable online data system or website, it being understood that the Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine if such information has been posted on any website.

If RYAM or the Company has designated any of their Subsidiaries as an Unrestricted Subsidiary and if any such Unrestricted Subsidiary or group of Unrestricted Subsidiaries, if taken together as one Subsidiary, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of RYAM, then the annual and quarterly information required by clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4.02(a) shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, of the financial condition and results of operations of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

(b) In the event that:

(i) the rules and regulations of the SEC permit RYAM and any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to report at such parent entity’s level on a consolidated basis and such parent entity is not engaged in any business in any material respect other than incidental to its ownership, directly or indirectly, of the capital stock of RYAM, or

(ii) any direct or indirect parent of RYAM is or becomes a Guarantor of the Notes,

consolidating reporting at such parent entity’s level in a manner consistent with that described in this Section 4.02 for RYAM will satisfy this Section 4.02, and RYAM is permitted to satisfy its obligations in this Section 4.02 with respect to financial information relating to RYAM by furnishing financial information relating to such direct or indirect parent; provided that such financial information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating

 

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to such direct or indirect parent and any of its Subsidiaries other than RYAM and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the information relating to RYAM and its Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand.

(c) In addition, RYAM will make such information available to prospective investors upon request. In addition, RYAM shall, after the Distribution Date and for so long as any Notes remain outstanding during any period when it is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or otherwise permitted to furnish the SEC with certain information pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) of the Exchange Act, furnish to the holders of the Notes and to prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, RYAM will be deemed to have furnished the reports referred to in this Section 4.02 to the Trustee and the holders if RYAM has filed such reports with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system and such reports are publicly available, it being understood that the Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine if such information has been posted on any website.

(e) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.02 is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt thereof shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including RYAM’s or the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

SECTION 4.03 Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock .

(a) (i) RYAM and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock; and (ii) RYAM and the Company shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any Guarantor) to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided , however , that RYAM, the Company and any Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock, and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness), issue shares of Disqualified Stock or issue shares of Preferred Stock, in each case if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of RYAM for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been at least 2.00 to 1.00 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

(b) The limitations set forth in Section 4.03(a) shall not apply to:

(i) the Incurrence by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness (including under any Credit Agreement and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder) up to an aggregate principal amount outstanding at the time of Incurrence that does not exceed an amount equal to the sum of (x) $1,050.0 million plus (y) an additional aggregate principal amount of Consolidated Total Indebtedness that at the time of Incurrence does not cause the Consolidated First Lien Net Leverage Ratio for RYAM for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, determined on a pro forma basis, to exceed 3.00 to 1.00; provided that for purposes of determining the amount of Indebtedness that may be incurred under this Section 4.03(b)(i)(y), all Indebtedness incurred under this Section 4.03(b)(i) shall be treated as Secured Indebtedness constituting First-Priority Obligations;

 

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(ii) the Incurrence by RYAM, the Company and the other Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Initial Notes and the Guarantees;

(iii) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4.03(b));

(iv) Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, Disqualified Stock issued by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock issued by any Restricted Subsidiary to finance (whether prior to or within 270 days after) the acquisition, lease, construction, repair, replacement or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets) and Attributable Debt in respect of any sale and leaseback arrangements not in violation of this Indenture in an aggregate principal amount that, when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (iv), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof Incurred pursuant to clause (xv) below, does not exceed $125.0 million at any one time outstanding (plus, in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness, the Additional Refinancing Amount);

(v) Indebtedness Incurred by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bank guarantees issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other benefits to employees or former employees or their families or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, and letters of credit in connection with the maintenance of, or pursuant to the requirements of, environmental law or permits or licenses from governmental authorities, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims;

(vi) Indebtedness arising from agreements of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of acquisition or purchase price or similar obligations (including earn-outs), in each case, Incurred or assumed in connection with the Transactions, any Investments or any acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary not prohibited by this Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(vii) Indebtedness of RYAM or the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary, RYAM or the Company; provided that (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of RYAM, the Company and their Subsidiaries) any such Indebtedness owed to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor is subordinated in right of payment to the obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Guarantee of RYAM, as applicable; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien but not the transfer thereof upon foreclosure) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (vii);

 

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(viii) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary that holds such shares of Preferred Stock of another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock not permitted by this clause (viii);

(ix) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; provided that if a Guarantor incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor (except in respect of intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management, tax and accounting operations of RYAM, the Company and their Subsidiaries), such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided , further , that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary holding such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to RYAM, the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary or any pledge of such Indebtedness constituting a Permitted Lien but not the transfer thereof upon foreclosure) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness not permitted by this clause (ix);

(x) Hedging Obligations that are not incurred for speculative purposes but (A) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of this Indenture to be outstanding; (B) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges; or (C) for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases or sales and, in each case, extensions or replacements thereof;

(xi) obligations (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, warehouse receipts and similar instruments) in respect of performance, bid, appeal and surety bonds, completion guarantees and similar obligations provided by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business or consistent with past practice or industry practice;

(xii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of RYAM or the Company or Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference, which when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii), together with any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to clause (xv) below, does not exceed the greater of $125 million and 5.0% of Total Assets at the time of incurrence (plus, in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness, the Additional Refinancing Amount) (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (xii) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xii) but shall be deemed Incurred for purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which RYAM, the Company, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have Incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xii);

 

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(xiii) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount or liquidation preference at any time outstanding, together with Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof incurred pursuant to clause (xv) hereof, not greater than 100.0% of the net cash proceeds received by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries since immediately after the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent entity of RYAM (which proceeds are retained by RYAM or contributed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) or cash contributed to the capital of RYAM (in each case other than proceeds of Disqualified Stock or sales of Equity Interests to, or contributions received from RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries) to the extent such net cash proceeds or cash have not been applied to make Restricted Payments or to make other Investments, payments or exchanges pursuant to Section 4.04(b) or to make Permitted Investments (other than Permitted Investments specified in clauses (1) and (3) of the definition thereof) (plus, in the case of any Refinancing Indebtedness, the Additional Refinancing Amount) (it being understood that any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (xiii) shall cease to be deemed incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (xiii) but shall be deemed incurred for the purposes of Section 4.03(a) from and after the first date on which RYAM, the Company, or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, could have incurred such Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) without reliance upon this clause (xiii));

(xiv) any guarantee by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of this Indenture; provided that (A) if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of RYAM or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantee, as applicable, substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, and (B) if such guarantee is of Indebtedness of the Company, such guarantee is Incurred in accordance with, or not in contravention of, Section 4.11 solely to the extent Section 4.11 is applicable;

(xv) the Incurrence by RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, or by any Restricted Subsidiary of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, that serves to refund, refinance or defease any Indebtedness Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued as permitted under Section 4.03(a) and clauses (i)(y), (ii), (iii), (iv), (xii), (xiii), (xv) and (xvi) of this Section 4.03(b) up to the outstanding principal amount (or, if applicable, the liquidation preference, face amount, or the like) or, if greater, committed amount (only to the extent the committed amount could have been Incurred on the date of initial Incurrence and was deemed Incurred at such time for the purposes of this Section 4.03) of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, in each case at the time such Indebtedness was Incurred or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or clauses (i)(y), (ii), (iii), (iv), (xii), (xiii), (xv) and (xvi) of this Section 4.03(b), or any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, plus any additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock Incurred to pay premiums (including tender premiums), accrued and unpaid interest, expenses, defeasance costs and fees in connection therewith (subject to the following proviso, “ Refinancing Indebtedness ”) prior to its respective maturity; provided , however , that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

(1) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock being refunded, refinanced or defeased and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock being refunded or refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

 

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(2) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances (a) Indebtedness junior to the Notes or a Guarantee, as applicable, such Refinancing Indebtedness is junior to the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, or (b) Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, such Refinancing Indebtedness is Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock; and

(3) shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor, or (y) Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

(xvi) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of (A) RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary incurred to finance an acquisition or (B) Persons that are acquired by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or are merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (so long as such Indebtedness is not incurred in contemplation of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or amalgamation); provided that after giving effect to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation, either:

(1) RYAM would be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of RYAM would be no less than immediately prior to such acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation;

(xvii) Indebtedness Incurred by a Securitization Subsidiary in a Qualified Securitization Financing that is not recourse to RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Securitization Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

(xviii) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its Incurrence;

(xix) Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary supported by a letter of credit or bank guarantee issued pursuant to Bank Indebtedness, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such letter of credit;

(xx) [reserved];

(xxi) Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of (A) the financing of insurance premiums or (B) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(xxii) Indebtedness consisting of Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to current or former officers, directors and employees thereof or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to the extent described in Section 4.04(b)(iv); and

(xxiii) Indebtedness in respect of Obligations of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services; provided that such obligations are incurred in connection with open accounts extended by suppliers on customary trade terms in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or any Hedging Obligations.

(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03:

(1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (i) through (xxiii) of Section 4.03(b) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a), then the Company may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if Incurred at such later time), such item of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this Section 4.03; provided that Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement expected to be entered into prior to the Distribution Date shall be incurred under clause (i) of Section 4.03(b) above and may not be reclassified;

(2) at the time of incurrence, the Company will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in more than one of the categories of Indebtedness described in Section 4.03(a) or clauses (i) through (xxiii) of Section 4.03(b) (or any portion thereof) without giving pro forma effect to the Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to any other clause or paragraph of Section 4.03 (or any portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to any such clause or paragraph (or any portion thereof); and

(3) in connection with the Incurrence (including with respect to any Incurrence on a revolving basis pursuant to a revolving loan commitment) of any Indebtedness under clause (i)(y) of Section 4.03(b), RYAM, the Company or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary may, by notice to the Trustee at any time prior to the actual Incurrence of such Indebtedness designate such Incurrence as having occurred on the date of such prior notice, and any related subsequent actual Incurrence will be deemed for all purposes under this Indenture to have been Incurred on the date of such prior notice.

Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, amortization of original issue discount, the accretion of liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock for purposes of this Section 4.03. Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the Incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 4.03.

 

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For purposes of determining compliance with any U.S. dollar-denominated restriction on the Incurrence of Indebtedness, the U.S. dollar-equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was Incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first Incurred (whichever yields the lower U.S. dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt. However, if the Indebtedness is Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and the refinancing would cause the applicable U.S. dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of the refinancing, the U.S. dollar-denominated restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of the refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness being refinanced.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.03, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur pursuant to this Section 4.03 shall not be deemed to be exceeded, with respect to any outstanding Indebtedness, solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies. The principal amount of any Indebtedness Incurred to refinance other Indebtedness, if Incurred in a different currency from the Indebtedness being refinanced, will be calculated based on the currency exchange rate applicable to the currencies in which the respective Indebtedness is denominated that is in effect on the date of the refinancing.

SECTION 4.04 Limitation on Restricted Payments .

(a) RYAM and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

(i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of any of RYAM’s, the Company’s or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving RYAM (other than (A) dividends or distributions payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of RYAM; or (B) dividends or distributions by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);

(ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM;

(iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, in each case prior to any scheduled repayment or scheduled maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, RYAM or any other Guarantor (other than the payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement of (A) Subordinated Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of such payment, redemption, repurchase, defeasance, acquisition or retirement and (B) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (vii) and (ix) of Section 4.03(b)); or

(iv) make any Restricted Investment

(all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as “ Restricted Payments ”), unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;

 

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(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on a pro forma basis, the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); and

(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (vi)(C), (viii), (xiii)(B) and (xxi) (to the extent provided therein) of Section 4.04(b), but excluding all other Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04(b)), is less than the amount equal to the Cumulative Credit.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(i) the payment of any dividend or distribution or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration or the giving notice of such irrevocable redemption, as applicable, such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) (A) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“ Retired Capital Stock ”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of RYAM, any direct or indirect parent of RYAM, the Company or any Guarantor in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM or contributions to the equity capital of RYAM (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to the Company or a Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company) (collectively, including any such contributions, “ Refunding Capital Stock ”);

(B) the declaration and payment of dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company) of Refunding Capital Stock; and

(C) if immediately prior to the retirement of Retired Capital Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends thereon was permitted under clause (vi) of this Section 4.04(b) and not made pursuant to clause (ii)(B), the declaration and payment of dividends on the Refunding Capital Stock (other than Refunding Capital Stock the proceeds of which were used to redeem, repurchase, retire or otherwise acquire any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect parent of RYAM) in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the aggregate amount of dividends per annum that were declarable and payable on such Retired Capital Stock immediately prior to such retirement;

(iii) the redemption, repurchase, defeasance, or other acquisition or retirement of Subordinated Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or any Guarantor made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, new Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or a Guarantor, which is Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03 so long as:

(A) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such new Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable), plus any accrued and unpaid interest, of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value ( plus the amount of any premium required to be paid under the terms of the instrument governing the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired, plus any tender premiums, plus any defeasance costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith),

 

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(B) such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the related Guarantee of such Guarantor, as the case may be, at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness so purchased, exchanged, redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired for value,

(C) such Indebtedness has a final scheduled maturity date equal to or later than the earlier of (x) the final scheduled maturity date of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, acquired or retired and (y) 91 days following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding, and

(D) such Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time Incurred which is not less than the shorter of (x) the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Subordinated Indebtedness being so redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired and (y) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Subordinated Indebtedness being redeemed, repurchased, defeased, acquired or retired that were due on or after the date that is one year following the last maturity date of any Notes then outstanding were instead due on such date;

(iv) a Restricted Payment to pay for the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition for value of Equity Interests of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM held by any future, present or former employee, director, officer or consultant of RYAM, the Company or any other Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement; provided , however , that the aggregate Restricted Payments made under this clause (iv) do not exceed $20.0 million in any calendar year, with unused amounts in any calendar year being permitted to be carried over to succeeding calendar years; provided , further , however , that such amount in any calendar year may be increased by an amount not to exceed:

(A) the cash proceeds received by RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries from the sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM (to the extent contributed to RYAM) to employees, directors, officers or consultants of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM that occurs after the Issue Date ( provided that the amount of such cash proceeds utilized for any such repurchase, retirement, other acquisition or dividend will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a)(iii)), plus

(B) the cash proceeds of key man life insurance policies received by RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM (to the extent contributed to RYAM), the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date;

provided that RYAM or the Company may elect to apply all or any portion of the aggregate increase contemplated by clauses (A) and (B) above in any calendar year; and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from any present or former employees, directors, officers or consultants of RYAM, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary or the direct or indirect parents of RYAM in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of RYAM or any of its direct or indirect parents will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment for purposes of this Section 4.04 or any other provision of this Indenture;

 

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(v) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary issued or incurred in accordance with Section 4.03;

(vi) (A) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date;

(B) a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of RYAM, the proceeds of which will be used to fund the payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of any direct or indirect parent of RYAM issued after the Issue Date; provided that the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (B) does not exceed the net cash proceeds actually received by RYAM from any such sale of Designated Preferred Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) issued after the Issue Date; and

(C) the declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Capital Stock that is Preferred Stock in excess of the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to Section 4.04(b)(ii); provided , however , in the case of each of clauses (A) and (C) above of this clause (vi), that for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions and treating such Designated Preferred Stock as Indebtedness for borrowed money for such purpose) on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), RYAM would have had a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 2.00 to 1.00;

(vii) Investments in joint ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company), taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (vii) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the sum of (a) the greater of $125.0 million and 5.0% of Total Assets as of the date of such Investment and (b) an amount equal to any returns (including dividends, interest, distributions, returns of principal, profits on sale, repayments, income and similar amounts) actually received in respect of any such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); provided , however , that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (vii) is made in any Person that is not RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Investments and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (vii) for so long as such Person continues to be RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(viii) the payment of dividends on RYAM’s common stock (or a Restricted Payment to any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to fund the payment by such direct or indirect parent of RYAM of dividends on such entity’s common stock) of up to the per annum sum of (a) $40.0 million, plus (b) 6.0% of the net proceeds received after the Issue Date (including, without limitation, contributions to RYAM with the proceeds of sales of common stock of any direct or indirect parent) by RYAM from any public offering of common stock of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM;

 

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(ix) Restricted Payments that are made with (or in an aggregate amount that does not exceed the aggregate amount of) Excluded Contributions;

(x) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount, when taken together with all other Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (x) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $125.0 million and 5.0% of Total Assets as of the date such Restricted Payment is made;

(xi) the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary by, Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xii) with respect to any taxable period for which RYAM, the Company and/or any of their Subsidiaries are members of a consolidated, combined, affiliated, unitary or similar income tax group for U.S. federal and/or applicable state or local income tax purposes of which a direct or indirect parent of RYAM is the common parent (a “ Tax Group ”), distributions to any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to pay the portion of the taxes of such Tax Group attributable to the income of RYAM, the Company and/or their applicable Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed the amount of any U.S. federal, state and/or local income taxes (as applicable) that RYAM, the Company and/or their applicable Subsidiaries would have paid for such taxable period had RYAM, the Company and/or their applicable Subsidiaries been a stand-alone corporate taxpayer or a stand-alone corporate group with respect to such taxes; provided that distributions attributable to the income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be permitted only to the extent that such Unrestricted Subsidiary made distributions to RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for such purpose;

(xiii) any Restricted Payment, if applicable:

(A) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to pay fees and expenses (including franchise or similar taxes) required to maintain its corporate existence, customary salary, bonus and other benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers and employees of any direct or indirect parent of RYAM and general corporate operating and overhead expenses of any direct or indirect parent of RYAM, in each case, to the extent such fees and expenses are attributable to the ownership or operation of RYAM, if applicable, the Company and their Subsidiaries;

(B) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of RYAM, if applicable, to pay interest and/or principal on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and that has been guaranteed by, or is otherwise considered Indebtedness of, RYAM Incurred in accordance with Section 4.03; and

(C) in amounts required for any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to pay fees and expenses related to any equity or debt offering of such parent (whether or not successful);

 

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(xiv) repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

(xv) purchases of Securitization Assets pursuant to a Securitization Repurchase Obligation in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing and the payment or distribution of Securitization Fees;

(xvi) Restricted Payments by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to allow the payment of cash in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares upon the exercise of options or warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Capital Stock of any such Person;

(xvii) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to provisions similar to those described in Section 4.06 and Section 4.08; provided that all Notes tendered by holders of the Notes in connection with a Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as applicable, have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xviii) payments or distributions to dissenting stockholders pursuant to applicable law, pursuant to or in connection with a consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that complies with Section 5.01; provided that as a result of such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer of assets, the Company shall have made a Change of Control Offer (if required by this Indenture) and that all Notes tendered by holders in connection with such Change of Control Offer have been repurchased, redeemed or acquired for value;

(xix) any Restricted Payment used to fund the Transactions and the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions or owed by RYAM, the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company or RYAM or the Restricted Subsidiaries to Affiliates, and any other payments made, including any such payments made to any direct or indirect parent of RYAM to enable it to make payments in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, whether payable on the Issue Date or thereafter, in each case to the extent permitted by Section 4.07;

(xx) any Restricted Payment made as part of the Pre-Spin Transactions and any Restricted Payments described in the Form 10; and

(xxi) other Restricted Payments; provided that the Consolidated Total Net Leverage Ratio of RYAM for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, determined on a pro forma basis, is less than 4.00 to 1.00; provided, further , that any Restricted Payments made in reliance on this clause (xxi) shall reduce the Cumulative Credit in an amount equal to the amount of such Restricted Payment; provided, further , that the Cumulative Credit shall not be reduced below zero as a result thereof;

provided , however , that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (vi)(B), (vii), (x), (xi), (xiii)(B) and (xxi) of this Section 4.04(b), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof; provided , further , that any Restricted Payments made with property other than cash shall be calculated using the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of such property.

 

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(c) As of the Issue Date, all of the Subsidiaries of RYAM and the Company will be Restricted Subsidiaries. Neither RYAM nor the Company will permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

SECTION 4.05 Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . RYAM and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Material Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of the Company or any Material Subsidiary to:

(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (1) on its Capital Stock; or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits; or

(b) make loans or advances to RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect parent of such Material Subsidiary;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(1) (i) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date and (ii) contractual encumbrances or restrictions pursuant to the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Agreement Documents and, in each case, any similar contractual encumbrances effected by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of such agreements or instruments;

(2) this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees;

(3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;

(4) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person and its Subsidiaries, or the property or assets of the Person and its Subsidiaries, so acquired;

(5) contracts or agreements for the sale of assets, including any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03 and Section 4.12 that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

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(7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(9) purchase money obligations for property acquired and Capitalized Lease Obligations in the ordinary course of business;

(10) customary provisions contained in leases, licenses and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(11) any encumbrance or restriction that restricts in a customary manner the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease, license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of any such lease, license (including without limitations, licenses of intellectual property) or other contracts;

(12) any encumbrance or restriction of a Securitization Subsidiary effected in connection with a Qualified Securitization Financing; provided , however , that such restrictions apply only to such Securitization Subsidiary;

(13) other Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (a) of RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary or (b) of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor or a Foreign Subsidiary so long as such encumbrances and restrictions contained in any agreement or instrument will not materially affect the Company’s ability to make anticipated principal or interest payments on the Notes (as determined in good faith by the Company), provided that in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to Section 4.03;

(14) any Restricted Investment not prohibited by Section 4.04 and any Permitted Investment; or

(15) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in Section 4.05(a) or (b) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (14) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Company, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.05, (i) the priority of any Preferred Stock in receiving dividends or liquidating distributions prior to dividends or liquidating distributions being paid on common stock shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make distributions on Capital Stock, (ii) the subordination of loans or advances made to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness Incurred by RYAM, the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances and (iii) the Pre-Spin Transactions shall not be deemed to be an encumbrance or restriction of the type referred to in clauses (a) or (b) above.

 

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SECTION 4.06 Asset Sales .

(a) RYAM and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless (x) RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of, and (y) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of:

(i) any liabilities (as shown on RYAM’s, the Company’s or a Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes or any Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets or that are otherwise cancelled or terminated in connection with the transaction with such transferee,

(ii) any notes or other obligations or other securities or assets received by RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the cash received),

(iii) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary that is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such Asset Sale, to the extent that RYAM, the Company and each other Restricted Subsidiary are released from any guarantee of payment of such Indebtedness in connection with the Asset Sale,

(iv) consideration consisting of Indebtedness of RYAM or the Company (other than Subordinated Indebtedness) received after the Issue Date from Persons who are not RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and

(v) any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company), taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this Section 4.06(a)(v) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of $100.0 million and 4.0% of Total Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Non-cash Consideration (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value),

shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this Section 4.06(a).

(b) Within 365 days after RYAM’s, the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option:

(i) to repay (A) Indebtedness constituting Bank Indebtedness and other Pari Passu Indebtedness that is secured by a Lien permitted under this Indenture (and, if the Indebtedness repaid is revolving credit Indebtedness, to correspondingly reduce commitments with respect thereto), (B) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, (C) Obligations under the Notes or (D) other Pari Passu Indebtedness ( provided that if RYAM, the Company or any Guarantor shall so reduce the Obligations under unsecured Pari Passu Indebtedness under this clause (D), the Company will equally and ratably reduce Notes Obligations pursuant to Section 3.01,

 

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through open-market purchases ( provided that such purchases are at or above 100% of the principal amount thereof or, in the event that the Notes were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof) or by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event that the Notes were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the pro rata principal amount of Notes), in each case other than Indebtedness owed to RYAM, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; or

(ii) to make an investment in any one or more businesses ( provided that if such investment is in the form of the acquisition of Capital Stock of a Person, such acquisition results in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of RYAM or the Company), assets, or property or capital expenditures, in each case (A) used or useful in a Similar Business or (B) that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale or to reimburse the cost of any of the foregoing incurred on or after the date on which the Asset Sale giving rise to such Net Proceeds was contractually committed.

In the case of Section 4.06(b)(ii), a binding commitment shall be treated as a permitted application of the Net Proceeds from the date of such commitment until the 12-month anniversary of the date of the receipt of such Net Proceeds; provided that in the event such binding commitment is later canceled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are so applied, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds unless RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary enters into another binding commitment (a “ Second Commitment ”) within six months of such cancellation or termination of the prior binding commitment; provided , further , that RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may only enter into a Second Commitment under the foregoing provision one time with respect to each Asset Sale and to the extent such Second Commitment is later cancelled or terminated for any reason before such Net Proceeds are applied or are not applied within 180 days of such Second Commitment, then such Net Proceeds shall constitute Excess Proceeds.

Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility, if any, or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this Section 4.06(b) (it being understood that any portion of such Net Proceeds used to make an offer to purchase Notes, as described in clause (i) of this Section 4.06(b), shall be deemed to have been invested whether or not such offer is accepted) will be deemed to constitute “ Excess Proceeds .” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $125.0 million, the Company shall make an offer to all holders of Notes (and, at the option of the Company, to holders of any other Pari Passu Indebtedness) (an “ Asset Sale Offer ”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes (and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness), that is at least $2,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (or, in the event the Notes or other Pari Passu Indebtedness were issued with significant original issue discount, 100% of the accreted value thereof), plus accrued and unpaid interest (or, in respect of such other Pari Passu Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such other Pari Passu Indebtedness), to, but excluding, the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within ten (10) Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceeds $125.0 million by mailing, or delivering electronically if held by the Depository, the notice required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes (and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less

 

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than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for any purpose that is not prohibited by this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes (and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness) surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the aggregate principal amount to be selected, shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described in Section 4.06(e). Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

(c) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in this Indenture by virtue thereof.

(d) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Asset Sale Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Excess Proceeds, (ii) the allocation of the Net Proceeds from the Asset Sales pursuant to which such Asset Sale Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(b). On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary is acting as the Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust) an amount equal to the Excess Proceeds to be invested in Cash Equivalents, as directed in writing by the Company and to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.06. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Asset Sale Offer remains open (the “ Offer Period ”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes or portions thereof that have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee (or the Paying Agent, if not the Trustee) shall, on the date of purchase, mail or deliver payment to each tendering holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the Excess Proceeds delivered by the Company to the Trustee are greater than the purchase price of the Notes tendered, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section 4.06.

(e) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender such Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered by the holder for purchase and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased. If at the end of the Offer Period more Notes (and such other Pari Passu Indebtedness) are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Company is required to purchase, selection of such Notes for purchase shall be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Notes are listed (and the Company shall notify the Trustee of any such listing), or if such Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis to the extent practicable, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with the requirements of the Depository, if applicable); provided that no Notes of $2,000 or less shall be purchased in part. Selection of such other Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be made pursuant to the terms of such other Pari Passu Indebtedness.

(f) Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by the Company by first class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered electronically if held by the Depository, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each holder of Notes at such holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

 

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SECTION 4.07 Transactions with Affiliates .

(a) RYAM and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of RYAM or the Company (each of the foregoing, an “ Affiliate Transaction ”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, unless:

(i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to RYAM, the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and

(ii) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $40.0 million, RYAM or the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted in good faith by the majority of the Board of Directors of RYAM or the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with clause (i) above.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not apply to the following:

(i) transactions between or among RYAM, the Company and/or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries (or an entity that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction) and any merger, consolidation or amalgamation of RYAM and any direct parent of RYAM; provided that such parent shall have no material liabilities and no material assets other than cash, Cash Equivalents and the Capital Stock of RYAM and such merger, consolidation or amalgamation is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture and effected for a bona fide business purpose;

(ii) Restricted Payments permitted by Section 4.04 and Permitted Investments;

(iii) the payment of reasonable and customary fees and reimbursement of expenses paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of RYAM, the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary, or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM;

(iv) transactions in which RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of clause (i) of Section 4.07(a);

(v) payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to officers, directors, employees or consultants which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of RYAM or the Company in good faith;

(vi) any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such agreement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original agreement as in effect on the Issue Date) or any transaction contemplated thereby as determined in good faith by the Company;

 

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(vii) the existence of, or the performance by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under the terms of any stockholders or limited liability company agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date, and any transaction, agreement or arrangement described in the Offering Memorandum and, in each case, any amendment thereto or similar transactions, agreements or arrangements which it may enter into thereafter; provided , however , that the existence of, or the performance by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of its obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement or under any similar transaction, agreement or arrangement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause (vii) to the extent that the terms of any such existing transaction, agreement or arrangement together with all amendments thereto, taken as a whole, or new transaction, agreement or arrangement are not otherwise more disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect than the original transaction, agreement or arrangement as in effect on the Issue Date;

(viii) the execution of the Transactions, and the payment of all fees, expenses, bonuses and awards related to the Transactions;

(ix) (A) transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, or transactions otherwise relating to the purchase or sale of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, which are fair to RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of RYAM or the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party or (B) transactions with joint ventures or Unrestricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or industry norm;

(x) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Securitization Financing;

(xi) the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of RYAM to any Person;

(xii) the issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock option and stock ownership plans or similar employee benefit plans approved by the Board of Directors of RYAM or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM, the Board of Directors of the Company or the Board of Directors of a Restricted Subsidiary, as appropriate, in good faith;

(xiii) the entering into of any tax sharing agreement or arrangement that complies with Section 4.04(b)(xii) and the performance under any such agreement or arrangement;

(xiv) any contribution to the capital of RYAM;

(xv) transactions permitted by, and complying with, Section 5.01;

(xvi) transactions between RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and any Person, a director of which is also a director of RYAM, the Company or any direct or indirect parent of RYAM; provided , however , that such director abstains from voting as a director of RYAM, the Company or such direct or indirect parent of RYAM, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person;

 

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(xvii) pledges of Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

(xviii) the formation and maintenance of any consolidated group or subgroup for tax, accounting or cash pooling or management purposes in the ordinary course of business;

(xix) any employment agreements entered into by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(xx) transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company in an Officers’ Certificate) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of RYAM and its Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth in this Indenture;

(xxi) the Pre-Spin Transactions and any transactions described in the Form 10; and

(xxii) any purchase by RYAM or its Affiliates of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of RYAM, the Company or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that such purchases are on the same terms as such purchases by such Persons who are not RYAM’s Affiliates.

SECTION 4.08 Change of Control .

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in this Section 4.08; provided , however , that notwithstanding the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company shall not be obligated to purchase any Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08 in the event that it has previously or concurrently exercised its right to redeem such Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture. In the event that at the time of such Change of Control, the terms of the Bank Indebtedness restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08, then prior to the mailing of the notice to the holders provided for in Section 4.08(b) but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall: (i) repay in full all Bank Indebtedness or, if doing so will allow the purchase of Notes, offer to repay in full all Bank Indebtedness and repay the Bank Indebtedness of each lender and/or noteholder who has accepted such offer; or (ii) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing the Bank Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided for in Section 4.08(b).

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, except to the extent that the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in accordance with Article III of this Indenture, the Company shall mail, or deliver electronically if held by DTC, a notice (a “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(i) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such holder has the right to require the Company to repurchase such holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest on the relevant Interest Payment Date);

 

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(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;

(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(iv) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this Section 4.08, that a holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

(c) Holders electing to have a Note purchased shall be required to surrender the Note, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. The holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note which was delivered for purchase by the holder and a statement that such holder is withdrawing its election to have such Note purchased. Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part shall be issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

(d) On the purchase date, all Notes purchased by the Company under this Section 4.08 shall be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase, to the holders entitled thereto.

(e) A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.08, the Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

(g) Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of Notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and canceled at the option of the Company. Notes purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding clause (f) will have the status of Notes issued and outstanding.

(h) At the time the Company delivers Notes to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Notes are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.08.

A Note shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering holder.

(i) Prior to any Change of Control Offer, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent contained herein to the right of the Company to make such offer have been complied with.

(j) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations

 

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conflict with provisions of this Section 4.08, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

(k) If holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Company, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Company as described above, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such holders, the Company or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, to redeem all Notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. Any such redemption shall be effected pursuant to Article III.

SECTION 4.09 Compliance Certificate . The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2014, an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers (one of which shall be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or principal accounting office of the Company) of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default that occurred during such period. If any Officer does, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA. Except with respect to receipt of payments of principal and interest on the Notes and any Default or Event of Default information contained in the Officers’ Certificate delivered to it pursuant to this Section 4.09, the Trustee shall have no duty to review, ascertain or confirm the Company’s compliance with or the breach of any representation, warranty or covenant made in this Indenture.

SECTION 4.10 Further Instruments and Acts . Upon request of the Trustee, RYAM and the Company shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 4.11 Future Guarantors . After the Contribution Date, RYAM shall cause each of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries that is not an Excluded Subsidiary and that guarantees or becomes a borrower under the Credit Agreement or that guarantees any other Capital Markets Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or any of the Guarantors to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto pursuant to which such Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary will guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations.

SECTION 4.12 Liens .

(a) RYAM and the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien (except Permitted Liens) on any asset or property of RYAM, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the Notes) the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.

(b) Any Lien that is granted to secure the Notes or any Guarantee under Section 4.12(a) shall be automatically released and discharged at the same time as the release of the Lien that gave rise to the obligation to secure the Notes or such Guarantee under Section 4.12(a).

 

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(c) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.12, (i) a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness need not be permitted solely by reference to one category of permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to Section 4.12(a) but may be permitted in part under any combination thereof and (ii) in the event that a Lien securing an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of one or more of the categories of permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to Section 4.12(a), the Company may, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify, or later divide, classify or reclassify (as if Incurred at such later time), such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant and will be entitled to only include the amount and type of such Lien or such item of Indebtedness secured by such Lien (or any portion thereof) in one of the categories of permitted Liens (or any portion thereof) described in the definition of “Permitted Liens” or pursuant to Section 4.12(a) and, in such event, such Lien securing such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) will be treated as being Incurred or existing pursuant to only such clause or clauses (or any portion thereof) or pursuant to Section 4.12(a) without giving pro forma effect to such item (or portion thereof) when calculating the amount of Liens or Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to any other clause or paragraph.

(d) With respect to any Lien securing Indebtedness that was permitted to secure such Indebtedness at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Lien shall also be permitted to secure any Increased Amount of such Indebtedness. The “ Increased Amount ” of any Indebtedness shall mean any increase in the amount of such Indebtedness in connection with any accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, the amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms or in the form of common stock of RYAM, the payment of dividends on Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock of the same class, accretion of original issue discount or liquidation preference and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies or increases in the value of property securing Indebtedness described in clause (3) of the definition of “Indebtedness.”

SECTION 4.13 [Intentionally Omitted] .

SECTION 4.14 Maintenance of Office or Agency .

(a) The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or Registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as set forth in Section 13.02.

(b) The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

(c) The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or its agent as such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.04.

 

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SECTION 4.15 Existence . The Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any transaction permitted under Section 5.01, and the Company shall not be required to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect any such right, license, permit, privilege, franchise or legal existence if the Company shall determine in good faith the preservation, renewal or keeping in full force and effect thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

SECTION 4.16 Covenant Suspension . If on any date following the Issue Date, (i) the Notes have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and (ii) no Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, then, beginning on that day (the occurrence of the events described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii) being collectively referred to as a “ Covenant Suspension Event ”), and subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be subject to Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.11 and 5.01(a)(iv) (collectively the “ Suspended Covenants ”).

In the event that RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture for any period of time as a result of the foregoing, and on any subsequent date (the “ Reversion Date ”) one or both of the Rating Agencies withdraw their Investment Grade Rating or downgrade the rating assigned to the Notes below an Investment Grade Rating, then RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants under this Indenture with respect to future events.

The Company shall provide the Trustee with written notice of each Covenant Suspension Event or Reversion Date within 5 Business Days of the occurrence thereof.

On each Reversion Date, all Indebtedness Incurred, or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock issued, during the Suspension Period will be classified as having been Incurred or issued pursuant to Sections 4.03(a) and (b) (to the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would be permitted to be Incurred or issued thereunder as of the Reversion Date and after giving effect to Indebtedness Incurred or issued prior to the Suspension Period and outstanding on the Reversion Date). To the extent such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock would not be so permitted to be Incurred or issued pursuant to Sections 4.03(a) and (b), such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will be deemed to have been outstanding on the Issue Date, so that it is classified as permitted under Section 4.03(b)(iii). Calculations made after the Reversion Date of the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04 will be made as though Section 4.04 had been in effect since the Issue Date and prior to, but not during, the Suspension Period. Accordingly, Restricted Payments made during the Suspension Period will not reduce the amount available to be made as Restricted Payments under Section 4.04(a). As described above, however, no Default or Event of Default will be deemed to have occurred on the Reversion Date as a result of any actions taken by RYAM, the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries during the Suspension Period or any actions taken at any time pursuant to any contractual obligation arising prior to the Reversion Date, regardless of whether such actions or events would have been permitted if the applicable Suspended Covenants remained in effect during such period. Within 30 days of such Reversion Date, RYAM and the Company must comply with the terms of Section 4.11.

For purposes of Section 4.05, on the Reversion Date, any consensual encumbrances or consensual restrictions of the type specified in clause (a) or (b) thereof entered into during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been in effect on the Issue Date, so that they are permitted under clause (1)(i) thereof.

 

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For purposes of Section 4.07, any Affiliate Transaction entered into after the Reversion Date pursuant to a contract, agreement, loan, advance or guaranty with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company entered into during the Suspension Period will be deemed to have been in effect as of the Issue Date for purposes of clause (b)(vi) thereof.

For purposes of Section 4.06, on the Reversion Date, the unutilized Excess Proceeds amount will be reset to zero.

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 5.01 When Company and Guarantors May Merge or Transfer Assets .

(a) The Company may not, directly or indirectly, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not the Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

(i) the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, winding up or conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company or similar entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Company ”); provided that in the event that the Successor Company is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Notes is a corporation;

(ii) the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture pursuant to supplemental indentures or other applicable documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

(iii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(iv) immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), either

(1) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in Section 4.03(a); or

(2) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of RYAM would be no less than such ratio immediately prior to such transaction;

 

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(v) if the Company is not the Successor Company, each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to such Person’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

(vi) the Successor Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, amalgamation or transfer and such supplemental indentures (if any) comply with this Indenture.

The Successor Company (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, and in such event the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv) of this Section 5.01(a), (A) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to a Restricted Subsidiary or, provided that the Company is the Successor Company, the Company, and (B) the Company may merge, consolidate or amalgamate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another state of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory of the United States (collectively, “ Permitted Jurisdictions ”) or may convert into a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby. This Section 5.01(a) will not apply to (a) a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any of RYAM, the Company or any of their Subsidiaries consolidating, amalgamating or merging with or into, or winding up or converting into, or selling, assigning, transferring, leasing, conveying or otherwise disposing of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions in connection with or related to the Pre-Spin Transactions.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 12.02(b), no Guarantor shall, and the Company shall not permit any such Guarantor to, consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

(i) either (A) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a company, corporation, partnership or limited liability company or similar entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “ Successor Guarantor ”) and the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture and the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other applicable documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, or (B) in respect of any Guarantor other than RYAM, such sale or disposition or consolidation, amalgamation or merger is not in violation of Section 4.06; and

(ii) the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture.

 

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Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture and the Notes or the Guarantee, as applicable, and such Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes or its Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor in a Permitted Jurisdiction or may convert into a limited liability company, corporation, partnership or similar entity organized or existing under the laws of any Permitted Jurisdiction so long as the amount of Indebtedness of such Guarantor is not increased thereby and (2) a Guarantor may merge, amalgamate or consolidate with the Company or another Guarantor.

In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Guarantor may consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into or wind up or convert into, liquidate, dissolve, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to (a) the Company or any Guarantor or (b) in connection with or related to the Pre-Spin Transactions.

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01 Events of Default . An “ Event of Default ” occurs with respect to Notes if:

(a) there is a default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(b) there is a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise;

(c) there is a failure by RYAM for 120 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements in Section 4.02;

(d) there is a failure by RYAM, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for 60 days after written notice given by the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (with a copy to the Trustee) to comply with its other obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above) contained in the Notes or this Indenture;

(e) there is a failure by RYAM, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to RYAM, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default, in each case, if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent;

(f) RYAM, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(i) commences a voluntary case;

 

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(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency,

(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(i) is for relief against RYAM, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(ii) appoints a Custodian of RYAM, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of RYAM, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and, in each case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;

(h) there is a failure by RYAM, the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $100.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent (net of any amounts which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers), which judgments are not discharged, waived or stayed for a period of 60 days;

(i) the Guarantee of RYAM or a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) with respect to the Notes ceases to be in full force and effect (except as contemplated by the terms thereof) or RYAM, the Company or any other Guarantor that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) denies or disaffirms its obligations under this Indenture or any Guarantee with respect to the Notes and such Default continues for 10 days; or

(j) failure by the Company to consummate the Special Mandatory Redemption, if required pursuant to Section 3.09.

The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

However, a default under clause (c) or (d) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes notify RYAM and the Company, with a copy to the Trustee, of the default and neither RYAM nor the Company cures such default within the time specified in clauses (c) or (d) hereof after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “ Notice of Default .”

 

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The term “ Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 6.02 Acceleration . If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) hereof with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Company, with a copy to the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of any Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(e), such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding, however, any resulting payment default) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the holders of the Notes, if within 20 days after such Event of Default arose the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee stating that (x) the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged or (y) the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default or (z) the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured, it being understood that in no event shall an acceleration of the principal amount of the Notes as described above be annulled, waived or rescinded upon the happening of any such events.

SECTION 6.03 Other Remedies . If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. To the extent required by law, all available remedies are cumulative.

SECTION 6.04 Waiver of Past Defaults . Provided the Notes are not then due and payable by reason of a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (a) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Note, (b) a Default arising from the failure to redeem or purchase any Note when required pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or (c) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured and the Company, the Trustee and the holders will be restored to their former positions and rights under this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05 Control by Majority . The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if

 

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the Trustee in good faith shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06 Limitation on Suits .

(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:

(i) such holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing,

(ii) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy,

(iii) such holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense,

(iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and

(v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

(b) A holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another holder (it being understood that the Trustee shall have no obligation to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to any other holder).

SECTION 6.07 Rights of the Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Notes held by such holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Notes, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.

SECTION 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on overdue principal and (to the extent lawful) on any unpaid interest at the rate provided for in the Notes) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee may file such proofs of claim, statements of interest and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation, expenses disbursements and advances of the Trustee (including counsel, accountants, experts or such other professionals as the Trustee deems necessary, advisable or appropriate)) and the holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, the Guarantors, their creditors or their property, shall be entitled to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matters and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the holders in any election of a trustee in

 

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bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 6.10 Priorities . Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI and any other money or property distributable in respect of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture after an Event of Default shall be applied in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee for amounts due hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts in accordance with Section 7.07);

SECOND: to the holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: to the Company or, to the extent the Trustee collects any amount for any Guarantor, to such Guarantor.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall mail to each holder and the Company a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11 Undertaking for Costs . In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Article VI does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes.

SECTION 6.12 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws . Neither the Company nor any Guarantor (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and the Guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

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ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01 Duties of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee (it being agreed that the permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty); and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee shall be under no duty to make any investigation as to any statement contained in any such instance, but may accept the same as conclusive evidence of the truth and accuracy of such statement or the correctness of such opinions. However, in the case of certificates or opinions required by any provision hereof to be provided to it, the Trustee shall examine the form of certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05; and

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01 and the TIA.

 

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SECTION 7.02 Rights of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(d) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers; provided , however , that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or negligence.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney, at the expense of the Company and shall Incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

(g) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be Incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(h) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

(i) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith at the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes as to the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee or the exercising of any power conferred by this Indenture.

(j) Any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Notes and upon Notes executed and delivered in exchange therefor or in place thereof.

 

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(k) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.

(l) The Trustee may request that the Company delivers an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

(m) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of actions.

(n) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

(o) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

SECTION 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee . The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer . The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Guarantees or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Notes, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company or any Guarantor in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Notes or in the Notes other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default under Sections 6.01(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j), or of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Trust Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.02 hereof from the Company, any Guarantor or any holder. In accepting the trust hereby created, the Trustee acts solely as Trustee under this Indenture and not in its individual capacity and all persons, including without limitation the holders of Notes and the Company having any claim against the Trustee arising from this Indenture shall look only to the funds and accounts held by the Trustee hereunder for payment except as otherwise provided herein.

SECTION 7.05 Notice of Defaults . If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Trust Officer or the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail, or deliver electronically if held by DTC, to each holder of the Notes notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of

 

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the noteholders. The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee, annually, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Default that occurred during the previous year. The Company also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

SECTION 7.06 Reports by Trustee to the Holders . As promptly as practicable after each May 15 th beginning with the May 15 th following the date of this Indenture, and in any event within 60 days of each May 15 th , the Trustee shall mail to each holder a brief report dated as of such May 15 th that complies with Section 313(a) of the TIA if and to the extent required thereby. The Trustee shall also comply with Section 313(b) of the TIA.

Pursuant to Section 313(d) of the TIA, a copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the holders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed if the Notes are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Notes become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof. All reports pursuant to this Section 7.06 shall be provided in accordance with Section 313(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity . The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for the Trustee’s acceptance of this Indenture and its services hereunder as mutually agreed to in writing between the Company and the Trustee. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses Incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their directors, officers, employees and agents against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses and including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee)) Incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture or Guarantee against the Company or any Guarantor (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against or investigating any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Guarantor, any holder or any other Person). The obligation to pay such amounts shall survive the payment in full or defeasance of the Notes or the removal or resignation of the Trustee. The Trustee shall notify the Company of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided , however , that any failure so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company or any Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel and the Company and such Guarantor, as applicable, shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no actual or potential conflict of interest between the Company and the Guarantors, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense Incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.

 

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The Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any bankruptcy law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee Incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise Incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not assured to its satisfaction.

SECTION 7.08 Replacement of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

(i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes and such holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to the holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07.

(d) If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes may petition at the expense of the Company any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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SECTION 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger . If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation or banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification . The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA, subject to its right to apply for a stay of its duty to resign under the penultimate paragraph of Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided , however , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA any series of securities issued under this Indenture and any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the TIA are met.

SECTION 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company . The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE VIII

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01 Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance .

(a) This Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights and immunities of the Trustee and rights of transfer or exchange of Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when:

(i) either (A) all the Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or (B) all of the Notes (1) have become due and payable, (2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (3) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to, but excluding, the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from the Company

 

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directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of the redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of the redemption;

(ii) the Company and/or the Guarantors have paid all other sums payable under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Company at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture with respect to the holders of the Notes (“ legal defeasance option ”), and (ii) its obligations under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.11, 4.12, 4.15 and 4.16, and the operation of Section 5.01 for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, and Sections 6.01(c), 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (in the case of Sections 6.01(f) and 6.01(g) with respect to Significant Subsidiaries only), 6.01(h) and 6.01(i) (“ covenant defeasance option ”). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released from all of its obligations with respect to its Guarantee.

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(c) 6.01(e), 6.01(f), 6.01(g) (in the case of Sections 6.01(f) and (g), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries), 6.01(h) or 6.01(i) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(iv).

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company’s obligations in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08 and 2.09 and Article VII, including, without limitation, Sections 7.07 and 7.08 and in this Article VIII and the rights and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 7.08, 8.05 and 8.06 and the rights and immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 8.02 Conditions to Defeasance .

(a) The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(i) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

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(ii) with respect to U.S. Government Obligations or a combination of money and U.S. Government Obligations, the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm, expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest when due on all the Notes to maturity or redemption, as the case may be; provided that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit as of the date of the redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of the redemption;

(iii) no Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) with respect to the Company shall have occurred or is continuing on the date of such deposit;

(iv) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other material agreement or instrument binding on the Company;

(v) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee in the case of the legal defeasance option, an Opinion of Counsel stating that (1) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (2) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by the immediately preceding sentence with respect to a legal defeasance need not be delivered if all of the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company;

(vi) such exercise does not impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes;

(vii) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred; and

(viii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Notes to be so defeased and discharged as contemplated by this Article VIII have been complied with.

(b) Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of such Notes at a future date in accordance with Article III.

 

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SECTION 8.03 Application of Trust Money . The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations (including proceeds thereof) deposited with it pursuant to this Article VIII. The Trustee shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through each Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes so discharged or defeased.

SECTION 8.04 Repayment to Company . Each of the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article VIII that, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, a nationally recognized investment bank or a nationally recognized appraisal or valuation firm, delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article VIII.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

SECTION 8.05 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations . The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes so discharged or defeased shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article VIII until such time as the Trustee or any Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article VIII; provided , however , that, if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any such Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

SECTION 9.01 Without Consent of the Holders .

(a) The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees without notice to or the consent of any holder:

(i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

(ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company (with respect to the Company) of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes;

 

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(iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor (with respect to any Guarantor), as the case may be, of the obligations of a Guarantor under this Indenture and its Guarantee;

(iv) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided , however , that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(v) to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum, as stated in an Officers’ Certificate;

(vi) to add a Guarantee with respect to the Notes,

(vii) to add collateral to secure the Notes;

(viii) to release a Guarantee as permitted by this Indenture;

(ix) to add to the covenants of RYAM or the Company for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon RYAM or the Company;

(x) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;

(xi) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder in any material respect; or

(xii) to effect any provisions of this Indenture or to make changes to this Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

(b) After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.01.

SECTION 9.02 With Consent of the Holders . The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees, and any past Default or compliance with any provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees may be waived, with the consent of the Company and the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding voting as a single class. However, without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected, no amendment or waiver may:

(1) reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,

(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note,

(3) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity of any Note,

 

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(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed in accordance with Article III,

(5) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in such Note,

(6) expressly subordinate the Notes or any Guarantee to any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor,

(7) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Notes,

(8) make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions, or

(9) amend the provisions set forth in Section 3.09.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail, or otherwise deliver in accordance with the procedures of the Depository, to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.

SECTION 9.03 Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers .

(a) A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a holder of a Note shall bind the holder and every subsequent holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such holder or subsequent holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite principal amount of Notes have consented. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of consents by the holders of the requisite principal amount of securities, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee.

(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.04 Notation on or Exchange of Notes . If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Note, the Company may require the holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee.

 

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The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determine, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and, upon written order of the Company signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

SECTION 9.05 Trustee to Sign Amendments . The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment, the Trustee shall receive indemnity satisfactory to it and shall be provided with, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, (i) an Officers’ Certificate, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantors, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof, (iii) a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, authorizing the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iv) if such amendment, supplement or waiver is executed pursuant to Section 9.02, evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the holders required to consent thereto.

SECTION 9.06 Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount . All Notes issued under this Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class and no Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter. Determinations as to whether holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article IX and Section 2.13.

SECTION 9.07 Compliance with the Trust Indenture Act . From the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, every amendment, waiver or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

ARTICLE X

[Intentionally Omitted]

ARTICLE XI

[Intentionally Omitted]

ARTICLE XII

GUARANTEE

SECTION 12.01 Guarantee .

(a) Each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally guarantees, on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, to each holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns the performance and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from any Guarantor, and that each Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article XII notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.

 

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(b) Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantee of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any security held by any holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or each Guarantor; (v) the failure of any holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of each Guarantor, except as provided in Section 12.02(b). Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its Guarantee hereunder divided among the Guarantors, such that such Guarantor’s Guarantee would be less than the full amount claimed.

(c) Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Company first be used and depleted as payment of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by such Guarantor hereunder. Each Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Company be sued prior to an action being initiated against such Guarantor.

(d) Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein constitutes a guarantee of payment and performance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.

(e) The Guarantee of each Guarantor is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in this Article XII, equal in right of payment to all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

(f) Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 12.02 and 12.06, the Guarantee of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guarantee of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

(g) Each Guarantor agrees that its Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations of such Guarantor. Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

 

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(h) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by applicable law) and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Company to the holders and the Trustee.

(i) Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article VI for the purposes of the Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article VI, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purposes of this Section 12.01.

(j) Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee in enforcing any rights under this Section 12.01.

(k) Upon request of the Trustee, each Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.02 Limitation on Liability .

(a) Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereunder by each Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed by the applicable Guarantor without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or capital maintenance or corporate benefit rules applicable to guarantees for obligations of affiliates.

(b) A Guarantee as to any Guarantor (other than RYAM) shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and such Guarantor shall be automatically released from all obligations under this Article XII upon:

(i) the sale, disposition, exchange or other transfer (including through merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise) of the Capital Stock (including any sale, disposition or other transfer following which the applicable Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary), of the applicable Guarantor if such sale, disposition, exchange or other transfer is made in a manner not in violation of this Indenture;

(ii) the designation of such Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.04 and the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary”;

 

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(iii) the release or discharge of the guarantee by such Guarantor of (A) the Credit Agreement and (B) any Capital Markets Indebtedness of RYAM, the Company or any of the other Guarantors which created the obligation to guarantee the Notes;

(iv) the Company’s exercise of its legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option under Article VIII or if the Company’s obligations under this Indenture are discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(v) such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Subsidiary as a result of any foreclosure of any pledge or security interest securing Bank Indebtedness or other exercise of remedies in respect thereof.

The Guarantee of RYAM shall automatically terminate and be of no further force or effect and RYAM shall be automatically released from all obligations under this Article XII upon the occurrence of (iii) or (iv) above.

SECTION 12.03 [Intentionally Omitted] .

SECTION 12.04 Successors and Assigns . This Article XII shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 12.05 No Waiver . Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article XII shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article XII at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 12.06 Modification . No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article XII, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle any Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 12.07 Execution of Supplemental Indenture for Future Guarantors . Each Subsidiary which is required to become a Guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Section 4.11 shall promptly execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall become a Guarantor under this Article XII and shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations. Concurrently with the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and that, subject to the application of bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally and to the principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, the Guarantee of such Guarantor is a valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms.

SECTION 12.08 Non-Impairment . The failure to endorse a Guarantee on any Note shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of, Sections 310 to 318 of the TIA, inclusive, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

SECTION 13.02 Notices .

(a) Any notice or communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, via facsimile or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Company or a Guarantor:

c/o Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: General Counsel and Treasurer

Fax: (904) 357-9101

if to the Trustee:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

7000 Central Parkway

Suite 550

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

Corporate Trust Services – Rayonier A.M. Products Administrator

Fax No.: (770) 551-5118

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

(b) Any notice or communication mailed to a holder shall be mailed, first class mail, to the holder at the holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

(c) Failure to mail a notice or communication to a holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notices to the Trustee are effective only if received.

The Trustee may, in its sole discretion, agree to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or

 

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expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, as long as the Notes are in the form of a Global Note, notice to the holders may be made electronically in accordance with procedures of the Depository.

SECTION 13.03 Communication by the Holders with Other Holders . The holders may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and other Persons shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA.

SECTION 13.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent . Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at the request of the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) except upon the issuance of the Initial Notes, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion . Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.09) shall include:

(a) a statement that the individual making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with; provided , however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

SECTION 13.06 When Notes Disregarded . In determining whether the holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Company, the Guarantors or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or the Guarantors shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

 

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SECTION 13.07 Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar . The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of the holders. The Registrar and a Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08 Legal Holidays . If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on any amount that would have been otherwise payable on such payment date if it were a Business Day for the intervening period. If a regular Record Date is not a Business Day, the Record Date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.09 GOVERNING LAW . THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 13.10 No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, manager or incorporator of, and no holder of any Equity Interests in, RYAM, the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of RYAM or the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Guarantees or this Indenture, as applicable, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

SECTION 13.11 Successors . All agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind such person’s successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12 Multiple Originals . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

SECTION 13.13 Table of Contents; Headings . The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

SECTION 13.14 Indenture Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of this Indenture, such provision of this Indenture shall control.

SECTION 13.15 Severability . In case any provision in this Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

SECTION 13.16 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTORS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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SECTION 13.17 U.S.A. Patriot Act . The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (“ U.S.A. Patriot Act ”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank. ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

COMPANY:
RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC.
By:  

/s/ Paul G. Boynton

  Name:   Paul G. Boynton
  Title:   President
INITIAL GUARANTORS:
RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.
RAYONIER CHINA LIMITED
RAYONIER FAR EAST LTD.
RAYONIER INDUSTRIES LTD.
RAYONIER PROPERTIES, LLC

RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS GLOBALSALES AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, LLC

RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC
RAYONIER WOOD PROCUREMENT, LLC
By:  

/s/ Paul G. Boynton

  Name:   Paul G. Boynton
  Title:   President
SOUTHERN WOOD PIEDMONT COMPANY
By:  

/s/ Michael R. Herman

  Name:   Michael R. Herman
  Title:   President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION , not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Stefan Victory

  Name:   Stefan Victory
  Title:   Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]


APPENDIX A

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES AND ADDITIONAL NOTES

1. Definitions .

1.1 Definitions .

For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Initial Note and Additional Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

Depository ” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

Global Notes Legend ” means the legend set forth under that caption in Exhibit A to this Indenture.

IAI ” means an institutional “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Notes Custodian ” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the Depository) or any successor person thereto, who shall initially be the Trustee.

QIB ” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

Regulation S ” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Regulation S Notes ” means all Initial Notes offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

Restricted Notes Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 2.2(f)(i) herein.

Restricted Period ,” with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Notes are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date, and with respect to any Additional Notes that are Transfer Restricted Notes, it means the comparable period of 40 consecutive days.

Rule 501 ” means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A Notes ” means all Initial Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

Appendix A-1


Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes ” means Definitive Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Transfer Restricted Global Notes ” means Global Notes that bear or are required to bear or are subject to the Restricted Notes Legend.

Transfer Restricted Notes ” means the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and Transfer Restricted Global Notes.

Unrestricted Definitive Notes ” means Definitive Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

Unrestricted Global Notes ” means Global Notes that are not required to bear, or are not subject to, the Restricted Notes Legend.

1.2 Other Definitions .

 

Term:    Defined in Section:
Agent Members    2.1(b)
Global Notes    2.1(b)
Regulation S Global Notes    2.1(b)
Regulation S Permanent Global Notes    2.1(b)
Regulation S Temporary Global Notes    2.1(b)
Rule 144A Global Notes    2.1(b)

2. The Notes .

2.1 Form and Dating; Global Notes .

(a) The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof will be (i) privately placed by the Company pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and (ii) sold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Initial Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs, purchasers in reliance on Regulation S and, except as set forth below, IAIs in accordance with Rule 501. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Company from time to time pursuant to one or more agreements in accordance with applicable law.

(b) Global Notes . (i) Except as provided in clause (d) of Section 2.2 below, Rule 144A Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in definitive, fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “ Rule 144A Global Notes ”).

Regulation S Notes initially shall be represented by one or more Notes in fully registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Regulation S Temporary Global Note” and, together with the Regulation S Permanent Global Note (defined below), the “Regulation S Global Notes”), which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of the Depository for the accounts of designated agents holding on behalf of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system (“Euroclear”) or Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme (“Clearstream”).

Following the termination of the Restricted Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall be exchanged for beneficial interests in a permanent Global Note (the “Regulation S Permanent Global Note”) pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depository. Simultaneously

 

Appendix A-2


with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Trustee shall cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Note. The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, in connection with transfers of interest as hereinafter provided.

The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream shall be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and the Regulation S Permanent Global Note that are held by Participants through Euroclear or Clearstream.

The term “ Global Notes ” means the Rule 144A Global Notes and the Regulation S Global Notes. The Global Notes shall bear the Global Note Legend. The Global Notes initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depository or the nominee of such Depository, in each case for credit to an account of an Agent Member, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

Members of, or direct or indirect participants in, the Depository (collectively, the “ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Notes.

The Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the sole owner of the Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository, or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Note.

(ii) Transfers of Global Notes shall be limited to transfer in whole, but not in part, to the Depository, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Notes may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Notes only in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository and the provisions of Section 2.2. In addition, a Global Note shall be exchangeable for Definitive Notes if (x) the Depository (1) notifies the Company at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days or (2) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (y) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee that the Company elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Notes or (z) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note and a request has been made for such exchange; provided that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Note be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act. In all cases, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein shall be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depository in accordance with its customary procedures.

(iii) In connection with the transfer of a Global Note as an entirety to beneficial owners pursuant to subsection (ii) of this Section 2.1(b), such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and, upon written order of the Company signed by an Officer, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depository in writing in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

 

Appendix A-3


(iv) Any Transfer Restricted Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note pursuant to Section 2.2 shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.2, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(v) Notwithstanding the foregoing, through the Restricted Period, a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note may be held only through Euroclear or Clearstream unless delivery is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 2.2.

(vi) The holder of any Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Notes.

2.2 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except as set forth in Section 2.1(b). Global Notes will not be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.08 of this Indenture. Beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.2(b).

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. Beneficial interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes shall be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for beneficial interests in Global Notes. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(i) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Transfer Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Restricted Notes Legend; provided , however , that prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Note may not be made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. A beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.2(b)(i).

(ii) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in any Global Note that is not subject to Section 2.2(b)(i), the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (1) a written order from an Agent Member given to the Depository in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository directing the Depository to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository containing information regarding the Agent Member account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange

 

Appendix A-4


of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note pursuant to Section 2.2(g).

(iii) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note . A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Transfer Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note; and

(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in a Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note.

(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.2(b)(ii) above and the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Company or the Registrar so request or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iv) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate in accordance with Section 2.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iv).

(v) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in a Transfer Restricted Global Note. Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

 

Appendix A-5


(c) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes for Definitive Notes . A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be exchanged for a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). A beneficial interest in a Global Note may not be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note except under the circumstances described in Section 2.1(b)(ii). In any case, beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for Definitive Notes.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . Transfers and exchanges of Definitive Notes for beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) below, as applicable:

(i) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes . If any holder of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(B) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(C) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(D) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(E) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (B) through (D) above, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel, if applicable; or

(F) if such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note;

the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the appropriate Transfer Restricted Global Note.

(ii) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A holder of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

 

Appendix A-6


(B) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Company or the Registrar so request or if the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon satisfaction of the conditions of this subparagraph (ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (ii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (ii).

(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes . A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Unrestricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes. If any such transfer or exchange is effected pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an written order of the Company in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Unrestricted Definitive Notes transferred or exchanged pursuant to this subparagraph (iii).

(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes . An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Transfer Restricted Global Note.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . Upon request by a holder of Definitive Notes and such holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.2(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly

 

Appendix A-7


endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.2(e).

(i) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes . A Transfer Restricted Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note;

(D) if the transfer will be made to an IAI in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than those listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) above, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note; and

(E) if such transfer will be made to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, a certificate in the form attached to the applicable Note.

(ii) Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . Any Transfer Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:

(A) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note; or

(B) if the holder of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form attached to the applicable Note,

and, in each such case, if the Company or the Registrar so request, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Restricted Notes Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.

 

Appendix A-8


(iii) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes . A holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may transfer such Unrestricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the holder thereof.

(iv) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Transfer Restricted Definitive Notes . An Unrestricted Definitive Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of, a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.10 of the Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(f) Legend .

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph (iii), (iv) or (v), each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and any Definitive Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only):

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE

 

Appendix A-9


RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS SECURITY), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AS USED HEREIN. THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. BY ITS PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER REPRESENTS AND AGREES THAT (1) IT IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE (AND IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE DEEMED FOR PURPOSES OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”) OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) TO BE) (A) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” (AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA), (B) A PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR PROVISIONS UNDER APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (C) AN ENTITY, THE UNDERLYING ASSETS OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING BY REASON OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN SUCH ENTITY; OR (2) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE DOES NOT AND WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR INVOLVE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR, IF APPLICABLE, A VIOLATION OF SIMILAR LAWS.”

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional Legend:

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

Appendix A-10


(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Definitive Note if the holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Initial Note).

(iii) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Initial Note acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Initial Note bear the Restricted Notes Legend shall cease to apply and the requirements requiring any such Initial Note be issued in global form shall continue to apply.

(iv) Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

(g) Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.10 of this Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depository at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes .

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.06, 4.08 and 9.05 of this Indenture).

(iii) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, a Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(iv) All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

 

Appendix A-11


(i) No Obligation of the Trustee.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or any other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Notes. All notices and communications to be given to the holders and all payments to be made to the holders under the Notes shall be given or made only to the registered holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Note). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Appendix A-12


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[Global Notes Legend]

“UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.”

[Restricted Notes Legend]

“THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (C) IT IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3), OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR”), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) INSIDE THE UNITED STATES TO AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES (OR HAS FURNISHED ON ITS BEHALF BY A U.S. BROKER-DEALER) TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE FOR THIS SECURITY), (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE), (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS), OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES

 

Exhibit A-1


ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS SECURITY. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFEREE IS AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS EITHER OF THEM MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AS USED HEREIN. THE TERMS “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION,” “UNITED STATES” AND “U.S. PERSON” HAVE THE MEANING GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. BY ITS PURCHASE OR ACQUISITION OF THIS NOTE, THE HOLDER REPRESENTS AND AGREES THAT (1) IT IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE (AND IS NOT AND WILL NOT BE DEEMED FOR PURPOSES OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”) OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) TO BE) (A) AN “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” (AS DEFINED UNDER SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA), (B) A PLAN SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR PROVISIONS UNDER APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (C) AN ENTITY, THE UNDERLYING ASSETS OF WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING BY REASON OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN SUCH ENTITY; OR (2) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS NOTE DOES NOT AND WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR INVOLVE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR, IF APPLICABLE, A VIOLATION OF SIMILAR LAWS.”

[Definitive Notes Legend]

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

Exhibit A-2


[FORM OF NOTE]

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC.

 

No. [    ]    144A CUSIP No. 75508E AA6
   144A ISIN No. US75508EAA64
   REG S CUSIP No. U75317 AA2
   REG S ISIN No. USU75317AA27
   $[        ]

5.50% Senior Note due 2024

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Note attached hereto on June 1, 2024.

Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing [        ] 1 .

Record Dates: May 15 and November 15.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

 

1   To be December 1, 2014 for Notes issued on May 22, 2014.

 

Exhibit A-3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Dated:

 

Exhibit A-4


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory
Dated:  

 

 

*/ If the Note is to be issued in global form, add the Global Notes Legend and the attachment from Exhibit A captioned “TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE.”

 

Exhibit A-5


[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

5.50% Senior Note Due 2024

 

1. Interest

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC., a Delaware corporation (such entity, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called, the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. The Company shall pay interest semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing [                    ] 2 . Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from [                    ] 3 , until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Notes, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

2. Method of Payment

The Company shall pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders at the close of business on May 15 or November 15 (each a “Record Date”) immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date even if Notes are canceled after the Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day). Holders must surrender Notes to the Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Notes represented by a Global Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company or any successor depositary. The Company shall make all payments in respect of a certificated Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) at the office of the Paying Agent, except that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by mailing a check to the registered address of each holder thereof; provided , however , that payments on the Notes may also be made, in the case of a holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar

Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee under the Indenture (the “Trustee”), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may remove any Registrar or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Registrar or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) if applicable, acceptance of an appointment by a successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Company and such successor Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Registrar or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above. The Company, RYAM or any their wholly owned domestically organized Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

2   To be December 1, 2014 for Notes issued on May 22, 2014.
3   To be May 22, 2014 for Notes issued on May 22, 2014.

 

Exhibit A-6


4. Indenture

The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of May 22, 2014 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Initial Guarantors and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein are used as defined in the Indenture, unless otherwise indicated. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the “TIA”). The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and the holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. If and to the extent that any provision of the Notes limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Indenture, such provision of the Indenture shall control.

The Notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of the Company. This Note is one of the Initial Notes referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes. The Initial Notes and any Additional Notes may, at the Company’s option, be treated as a single class of securities for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase; provided that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number, if applicable. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of RYAM, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries to, among other things, make certain Investments and other Restricted Payments, Incur Indebtedness, enter into consensual restrictions upon the payment of certain dividends and distributions by such Restricted Subsidiaries, enter into or permit certain transactions with Affiliates, create or Incur Liens and make Asset Sales. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Company and each Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property.

The Guarantors (including each Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of RYAM that is required to guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Section 4.11 of the Indenture) shall jointly and severally guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.

 

5. Redemption

On or after June 1, 2019, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed (or caused to be mailed) by the Company by first-class mail, or delivered electronically if held by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), to each holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on June 1 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2019

     102.750

2020

     101.833

2021

     100.917

2022 and thereafter

     100.000

 

Exhibit A-7


In addition, prior to June 1, 2019, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed (or caused to be mailed) by the Company by first-class mail, or delivered electronically if held by DTC, to each holder’s registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to June 1, 2019, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings (1) by the Company or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Company to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or are used to purchase Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 105.50%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided , however , that at least 60% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes (calculated after giving effect to any issuance of Additional Notes) must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided , further , that such redemption shall occur within 90 days after the date on which any such Equity Offering is consummated upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice mailed (or caused to be mailed) by the Company by first-class mail, or delivered electronically if held by DTC, to the registered address of each holder of Notes being redeemed (with a copy to the Trustee) and otherwise in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture.

Notice of any redemption upon any Equity Offering may be given prior to the completion thereof. In addition, any such redemption described above or notice thereof may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of the related Equity Offering in the case of a redemption upon completion of an Equity Offering.

 

6. Mandatory Redemption

Except as set forth in Section 3.09 of the Indenture, the Company will not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

7. Notice of Redemption

Notices of redemption will be mailed (or caused to be mailed) by first-class mail, or delivered electronically if held by DTC, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date, to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address (with a copy to the Trustee), except that redemption notices may be mailed or otherwise delivered more than 60 days prior to the redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture pursuant to Article VIII thereof. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Company has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the redemption price of, plus accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed, unless the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

Exhibit A-8


8. Repurchase of Notes at the Option of the Holders upon Change of Control and Asset Sales

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder shall have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the holders of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Indenture, the Company will be required to offer to purchase Notes upon the occurrence of certain events.

 

9. [Intentionally Omitted]

 

10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A holder shall register the transfer of or exchange of the Notes in accordance with the Indenture. Upon any registration of transfer or exchange, the Registrar and the Trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a holder to pay any taxes required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of any Notes selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Note to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or of any Notes for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed.

 

11. Persons Deemed Owners

The registered holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

12. Unclaimed Money

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and each Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.

 

13. Discharge and Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee cash in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient to pay the principal of and premium (if any) and interest on the Notes when due at maturity or redemption, as the case may be.

 

14. Amendment; Waiver

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Notes may be amended with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and (ii) any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.

 

Exhibit A-9


The Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees without notice to or the consent of any holder (i) to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company (with respect to the Company) of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes; (iii) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Guarantor (with respect to any Guarantor), as the case may be, of the obligations of a Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee; (iv) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, provided, however, that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated notes are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code; (v) to conform the text of the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees to any provision of the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum to the extent that such provision in the Indenture, the Notes or the Guarantees was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the “Description of Notes” in the Offering Memorandum, as stated in an Officers’ Certificate; (vi) to add a Guarantee with respect to the Notes, (vii) to add collateral to secure the Notes; (viii) to release a Guarantee as permitted by the Indenture; (ix) to add to the covenants of RYAM or the Company for the benefit of the holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon RYAM or the Company; (x) to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with qualifying or maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the TIA; (xi) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder in any material respect; or (xii) to effect any provisions of the Indenture or to make changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

 

15. Defaults and Remedies

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) of the Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Notes by notice to the Company, with a copy to the Trustee, may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) of the Indenture with respect to the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to the Indenture, unless such holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be Incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless (i) such holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing, (ii) holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy, (iii) such holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense, (iv) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity, and (v) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period. The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or, if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good

 

Exhibit A-10


faith shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or expense for which it is not adequately indemnified, or, subject to Section 7.01 of the Indenture, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

16. Trustee Dealings with the Company

The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

 

17. No Recourse Against Others

No director, officer, employee, manager or incorporator of the Company, RYAM or any direct or indirect parent company of RYAM or the Company, and no holder of any Equity Interests in RYAM, the Company or any direct or indirect parent company of RYAM or the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Notes, the Indenture or the Guarantees, as applicable, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability.

 

18. Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

19. Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

 

20. Governing Law

THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

21. CUSIP Numbers; ISINs

The Company has caused CUSIP numbers and ISINs to be printed on the Notes and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers and ISINs in notices of redemption as a convenience to the holders. No representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed thereon.

The Company will furnish to any holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note.

 

Exhibit A-11


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

 

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.

and irrevocably appoint              agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

 

     
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.
Signature Guarantee:      

 

Date:  

 

   

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee     Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

Exhibit A-12


CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR

REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTE

This certificate relates to $         principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space)      book-entry or      definitive form by the undersigned.

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depository a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above);

 

¨ has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring while this Note is still a Transfer Restricted Definitive Note or a Transfer Restricted Global Note, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)    ¨      to the Company; or
(2)    ¨      to the Registrar for registration in the name of the holder, without transfer; or
(3)    ¨      pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(4)    ¨      inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or
(5)    ¨      outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933 and such Note shall be held immediately after the transfer through Euroclear or Clearstream until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or
(6)    ¨      to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or
(7)    ¨      pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Exhibit A-13


Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered holder thereof; provided , however , that if box (5), (6) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

 

     
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.
Signature Guarantee:      

 

Date:  

 

   

 

Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee     Signature of Signature Guarantee

 

Exhibit A-14


TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Date:  

 

   

 

    NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer

 

Exhibit A-15


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $        . The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

   Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
Global Note
   Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
Global Note
   Principal amount of
this Global Note
following such decrease
or increase
   Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee
or Notes Custodian
           

 

Exhibit A-16


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, check the box:

 

Asset Sale   ¨    Change of Control   ¨   

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 (Asset Sale) or 4.08 (Change of Control) of the Indenture, state the amount ($2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof):

$

 

Date:  

 

    Your Signature:  

 

        (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Signature Guarantee:  

 

 
  Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee  

 

Exhibit A-17


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION]

TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC.

c/o Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

as Trustee and Registrar – DAPS Reorg.

MAC N9303-121

608 2nd Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55479

Telephone No.: (877) 872-4605

Fax No.: (866) 969-1290

Email: DAPSReorg@wellsfargo.com

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[        ] principal amount of the 5.50% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “ Notes ”) of RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC. (collectively with its successors and assigns, the “ Company ”).

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:  

 

Address:  

 

Taxpayer ID Number:  

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

1. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $100,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business. We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

2. We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which either of the Company or any affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “ Resale Restriction Termination Date ”) only (a) in the United States to a person whom we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in rule 144A under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (b) outside the United States in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (c) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 thereunder (if applicable) or (d) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each of cases (a) through (d) in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. In addition, we will,

 

Exhibit B-1


and each subsequent holder is required to, notify any purchaser of the Note evidenced hereby of the resale restrictions set forth above. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date. If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made to an institutional “ accredited investor ” prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “ accredited investor ” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act. Each purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer, sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause 1(b), 1(c) or 1(d) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.

 

Dated:  

 

 

TRANSFEREE:  

 

  ,
By:  

 

 

 

Exhibit B-2


EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”) dated as of [                    ], among [NEW GUARANTOR] (the “ New Guarantor ”), a direct or indirect subsidiary of RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. (or its successor), a Delaware corporation (“ RYAM ”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee under the indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS the Rayonier A. M. Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), RYAM, certain other Guarantors and the Trustee have heretofore executed an indenture, dated as of May 22, 2014 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Indenture ”), providing for the issuance of the Company’s 5.50% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “ Notes ”), initially in the aggregate principal amount of $550,000,000;

WHEREAS Sections 4.11 and 12.07 of the Indenture provide that under certain circumstances RYAM is required to cause the New Guarantor to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the New Guarantor shall guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations; and

WHEREAS pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Company are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the New Guarantor, RYAM, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes as follows:

1. Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recital hereto are used herein as therein defined, except that the term “holders” in this Supplemental Indenture shall refer to the term “holders” as defined in the Indenture and the Trustee acting on behalf of and for the benefit of such holders. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Section hereof.

2. Agreement to Guarantee . The New Guarantor hereby agrees, jointly and severally with all existing Guarantors (if any), to guarantee the Guaranteed Obligations on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article XII of the Indenture and to be bound by all other applicable provisions of the Indenture and the Notes and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture.

3. Notices . All notices or other communications to the New Guarantor shall be given as provided in Section 13.02 of the Indenture.

4. Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indentures Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and

 

Exhibit C-1


provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

5. Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

6. Trustee Makes No Representation . The Trustee accepts the amendments of the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture, including the terms and provisions defining and limiting the liabilities and responsibilities of the Trustee. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company, or for or with respect to (i) the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or any of the terms or provisions hereof, (ii) the proper authorization hereof by RYAM, the Company and the New Guarantor, in each case, by action or otherwise, (iii) the due execution hereof by RYAM, the Company and the New Guarantor or (iv) the consequences of any amendment herein provided for, and the Trustee makes no representation with respect to any such matters.

7. Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Supplemental Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

8. Effect of Headings . The Section headings of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions here.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank .]

 

Exhibit C-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

RAYONIER A.M. PRODUCTS INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
Title:
[NEW GUARANTOR], as a Guarantor
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Exhibit C-3

Exhibit 10.1

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

RAYONIER INC.

AND

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

DATED AS OF [ ], 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

            Page  

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.01.

    

Definitions

     1   

ARTICLE II SERVICES

     5   

Section 2.01.

    

Services

     5   

Section 2.02.

    

Performance of Services

     6   

Section 2.03.

    

Charges for Services

     7   

Section 2.04.

    

Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Costs and Expenses

     7   

Section 2.05.

    

Changes in the Performance of Services

     7   

Section 2.06.

    

Transitional Nature of Services

     8   

Section 2.07.

    

Subcontracting

     8   

ARTICLE III OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

     8   

Section 3.01.

    

Access

     8   

ARTICLE IV BILLING; TAXES

     9   

Section 4.01.

    

Procedure

     9   

Section 4.02.

    

Late Payments

     9   

Section 4.03.

    

Taxes

     10   

Section 4.04.

    

No Set-Off

     10   

ARTICLE V TERM AND TERMINATION

     10   

Section 5.01.

    

Term

     10   

Section 5.02.

    

Early Termination

     10   

Section 5.03.

    

Interdependencies

     11   

Section 5.04.

    

Effect of Termination

     11   

Section 5.05.

    

Information Transmission

     11   

ARTICLE VI CONFIDENTIALITY; PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS

     12   

Section 6.01.

    

Rayonier and SpinCo Obligations

     12   

Section 6.02.

    

No Release; Return or Destruction

     12   

Section 6.03.

    

Privacy and Data Protection Laws

     13   

Section 6.04.

    

Protective Arrangements

     13   

ARTICLE VII LIMITED LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

     13   

Section 7.01.

    

Limitations on Liability

     13   

Section 7.02.

    

Obligation to Re-Perform; Liabilities

     14   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

Section 7.03.

    

Third-Party Claims

     14   

Section 7.04.

    

Provider Indemnity

     14   

Section 7.05.

    

Indemnification Procedures

     15   

ARTICLE VIII TRANSITION COMMITTEE

     15   

Section 8.01.

    

Establishment

     15   

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     15   

Section 9.01.

    

Mutual Cooperation

     15   

Section 9.02.

    

Further Assurances

     15   

Section 9.03.

    

Audit Assistance

     15   

Section 9.04.

    

Title to Intellectual Property

     16   

Section 9.05.

    

Independent Contractors

     16   

Section 9.06.

    

Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power

     16   

Section 9.07.

    

Governing Law

     17   

Section 9.08.

    

Assignability

     17   

Section 9.09.

    

Third-Party Beneficiaries

     17   

Section 9.10.

    

Notices

     18   

Section 9.11.

    

Severability

     18   

Section 9.12.

    

Force Majeure

     19   

Section 9.13.

    

Headings

     19   

Section 9.14.

    

Survival of Covenants

     19   

Section 9.15.

    

Waivers of Default

     19   

Section 9.16.

    

Dispute Resolution

     19   

Section 9.17.

    

Specific Performance

     20   

Section 9.18.

    

Amendments

     20   

Section 9.19.

    

Interpretation

     20   

Section 9.20.

    

Mutual Drafting

     21   

 

-ii-


TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

This TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ], 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“ Rayonier ” or “ RYN ”), and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ SpinCo ” or “ RYAM ”).

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Rayonier (the “ Rayonier Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of Rayonier and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the SpinCo Business;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Rayonier Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the SpinCo Business from the Rayonier Business (the “ Separation ”) and, following the Separation, make a distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of Rayonier Shares on the Record Date of all the outstanding SpinCo Shares owned by Rayonier (the “ Distribution ”);

WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Separation and the Distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2014 (the “ Separation and Distribution Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, in order to facilitate and provide for an orderly transition in connection with the Separation and the Distribution, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions pursuant to which each of the Parties shall provide Services to the other Party for a transitional period.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Action ” shall mean any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.

Affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.


Ancillary Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Charge ” and “ Charges ” have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03 .

Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Confidential Information ” means all Information that is either confidential or proprietary.

Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.16(a) .

Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Distribution Date ” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the Rayonier Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

Effective Time ” shall mean 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Date.

Force Majeure ” shall mean, with respect to a Party, an event beyond the control of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf), which event (a) does not arise or result from the fault or negligence of such Party (or any Person acting on its behalf) and (b) by its nature would not reasonably have been foreseen by such Party (or such Person), or, if it would reasonably have been foreseen, was unavoidable, and includes acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes, epidemics, war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor problems or unavailability of parts, or, in the case of computer systems, any failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receipt by a Party of an unsolicited takeover offer or other acquisition proposal, even if unforeseen or unavoidable, and such Party’s response thereto, shall not be deemed an event of Force Majeure.

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

Information ” shall mean information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names, communications by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data.

 

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Intellectual Property Agreement ” shall mean the Intellectual Property Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Interest Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02 .

Law ” shall mean any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any income tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

Level of Service ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c) .

Liabilities ” shall mean all debts, guarantees, assurances, commitments, liabilities, responsibilities, Losses, remediation, deficiencies, damages, fines, penalties, settlements, sanctions, costs, expenses, interest and obligations of any nature or kind, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, claim (including any Third-Party Claim), demand, Action, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment or undertaking, or any fines, damages or equitable relief that is imposed, in each case, including all costs and expenses relating thereto.

Losses ” shall mean actual losses (including any diminution in value), costs, damages, penalties and expenses (including legal and accounting fees and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim.

Minimum Service Period ” means the period commencing on the Distribution Date and ending thirty (30) days after the Distribution Date.

Parties ” means the parties to this Agreement.

Person ” shall mean an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

Provider ” means, with respect to any Service, the Party identified on Schedule 1 hereto as the “Provider” of such Service.

Provider Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03 .

Rayonier ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

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Rayonier Board ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Rayonier Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Rayonier Shares ” shall mean the common shares, no par value, of Rayonier.

Recipient ” means, with respect to any Service, the Party receiving such Service hereunder.

Recipient Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04 .

Record Date ” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the Rayonier Board as the record date for determining holders of Rayonier Shares entitled to receive SpinCo Shares pursuant to the Distribution.

Representatives ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys or other representatives.

RYAM ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

RYN ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Separation ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Separation and Distribution Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Service Baseline Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c) .

Service Period ” means, with respect to any Service, the period commencing on the Distribution Date and ending on the earlier of (a) the date that a Party terminates the provision of such Service pursuant to Section 5.02 and (b) the date that is the eighteenth month anniversary of the Distribution Date.

Services ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 .

SpinCo ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

SpinCo Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Shares ” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of SpinCo.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all

 

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classes of voting securities, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

Tax ” has the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

Tax Matters Agreement ” shall mean the Tax Matters Agreement to be entered into by and between Rayonier and SpinCo or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Separation, the Distribution or the other transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Taxing Authority ” has the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

Termination Charges ” shall mean, with respect to the termination of any Service pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(i) , the sum of (a) any and all costs, fees and expenses (other than any severance or retention costs) payable by the Provider of such Service to a Third Party principally because of the early termination of such Service; provided , however , that the Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize any costs, fees or expenses payable to any Third Party in connection with such early termination of such Service and credit any such reductions against the Termination Charges payable by the Recipient; and (b) any additional severance and retention costs, if any, because of the early termination of such Service that the Provider of such terminated Service incurs to employees who had been retained primarily to provide such terminated Service (it being agreed that the costs set forth in this clause (b) shall only be the amount, if any, in excess of the severance and retention costs that such Provider would have paid to such employees if the Service had been provided for the full period during which such Service would have been provided hereunder but for such early termination).

Third Party ” shall mean any Person other than the Parties or any of their Affiliates.

Third-Party Claim ” shall mean any Action commenced by any Third Party against any Party or any of its Affiliates.

Transition Committee ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

ARTICLE II

SERVICES

Section 2.01. Services . Commencing as of the Effective Time, the Provider agrees to provide, or to cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to provide, to the Recipient, or any Subsidiary of the Recipient, the applicable services (the “ Services ”) set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

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Section 2.02. Performance of Services .

(a) The Provider shall perform, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries to perform, all Services to be provided by the Provider in a manner that is based on its past practice and that is substantially similar in all material respects to the analogous services provided by or on behalf of Rayonier or any of its Subsidiaries to Rayonier or its applicable functional group or Subsidiary prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Provider to perform or cause to be performed any Service to the extent that the manner of such performance would constitute a violation of any applicable Law or any existing contract or agreement with a Third Party. If the Provider is or becomes aware of any potential violation on the part of the Provider, the Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly advise the Recipient of such potential violation, and the Provider and the Recipient will mutually seek an alternative that addresses such potential violation. The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith and use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary Third Party consents required under any existing contract or agreement with a Third Party to allow the Provider to perform, or cause to be performed, all Services to be provided by the Provider hereunder in accordance with the standards set forth in this Section 2.02 . Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (if any) incurred by any Party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with obtaining any such Third Party consent that is required to allow the Provider to perform or cause to be performed such Services shall be divided proportionately between the Provider and the Recipient in accordance with such Parties’ respective utilization of such Services at such time. If, with respect to a Service, the Parties, despite the use of such commercially reasonable efforts, are unable to obtain a required Third Party consent, or the performance of such Service by the Provider would constitute a violation of any applicable Law, the Provider shall have no obligation whatsoever to perform or cause to be performed such Service.

(c) The Provider shall not be obligated to perform or to cause to be performed any Service in a manner that is materially more burdensome (with respect to service quality or quantity) than analogous services provided to Rayonier or its applicable functional group or Subsidiary (collectively referred to as the “ Level of Service ”) during calendar year 2013 (the “ Service Baseline Period ”). If the Recipient requests that the Provider perform or cause to be performed any Service that exceeds the Level of Service during the Service Baseline Period, then the Parties shall cooperate and act in good faith to determine whether the Provider will be required to provide such requested higher Level of Service. If the Parties determine that the Provider shall provide the requested higher Level of Service, then such higher Level of Service shall be documented in a written agreement signed by the Parties. Each amended section of Schedule 1 hereto, as agreed to in writing by the Parties, shall be deemed part of this Agreement as of the date of such written agreement and the Level of Service increases set forth in such written agreement shall be deemed a part of the “Services” provided under this Agreement, in each case subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(d) (i) Neither the Provider nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to perform or to cause to be performed any of the Services for the benefit of any Third Party or any other Person other than the Recipient and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 2.02 OR SECTION 7.04 , EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS-IS” BASIS, THAT

 

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THE RECIPIENT ASSUMES ALL RISK AND LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ITS USE OF AND RELIANCE UPON THE SERVICES, AND THAT THE PROVIDER MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR GRANTS ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, EITHER IN FACT OR BY OPERATION OF LAW, BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE, WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES. EACH PARTY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, OR EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE OR PURPOSE OR THE NON-INFRINGEMENT OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES.

(e) Each Party shall be responsible for its own compliance with any and all Laws applicable to its performance under this Agreement. No Party shall knowingly take any action in violation of any such applicable Law that results in Liability being imposed on the other Party.

Section 2.03. Charges for Services . The Recipient shall pay the Provider of the Services a fee (either one-time or recurring) for such Services (or category of Services, as applicable) (each fee constituting a “ Charge ” and, collectively, “ Charges ”), which Charges shall be based upon the cost of providing such Services and shall be agreed to by the Parties from time to time. During the term of this Agreement, the amount of a Charge for any Service may be modified to the extent of (a) any adjustments mutually agreed to by the Parties, (b) any adjustments due to a change in Level of Service requested by the Recipient and agreed upon by the Provider, and (c) any adjustment in the rates or charges imposed by any Third Party provider that is providing Services (proportional to the respective use of such Services by each Party). Together with any invoice for Charges, the Provider shall provide the Recipient with reasonable documentation, including any additional documentation reasonably requested by the Recipient to the extent that such documentation is in the Provider’s or its Subsidiaries’ possession or control, to support the calculation of such Charges.

Section 2.04. Reimbursement for Out-of-Pocket Costs and Expenses . The Recipient shall reimburse the Provider for reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Provider or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with providing the Services (including reasonable travel-related expenses) to the extent that such costs and expenses are not reflected in the Charges for such Services; provided , however , that any such cost or expense in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00), in the aggregate, that is not consistent with historical practice between the Parties for any Service (including business travel and related expenses) shall require advance written approval of the Recipient. Any authorized travel-related expenses incurred in performing the Services shall be incurred and charged to the Recipient in accordance with the Provider’s then-applicable business travel policies.

Section 2.05. Changes in the Performance of Services . Subject to the performance standards for Services set forth in Sections 2.02(a) , 2.02(b) and 2.02(c) , the Provider may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the Services if the Provider is making similar changes in performing analogous services for itself and if the Provider furnishes to the Recipient reasonable prior written notice (in content and timing) of such changes. No such change shall materially adversely affect the timeliness or quality of, or the Charges for, the applicable Service. If any such change by the Provider reasonably requires the Recipient to incur

 

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an increase in costs and expenses of at least five percent (5%), in the aggregate, in order to continue to receive and utilize the applicable Services in the same manner as the Recipient was receiving and utilizing such Service prior to such change, the Provider shall be required to reimburse the Recipient for all such reasonable increase in costs and expenses. Upon request, the Recipient shall provide the Provider with reasonable documentation, including any additional documentation reasonably requested by the Provider to the extent such documentation is in the Recipient’s or its Subsidiaries’ possession or control, to support the calculation of such increase in costs and expenses.

Section 2.06. Transitional Nature of Services . The Parties acknowledge the transitional nature of the Services and agree to cooperate in good faith and to use commercially reasonable efforts to effectuate a smooth transition of the Services from the Provider to the Recipient (or its designee).

Section 2.07. Subcontracting . A Provider may hire or engage one or more Third Parties to perform any or all of its obligations under this Agreement; provided , however , that (a) such Provider shall use the same degree of care (but at least reasonable care) in selecting each of such Third Party as it would if such Third Party was being retained to provide similar services to the Provider and (b) such Provider shall in all cases remain primarily responsible for all of its obligations under this Agreement with respect to the scope of the Services, the performance standard for Services set forth in Sections 2.02(a) , 2.02(b) and 2.02(c) and the content of the Services provided to the Recipient. Subject to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Article VI , each Party shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, provide, upon ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice from the other Party, any Information within such Party’s or its Affiliates’ possession that the requesting Party reasonably requests in connection with any Services being provided to such requesting Party by a Third Party, including any applicable invoices, agreements documenting the arrangements between such Third Party and the Provider and other supporting documentation; provided , further , however , that each Party shall make no more than one such request during any calendar quarter.

ARTICLE III

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

Section 3.01. Access .

(a) SpinCo shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, allow Rayonier and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives reasonable access to the facilities of SpinCo and its Subsidiaries that is necessary for Rayonier and its Subsidiaries to fulfill their obligations under this Agreement. In addition to the foregoing right of access, SpinCo shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford Rayonier, its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives, upon reasonable advance written notice, reasonable access during normal business hours to the facilities, Information, systems, infrastructure and personnel of SpinCo and its Subsidiaries as reasonably necessary for Rayonier to verify the adequacy of internal controls over information technology, reporting of financial data and related processes employed in connection with the Services being provided by SpinCo or its Subsidiaries, including in connection with verifying compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; provided that (i) such access shall not unreasonably interfere with any of the business or operations of SpinCo or any of its

 

-8-


Subsidiaries and (ii) in the event that SpinCo determines that providing such access could be commercially detrimental, violate any applicable Law or agreement or waive any attorney-client privilege, then the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit such access in a manner that avoids each of such harm and consequence. Rayonier agrees that all of its and its Subsidiaries’ employees shall, and that it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives’ employees to, when on the property of SpinCo or its Subsidiaries, or when given access to any facilities, Information, systems, infrastructure or personnel of SpinCo or its Subsidiaries, conform to the policies and procedures of SpinCo and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, concerning health, safety, conduct and security which are made known or provided to Rayonier from time to time.

(b) Rayonier shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, allow SpinCo and its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives reasonable access to the facilities of Rayonier and its Subsidiaries that is necessary for SpinCo and its Subsidiaries to fulfill their obligations under this Agreement. In addition to the foregoing right of access, Rayonier shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford SpinCo, its Subsidiaries and their respective Representatives, upon reasonable advance written notice, reasonable access during normal business hours to the facilities, Information, systems, infrastructure and personnel of Rayonier and its Subsidiaries as reasonably necessary for SpinCo to verify the adequacy of internal controls over information technology, reporting of financial data and related processes employed in connection with the Services being provided by Rayonier or its Subsidiaries, including in connection with verifying compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; provided that (i) such access shall not unreasonably interfere with any of the business or operations of Rayonier or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) in the event that Rayonier determines that providing such access could be commercially detrimental, violate any applicable Law or agreement or waive any attorney-client privilege, then the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to permit such access in a manner that avoids each of such harm and consequence. SpinCo agrees that all of its and its Subsidiaries’ employees shall, and that it shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives’ employees to, when on the property of Rayonier or its Subsidiaries, or when given access to any facilities, Information, systems, infrastructure or personnel of Rayonier or its Subsidiaries, conform to the policies and procedures of Rayonier and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, concerning health, safety, conduct and security which are made known or provided to SpinCo from time to time.

ARTICLE IV

BILLING; TAXES

Section 4.01. Procedure . Charges for the Services shall be charged to and payable by the Recipient. Amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be paid by wire transfer (or such other method of payment as may be agreed between the Parties from time to time) to the Provider (as directed by the Provider), on a monthly basis in the case of recurring fees, which amounts shall be due within fifteen (15) days of the Recipient’s receipt of each such invoice, including reasonable documentation pursuant to Section 2.03 . All amounts due and payable hereunder shall be invoiced and paid in U.S. dollars.

Section 4.02. Late Payments . Charges not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement (and any amounts billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that are not

 

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paid within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus two percent (2%) or the maximum rate under applicable Law, whichever is lower (the “ Interest Payment ”).

Section 4.03. Taxes . Without limiting any provisions of this Agreement, the Recipient shall bear any and all Taxes and other similar charges (and any related interest and penalties) imposed on, or payable with respect to, any fees or charges, including any Charges, payable by it pursuant to this Agreement, including all sales, use, value-added, and similar Taxes, but excluding Taxes based on the Provider’s net income and any excise taxes imposed under Section 4981 of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the previous sentence or elsewhere in this Agreement, the Recipient shall be entitled to withhold from any payments to the Provider any such Taxes that the Recipient is required by applicable Law to withhold and shall pay such Taxes to the applicable Taxing Authority.

Section 4.04. No Set-Off . Except as mutually agreed to in writing by Rayonier and SpinCo, no Party or any of its Affiliates shall have any right of set-off or other similar rights with respect to (a) any amounts received pursuant to this Agreement or (b) any other amounts claimed to be owed to the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

TERM AND TERMINATION

Section 5.01. Term . This Agreement shall commence at the Effective Time and shall terminate upon the earlier to occur of (a) the last date on which either Party is obligated to provide any Service to the other Party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; (b) the mutual written agreement of the Parties to terminate this Agreement in its entirety; and (c) the date that is the eighteenth (18th) month anniversary of the Distribution Date. Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to Section 5.02 , this Agreement shall terminate with respect to each Service as of the close of business on the last day of the Service Period for such Service. To the extent that the Provider’s ability to provide a Service is dependent on the continuation of a specified Service, the Provider’s obligation to provide such dependent Service shall terminate automatically with the termination of such supporting Service.

Section 5.02. Early Termination .

(a) Without prejudice to the Recipient’s rights with respect to Force Majeure, the Recipient may from time to time terminate this Agreement with respect to the entirety of any individual Service but not a portion thereof:

(i) subsequent to the end of the Minimum Service Period, for any reason or no reason, upon the giving of at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice to the Provider of such Service (it being agreed that such notice may not be delivered prior to the end of the Minimum Service Period); provided , however , that any such termination (x) may only be effective as of the last day of a month and (y) shall be subject to the obligation to pay any applicable Termination Charges pursuant to Section 5.04 ; or

(ii) if the Provider of such Service has failed to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Service, and such failure shall continue to be uncured for a period of at least thirty (30) days after receipt by the Provider of

 

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written notice of such failure from the Recipient; provided , however , that any such termination may only be effective as of the last day of a month; and provided , further , that the Recipient shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement with respect to the applicable Service if, as of the end of such period, there remains a good-faith Dispute between the Parties (undertaken in accordance with the terms of Section 9.16 ) as to whether the Provider has cured the applicable breach.

(b) The Provider may terminate this Agreement with respect to any individual Service, but not a portion thereof, at any time upon prior written notice to the Recipient if the Recipient has failed to perform any of its material obligations under this Agreement relating to such Service, including making payment of Charges for such Service when due, and such failure shall continue to be uncured for a period of at least thirty (30) days after receipt by the Recipient of a written notice of such failure from the Provider; provided , however , that any such termination may only be effective as of the last day of a month; and provided , further , that the Provider shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement with respect to the applicable Service if, as of the end of such period, there remains a good-faith Dispute between the Parties (undertaken in accordance with the terms of Section 9.16 ) as to whether the Recipient has cured the applicable breach. Schedule 1 hereto shall be updated to reflect any terminated Service.

Section 5.03. Interdependencies . The Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) there may be interdependencies among the Services being provided under this Agreement; (b) upon the request of either Party, the Parties shall cooperate and act in good faith to determine whether (i) any such interdependencies exist with respect to the particular Service that a Party is seeking to terminate pursuant to Section 5.02 and (ii) in the case of such termination, the Provider’s ability to provide a particular Service in accordance with this Agreement would be materially and adversely affected by such termination of another Service; and (c) in the event that the Parties have determined that such interdependencies exist (and, in the case of such termination that the Provider’s ability to provide a particular Service in accordance with this Agreement would be materially and adversely affected by such termination), the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to amend Schedule 1 hereto with respect to such termination of such impacted Service, which amendment shall be consistent with the terms of comparable Services.

Section 5.04. Effect of Termination . Upon the termination of any Service pursuant to this Agreement, the Provider of the terminated Service shall have no further obligation to provide the terminated Service, and the Recipient of such Service shall have no obligation to pay any future Charges relating to such Service; provided , however , that the Recipient shall remain obligated to the Provider for (a) the Charges owed and payable in respect of Services provided prior to the effective date of termination for such Service, and (b) any applicable Termination Charges (which, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), shall be payable only in the event that the Recipient terminates any Service pursuant to Section 5.02(a)(i) ). In connection with the termination of any Service, the provisions of this Agreement not relating solely to such terminated Service shall survive any such termination, and in connection with a termination of this Agreement, Article I , this Article V , Article VII and Article IX , all confidentiality obligations under this Agreement and Liability for all due and unpaid Charges, and Termination Charges shall continue to survive indefinitely.

Section 5.05. Information Transmission . The Provider, on behalf of itself and its respective Subsidiaries, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide or make available,

 

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or cause to be provided or made available, to the Recipient, in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, any Information received or computed by the Provider for the benefit of the Recipient concerning the relevant Service during the Service Period; provided , however , that, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties (a) the Provider shall not have any obligation to provide, or cause to be provided, Information in any non-standard format, (b) the Provider and its Subsidiaries shall be reimbursed for their reasonable costs in accordance with Section 6.3 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement for creating, gathering, copying, transporting and otherwise providing such Information, and (c) the Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain any such Information in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

CONFIDENTIALITY; PROTECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS

Section 6.01. Rayonier and SpinCo Obligations . Subject to Section 6.04 , until the five (5)-year anniversary of the date of the termination of this Agreement in its entirety, each of Rayonier and SpinCo, on behalf of itself and each of its Subsidiaries, agrees to hold, and to cause its respective Representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least the same degree of care that applies to Rayonier’s Confidential Information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time, all Confidential Information concerning the other Party or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses that is either in its possession (including Confidential Information in its possession prior to the date hereof) or furnished by such other Party or such other Party’s Subsidiaries or their respective Representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement, and shall not use any such Confidential Information other than for such purposes as may be expressly permitted hereunder, except , in each case, to the extent that such Confidential Information has been (a) in the public domain or generally available to the public, other than as a result of a disclosure by such Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives in violation of this Agreement; (b) later lawfully acquired from other sources by such Party or any of its Subsidiaries, which sources are not themselves bound by a confidentiality obligation or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality with respect to such Confidential Information; or (c) independently developed or generated without reference to or use of the Confidential Information of the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries. If any Confidential Information of a Party or any of its Subsidiaries is disclosed to the other Party or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with providing the Services, then such disclosed Confidential Information shall be used only as required to perform such Services.

Section 6.02. No Release; Return or Destruction . Each Party agrees (a) not to release or disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any Confidential Information of the other Party addressed in Section 6.01 to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such Confidential Information in their capacities as such (whom shall be advised of their obligations hereunder with respect to such Confidential Information) and except in compliance with Section 6.04 , and (b) to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such Confidential Information in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, when any such Confidential Information is no longer needed for the purposes contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreements, each Party will promptly after request of the other Party either return to the other Party all such Confidential Information in a tangible form (including all copies

 

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thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based thereon) or notify the other Party in writing that it has destroyed such information (and such copies thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon).

Section 6.03. Privacy and Data Protection Laws . Each Party shall comply with all applicable state, federal and foreign privacy and data protection Laws that are or that may in the future be applicable to the provision of the Services under this Agreement.

Section 6.04. Protective Arrangements . In the event that a Party or any of its Subsidiaries either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any information pursuant to applicable Law or receives any request or demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide information of the other Party (or any of its Subsidiaries) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, such Party shall notify the other Party (to the extent legally permitted) as promptly as practicable under the circumstances prior to disclosing or providing such information and shall cooperate, at the expense of the other Party, in seeking any appropriate protective order requested by the other Party. In the event that such other Party fails to receive such appropriate protective order in a timely manner and the Party receiving the request or demand reasonably determines that its failure to disclose or provide such information shall actually prejudice the Party receiving the request or demand, then the Party that received such request or demand may thereafter disclose or provide information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by its counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority, and the disclosing Party shall promptly provide the other Party with a copy of the information so disclosed, in the same form and format so disclosed, together with a list of all Persons to whom such information was disclosed, in each case to the extent legally permitted.

ARTICLE VII

LIMITED LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 7.01. Limitations on Liability .

(a) SUBJECT TO SECTION 7.02 , THE LIABILITIES OF THE PROVIDER AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES, COLLECTIVELY, UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT IN CONNECTION HEREWITH (INCLUDING THE PERFORMANCE OR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT), OR FROM THE SALE, DELIVERY, PROVISION OR USE OF ANY SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER OR CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE AND STRICT LIABILITY) OR OTHERWISE, SHALL NOT EXCEED (X) IF THE SERVICES WERE PERFORMED BY SUCH PROVIDER FOR ONE YEAR OR LESS, THE AGGREGATE CHARGES PAID AND PAYABLE TO SUCH PROVIDER BY THE RECIPIENT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR (Y) IF THE SERVICES WERE PERFORMED BY SUCH PROVIDER FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, THE AGGREGATE CHARGES PAID AND PAYABLE TO SUCH PROVIDER BY THE RECIPIENT PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE TWELVE (12)-MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO SUCH LIABILITIES.

 

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(b) IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE, SPECULATIVE OR SIMILAR DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF COMPENSATORY DAMAGES OF THE OTHER PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT (OTHER THAN ANY SUCH LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO A THIRD-PARTY CLAIM), AND EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ON BEHALF OF ITSELF, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES ANY CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE.

(c) The limitations in Section 7.01(a) and Section 7.01(b) shall not apply in respect of any Liability arising out of or in connection with (i) either Party’s Liability for breaches of confidentiality under Article VI , (ii) either Party’s obligations under Section 7.03 or 7.04 , or (iii) the gross negligence, willful misconduct, or fraud of or by the Party to be charged.

Section 7.02. Obligation to Re-Perform; Liabilities . In the event of any breach of this Agreement by the Provider with respect to the provision of any Services (with respect to which the Provider can reasonably be expected to re-perform in a commercially reasonable manner), the Provider shall (a) promptly correct in all material respects such error, defect or breach or re-perform in all material respects such Services at the request of the Recipient and at the sole cost and expense of the Provider and (b) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7.01 , reimburse the Recipient and its Subsidiaries and Representatives for Liabilities attributable to such breach by the Provider. The remedy set forth in this Section 7.02 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Recipient for any such breach of this Agreement; provided , however , that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Recipient from exercising its right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02(a)(ii) . Any request for re-performance in accordance with this Section 7.02 by the Recipient must be in writing and specify in reasonable detail the particular error, defect or breach, and such request must be made no more than one month from the later of (x) the date on which such breach occurred and (y) the date on which such breach was reasonably discovered by the Recipient.

Section 7.03. Third-Party Claims . In addition to (but not in duplication of) its other indemnification obligations (if any) under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, the Recipient shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Provider, its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives, and each of the successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Provider Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all claims of Third Parties relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Provider’s furnishing or failing to furnish the Services provided for in this Agreement, other than (a) Third Party Claims arising out of the gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud of any Provider Indemnitee and (b) as set forth in Section 2.02(b) .

Section 7.04. Provider Indemnity . In addition to (but not in duplication of) its other indemnification obligations (if any) under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, the Provider shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Recipient, its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives, and each of the successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Recipient Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from the sale,

 

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delivery, provision or use of any Services provided by such Provider hereunder, but only to the extent that such Liability relates to, arises out of or results from the Provider’s gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud.

Section 7.05. Indemnification Procedures . The procedures for indemnification set forth in Sections 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall govern claims for indemnification under this Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

TRANSITION COMMITTEE

Section 8.01. Establishment . Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, a Transition Committee is to be established by Rayonier and SpinCo to, among other things, monitor and manage matters arising out of or resulting from this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Party shall cause each member of the Transition Committee who is an employee, agent or other Representative of such Party to work in good faith to resolve any Dispute arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01. Mutual Cooperation . Each Party shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, cooperate with the other Party and its Subsidiaries in connection with the performance of the Services hereunder; provided , however , that such cooperation shall not unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of such Party or its Subsidiaries; and, provided , further , that this Section 9.01 shall not require such Party to incur any out-of-pocket costs or expenses unless and except as expressly provided in this Agreement or otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties.

Section 9.02. Further Assurances . Each Party shall take, or cause to be taken, any and all reasonable actions, including the execution, acknowledgment, filing and delivery of any and all documents and instruments that any other Party may reasonably request in order to effect the intent and purpose of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 9.03. Audit Assistance . Each of the Parties and their respective Subsidiaries are or may be subject to regulation and audit by a Governmental Authority (including a Taxing Authority), standards organizations, customers or other parties to contracts with such Parties or their respective Subsidiaries under applicable Law, standards or contract provisions. If a Governmental Authority, standards organization, customer or other party to a contract with a Party or its Subsidiary exercises its right to examine or audit such Party’s or its Subsidiary’s books, records, documents or accounting practices and procedures pursuant to such applicable Law, standards or contract provisions, and such examination or audit relates to the Services, then the other Party shall provide, at the sole cost and expense of the requesting Party, all assistance reasonably requested by the Party that is subject to the examination or audit in responding to such examination or audits or requests for Information, to the extent that such assistance or Information is within the reasonable control of the cooperating Party and is related to the Services.

 

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Section 9.04. Title to Intellectual Property . Except as expressly provided for under the terms of this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or the Intellectual Property Agreement, the Recipient acknowledges that it shall acquire no right, title or interest (including any license rights or rights of use) in any intellectual property which is owned or licensed by the Provider, by reason of the provision of the Services hereunder. The Recipient shall not remove or alter any copyright, trademark, confidentiality or other proprietary notices that appear on any intellectual property owned or licensed by the Provider, and the Recipient shall reproduce any such notices on any and all copies thereof. The Recipient shall not attempt to decompile, translate, reverse engineer or make excessive copies of any intellectual property owned or licensed by the Provider, and the Recipient shall promptly notify the Provider of any such attempt, regardless of whether by the Recipient or any Third Party, of which the Recipient becomes aware.

Section 9.05. Independent Contractors . The Parties each acknowledge and agree that they are separate entities, each of which has entered into this Agreement for independent business reasons. The relationships of the Parties hereunder are those of independent contractors and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to create a joint venture, partnership or any other relationship between the Parties. Employees performing services hereunder do so on behalf of, under the direction of, and as employees of, the Provider, and the Recipient shall have no right, power or authority to direct such employees.

Section 9.06. Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power .

(a) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

(b) This Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits, Schedules and appendices hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

 

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(c) Rayonier represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each of its Subsidiaries, and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each of its Subsidiaries, as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and

(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof.

(d) Each Party acknowledges and agrees that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it will not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

Section 9.07. Governing Law . This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Delaware, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

Section 9.08. Assignability . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that neither Party may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements in whole (i.e., the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement and all the other Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant party thereto by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party. Nothing herein is intended to, or shall be construed to, prohibit either Party or any of its Subsidiaries from being party to or undertaking a change of control.

Section 9.09. Third-Party Beneficiaries . Except as provided in Article VII with respect to the Provider Indemnitees in their capacities as such, (a) the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any other Person except

 

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the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder; and (b) there are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

Section 9.10. Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.10 ):

If to Rayonier, to:

Rayonier Inc.

225 Water St., Suite 1400

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attention: General Counsel

and

Rayonier Inc.

225 Water St., Suite 1400

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to SpinCo, to:

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: General Counsel

and

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Any Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

Section 9.11. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to

 

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Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby. Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties.

Section 9.12. Force Majeure . No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation hereunder (other than the obligation to pay money) so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance (other than the obligation to pay money) shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay unless this Agreement has previously been terminated under Article V or under this Section 9.12 . A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such Force Majeure, (a) provide written notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of such Force Majeure; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable (and in no event later than the date that the affected Party resumes providing analogous services to, or otherwise resumes analogous performance under any other agreement for, itself, its Affiliates or any Third Party) unless this Agreement has previously been terminated under Article V or this Section 9.12 . The Recipient shall be (i) relieved of the obligation to pay Charges for the affected Service(s) throughout the duration of such Force Majeure and (ii) entitled to permanently terminate such Service(s) if the delay or failure in providing such Services because of a Force Majeure shall continue to exist for more than thirty (30) consecutive days (it being understood that the Recipient shall not be required to provide any advance notice of such termination to the Provider).

Section 9.13. Headings . The Article, Section and Paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 9.14. Survival of Covenants . Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties and other agreements contained in this Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein, shall survive the Effective Time and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.

Section 9.15. Waivers of Default . Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof prejudice any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

Section 9.16. Dispute Resolution .

(a) In the event of any controversy, dispute or claim (a “ Dispute ”) (i) arising out of or relating to any Party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement (whether arising in

 

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contract, tort or otherwise), calculation or allocation of the costs of any Service or otherwise arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement (including the interpretation or validity of this Agreement) and (ii) that is not resolved by the Transition Committee after a reasonable period of time, such Dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution process referred to in Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

(b) In any Dispute regarding the amount of a Charge or a Termination Charge, if such Dispute is finally resolved by the Transition Committee or pursuant to the dispute resolution process set forth or referred to in Section 9.16(a) and it is determined that the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, that the Provider has invoiced the Recipient, and that the Recipient has paid to the Provider, is greater or less than the amount that the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, should have been, then (i) if it is determined that the Recipient has overpaid the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, the Provider shall within five (5) business days after such determination reimburse the Recipient an amount of cash equal to such overpayment, plus the Interest Payment, accruing from the date of payment by the Recipient to the time of reimbursement by the Provider; and (ii) if it is determined that the Recipient has underpaid the Charge or the Termination Charge, as applicable, the Recipient shall within five (5) business days after such determination reimburse the Provider an amount of cash equal to such underpayment, plus the Interest Payment, accruing from the date such payment originally should have been made by the Recipient to the time of payment by the Recipient.

Section 9.17. Specific Performance . Subject to Section 9.16 , in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) in respect of its rights or their rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any Action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived by each of the Parties. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Parties shall continue to provide Services and honor all other commitments under this Agreement during the course of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.16 and this Section 9.17 with respect to all matters not subject to such Dispute; provided , however , that this obligation shall only exist during the term of this Agreement.

Section 9.18. Amendments . No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by a Party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

Section 9.19. Interpretation . In this Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as

 

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a whole (including all of the Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (c) Article, Section, Exhibit, Annex and Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement; (e) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (f) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (g) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days; (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the United States or Jacksonville, Florida; (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall all be references to [ ], 2014.

Section 9.20. Mutual Drafting . This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

RAYONIER INC.
  By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:
  RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.
  By:  

 

    Name:
    Title:

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT]


Schedule 1

Transition Services 1

 

1 - I T

Services

  

Provider

(RYN or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Operations    RYN    Provide assistance and training related to operational processes and equipment. This includes computing, storage, memory, networking, security and compliance.
b) Applications / Solutions    RYN    Provide assistance and training related to installed applications and databases. This includes custom, purchased and hosted systems.
c) Operations    RYAM    Provide assistance and training related to operational processes and equipment. This includes computing, storage, memory, networking, security and compliance.
d) Applications / Solutions    RYAM    Provide assistance and training related to installed applications and databases. This includes custom, purchased and hosted systems.

2 - FINANCE

Services

  

Provider (RYN
or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Investor Relations    RYN    Assistance in preparing for July earnings release, including onsite support during earnings call
b) Internal Audit    RYAM    Complete open audits
b-1) Internal Audit    RYN    Complete open audits and perform SOX testing.
c) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2013 Form 1120 for Rayonier TRS Holdings and its subsidiaries

 

1   Services to be provided in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement to which this schedule is attached and for a period not to exceed eighteen months.

 

Schedule 1-1


c-2) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2013 Form 1120-REIT for Rayonier Inc.
c-3) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2013 Form 1120-REIT for Rayonier Timber Company No 1
c-4) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2013 Form 1120-REIT for Washington Timber Company
c-5) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2013 Form 1120-REIT for Atlantic Timber Company
c-6) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2014 Form 1120-REIT for Washington Timber Company
c-7) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2014 Form 1120-REIT for Atlantic Timber Company
c-8) Tax    RYAM    Prepare 2014 Form 1120 for Rayonier TRS Holdings and its subsidiaries
c-9) Tax    RYN    Assist in adopting provisions of tangible property regulations
c-10) Tax    RYN    Implement RYAM Global Sales & Distribution Company restructuring

 

Schedule 1-2


c-11) Tax    RYAM    Prepare Rayonier tax provision through second quarter 2014
c-12) Tax    RYAM    Prepare Rayonier tax provision after second quarter 2014
c-13) Tax    RYAM    Respond to IRS exam questions for 2012 through 2014
c-14) Tax    RYAM    Perform general tax consulting services as needed
c-15) Tax    RYN    Respond to IRS exam questions for 2012 through 2014
c-16) Tax    RYN    Perform general tax consulting services as needed
d) Long Range Planning    RYN    Training and support for the Long Range Planning model, including trouble-shooting and responding to modeling questions

3 – ACCOUNTING

Services

  

Provider (RYN
or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) General Ledger    RYAM    Perform all functions surrounding Performance Fibers’ accounting close for June 2014, including: recording journal entries, reconciliation of general ledger accounts, responding to audit requests, and preparing accounting packages.
b) General Ledger    RYN    Provide RYAM with certain financial information (and respond to any related audit requests) required to be disclosed in RYAM’s 2nd quarter carve-out financials, including: final value of shared assets/liabilities transferred to RYAM, allocation of corporate overhead, allocation of deal costs, transition costs, and allocation of other corporate charges directly related to Performance Fibers.

 

Schedule 1-3


c) Financial Reporting    RYAM    Provide RYN with all information (and respond to any audit related requests) required to complete external reporting requirements, including but not limited to: SEC filings, debt covenants, and other governmental reporting
d) Financial Reporting    RYN    Provide RYAM with all information (and respond to any audit related requests) required to complete external reporting requirements, including but not limited to: SEC filings, debt covenants, and other governmental reporting.

4 - HR

Services

  

Provider (RYN
or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Employee Services    RYN    Training and availability to answer questions regarding human resources and benefit processes and administration
b) Payroll    RYAM    Training and availability to answer questions regarding payroll processes, reconciliations and filings
c) Compensation    RYN    Training and availability to answer questions related to compensation processes and preparation of board of directors materials
d) Benefits – Retirement Plans    RYN    Training - Retirement Plans
e) Benefits Health and Fitness    RYAM    Training - Health and Wellness Plans
f) Human Resources Information Systems    RYN    Training - Human Resources Information Systems Setup / Integrations

5 – Risk Management

Services

  

Provider (RYN
or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Insurance    RYAM    Training/Assistance with Insurance Renewal Process
b) Claims Management    RYAM    Assistance with claims issues

 

Schedule 1-4


6 – Legal/Corporate Secretary

Services

  

Provider (RYN
or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Corp Sec / Public Company Governance    RYN    Training, education and assistance for establishment of RYAM Corporate Secretarial function

7 – Facilities

Services

  

Provider (RYN
or RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Temporary space use    RYAM    Use of office in Shanghai location of RYAM by RYN’s agent
b) Real Property management systems    RYN    Assistance to RYAM in developing a management system for RYAM’s real estate

8 – Public Affairs

Services

  

Service

Provider

(RYN or

RYAM)

  

Description of Services

a) Foundation Merger Assistance    RYN    Assistance with completing merger of Rayonier Foundation into new Florida-based foundation

 

Schedule 1-5

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

RAYONIER INC.

AND

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

DATED AS OF [ ], 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS      1   

Section 1.01.

 

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02.

 

Interpretation

     9   

ARTICLE II GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR ALLOCATION OF LIABILITIES

     9   

Section 2.01.

 

General Principles

     9   

Section 2.02.

 

Service Credit

     11   

Section 2.03.

 

Benefit Plans

     11   

Section 2.04.

 

Individual Agreements

     12   

Section 2.05.

 

Collective Bargaining

     13   

Section 2.06.

 

Non-U.S. Regulatory Compliance

     13   

ARTICLE III ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEES

     13   

Section 3.01.

 

Active Employees

     13   

Section 3.02.

 

No-Hire and Non-Solicitation

     15   

ARTICLE IV EQUITY, INCENTIVE AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     15   

Section 4.01.

 

Generally

     15   

Section 4.02.

 

Equity Incentive Awards

     15   

Section 4.03.

 

Non-Equity Incentive Plans

     21   

Section 4.04.

 

Executive Severance Plan and Trust

     23   

Section 4.05.

 

Director Compensation

     24   

ARTICLE V QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

     25   

Section 5.01.

 

SpinCo Pension Plan

     25   

Section 5.02.

 

SpinCo Retained Pension Plans

     27   

Section 5.03.

 

SpinCo Savings Plan

     28   

Section 5.04.

 

SpinCo Retained Savings Plans

     30   

ARTICLE VI NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

     30   

Section 6.01.

 

SpinCo Excess Benefit Plan

     30   

Section 6.02.

 

SpinCo Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan

     31   

Section 6.03.

 

Deferred Compensation Benefits for Certain Executives

     31   

Section 6.04.

 

Participation; Distributions

     32   

ARTICLE VII WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS

     32   

Section 7.01.

 

Welfare Plans

     32   

Section 7.02.

 

COBRA and HIPAA

     33   

Section 7.03.

 

Vacation, Holidays and Leaves of Absence

     34   

 

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Section 7.04.

 

Severance and Unemployment Compensation

     34   

Section 7.05.

 

Workers’ Compensation

     34   

Section 7.06.

 

Insurance Contracts

     34   

Section 7.07.

 

Third-Party Vendors

     35   

Section 7.08.

 

SpinCo Retained Welfare Plans

     35   

ARTICLE VIII NON-U.S. EMPLOYEES

     35   

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

     35   

Section 9.01.

 

Employee Records

     35   

Section 9.02.

 

Preservation of Rights to Amend

     36   

Section 9.03.

 

Fiduciary Matters

     37   

Section 9.04.

 

Further Assurances

     37   

Section 9.05.

 

Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power

     37   

Section 9.06.

 

Governing Law

     38   

Section 9.07.

 

Assignability

     38   

Section 9.08.

 

Third-Party Beneficiaries

     38   

Section 9.09.

 

Notices

     39   

Section 9.10.

 

Severability

     40   

Section 9.11.

 

Force Majeure

     40   

Section 9.12.

 

Headings

     40   

Section 9.13.

 

Survival of Covenants

     40   

Section 9.14.

 

Waivers of Default

     40   

Section 9.15.

 

Dispute Resolution

     40   

Section 9.16.

 

Specific Performance

     40   

Section 9.17.

 

Amendments

     41   

Section 9.18.

 

Interpretation

     41   

Section 9.19.

 

Mutual Drafting

     41   

 

-ii-


EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ], 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“ Rayonier ”), and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ SpinCo ”).

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Rayonier (the “ Rayonier Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of Rayonier and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the SpinCo Business;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Rayonier Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the SpinCo Business from the Rayonier Business (the “ Separation ”) and, following the Separation, make a distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of Rayonier Shares on the Record Date of all the outstanding SpinCo Shares owned by Rayonier (the “ Distribution ”);

WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Separation and Distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2014 (the “ Separation and Distribution Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, in addition to the matters addressed by the Separation and Distribution Agreement, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions of certain employment, compensation and benefit matters.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Action ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Adjusted SpinCo Stock Value ” shall mean the product obtained by multiplying (i) the SpinCo Stock Value and (ii) the Distribution Ratio.

Affiliate ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.


Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement and shall include all Schedules hereto and all amendments, modifications, and changes hereto entered into pursuant to Section 9.17 .

Ancillary Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Benefit Plan ” shall mean any contract, agreement, policy, practice, program, plan, trust, commitment or arrangement providing for benefits, perquisites or compensation of any nature from an employer to any Employee, or to any family member, dependent, or beneficiary of any such Employee, including pension plans, thrift plans, supplemental pension plans and welfare plans, and contracts, agreements, policies, practices, programs, plans, trusts, commitments and arrangements providing for terms of employment, fringe benefits, severance benefits, change in control protections or benefits, travel and accident, life, accidental death and dismemberment, disability and accident insurance, tuition reimbursement, travel reimbursement, vacation, sick, personal or bereavement days, leaves of absences and holidays; provided , however , the term “Benefit Plan” does not include any government-sponsored benefits, such as workers’ compensation, unemployment or any similar plans, programs or policies.

COBRA ” shall mean the U.S. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as codified at Section 601 et seq . of ERISA and at Section 4980B of the Code.

Code ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Corporate Bonus Continuation Period ” shall mean a period of time commencing as of the Distribution Date and ending on the earlier of December 31, 2015 and the first regularly scheduled meeting of SpinCo shareholders occurring more than 12 months after the Distribution Date.

Directors’ Charitable Award Program ” shall mean the Rayonier Director’s Charitable Award Program, as amended January 1, 1997.

Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Distribution Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Distribution Ratio ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Effective Time ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

 

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Employee ” shall mean any Rayonier Group Employee or SpinCo Group Employee.

ERISA ” shall mean the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Exchange Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

FICA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(e) .

Force Majeure ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Former Employees ” shall mean Former Rayonier Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees.

Former Rayonier Group Employee ” shall mean any individual who is a former employee of the Rayonier Group as of the Effective Time and who is not a Former SpinCo Group Employee.

Former SpinCo Group Employee ” shall mean (i) any individual identified as a Former SpinCo Group Employee on the list previously prepared by Rayonier, dated [ ], 2014, (ii) any individual who is a former employee of Rayonier or any of its former Subsidiaries or Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time, in each case, whose most recent employment with Rayonier was with a member of the SpinCo Group or the SpinCo Business, and (iii) any individual who is a former employee of the Southern Wood Piedmont Company and who as of immediately prior to the Effective Time is not an employee of Rayonier or its Subsidiaries.

FUTA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(e) .

General Continuation Period ” shall mean a period of time commencing as of the Distribution Date and ending on December 31, 2015.

Governmental Authority ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

HIPAA ” shall mean the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Individual Agreement ” shall mean any individual (i) employment contract, (ii) retention, severance or change of control agreement, (iii) expatriate (including any international assignee) contract or agreement (including agreements and obligations regarding repatriation, relocation, equalization of taxes and living standards in the host country), or (iv) other agreement containing restrictive covenants (including confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions) between a member of the Rayonier Group and a SpinCo Group Employee, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

-3-


IRS ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Law ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

NYSE ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Party ” shall mean a party to this Agreement.

Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Post-Separation Rayonier Awards ” shall mean Post-Separation Rayonier Options, Post-Separation Rayonier Restricted Stock Awards, Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Awards and Post-Separation Rayonier Time-Vested Awards, collectively.

Post-Separation Rayonier Option ” shall mean a Rayonier Option adjusted as of the Effective Time in accordance with Section 4.02(b) .

Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award ” shall mean a Rayonier Performance Share Award adjusted as of the Effective Time in accordance with Section 4.02(c) .

Post-Separation Rayonier Restricted Stock Award ” shall mean a Rayonier Restricted Stock Award adjusted as of the Effective Time in accordance with Section 4.02(a) .

Post-Separation Rayonier Stock Value ” shall mean the simple average of the volume weighted average per-share price of Rayonier Shares trading on the NYSE during each of the first ten (10) full Trading Sessions immediately after the Effective Time.

Post-Separation Rayonier Time-Vested Award ” shall mean a time-vested equity award granted as of the Effective Time pursuant to a Rayonier Equity Plan in accordance with Section 4.02(c)(ii)(A) .

Providing Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b) .

QDRO ” shall mean a qualified domestic relations order within the meaning of Section 206(d) of ERISA and Section 414(p) of the Code.

Rayonier ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

Rayonier Awards ” shall mean Rayonier Options, Rayonier Restricted Stock Awards and Rayonier Performance Share Awards, collectively.

 

-4-


Rayonier Benefit Plan ” shall mean any Benefit Plan established, sponsored or maintained by Rayonier or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time, excluding any SpinCo Benefit Plan.

Rayonier Board ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Rayonier Business ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Rayonier Change of Control ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(d) .

Rayonier Compensation Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Rayonier Board.

Rayonier Equity Plan ” shall mean any equity compensation plan sponsored or maintained by Rayonier immediately prior to the Effective Time, including the Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan, as amended, and the 1994 Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan, as amended.

Rayonier Group ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Rayonier Group Employees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a) .

Rayonier HSA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c) .

Rayonier Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan ” shall mean the Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Rayonier Nonqualified Plans ” shall mean the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan and the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan.

Rayonier Option ” shall mean an option to purchase Rayonier Shares granted pursuant to a Rayonier Equity Plan that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Rayonier Pension Plan ” shall mean the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of Rayonier Inc.

Rayonier Pension Trust ” shall mean the Rayonier Inc. Master Retirement Trust.

Rayonier Performance Share Award ” shall mean a performance share award granted pursuant to the Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan and a Performance Share Award Program thereunder that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Rayonier Ratio ” shall mean the quotient obtained by dividing the Rayonier Stock Value by the Post-Separation Rayonier Stock Value.

 

-5-


Rayonier Restricted Stock Award ” shall mean a restricted stock award granted pursuant to a Rayonier Equity Plan that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Rayonier Savings Plan ” shall mean the Rayonier Investment and Savings Plan for Salaried Employees.

Rayonier Share Fund ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(b) .

Rayonier Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Rayonier Stock Value ” shall mean the simple average of the volume weighted average per-share price of Rayonier Shares trading “regular way with due bills” on the NYSE during each of the last ten (10) full Trading Sessions immediately prior to the Effective Time.

Rayonier Value Factor ” shall mean the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Rayonier Stock Value by (ii) the sum of (A) the Adjusted SpinCo Stock Value and (B) the Post-Separation Rayonier Stock Value.

Rayonier Welfare Plan ” shall mean any Welfare Plan established, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by Rayonier or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of Employees or Former Employees, including each Welfare Plan listed on Schedule 1.01(c) but excluding the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan and any SpinCo Welfare Plan.

Record Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Requesting Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b) .

Securities Act ” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Separation ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

Separation and Distribution Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

SpinCo ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

SpinCo Awards ” shall mean SpinCo Options, SpinCo Restricted Stock Awards, SpinCo Performance Share Awards and SpinCo Time-Vested Awards, collectively.

SpinCo Benefit Plan ” shall mean any Benefit Plan established, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by a member of the SpinCo Group as of or after the Effective Time, including any SpinCo Retained Plan.

SpinCo Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of SpinCo.

 

-6-


SpinCo Business ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Change of Control ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(d) .

SpinCo Compensation Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the SpinCo Board.

SpinCo Designees ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Equity Plan ” shall mean the SpinCo 2014 Equity Incentive Plan.

SpinCo Group ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Group Employees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a) .

SpinCo HSA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c) .

SpinCo Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan ” shall mean the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan established pursuant to Section 4.03(a) .

SpinCo Nonqualified Plan ” shall mean the SpinCo Excess Benefit Plan and the SpinCo Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan, collectively.

SpinCo Option ” shall mean an option to purchase SpinCo Shares granted by SpinCo pursuant to the SpinCo Equity Plan in accordance with Section 4.02(b) .

SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program ” shall mean the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program established pursuant to Section 4.05(a) .

SpinCo Pension Plan ” shall mean the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of SpinCo Inc.

SpinCo Pension Trust ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(a) .

SpinCo Performance Share Award ” shall mean a performance share award granted pursuant to the SpinCo Equity Plan and a SpinCo Performance Share Award Program thereunder in accordance with Section 4.02(c) .

SpinCo Ratio ” shall mean the quotient obtained by dividing the Rayonier Stock Value by the SpinCo Stock Value.

SpinCo Restricted Stock Award ” shall mean a restricted stock award granted pursuant to the SpinCo Equity Plan in accordance with Section 4.02(a) .

 

-7-


SpinCo Retained Bonus Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.03(b).

SpinCo Retained Pension Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.02 .

SpinCo Retained Plan ” means a SpinCo Retained Bonus Plan, SpinCo Retained Pension Plan, SpinCo Retained Savings Plan or SpinCo Retained Welfare Plan.

SpinCo Retained Savings Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.04 .

SpinCo Retained Welfare Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.08 .

SpinCo Savings Plan ” shall mean the SpinCo Investment and Savings Plan for Salaried Employees.

SpinCo Share Fund ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(c) .

SpinCo Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Stock Value ” shall mean the simple average of the volume weighted average per-share price of SpinCo Shares trading on the NYSE during each of the first ten (10) full Trading Sessions immediately after the Effective Time.

SpinCo Time-Vested Award ” shall mean a time-vested equity award granted pursuant to the SpinCo Equity Plan in accordance with Section 4.02(c)(ii)(B) .

SpinCo Value Factor ” shall mean the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Rayonier Stock Value by (ii) the sum of (A) the SpinCo Stock Value and (B) the quotient obtained by dividing the Post-Separation Rayonier Stock Value by the Distribution Ratio.

SpinCo Welfare Plans ” shall mean the Welfare Plans established, sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any member of the SpinCo Group for the benefit of SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees, including any SpinCo Retained Welfare Plans.

Subsidiary ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Third Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Trading Session ” shall mean the period of time during any given calendar day, commencing with the determination of the opening price on the NYSE and ending with the determination of the closing price on the NYSE, in which trading in Rayonier Shares or SpinCo Shares (as applicable) is permitted on the NYSE.

Transferred Account Balances ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(d) .

 

-8-


Transferred Director ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(a) .

Transition Services Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

U.S. ” shall mean the United States of America.

Welfare Benefit Continuation Period ” shall mean a period of time commencing as of the Distribution Date and ending on December 31, 2014.

Welfare Plan ” shall mean any “welfare plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) or a “cafeteria plan” under Section 125 of the Code, and any benefits offered thereunder, and any other plan offering health benefits (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and retiree health), disability benefits, or life, accidental death and dismemberment, and business travel insurance, pre-tax premium conversion benefits, dependent care assistance programs, employee assistance programs, paid time-off programs, contribution funding toward a health savings account, flexible spending accounts or cashable credits.

Section 1.02. Interpretation . Section 10.16 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference.

ARTICLE II

GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR ALLOCATION OF LIABILITIES

Section 2.01. General Principles .

(a) Acceptance and Assumption of SpinCo Liabilities . On or prior to the Effective Time, but in any case prior to the Distribution, SpinCo and the applicable SpinCo Designees shall accept, assume and agree to faithfully perform, discharge and fulfill all of the following Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms (each of which shall be considered a SpinCo Liability), regardless of when or where such Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any Liabilities arising out of claims made by Rayonier’s or SpinCo’s respective directors, officers, Employees, Former Employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, Employees, Former Employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates:

(i) any and all wages, salaries, incentive compensation (as the same may be modified by this Agreement), equity compensation (as the same may be modified by this Agreement), commissions, bonuses and any other employee compensation or benefits payable to or on behalf of any SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees after the Effective Time, without regard to when such wages, salaries, incentive compensation, equity compensation, commissions, bonuses or other employee compensation or benefits are or may have been awarded or earned;

 

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(ii) any and all Liabilities whatsoever with respect to claims made by or with respect to any SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees in connection with any Benefit Plan not retained or assumed by any member of the Rayonier Group pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and

(iii) any and all Liabilities expressly assumed or retained by any member of the SpinCo Group pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) Acceptance and Assumption of Rayonier Liabilities . On or prior to the Effective Time, but in any case prior to the Distribution, Rayonier and certain members of the Rayonier Group designated by Rayonier shall accept, assume and agree to faithfully perform, discharge and fulfill all of the following Liabilities held by SpinCo or any SpinCo Designee and Rayonier and the applicable members of the Rayonier Group shall be responsible for such Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms (each of which shall be considered a Rayonier Liability), regardless of when or where such Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Time, regardless of where or against whom such Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any Liabilities arising out of claims made by Rayonier’s or SpinCo’s respective directors, officers, Employees, Former Employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates against any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud or misrepresentation by any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, Employees, Former Employees, agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates:

(i) any and all wages, salaries, incentive compensation (as the same may be modified by this Agreement), equity compensation (as the same may be modified by this Agreement), commissions, bonuses and any other employee compensation or benefits payable to or on behalf of any Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees after the Effective Time, without regard to when such wages, salaries, incentive compensation, equity compensation, commissions, bonuses or other employee compensation or benefits are or may have been awarded or earned;

(ii) any and all Liabilities whatsoever with respect to claims made by or with respect to any Rayonier Group Employees or Former Rayonier Group Employees in connection with any Benefit Plan not retained or assumed by any member of the SpinCo Group pursuant to this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and

(iii) any and all Liabilities expressly assumed or retained by any member of the Rayonier Group pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) Unaddressed Liabilities. To the extent that this Agreement does not address particular Liabilities under any Benefit Plan and the Parties later determine that they should be allocated in connection with the Distribution, the Parties shall agree in good faith on the allocation, taking into account the handling of comparable Liabilities under this Agreement.

 

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Section 2.02. Service Credit .

(a) Service for Eligibility, Vesting and Benefit Purposes . The SpinCo Benefit Plans shall, and SpinCo shall cause each member of the SpinCo Group to, recognize each SpinCo Group Employee’s and each Former SpinCo Group Employee’s full service with Rayonier or any of its Subsidiaries or predecessor entities at or before the Effective Time, to the same extent that such service was credited by Rayonier for similar purposes prior to the Effective Time as if such full service had been performed for a member of the SpinCo Group, for purposes of eligibility, vesting and determination of level of benefits under any such SpinCo Benefit Plan.

(b) Evidence of Prior Service . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 3.02 and applicable Law, upon reasonable request by either Party (the “ Requesting Party ”), the other Party (the “ Providing Party ”) will provide to the Requesting Party copies of any records available to the Providing Party to document the service, plan participation and membership of former Employees of the Providing Party who are then Employees of the Requesting Party, and will cooperate with the Requesting Party to resolve any discrepancies or obtain any missing data for purposes of determining benefit eligibility, participation, vesting and calculation of benefits with respect to any such Employee.

Section 2.03. Benefit Plans .

(a) Establishment of Plans . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, or shall cause an applicable member of the SpinCo Group to, adopt Benefit Plans (and related trusts, if applicable), with terms comparable (or such other standard as is specified in this Agreement with respect to any particular Benefit Plan) to those of the corresponding Rayonier Benefit Plans, including in particular those listed on Schedule 2.03(a) ; provided , however , that SpinCo may limit participation in any such SpinCo Benefit Plan to SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees who participated in the corresponding Rayonier Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Information and Operation . Rayonier shall provide SpinCo with information describing each Rayonier Benefit Plan election made by a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee that may have application to SpinCo Benefit Plans from and after the Effective Time, and SpinCo shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to administer the SpinCo Benefit Plans using those elections. Each Party shall, upon reasonable request, provide the other Party and the other Party’s respective Affiliates, agents, and vendors all information reasonably necessary to the other Party’s operation or administration of its Benefit Plans.

(c) No Duplication or Acceleration of Benefits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, no participant in any SpinCo Benefit Plan shall receive service credit or benefits to the extent that receipt of such service credit or benefits would result in duplication of benefits provided to such participant by the corresponding Rayonier Benefit Plan or any other plan, program or arrangement sponsored or maintained by a member of the Rayonier Group. Furthermore, unless expressly provided for in this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement or required by applicable Law, no provision in this Agreement shall be construed to create any right to accelerate vesting or entitlements under any compensation or Benefit Plan, program or arrangement sponsored or maintained by a member of the Rayonier Group or member of the SpinCo Group on the part of any Employee or Former Employee.

 

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(d) No Expansion of Participation . Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, as otherwise determined or agreed to by Rayonier and SpinCo, as required by applicable Law, or as explicitly set forth in a SpinCo Benefit Plan, a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee shall be entitled to participate in the SpinCo Benefit Plans at the Effective Time only to the extent that such SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee was entitled to participate in the corresponding Rayonier Benefit Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (to the extent that such SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee does not participate in the respective SpinCo Benefit Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time), it being understood that this Agreement does not expand (i) the number of SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees entitled to participate in any SpinCo Benefit Plan or (ii) the participation rights of SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees in any SpinCo Benefit Plans beyond the rights of such SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees under the corresponding Rayonier Benefit Plans, in each case, after the Effective Time.

(e) Transition Services . The Parties acknowledge that the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group may provide administrative services for certain of the other Party’s compensation and benefit programs for a transitional period under the terms of the Transition Services Agreement. The Parties agree to enter into a business associate agreement (if required by HIPAA or other applicable health information privacy Laws) in connection with such Transition Services Agreement.

(f) Beneficiaries . References to Rayonier Group Employees, Former Rayonier Group Employees, SpinCo Group Employees, Former SpinCo Group Employees, and non-employee directors of either Rayonier or SpinCo (including Transferred Directors), shall be deemed to refer to their beneficiaries, dependents, survivors and alternate payees, as applicable.

Section 2.04. Individual Agreements .

(a) Assignment by Rayonier . To the extent necessary, Rayonier shall assign, or cause an applicable member of the Rayonier Group to assign, to SpinCo or another member of the SpinCo Group, as designated by SpinCo, all Individual Agreements, with such assignment to be effective as of the Effective Time; provided , however , that to the extent that assignment of any such Individual Agreement is not permitted by the terms of such agreement or by applicable Law, effective as of the Effective Time, each member of the SpinCo Group shall be considered to be a successor to each member of the Rayonier Group for purposes of, and a third-party beneficiary with respect to, such Individual Agreement, such that each member of the SpinCo Group shall enjoy all of the rights and benefits under such agreement (including rights and benefits as a third-party beneficiary), with respect to the business operations of the SpinCo Group; provided , further , that in no event shall Rayonier be permitted to enforce any Individual Agreement (including any agreement containing non-competition or non-solicitation covenants) against a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee for action taken in such individual’s capacity as a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee.

 

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(b) Assumption by SpinCo. Effective as of the Effective Time, SpinCo will assume and honor, or will cause a member of the SpinCo Group to assume and honor, any individual agreement to which any SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee is a party with any member of the Rayonier Group, including any Individual Agreement.

Section 2.05. Collective Bargaining . Effective no later than immediately prior to the Effective Time, to the extent necessary, SpinCo shall cause the appropriate member of the SpinCo Group to (a) assume all collective bargaining agreements (including any national, sector or local collective bargaining agreement) that cover SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees and the Liabilities arising under any such collective bargaining agreements, and (b) join any industrial, employer or similar association or federation if membership is required for the relevant collective bargaining agreement to continue to apply.

Section 2.06. Non-U.S. Regulatory Compliance . Rayonier shall have the authority to adjust the treatment described in this Agreement with respect to SpinCo Group Employees who are located outside of the United States in order to ensure compliance with the applicable laws or regulations of countries outside of the United States or to preserve the tax benefits provided under local tax law or regulation before the Distribution.

ARTICLE III

ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEES

Section 3.01. Active Employees .

(a) Assignment and Transfer of Employees . Effective no later than immediately prior to the Effective Time and except as otherwise agreed by the Parties, (i) the applicable member of the Rayonier Group shall have taken such actions as are necessary to ensure that each individual who is intended to be an employee of the SpinCo Group as of immediately after the Effective Time (including any such individual who is not actively working as of the Effective Time as a result of an illness, injury or leave of absence approved by the Rayonier Human Resources department or otherwise taken in accordance with applicable Law) (collectively, the “ SpinCo Group Employees ”) is employed by a member of the SpinCo Group as of immediately after the Effective Time, and (ii) the applicable member of the Rayonier Group shall have taken such actions as are necessary to ensure that each individual who is intended to be an employee of the Rayonier Group as of immediately after the Effective Time (including any such individual who is not actively working as of the Effective Time as a result of an illness, injury or leave of absence approved by the Rayonier Human Resources department or otherwise taken in accordance with applicable Law) and any other individual employed by the Rayonier Group as of the Effective Time who is not a SpinCo Group Employee (collectively, the “ Rayonier Group Employees ”) is employed by a member of the Rayonier Group as of immediately after the Effective Time. Each of the Parties agrees to execute, and to seek to have the applicable Employees execute, such documentation, if any, as may be necessary to reflect such assignment and/or transfer.

 

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(b) At-Will Status. Nothing in this Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of any member of the Rayonier Group or any member of the SpinCo Group to (i) continue the employment of any Employee or permit the return from a leave of absence for any period after the date of this Agreement (except as required by applicable Law) or (ii) change the employment status of any Employee from “at-will,” to the extent that such Employee is an “at-will” employee under applicable Law.

(c) Severance. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Distribution and the assignment, transfer or continuation of the employment of Employees as contemplated by this Section 3.01 shall not be deemed an involuntary termination of employment entitling any SpinCo Group Employee or Rayonier Group Employee to severance payments or benefits.

(d) Not a Change of Control/Change in Control. The Parties acknowledge and agree that neither the consummation of the Distribution nor any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed a “change of control,” “change in control,” or term of similar import for purposes of any Benefit Plan sponsored or maintained by any member of the Rayonier Group or member of the SpinCo Group.

(e) Payroll and Related Taxes. With respect to any SpinCo Group Employee or group of SpinCo Group Employees, the Parties shall, or shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, (i) treat SpinCo (or the applicable member of the SpinCo Group) as a “successor employer” and Rayonier (or the applicable member of the Rayonier Group) as a “predecessor,” within the meaning of Sections 3121(a)(1) and 3306(b)(1) of the Code, for purposes of taxes imposed under the United States Federal Insurance Contributions Act, as amended (“ FICA ”), or the United States Federal Unemployment Tax Act, as amended (“ FUTA ”), (ii) cooperate with each other to avoid, to the extent possible, the restart of FICA and FUTA upon or following the Effective Time with respect to each such SpinCo Group Employee for the tax year during which the Effective Time occurs, and (iii) use commercially reasonably efforts to implement the alternate procedure described in Section 5 of Revenue Procedure 2004-53; provided , however , that, to the extent that SpinCo (or the applicable member of the SpinCo Group) cannot be treated as a “successor employer” to Rayonier (or the applicable member of the Rayonier Group) within the meaning of Sections 3121(a)(1) and 3306(b)(1) of the Code with respect to any SpinCo Group Employee or group of SpinCo Group Employees, (x) with respect to the portion of the tax year commencing on January 1, 2014 and ending on the Distribution Date, Rayonier will (A) be responsible for all payroll obligations, tax withholding and reporting obligations for such SpinCo Group Employees and (B) furnish a Form W-2 or similar earnings statement to all such SpinCo Group Employees for

 

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such period, and (y) with respect to the remaining portion of such tax year, SpinCo will (A) be responsible for all payroll obligations, tax withholding and reporting obligations regarding such SpinCo Group Employees and (B) furnish a Form W-2 or similar earnings statement to all such SpinCo Group Employees.

Section 3.02. No-Hire and Non-Solicitation . Each Party agrees that, for a period of two years from the Distribution Date, such Party shall not hire or solicit for employment any individual who is a Rayonier Group Employee, in the case of SpinCo, or a SpinCo Group Employee, in the case of Rayonier; provided , however , that, without limiting the generality of the foregoing prohibition on solicitation and hiring Employees of the other Party, this Section 3.02 shall not prohibit (a) generalized solicitations that are not directed to specific Persons or Employees of the other Party,(b) the solicitation and hiring of a Person whose employment was involuntarily terminated by the other Party, or (c) the solicitation and hiring of a Person after receipt by the soliciting Party (in advance of any solicitation or, in the case of a response to a general solicitation as permitted under clause (a) above, in advance of any subsequent solicitation in connection with the recruiting process) of the express written consent of the senior Human Resources executive of the Party that employs the Person who is to be solicited and/or hired. Except as provided in clause (b) above with respect to involuntary terminations, without regard to the use of the term “Employee” or “employs,” the restrictions under this Section 3.02 shall be applicable to (i) Rayonier Group Employees whose employment terminates after the Effective Time, and (ii) SpinCo Group Employees whose employment terminates after the Effective Time, in each case, until the date that is six months after such Employee’s last date of employment with Rayonier or SpinCo, as applicable. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions under this Section 3.02 shall not apply to Former Rayonier Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees whose most recent employment with Rayonier and its Subsidiaries was terminated prior to the Effective Time.

ARTICLE IV

EQUITY, INCENTIVE AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Section 4.01. Generally . Each Rayonier Award granted that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be adjusted as described below; provided , however , that, effective immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Rayonier Compensation Committee may provide for different adjustments with respect to some or all Rayonier Awards to the extent that the Rayonier Compensation Committee deems such adjustments necessary and appropriate. Any adjustments made by the Rayonier Compensation Committee pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be deemed incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth below and shall be binding on the Parties and their respective Affiliates. Before the Effective Time, the SpinCo Equity Plan shall be established, with such terms as are necessary to permit the implementation of the provisions of Section 4.02 .

Section 4.02. Equity Incentive Awards .

(a) Restricted Stock . Each holder of an outstanding Rayonier Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time shall receive, as of the Effective Time, a SpinCo Restricted Stock Award for such number of shares as determined by applying the Distribution Ratio in the same way as if the outstanding Rayonier Restricted Stock Award comprised fully

 

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vested Rayonier Shares as of the Effective Time. Except as set forth in this Section 4.02 , the Post-Separation Rayonier Restricted Stock Award and the SpinCo Restricted Stock Award issued in accordance with this Section 4.02 both shall be subject to the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting) immediately after the Effective Time as were applicable to the Rayonier Restricted Stock Award immediately prior to the Effective Time (except as otherwise provided herein, including in Sections 4.02(d) and (e) ).

(b) Stock Options . Each Rayonier Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, regardless of by whom held, shall be converted as of the Effective Time into both a Post-Separation Rayonier Option and a SpinCo Option and shall, except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.02 , be subject to the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting and expiration) after the Effective Time as were applicable to such Rayonier Option immediately prior to the Effective Time (except as otherwise provided herein, including in Sections 4.02(d) and (e) ); provided , however , that from and after the Effective Time:

(i) the number of Rayonier Shares subject to such Post-Separation Rayonier Option, rounded down to the nearest whole share, shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Rayonier Shares subject to the corresponding Rayonier Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) the Rayonier Value Factor;

(ii) the number of SpinCo Shares subject to such SpinCo Option, rounded down to the nearest whole share, shall be equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the number of Rayonier Shares subject to the corresponding Rayonier Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) the SpinCo Value Factor;

(iii) the per share exercise price of such Post-Separation Rayonier Option, rounded up to the nearest hundredth of a cent, shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the per share exercise price of the corresponding Rayonier Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) the Rayonier Ratio; and

(iv) the per share exercise price of such SpinCo Option, rounded up to the nearest hundredth of a cent, shall be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the per share exercise price of the corresponding Rayonier Option immediately prior to the Effective Time by (B) the SpinCo Ratio.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.02(b) , the exercise price, the number of Rayonier Shares and SpinCo Shares subject to each Post-Separation Rayonier Option and SpinCo Option, and the terms and conditions of exercise of such options shall be determined in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(c) Performance Share Awards .

(i) As of the Effective Time, each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2012 shall be converted into a Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award and a SpinCo Performance Share Award and each such award shall be subject to the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting and applicable performance criteria) after the Effective Time as were applicable to such Rayonier Performance Share Award prior to the Effective Time (except as otherwise provided herein, including in Sections 4.02(d) and (e) ); provided , however , that:

(A) payment, if any, shall be made in Rayonier Shares (with respect to the Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award) and SpinCo Shares (with respect to the SpinCo Performance Share Award);

 

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(B) the number of shares subject to (1) such Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award shall be equal to the number of Rayonier Shares subject to the corresponding Rayonier Performance Share Award immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (2) such SpinCo Performance Share Award shall be equal to (x) the number of Rayonier Shares subject to the Rayonier Performance Share Award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (y) the Distribution Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole share;

(C) dividends taken into account for purposes of (1) determining the value of dividend equivalent accounts or (2) the reinvestment of dividends in the calculation of total shareholder return, shall be any cash dividends paid on Rayonier Shares during the performance period and any cash dividends paid on SpinCo Shares during the portion of the performance period occurring after the Effective Time;

(D) the stock price at the end of the performance period used to determine stock price appreciation shall be the sum of (1) the closing price per share of Rayonier Shares on the NYSE during the 20 trading days preceding December 31, 2014, and (2) the closing price per share of SpinCo Shares on the NYSE during the 20 trading days preceding December 31, 2014 multiplied by the Distribution Ratio; and

(E) any determination as to the treatment, upon an Employee’s retirement, of the Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award and SpinCo Performance Share Award granted to such Employee pursuant to the Rayonier Equity Plan or the SpinCo Equity Plan, as applicable, and this Section 4.02(c)(i) , shall be made by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Party that directly or indirectly employs such Employee immediately after the Effective Time (Rayonier or SpinCo, as applicable); provided , that any such determination shall apply uniformly to both the Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award and the SpinCo Performance Share Award held by such Employee.

(ii) As of the Effective Time, each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2013 shall be cancelled in its entirety and, with respect to such Rayonier Performance Share Awards held by Rayonier Group Employees and SpinCo Group Employees, replaced as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time (but not later than 90 days following the Effective Time)with a new award as follows:

(A) each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2013 and held by a Rayonier Group Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be replaced with a Post-Separation Rayonier Time-Vested Award. The number of shares subject to such Post-Separation Rayonier Time-Vested Award shall be equal to (1) the fair

 

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market value (at the target level of performance) of the corresponding Rayonier Performance Share Award on the date that it was originally granted (as reflected in Rayonier’s records), divided by (2) the Post-Separation Rayonier Stock Value. Such Post-Separation Rayonier Time-Vested Award shall vest in full on the second anniversary of the Distribution Date, subject to such Rayonier Group Employee’s continued employment with Rayonier through such second anniversary or such earlier date as is provided in the award agreement governing such Post-Separation Rayonier Time-Vested Award or otherwise determined by the Rayonier Compensation Committee following the Effective Time; and

(B) each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2013 and held by a SpinCo Group Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be replaced with a SpinCo Time-Vested Award. The number of shares subject to such SpinCo Time-Vested Award shall be equal to (1) the fair market value (at the target level of performance) of the corresponding Rayonier Performance Share Award on the date that it was originally granted (as reflected in Rayonier’s records), divided by (2) the SpinCo Stock Value. Such SpinCo Time-Vested Award shall vest in full on the second anniversary of the Distribution Date, subject to such SpinCo Group Employee’s continued employment with SpinCo through such second anniversary or such earlier date as is provided in the award agreement governing such SpinCo Time-Vested Award or otherwise determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee following the Effective Time.

(iii) As of the Effective Time, each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2014 shall be cancelled in its entirety and, with respect to such Rayonier Performance Share Awards held by Rayonier Group Employees and SpinCo Group Employees, replaced as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time (but not later than 90 days following the Effective Time)with a new award as follows:

(A) each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2014 and held by a Rayonier Group Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be replaced with a Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award. The number of shares subject to such Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award shall be equal to (1) the fair market value (at the target level of performance) of the corresponding Rayonier Performance Share Award on the date that it was originally granted (as reflected in Rayonier’s records), divided by (2) the Post-Separation Rayonier Stock Value. Such Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions as are determined by the Rayonier Compensation Committee prior to the Distribution Date; provided , that (x) such Post-Separation Rayonier Performance Share Award shall be denominated only in Rayonier Shares (and cash in respect of any dividend equivalents thereon), and (y) the applicable performance period shall end on December 31, 2016; and

(B) each Rayonier Performance Share Award granted in 2014 and held by a SpinCo Group Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be replaced with a SpinCo Performance Share Award. The number of shares subject to such SpinCo Performance Share Award shall be equal to (1) the fair market value (at the target level of performance) of the corresponding Rayonier Performance Share Award on the

 

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date that it was originally granted (as reflected in Rayonier’s records)divided by (2) the SpinCo Stock Value. Such SpinCo Performance Share Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions as are determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee; provided , that (x) such SpinCo Performance Share Award shall be in the form of restricted SpinCo Shares (and cash in respect of dividends payable to holders of such restricted SpinCo shares, which may be subject to future vesting requirements as determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee), and (y) the applicable performance period shall end on December 31, 2016.

(d) Miscellaneous Award Terms . With respect to Post-Separation Rayonier Awards and SpinCo Awards, (i) employment with or service to the Rayonier Group shall be treated as employment with and service to SpinCo with respect to SpinCo Awards held by Rayonier Group Employees or Rayonier non-employee directors, and (ii) employment with or service to the SpinCo Group shall be treated as employment with or service to Rayonier with respect to Post-Separation Rayonier Awards held by SpinCo Group Employees or Transferred Directors. In addition, none of the Separation, the Distribution or any employment transfer described in Section 3.01(a) shall constitute a termination of employment for any Employee for purposes of any Post-Separation Rayonier Award or any SpinCo Award. After the Effective Time, for any award adjusted under this Section 4.02 , any reference to a “change in control,” “change of control” or similar definition in an award agreement, employment agreement or Rayonier Equity Plan applicable to such award (A) with respect to Post-Separation Rayonier Awards, shall be deemed to refer to a “change in control,” “change of control” or similar definition as set forth in the applicable award agreement, employment agreement or Rayonier Equity Plan (a “ Rayonier Change of Control ”), and (B) with respect to SpinCo Awards, shall be deemed to refer to a “Change in Control” as defined in the SpinCo Equity Plan (a “ SpinCo Change of Control ”). Without limiting the foregoing, with respect to provisions related to vesting of awards, a Rayonier Change of Control shall be treated as a SpinCo Change of Control for purposes of SpinCo Awards held by Rayonier Group Employees, Former Rayonier Group Employees and Rayonier non-employee directors, and a SpinCo Change of Control shall be treated as a Rayonier Change of Control for purposes of Post-Separation Rayonier Awards held by SpinCo Group Employees, Former SpinCo Group Employees and Transferred Directors.

(e) Equity Plan Restrictive Covenants . Without limiting the generality of Section 2.04(a) , effective as of the Effective Time, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, each member of the SpinCo Group shall be considered to be a successor to each member of the Rayonier Group for purposes of, and a third-party beneficiary with respect to, the restrictive covenants (including non-competition covenants) contained in the Rayonier Equity Plans and award agreements thereunder (only to the extent that such agreements are not assigned to SpinCo in accordance with Section 2.04 ), such that each member of the SpinCo Group shall enjoy all of the rights and benefits under such arrangements (including rights and benefits as a third-party beneficiary), with respect to the business operations of the SpinCo Group; provided , that from and after the Distribution Date, in no event shall Rayonier or any member of the Rayonier Group be permitted to enforce any restrictive covenant (including non-competition covenants) in the Rayonier Equity Plan or any award agreement thereunder against a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee for action taken in such individual’s capacity as a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee.

 

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(f) Tax Reporting and Withholding .

(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.02(f) , after the Effective Time, Post-Separation Rayonier Awards, regardless of by whom held, shall be settled by Rayonier, and SpinCo Awards, regardless of by whom held, shall be settled by SpinCo.

(ii) Upon the vesting of SpinCo Awards, SpinCo shall be solely responsible for ensuring the satisfaction of all applicable tax withholding requirements on behalf of each SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee and for ensuring the collection and remittance of employee withholding taxes to the Rayonier Group with respect to each Rayonier Group Employee or Former Rayonier Group Employee (with Rayonier Group being responsible for remittance of the applicable employee taxes and payment and remittance of the applicable employer taxes relating to Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees to the applicable Governmental Authority). Upon the vesting of Post-Separation Rayonier Awards, Rayonier shall be solely responsible for ensuring the satisfaction of all applicable tax withholding requirements on behalf of each Rayonier Group Employee or Former Rayonier Group Employee and for ensuring the collection and remittance of employee withholding taxes to the SpinCo Group with respect to each SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee (with SpinCo Group being responsible for remittance of the applicable employee taxes and payment and remittance of the applicable employer taxes relating to SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees to the applicable Governmental Authority). Following the Effective Time, Rayonier shall be responsible for all income tax reporting in respect of Post-Separation Rayonier Awards and SpinCo Awards held by Rayonier Group Employees, Former Rayonier Group Employees and individuals who are or were Rayonier non-employee directors, and SpinCo will be responsible for all income tax reporting in respect of Post-Separation Rayonier Awards and SpinCo Awards held by SpinCo Group Employees, Former SpinCo Group Employees and Transferred Directors.

(iii) SpinCo shall be responsible for the settlement of cash dividend equivalents on any Post-Separation Rayonier Awards or SpinCo Awards held by a SpinCo Group Employee, Former SpinCo Group Employee or Transferred Director. Prior to the date any such settlement is due, Rayonier shall pay SpinCo in cash amounts required to settle (A) any dividend equivalents with respect to Post-Separation Rayonier Awards and (B) any dividend equivalents accrued prior to the Effective Time with respect to SpinCo Awards. Rayonier shall be responsible for the settlement of cash dividends equivalents on any Post-Separation Rayonier Awards or SpinCo Awards held by a Rayonier Group Employee, Former Rayonier Group Employee or non-employee director of Rayonier. Prior to the date any such settlement is due, SpinCo shall pay Rayonier in cash amounts required to settle any dividend equivalents accrued following the Effective Time with respect to SpinCo Awards.

(iv) Following the Effective Time, if any Post-Separation Rayonier Award held by a SpinCo Group Employee, Former SpinCo Group Employee or Transferred Director shall fail to become vested, such Post-Separation Rayonier Award shall be forfeited to Rayonier, and if any SpinCo Award held by a Rayonier Group Employee, Former Rayonier Group Employee or non-employee director of Rayonier shall fail to become vested, such SpinCo Award shall be forfeited to SpinCo.

 

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(g) Cooperation. Each of the Parties shall establish an appropriate administration system in order to administer, in an orderly manner, (i) exercises of vested Post-Separation Rayonier Options and SpinCo Options, (ii) the vesting and forfeiture of unvested Post-Separation Rayonier Awards and SpinCo Awards, and (iii) the withholding and reporting requirements with respect to all awards. Each of the Parties shall work together to unify and consolidate all indicative data and payroll and employment information on regular timetables and make certain that each applicable Person’s data and records in respect of such awards are correct and updated on a timely basis. The foregoing shall include employment status and information required for vesting and forfeiture of awards and tax withholding/remittance, compliance with trading windows and compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act and other applicable Laws.

(h) Registration and Other Regulatory Requirements . SpinCo agrees to file Forms S-1, S-3 and S-8 registration statements with respect to, and to cause to be registered pursuant to the Securities Act, the SpinCo Shares authorized for issuance under the SpinCo Equity Plan, as required pursuant to the Securities Act, before the date of issuance of any SpinCo Shares pursuant to the SpinCo Equity Plan. The Parties shall take such additional actions as are deemed necessary or advisable to effectuate the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.02(h) , including compliance with securities Laws and other legal requirements associated with equity compensation awards in affected non-U.S. jurisdictions. Rayonier agrees to facilitate the adoption and approval of the SpinCo Equity Plan consistent with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.162-27(f)(4)(iii).

Section 4.03. Non-Equity Incentive Plans .

(a) Corporate Bonus Plans .

(i) Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall establish the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan, which, for not less than the Corporate Bonus Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan with such changes to the applicable performance goals as may be necessary in order to reflect the SpinCo Business following the Separation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the Corporate Bonus Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in bonus award opportunities that are less favorable than those applicable under the Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan to the SpinCo Group Employees who were participants in the Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(ii) In respect of any bonus award opportunities outstanding under the Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Performance Period (as such term is defined in the Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program) of such awards shall terminate as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and bonus awards shall be determined as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time and paid in accordance with the terms of the Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program as in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective Time. As of the Effective Time, the Liability in respect of such bonus awards

 

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allocable to SpinCo Group Employees (or Former SpinCo Group Employees, as applicable) shall be assumed by the SpinCo Group based on the accrual for such employees as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and upon the determination of the actual amount of the bonuses for the SpinCo Group Employees (or Former SpinCo Group Employees, as applicable) by Rayonier following the Effective Time, any such additional Liability shall be assumed by the SpinCoGroup retroactively effective as of the Effective Time. Rayonier and SpinCo shall pay the amounts awarded to their respective Employees no later than March 15 of the calendar year after the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs, subject to each such Employee’s continued employment with Rayonier or SpinCo (as applicable) through the date that such bonus awards are paid, except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of such Employee’s employer.

(iii) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, (A) Rayonier shall grant to Rayonier Group Employees participating in the Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program immediately prior to the Effective Time new bonus award opportunities with a Performance Period commencing as of the Distribution Date and ending as of the last day of the calendar year in which the Effective Time occurs, which awards shall be paid based on the achievement of performance objectives established in accordance with the terms of the Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program, and (B) SpinCo shall grant to SpinCo Group Employees participating in the Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program immediately prior to the Effective Time new bonus award opportunities with a Performance Period commencing as of the Effective Time and ending as of the last day of the calendar year in which the Distribution occurs, which awards shall be paid based on the achievement of performance objectives established in accordance with the terms of the SpinCo Annual Corporate Bonus Program.

(b) SpinCo Retained Bonus Plans . As of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall continue to retain (or assume as necessary) each incentive compensation plan listed on Schedule 4.03(b) and any other incentive plan for the exclusive benefit of SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees whether or not sponsored by the SpinCo Group (the “ SpinCo Retained Bonus Plans ”), and, from and after the Effective Time, shall be solely responsible for all Liabilities thereunder; provided , however , that if a portion of the bonus award opportunity outstanding under any SpinCo Retained Bonus Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time is based on the achievement of performance goals relating to the Rayonier Group as a whole, the determination of the level of achievement of such performance goals shall be measured based on the performance of the Rayonier Group as of the Effective Time as determined by the Rayonier Compensation Committee.

(c) Allocation of Liabilities. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, (i) the Rayonier Group shall be solely responsible for funding, paying and discharging all obligations relating to any annual incentive bonus awards under any Rayonier annual incentive plan or other short-term compensation plan with respect to payments earned before, as of or after the Effective Time to Rayonier Group Employees or Former Rayonier Group Employees, and no member of the SpinCo Group shall have any obligations with respect thereto; and (ii) the SpinCo Group shall be solely responsible for funding, paying and discharging all obligations relating to any annual incentive bonus awards under any SpinCo Group annual incentive plan or other short-term incentive compensation plan (including the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan, the SpinCo Annual Corporate Bonus Plan and any SpinCo Retained Bonus Plan) with respect to payments made after the Effective Time to SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees, and no member of the Rayonier Group shall have any obligations with respect thereto.

 

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Section 4.04. Executive Severance Plan and Trust .

(a) Executive Severance Pay Plan . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, or shall cause another member of the SpinCo Group to, establish the SpinCo Executive Severance Pay Plan, which, for not less than the General Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the General Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the SpinCo Executive Severance Pay Plan as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in benefits that are less favorable than those provided under the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan to the SpinCo Group Employees who were participants in the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time. During the General Continuation Period, the SpinCo Group Employees who participated in the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be eligible to participate in the SpinCo Executive Severance Pay Plan as of the Effective Time at the same level and to the same extent as they had participated in the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Legal Resources and Executive Severance Trusts . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, or shall cause another member of the SpinCo Group to, adopt the SpinCo Legal Resources Trust and the SpinCo Executive Severance Trust, which, for not less than the General Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms and conditions as the Rayonier Legal Resources Trust and the Rayonier Executive Severance Trust, respectively, each as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the General Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the SpinCo Legal Resources Trust and SpinCo Executive Severance Trust as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in benefits that are less favorable than those provided under the Rayonier Legal Resources Trust and the Rayonier Executive Severance Trust, respectively, to the SpinCo Group Employees who were eligible for benefits under the Rayonier Legal Resources Trust and/or the Rayonier Executive Severance Trust immediately prior to the Effective Time. In connection with the establishment by SpinCo of the SpinCo Executive Severance Pay Plan (and the cessation of participation by the SpinCo Group Employees in the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan), as of or before the Effective Time, Rayonier shall, or shall cause the (i) Rayonier Legal Resources Trust to, transfer funds to SpinCo or to the SpinCo Legal Resources Trust in an amount equal to the SpinCo Group’s pro rata share (determined based on the aggregate number of named participants in each individual plan who are SpinCo Group Employees divided by the aggregate number of participants in all such plans) of the amount of funds in the Rayonier Legal Resources Trust as of the latest practicable date before the Effective Time, and (ii) Rayonier Executive Severance Trust to transfer funds to SpinCo or to the SpinCo Executive Severance Trust in an amount equal to the SpinCo Group’s pro rata share (determined based on the aggregate amount of benefits payable to named participants under the Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time who are SpinCo Group Employees divided by the aggregate amount of benefits payable under the Rayonier

 

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Executive Severance Pay Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time) of the amount of funds in the Rayonier Executive Severance Trust as of the latest practicable date before the Effective Time. From and after the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group and (A) the SpinCo Legal Resources Trust shall be responsible for all Liabilities relating to SpinCo Group Employees that would have been satisfied by the Rayonier Legal Resources Trust had the Distribution not occurred, and neither any member of the Rayonier Group nor the Rayonier Legal Resources Trust shall have any Liabilities with respect thereto, and (B) the SpinCo Executive Severance Trust shall be responsible for all Liabilities relating to SpinCo Group Employees that would have been satisfied by the Rayonier Executive Severance Trust had the Distribution not occurred, and neither any member of the Rayonier Group nor the Rayonier Executive Severance Trust shall have any Liabilities with respect thereto.

Section 4.05. Director Compensation .

(a) Establishment of SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Plan . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall establish the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program, including a cash deferral option in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, with substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program. Each SpinCo non-employee director as of the Effective Time who served on the Rayonier Board immediately prior to the Effective Time (a “ Transferred Director ”) but who will no longer serve on the Rayonier Board following the Effective Time, and held a deferred cash balance under the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, as of the Effective Time, be credited under the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program with the amount of his or her cash balance under the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program and shall cease participation in the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program as of the Effective Time (it being understood that such cessation shall not trigger any distribution of payments or benefits under the program), and, as of the Effective Time, Rayonier shall cease to have any Liability to any such SpinCo non-employee director under the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program.

(b) Assumption of Directors’ Charitable Award Program . As of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall assume all Liabilities, and take assignment from Rayonier of any and all Assets, relating to the Directors’ Charitable Award Program (including any insurance policies issued in connection with or in respect of the funding of Liabilities under the Directors’ Charitable Award Program), and the Rayonier Group shall be relieved of all such Liabilities so long as such assignment of Assets is completed.

(c) Other Liabilitie s. Except as provided in Section 4.05(a) or Section 4.05(b) , Rayonier shall retain all other Liabilities and Assets relating to Rayonier non-employee director compensation, including pursuant to the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program and cash deferral option agreements thereunder.

(d) Director Compensation. Rayonier shall be responsible for the payment of any fees for service on the Rayonier Board that are earned at, before, or after the Effective Time, and SpinCo shall not have any responsibility for any such payments. With respect to any SpinCo non-employee director, SpinCo shall be responsible for the payment of any fees for service on the SpinCo Board that are earned at any time after the Effective Time and Rayonier shall not have any

 

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responsibility for any such payments. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SpinCo shall commence paying quarterly cash retainers to SpinCo non-employee directors in respect of the quarter in which the Effective Time occurs; provided that (i) if Rayonier has already paid such quarter’s cash retainers to Rayonier non-employee directors prior to the Effective Time, then within 30 days after the Distribution Date, SpinCo will pay Rayonier an amount equal to the portion of such payment that is attributable to Transferred Directors’ service to SpinCo after the Distribution Date (other than any amount that is subject to a deferral election and is credited or to be credited to any such director’s account under the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program), and (ii) if Rayonier has not yet paid such quarter’s cash retainers to Rayonier non-employee directors prior to the Effective Time, then within 30 days after the Distribution Date, Rayonier will pay SpinCo an amount equal to the portion of such payment that is attributable to Transferred Directors’ service to Rayonier on and prior to the Distribution Date. Rayonier Awards held by non-employee directors as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be treated as described in Section 4.02 .

ARTICLE V

QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

Section 5.01. SpinCo Pension Plan .

(a) Establishment of SpinCo Pension Plan . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall establish the SpinCo Pension Plan, which, for not less than the General Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Pension Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for not less than the General Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the SpinCo Pension Plan as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in benefits that are less favorable than those applicable under the Rayonier Pension Plan to SpinCo Group Employees who were participants in the Rayonier Pension Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time and upon receipt by Rayonier of (i) a copy of the SpinCo Pension Plan; (ii) a copy of certified resolutions of the SpinCo Board (or its authorized committee or other delegate) evidencing adoption of the SpinCo Pension Plan and any related trust(s) (the “ SpinCo Pension Trust ”) and the assumption by the SpinCo Pension Plan of the Liabilities described in Section 5.01(b) ; and (iii) either (A) a favorable determination letter issued by the IRS with respect to the SpinCo Pension Plan and SpinCo Pension Trust, or (B) an opinion of counsel, which counsel and opinion are reasonably satisfactory to Rayonier, with respect to the qualified status of the SpinCo Pension Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code and the tax-exempt status of the SpinCo Pension Trust under Section 501(a) of the Code, Rayonier shall direct the trustee of the Rayonier Pension Trust to transfer assets of the Rayonier Pension Plan to the SpinCo Pension Trust in the amounts described in Section 5.01(b) .

(b) Assumption of Liabilities; ERISA Section 4044 Transfer .

(i) Rayonier Pension Plan . As of the Effective Time, SpinCo shall cause the SpinCo Pension Plan to assume Liabilities under the Rayonier Pension Plan for SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees, and shall cause the SpinCo Pension Trust to accept Assets with respect to such assumed Liabilities (including Assets and Liabilities in respect of beneficiaries and/or alternate payees). The Rayonier

 

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Pension Trust shall transfer such Assets to the SpinCo Pension Trust and, upon completion of such Asset transfer, the Rayonier Pension Plan and the Rayonier Group shall be relieved of such Liabilities.

(ii) Transfer of Assets . The amount of Assets (whether in cash or kind, as determined by Rayonier) to be transferred from the Rayonier Pension Trust to the SpinCo Pension Trust in respect of the assumption of Liabilities by SpinCo under Section 5.01(b)(i) shall be determined as of the Distribution Date in accordance with, and shall comply with, Section 414(l) of the Code and, to the extent deemed applicable by the Parties, ERISA Section 4044. Assumptions used to determine the value (or amount) of the Assets to be transferred shall be the safe harbor assumptions specified for valuing benefits in trusteed plans under Department of Labor Regulations Section 4044.51-57 and, to the extent not so specified, shall be based on the assumptions used in the annual valuation report to determine minimum funding requirements most recently prepared before the transfer by the actuary for the Rayonier Pension Plan. The transfer amounts described above shall be credited or debited, as applicable, with a pro rata share of the actual investment earnings or losses allocable to the transfer amount for the period between the Distribution Date and an assessment date set by Rayonier that is as close as practicable, taking into account the timing and reporting of valuation of Assets in the Rayonier Pension Trust, to the date upon which Assets equal in value to the transfer amount are actually transferred from the Rayonier Pension Trust to the SpinCo Pension Trust. During the time before such transfer, benefits for SpinCo Group Employees who terminate employment with the SpinCo Group shall be paid from the Rayonier Pension Trust. The ultimate transfer amount shall be reduced by the amount of these benefits and credited or debited by the actual investment earnings or losses from the payment date to the assessment date set by Rayonier above. In addition, during this period, SpinCo will be responsible for a pro rata share of trustee and administration fees attributable to the Assets of the SpinCo Pension Plan that remain in the Rayonier Pension Trust. The entries in the Rayonier Pension Plan funding standard accounts shall be divided between the Rayonier Pension Plan and the SpinCo Pension Plan based on the guidance provided in Revenue Rulings 81-212 and 86-47.

(c) SpinCo Pension Plan Provisions . The SpinCo Pension Plan shall provide that:

(i) SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees shall (A) be eligible to participate in the SpinCo Pension Plan as of the Effective Time to the extent that they were eligible to participate in the Rayonier Pension Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (B) receive credit for vesting, eligibility and benefit service for all service credited for those purposes under the Rayonier Pension Plan as of the Effective Time as if that service had been rendered to SpinCo;

(ii) the compensation paid by the Rayonier Group to a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee that is recognized under the Rayonier Pension Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be credited and recognized for all applicable purposes under the SpinCo Pension Plan as though it were compensation from the SpinCo Group;

 

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(iii) the accrued benefit of each SpinCo Group Employeeor Former SpinCo Group Employee under the Rayonier Pension Plan as of the Effective Time shall be payable under the SpinCo Pension Plan at the time and in a form that would have been permitted under the Rayonier Pension Plan as in effect as of the Effective Time, with employment by the Rayonier Group before the Effective Time treated as employment by the SpinCo Group under the SpinCo Pension Plan for purposes of determining eligibility for optional forms of benefit, early retirement benefits, or other benefit forms; and

(iv) the SpinCo Pension Plan shall assume and honor the terms of all QDROs in effect under the Rayonier Pension Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time with respect to SpinCo Group Employeesand Former SpinCo Group Employees.

(d) Determination Letter Request . SpinCo shall submit an application to the IRS as soon as practicable after the Effective Time (but no later than the last day of the applicable remedial amendment period as defined in applicable Code provisions) requesting a determination letter regarding the qualified status of the SpinCo Pension Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code and the tax-exempt status of its related trust under Section 501(a) of the Code as of the Distribution Date and shall make any amendments reasonably requested by the IRS to receive such a favorable determination letter.

(e) Rayonier Pension Plan after Distribution Date . From and after the Effective Time, (i) the Rayonier Pension Plan shall continue to be responsible for Liabilities in respect of Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees, and (ii) no SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employeesshall accrue any benefits under the Rayonier Pension Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employeesshall cease to be participants in the Rayonier Pension Plan, effective as of the Effective Time.

(f) Plan Fiduciaries . For all periods after the Effective Time, the Parties agree that the applicable fiduciaries of each of the Rayonier Pension Plan and the SpinCo Pension Plan, respectively, shall have the authority with respect to the Rayonier Pension Plan and the SpinCo Pension Plan, respectively, to determine the plan investments and such other matters as are within the scope of their duties under ERISA and the terms of the applicable plan documents.

(g) No Loss of Unvested Benefits; No Distributions . The transfer of any SpinCo Group Employee’s employment to the SpinCo Groupwill not result in the loss of that SpinCo Group Employee’s unvested accruedbenefits (if any) under the Rayonier Pension Plan,which benefit Liability shall be assumed under the SpinCo Pension Plan as provided herein. No SpinCo Group Employee shall be entitled to a distribution of his or her benefit under the Rayonier Pension Plan or the SpinCo Pension Plan as a result of such transfer of employment.

Section 5.02. SpinCo Retained Pension Plans . As of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall retain (or assume to the extent necessary) sponsorship of the Jesup Hourly Union Plan and the Fernandina Hourly Union Plan (collectively, the “ SpinCo Retained Pension Plans ”), and, from and after the Effective Time, all Assets and Liabilities thereunder shall be Assets and Liabilities of the SpinCo Group.

 

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Section 5.03. SpinCo Savings Plan .

(a) Establishment of Plan. Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall establish the SpinCo Savings Plan, which, for not less than the General Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Savings Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the General Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the SpinCo Savings Plan as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in benefits that are less favorable than those applicable under the Rayonier Saving Plan to SpinCo Group Employees who were participants in the Rayonier Savings Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time. Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall provide Rayonier with (i) a copy of the SpinCo Savings Plan; (ii) a copy of certified resolutions of the SpinCo Board (or its authorized committee or other delegate) evidencing adoption of the SpinCo Savings Plan and the related trust(s) and the assumption by the SpinCo Savings Plan of the Liabilities described in Section 5.03(b) ; and (iii) either (A) a favorable determination letter issued by the IRS respect to the SpinCo Savings Plan and its related trust or (B) an opinion of counsel, which counsel and opinion are reasonably satisfactory to Rayonier, with respect to the qualified status of the SpinCo Savings Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code and the tax-exempt status of its related trust under Section 501(a) of the Code.

(b) Transfer of Account Balances . Not later than 30 days following the Distribution Date (or such later time as mutually agreed by the Parties), Rayonier shall cause the trustee of the Rayonier Savings Plan to transfer from the trust(s) which forms a part of the Rayonier Savings Plan to the trust(s) which forms a part of the SpinCo Savings Plan the account balances of the SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees under the Rayonier Savings Plan, determined as of the date of the transfer. Such transfers shall be made in kind, including promissory notes evidencing the transfer of outstanding loans, and, with respect to unitized investments in the Rayonier Inc. Common Stock Fund (the “ Rayonier Share Fund ”), Rayonier Shares and SpinCo Shares. Any Asset and Liability transfers pursuant to this Section 5.03(b) shall comply in all respects with Sections 414(l) and 411(d)(6) of the Code.

(c) SpinCo Share Fund in SpinCo Savings Plan. The SpinCo Savings Plan will provide, effective as of the Effective Time: (i) for the establishment of a share fund for SpinCo Shares (the “ SpinCo Share Fund ”); (ii) that such SpinCo Share Fund shall receive a transfer of and hold all SpinCo Shares distributed in connection with the Distribution in respect of Rayonier Shares held in Rayonier Savings Plan accounts of SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees participating in the Rayonier Savings Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time; and (iii) that, following the Effective Time, contributions made by or on behalf of such participants shall be allocated to the SpinCo Share Fund, if so directed in accordance with the terms of the SpinCo Savings Plan.

(d) Rayonier Share Fund in SpinCo Savings Plan. Participants in the SpinCo Savings Plan will be prohibited from increasing their holdings in the Rayonier Share Fund under the SpinCo Savings Plan and may elect to liquidate their holdings in the Rayonier Share Fund and invest those monies in any other investment fund offered under the SpinCo Savings Plan. After the Effective Time and the transfer of the account balances as provided in Section 5.03(b) above, all outstanding investments in the Rayonier Share Fund under the SpinCo Savings Plan shall be

 

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liquidated and reinvested in other investment funds offered under the SpinCo Savings Plan, on such dates and in accordance with such procedures as are determined by the administrator and the trustee of the SpinCo Savings Plan.

(e) SpinCo Share Fund in Rayonier Savings Plan. SpinCo Shares distributed in connection with the Distribution in respect of Rayonier Shares held in Rayonier Savings Plan accounts of Rayonier Group Employees or Former Rayonier Group Employees who participate in the Rayonier Savings Plan shall be deposited in a SpinCo Share Fund under the Rayonier Savings Plan, and such participants in the Rayonier Savings Plan will be prohibited from increasing their holdings in such SpinCo Share Fund under the Rayonier Savings Plan and may elect to liquidate their holdings in such SpinCo Share Fund and invest those monies in any other investment fund offered under the Rayonier Savings Plan. After the Effective Time, all outstanding investments in the SpinCo Share Fund under the Rayonier Savings Plan shall be liquidated and reinvested in other investment funds offered under the Rayonier Savings Plan, on such dates and in accordance with such procedures as are determined by the administrator and the trustee of the Rayonier Savings Plan.

(f) SpinCo Savings Plan Provisions . The SpinCo Savings Plan shall provide that:

(i) SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees shall (A) be eligible to participate in the SpinCo Savings Plan as of the Effective Time to the extent that they were eligible to participate in the Rayonier Savings Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (B) receive credit for all service credited for that purpose under the Rayonier Savings Plan as of immediately prior to the Distribution as if that service had been rendered to SpinCo; and

(ii) the account balance of each SpinCo Group Employee and Former SpinCo Group Employeeunder the Rayonier Savings Plan as of the date of the transfer of Assets from the Rayonier Savings Plan (including any outstanding promissory notes) shall be credited to such individual’s account balance under the SpinCo Savings Plan.

(g) Determination Letter Request . SpinCo shall submit an application to the IRS as soon as practicable after the Effective Time (but no later than the last day of the applicable remedial amendment period as defined in applicable Code provisions) requesting a determination letter regarding the qualified status of the SpinCo Savings Plan under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code and the tax-exempt status of its related trust under Section 501(a) of the Code and shall make any amendments reasonably requested by the IRS to receive such a favorable determination letter.

(h) Rayonier Savings Plan after Effective Time . From and after the Effective Time, (i) the Rayonier Savings Plan shall continue to be responsible for Liabilities in respect of Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees, and (ii) no SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees shall accrue any benefits under the Rayonier Savings Plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees shall cease to be participants in the Rayonier Savings Plan effective as of the Effective Time.

 

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(i) Plan Fiduciaries . For all periods after the Effective Time, the Parties agree that the applicable fiduciaries of each of the Rayonier Savings Plan and the SpinCo Savings Plan, respectively, shall have the authority with respect to the Rayonier Savings Plan and the SpinCo Savings Plan, respectively, to determine the investment alternatives, the terms and conditions with respect to those investment alternatives and such other matters as are within the scope of their duties under ERISA and the terms of the applicable plan documents.

(j) No Loss of Unvested Benefits; No Distributions . The transfer of any SpinCo Group Employee’s employment to the SpinCo Group will not result in loss of that SpinCo Group Employee’s unvested benefits (if any) under the Rayonier Savings Plan, which benefit Liability will be assumed under the SpinCo Savings Plan as provided herein. No SpinCo Group Employee shall be entitled to a distribution of his or her benefit under the Rayonier Savings Plan or SpinCo Savings Plan as a result of such transfer of employment.

Section 5.04. SpinCo Retained Savings Plans . As of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall retain (or assume to the extent necessary) sponsorship of the Rayonier – Jesup Mill Savings Plan for Hourly Employees and the Rayonier Inc. – Fernandina Mill Savings Plan for Hourly Employees (collectively, the “ SpinCo Retained Savings Plans ”), and, from and after the Effective Time, all Assets and Liabilities thereunder shall be Assets and Liabilities of the SpinCo Group.

ARTICLE VI

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

Section 6.01. SpinCo Excess Benefit Plan .

(a) Establishment of the SpinCo Excess Benefit Plan . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall establish the SpinCo Excess Benefit Plan, which, for not less than the General Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the General Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the SpinCo Executive Excess Benefit Plan as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in benefits that are less favorable than those applicable under the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan to SpinCo Group Employees who were participants in the Rayonier Excess Benefits Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Assumption of Liabilities from Rayonier . As of the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, and shall cause the SpinCo Excess Benefit Plan to, assume all Liabilities under the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan for the benefits of SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees and their respective beneficiaries and/or alternate payees, and the Rayonier Group and the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan shall be relieved of all Liabilities for those benefits. Rayonier shall retain all Liabilities under the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan for the benefits for Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees and their respective beneficiaries and/or alternate payees. From and after the Effective Time, SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees shall cease to be participants in the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan.

 

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Section 6.02. SpinCo Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan .

(a) Establishment of the SpinCo Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall establish the SpinCo Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan, which, for not less than the General Continuation Period, shall have substantially the same terms as of immediately prior to the Effective Time as the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the General Continuation Period, SpinCo may make such changes, modifications or amendments to the Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan as may be required by applicable Law or as are necessary and appropriate to reflect the Separation, it being understood that any such changes, modifications or amendments shall not result in benefits that are less favorable than those applicable under the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan to SpinCo Group Employees who were participants in the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(b) Assumption of Liabilities from Rayonier . As of the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, and shall cause the SpinCo Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan to, assume all Liabilities under the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan for the benefits of SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees and their respective beneficiaries and/or alternate payees determined as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and the Rayonier Group and the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan shall be relieved of all Liabilities for those benefits. Rayonier shall retain all Liabilities under the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan for the benefits for Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees and their respective beneficiaries and/or alternate payees. From and after the Effective Time, SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees shall cease to be participants in the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan.

Section 6.03. Deferred Compensation Benefits for Certain Executives . As of the Effective Time, SpinCo shall assume all Liabilities with respect to the retired participants in the Split-Dollar Life Insurance/Deferred Compensation Retention Benefit Program, effective January 1, 2000, and their respective beneficiaries and/or alternate payees that are funded through the Trust Agreement for Deferred Compensation Benefits for Certain Executives of Rayonier Inc. (also known as the Key Executive Life Program), and, following completion of the Asset transfer described in this Section 6.03 , the Rayonier Group shall be relieved of all Liabilities for those benefits. As of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall assume the Trust Agreement for Deferred Compensation Benefits for Certain Executives of Rayonier Inc. and all Assets and Liabilities of such trust (including any insurance policies issued in connection with or in respect of the funding of Liabilities under the Split-Dollar Life Insurance/Deferred Compensation Retention Benefit Program), and, following completion of such assumption, the Rayonier Group shall cease to have any rights or obligations in respect of such trust, its Assets and the benefits funded by such trust.

 

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Section 6.04. Participation; Distributions . The Parties acknowledge that none of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement will trigger a payment or distribution of compensation under any of the Rayonier Nonqualified Plans or SpinCo Nonqualified Plans for any participant and, consequently, that the payment or distribution of any compensation to which such participant is entitled under any of the Rayonier Nonqualified Plans or SpinCo Nonqualified Plans will occur upon such participant’s separation from service from the SpinCo Group or at such other time as provided in the applicable SpinCo Nonqualified Plan or participant’s deferral election.

ARTICLE VII

WELFARE BENEFIT PLANS

Section 7.01. Welfare Plans .

(a) Establishment of SpinCo Welfare Plans . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, or shall cause the applicable member of the SpinCo Group to, establish the SpinCo Welfare Plans, which, for not less than the Welfare Benefit Continuation Period, shall have terms substantially similar in the aggregate to those of the corresponding Rayonier Welfare Plans as of the Effective Time, except as otherwise required by applicable Law.

(b) Waiver of Conditions; Benefit Maximums . SpinCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the SpinCo Welfare Plans to:

(i) with respect to initial enrollment as of the Effective Time, waive (A) all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions, and service conditions with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to any SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee, other than limitations that were in effect with respect to the SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee under the applicable Rayonier Welfare Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (B) any waiting period limitation or evidence of insurability requirement applicable to a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee other than limitations or requirements that were in effect with respect to such SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee under the applicable Rayonier Welfare Plans as of immediately prior to the Effective Time; and

(ii) take into account (A) with respect to aggregate annual, lifetime, or similar maximum benefits available under the SpinCo Welfare Plans, a SpinCo Group Employee’s or Former SpinCo Group Employee’s prior claim experience under the Rayonier Welfare Plans and any Benefit Plan that provides leave benefits; and (B) any eligible expenses incurred by a SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of the applicable Rayonier Welfare Plan ending as of the Effective Time to be taken into account under such SpinCo Welfare Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year to the same extent as such expenses were taken into account by Rayonier for similar purposes prior to the Effective Time as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such SpinCo Welfare Plan.

 

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(c) Health Savings Accounts . Before the Effective Time, SpinCo shall, or shall cause a member of the SpinCo Group to, establish a SpinCo Welfare Plan that will provide health savings account benefits to SpinCo Group Employees on and after the Effective Time (a “ SpinCo HSA ”). It is the intention of the Parties that all activity under a SpinCo Group Employee’s health savings account under a Rayonier Welfare Plan (a “ Rayonier HSA ”) for the year in which the Effective Time occurs be treated instead as activity under the corresponding account under the SpinCo HSA, such that (i) any period of participation by a SpinCo Group Employee in a Rayonier HSA during the year in which the Effective Time occurs will be deemed a period when such SpinCo Group Employee participated in the corresponding SpinCo HSA; (ii) all expenses incurred during such period will be deemed incurred while such SpinCo Group Employee’s coverage was in effect under the corresponding SpinCo HSA; and (iii) all elections and reimbursements made with respect to such period under the Rayonier HSA will be deemed to have been made with respect to the corresponding SpinCo HSA.

(d) Flexible Spending Accounts . The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that as of the Effective Time any health or dependent care flexible spending accounts of SpinCo Group Employees (whether positive or negative) (the “ Transferred Account Balances ”) under Rayonier Welfare Plans that are health or dependent care flexible spending account plans are transferred, as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, from the Rayonier Welfare Plans to the corresponding SpinCo Welfare Plans. Such SpinCo Welfare Plans shall assume responsibility as of the Effective Time for all outstanding health or dependent care claims under the corresponding Rayonier Welfare Plans of each SpinCo Group Employee for the year in which the Effective Time occurs and shall assume and agree to perform the obligations of the corresponding Rayonier Welfare Plans from and after the Effective Time. As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, and in any event within 30 days after the amount of the Transferred Account Balances is determined or such later date as mutually agreed upon by the Parties, SpinCo shall pay Rayonier the net aggregate amount of the Transferred Account Balances, if such amount is positive, and Rayonier shall pay SpinCo the net aggregate amount of the Transferred Account Balances, if such amount is negative.

(e) Allocation of Welfare Assets and Liabilities . Effective as of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall assume all Liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from health and welfare coverage or claims incurred by or on behalf of SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees or their covered dependents under the Rayonier Welfare Plans or SpinCo Welfare Plans before, at, or after the Effective Time. No Rayonier Welfare Plan shall provide coverage to any SpinCo Group Employee or Former SpinCo Group Employee after the Effective Time.

Section 7.02. COBRA and HIPAA . The Rayonier Group shall continue to be responsible for complying with, and providing coverage pursuant to, the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA, and the corresponding provisions of the Rayonier Welfare Plans with respect to any Rayonier Group Employees and any Former Rayonier Group Employees (and their covered dependents) who incur a qualifying event under COBRA before, as of, or after the Effective Time. Effective as of the

 

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Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall assume responsibility for complying with, and providing coverage pursuant to, the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA, and the corresponding provisions of the SpinCo Welfare Plans with respect to any SpinCo Group Employees or Former SpinCo Group Employees (and their covered dependents) who incur a qualifying event or loss of coverage under the Rayonier Welfare Plans and/or the SpinCo Welfare Plans before, as of, or after the Effective Time. The Parties agree that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall not constitute a COBRA qualifying event for any purpose of COBRA.

Section 7.03. Vacation, Holidays and Leaves of Absence . Effective as of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall assume all Liabilities of the Rayonier Group with respect to vacation, holiday, annual leave or other leave of absence, and required payments related thereto, for each SpinCo Group Employee. The Rayonier Group shall retain all Liabilities with respect to vacation, holiday, annual leave or other leave of absence, and required payments related thereto, for each Rayonier Group Employee.

Section 7.04. Severance and Unemployment Compensation . Without limiting the generality of Section 4.04 , effective as of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall assume any and all Liabilities to, or relating to, SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees in respect of severance and unemployment compensation, regardless of whether the event giving rise to the Liability occurred before, at or after the Effective Time. The Rayonier Group shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities to, or relating to, Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees in respect of severance and unemployment compensation, regardless of whether the event giving rise to the Liability occurred before, at or after the Effective Time.

Section 7.05. Workers’ Compensation . With respect to claims for workers’ compensation in the United States, (a) the SpinCo Group shall be responsible for claims in respect of SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees, whether occurring before, at or after the Effective Time, and (b) the Rayonier Group shall be responsible for all claims in respect of Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees, whether occurring before, at or after the Effective Time. The treatment of workers’ compensation claims by SpinCo with respect to Rayonier insurance policies shall be governed by Section 5.1 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Section 7.06. Insurance Contracts . To the extent that any Rayonier Welfare Plan is funded through the purchase of an insurance contract or is subject to any stop loss contract, the Parties will cooperate and use their commercially reasonable efforts to replicate such insurance contracts for SpinCo (except to the extent that changes are required under applicable state insurance Laws or filings by the respective insurers) and to maintain any pricing discounts or other preferential terms for both Rayonier and SpinCo for a reasonable term. Neither Party shall be liable for failure to obtain such insurance contracts, pricing discounts, or other preferential terms for the other Party. Each Party shall be responsible for any additional premiums, charges, or administrative fees that such Party may incur pursuant to this Section 7.06 .

 

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Section 7.07. Third-Party Vendors . Except as provided below, to the extent that any Rayonier Welfare Plan is administered by a third-party vendor, the Parties will cooperate and use their commercially reasonable efforts to replicate any contract with such third-party vendor for SpinCo and to maintain any pricing discounts or other preferential terms for both Rayonier and SpinCo for a reasonable term. Neither Party shall be liable for failure to obtain such pricing discounts or other preferential terms for the other Party. Each Party shall be responsible for any additional premiums, charges, or administrative fees that such Party may incur pursuant to this Section 7.07 .

Section 7.08. SpinCo Retained Welfare Plans . As of the Effective Time, the SpinCo Group shall retain sponsorship of the Welfare Plans listed on Schedule 7.08 (the “ SpinCo Retained Welfare Plans ”), and, from and after the Effective Time, all Liabilities thereunder shall be Liabilities of the SpinCo Group.

ARTICLE VIII

NON-U.S. EMPLOYEES

SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees who are residents outside of the United States or otherwise are subject to non-U.S. Law and their related benefits and Liabilities shall be treated in the same manner as the SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees, respectively, who are residents of the United States and are not subject to non-U.S. Law. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all actions taken with respect to non-U.S. Employees or U.S. Employees working in non-U.S. jurisdictions shall be subject to and accomplished in accordance with applicable Law in the custom of the applicable jurisdictions.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.01. Employee Records .

(a) Sharing of Information. Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable Law, Rayonier and SpinCo (acting directly or through members of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group, respectively) shall provide to the other and their respective authorized agents and vendors all information necessary for the Parties to perform their respective duties under this Agreement.

(b) Transfer of Personnel Records and Authorization . Subject to any limitation imposed by applicable Law and to the extent that it has not done so before the Effective Time, Rayonier shall transfer to SpinCo any and all employment records (including any Form I-9, Form W-2 or other IRS forms) with respect to SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees and other records reasonably required by SpinCo to enable SpinCo properly to carry out its obligations under this Agreement. Such transfer of records generally shall occur as soon as administratively practicable at or after the Effective Time. Each Party will permit the other Party reasonable access to Employee records, to the extent reasonably necessary for such accessing Party to carry out its obligations hereunder.

 

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(c) Access to Records. To the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement or any applicable privacy protection Laws or regulations, reasonable access to Employee-related records after the Effective Time will be provided to members of the Rayonier Group and members of the SpinCo Group pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article VI of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

(d) Maintenance of Records. With respect to retaining, destroying, transferring, sharing, copying and permitting access to all Employee-related information, Rayonier and SpinCo shall comply with all applicable Laws, regulations and internal policies, and shall indemnify and hold harmless each other from and against any and all Liability, claims, actions, and damages that arise from a failure (by the indemnifying Party or its Subsidiaries or their respective agents) to so comply with all applicable Laws, regulations and internal policies applicable to such information.

(e) Cooperation. Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate and work together to unify, consolidate and share (to the extent permissible under applicable privacy/data protection laws) all relevant documents, resolutions, government filings, data, payroll, employment and benefit plan information on regular timetables and cooperate as needed with respect to (i) any litigation with respect to any employee benefit plan, policy or arrangement contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) efforts to seek a determination letter, private letter ruling or advisory opinion from the IRS or U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of any employee benefit plan, policy or arrangement contemplated by this Agreement, and (iii) any filings that are required to be made or supplemented to the IRS, U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, U.S. Department of Labor or any other Governmental Authority; provided , however , that requests for cooperation must be reasonable and not interfere with daily business operations. In addition to and not in limitation of the other provisions of this Article IX , the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in order to ensure the effective implementation and enforcement of obligations under that certain Employee Benefit Services and Liability Agreement by and between ITT Corporation and Rayonier, dated as of February 11, 1994 (the “ ITT Employee Benefits Agreement ”) as it relates to Rayonier Group Employees, Former Rayonier Group Employees, SpinCo Group Employees and Former SpinCo Group Employees, it being understood that such implementation and enforcement may involve direct communications and information sharing between SpinCo and ITT Corporation (or its permitted successor in interest), subject to Rayonier’s prior written consent as it relates to Rayonier Group Employees and Former Rayonier Group Employees.

(f) Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all confidential records and data relating to Employees to be shared or transferred pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to Section 6.9 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the requirements of applicable Law.

Section 9.02. Preservation of Rights to Amend . The rights of each member of the Rayonier Group and each member of the SpinCo Group to amend, waive, or terminate any plan, arrangement, agreement, program, or policy referred to herein shall not be limited in any way by this Agreement.

 

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Section 9.03. Fiduciary Matters . Rayonier and SpinCo each acknowledges that actions required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement may be subject to fiduciary duties or standards of conduct under ERISA or other applicable Law, and no Party shall be deemed to be in violation of this Agreement if it fails to comply with any provisions hereof based upon its good-faith determination (as supported by advice from counsel experienced in such matters) that to do so would violate such a fiduciary duty or standard. Each Party shall be responsible for taking such actions as are deemed necessary and appropriate to comply with its own fiduciary responsibilities and shall fully release and indemnify the other Party for any Liabilities caused by the failure to satisfy any such responsibility.

Section 9.04. Further Assurances . Each Party hereto shall take, or cause to be taken, any and all reasonable actions, including the execution, acknowledgment, filing and delivery of any and all documents and instruments that any other Party hereto may reasonably request in order to effect the intent and purpose of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 9.05. Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power .

(a) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

(b) This Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits, Schedules and appendices hereto and thereto contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein. Rayonier represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each of its Subsidiaries, and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each of its Subsidiaries, as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and

(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof.

(c) Each Party acknowledges and agrees that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF))made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it will not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party to the same extent as if

 

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it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

Section 9.06. Governing Law . This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Delaware, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

Section 9.07. Assignability . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither Party may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party hereto; provided , however , that each Party may assign all of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any of its Subsidiaries; and provided , further , that no such assignment shall release the assigning Party from any of its liabilities or obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent for assignment shall be required for the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and all other Ancillary Agreements in whole ( i.e ., the assignment of a party’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and all Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control of a Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant Party by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party. Nothing herein is intended to, or shall be construed to, prohibit either Party or any of its Subsidiaries from being party to or undertaking a transaction that would result in a change of control.

Section 9.08. Third-Party Beneficiaries . The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any other Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder. There are no other third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to amend any employee benefit plan or affect the applicable plan sponsor’s right to amend or terminate any employee benefit plan pursuant to the terms of such plan. The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties, and no current or former Employee, officer, director, or independent contractor or any other individual associated therewith shall be regarded for any purpose as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the prior written consent of the other Parties.

 

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Section 9.09. Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 9.09 ):

 

If to Rayonier, to:
  Rayonier Inc.
  225 Water St., Suite 1400
  Jacksonville, FL 32202
  Attention:   General Counsel
  Rayonier Inc.
  225 Water St., Suite 1400
  Jacksonville, FL 32202
  Attention:   Chief Financial Officer
With a copy (until the Effective Time) to:
  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  51 West 52nd Street
  New York, New York 10019
  Attention:   Nicholas G. Demmo
    David K. Lam
  Facsimile:   (212) 403-2000
If to SpinCo, to:
  Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
  1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300
  Jacksonville, FL 32207
  Attention:   General Counsel
  Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.
  1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300
  Jacksonville, FL 32207
  Attention:   Chief Financial Officer
With a copy (until the Effective Time) to:
  Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  51 West 52nd Street
  New York, New York 10019
  Attention:   Nicholas G. Demmo
    David K. Lam
  Facsimile:   (212) 403-2000

Any Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

 

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Section 9.10. Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of any such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby. Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties.

Section 9.11. Force Majeure . No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement or, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, any Ancillary Agreement for any delay or failure to fulfill any obligation hereunder or thereunder so long as and to the extent to which any delay or failure in the fulfillment of such obligations is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed as a consequence of circumstances of Force Majeure. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay. A Party claiming the benefit of this provision shall, as soon as reasonably practicable after the occurrence of any such event, (a) provide written notice to the other Party of the nature and extent of any such Force Majeure condition; and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to remove any such causes and resume performance under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, as applicable, as soon as reasonably practicable.

Section 9.12. Headings . The Article, Section and Paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

Section 9.13. Survival of Covenants . Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties and other agreements contained in this Agreement, and Liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein, shall survive the Effective Time and shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.

Section 9.14. Waivers of Default . Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof prejudice any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

Section 9.15. Dispute Resolution . The dispute resolution procedures set forth in Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall apply to any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

Section 9.16. Specific Performance . Subject to Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement, in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) in respect of its rights or their rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at Law or in equity, and all such

 

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rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at Law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any Action for specific performance that a remedy at Law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived by each of the Parties.

Section 9.17. Amendments . No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by a Party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

Section 9.18. Interpretation . In this Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (c) Article, Section, Exhibit, Annex and Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement; (e) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (f) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (g) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days; (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the United States or Jacksonville, Florida; (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter, unless otherwise specified; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall all be references to [ ], 2014.

Section 9.19. Mutual Drafting . This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Employee Matters Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

RAYONIER INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


Schedule 1.01(c)

Rayonier Welfare Plans

 

Type

  

Plan Name / Benefit

 

Vendor

  

Group

Perquisites    Executive Physical Program   Mayo    Executives
Perquisites    Executive Financial / Tax Planning   Rayonier    Executives
Life & AD&D    Rayonier Salaried Life Insurance Plan   Cigna Life Insurance    Salaried Actives & Retirees (Life)
Business Travel Accident    The Rayonier Salaried Business Travel Accident Insurance Plan   National Union Fire Insurance    Salaried
Group Universal Life    Group Universal Life Insurance   Met Life    Salaried
Long Term Disability    Group Long Term Disability for Employees of Rayonier Inc.   Cigna Life Insurance    Salaried
Short Term Disability    Group Short Term Disability for Employees of Rayonier, Inc.   Rayonier    Salaried
Supplemental Disability (SIRIP)    Supplemental Income Replacement Insurance Program   The Standard and Mass Mutual    Salaried
Voluntary AD&D    The Rayonier Salaried Voluntary Accident Insurance Plan   National Union Fire Insurance    Salaried
Dental    BCBS Dente Max Dental PPO   BCBS    Salaried Actives & Retirees
EAP    Lifeworks EAP and Telephonic Health Coaching   Lifeworks    Salaried
Medical    Consumer Directed Value Plan & Consumer Directed Choice Plan   BCBS / Express Scripts    Salaried
Retiree Medical    Consumer Directed Health Plan   BCBS / Express Scripts    Salaried Retirees
Vision    EyeMed Vision Care   Eye Med    Salaried
Dependent Care FSA    Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account   BCBS    Salaried
HSA    Health Savings Account   BCBS    Salaried
Severance    Rayonier Inc. Severance Pay Plan for Salaried Employees   Rayonier    Salaried


Schedule 2.03(a)

Rayonier Benefit Plans to be Mirrored by SpinCo (subject to the terms of the Agreement)

Equity, Incentive and Executive Compensation Plans

Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan

Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan

Rayonier Annual Corporate Bonus Program

Rayonier 2014 Bonus and Gain Share Plan

Rayonier Executive Severance Pay Plan

Rayonier Outside Directors Cash Compensation Program

Retirement and Deferred Compensation Plans

Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of Rayonier Inc.

Rayonier Inc. Excess Benefit Plan

Rayonier Investment and Savings Plan for Salaried Employees

Rayonier Inc. Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan

Rayonier Legal Resources Trust

Rayonier Industries Ltd. Group Personal Pension Plan (GPPP)

Welfare Plans

Schedule 1.01(c) is incorporated herein by reference


Schedule 4.03(b)

SpinCo Retained Bonus Plans

Performance Fibers Hourly

Performance Fibers Salaried Grades 11 and Below

Performance Fibers Salaried Grades 12-16

Performance Fibers Salaried Grades 17 and Above

Performance Fibers Sales, Marketing and Research

Supply Chain Management

Performance Fibers Jesup / Fern Mill Sr. Mgmt

Performance Fibers Manufacturing Sr. Mgmt

Rayonier Cash Incentive Plan (2012-2014)

Performance Fibers Special Bonus Plan

SE Wood Procurement

SE Wood Procurement Sr. Mgmt


Schedule 7.08

SpinCo Retained Welfare Plans

 

Type

  

Plan Name / Benefit

  

Vendor

  

Group

Life/Accident/Disability    Group Short Term Disability & Life Plan for Employees of Rayonier Inc.    Cigna Life Insurance    Jesup and Fernandina Hourly
Dental    Aetna Dental    Aetna    Fernandina Hourly Actives & Retirees
Dental    BCBS Dente Max Dental PPO    BCBS    Jesup Hourly Actives & Retirees
EAP    Lifeworks EAP and Telephonic Health Coaching    Lifeworks    Jesup and Fernandina Hourly
Medical    Aetna Health Network Only    Aetna    Fernandina Hourly Actives & Retirees
Medical    Jesup Union PPO and Consumer Directed Choice Plan    BCBS / Express Scripts    Jesup Hourly Actives & Retirees
Vision    United Healthcare Group Vision Care Insurance    United Healthcare    Fernandina Hourly
Vision    EyeMed Vision Care    EyeMed    Jesup Hourly
Dependent Care FSA    Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account    BCBS    Jesup Hourly
Health Care FSA    Healthcare Flexible Spending Account    BCBS    Jesup Hourly
HSA    Health Savings Account    BCBS    Jesup Hourly
Voluntary Short-Term Disability    TrustMark Voluntary Short-Term Disability    TrustMark    Fernandina Hourly

Exhibit 10.4

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT

BY AND BETWEEN

RAYONIER INC.

AND

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

DATED AS OF [ ], 2014


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.01

  Definitions      1   
ARTICLE II GRANT OF TRADEMARKS LICENSE      6   

Section 2.01

  Licensed Trademarks      6   

Section 2.02

  Additional Licensed Trademarks      7   

Section 2.03

  Restriction on Rayonier      7   

Section 2.04

  Use of Rayonier Name      7   

Section 2.05

  Display of Trademarks      7   

Section 2.06

  Transitional Trademark License      7   
ARTICLE III USE; REGISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LICENSED TRADEMARKS      8   

Section 3.01

  Quality Standard      8   

Section 3.02

  Unauthorized Use      8   

Section 3.03

  Registration; Maintenance of Licensed Trademarks      8   
ARTICLE IV GRANT OF SOFTWARE LICENSE      9   

Section 4.01

  Grant of Software License      9   
ARTICLE V OTHER IP LICENSES      10   

Section 5.01

  Grant of Other IP Licenses      10   

Section 5.02

  Improvements      11   

Section 5.03

  Restriction on Disclosure      11   

Section 5.04

  Maintenance of the Other IP      11   
ARTICLE VI PROPRIETARY RIGHTS      11   

Section 6.01

  Title to Intellectual Property      11   

Section 6.02

  No Challenge to Title      11   

Section 6.03

  No Other Rights      12   

 

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Section 6.04

  No Adverse Action      12   

Section 6.05

  Assignment of Trademarks upon Cessation      12   

Section 6.06

  Assignment of Other IP upon Cessation      12   

Section 6.07

  License Exceptions      13   
ARTICLE VII ENFORCEMENT      13   
ARTICLE VIII BANKRUPTCY      13   
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION      14   

Section 9.01

  Termination for Non-Use      14   

Section 9.02

  Termination for Breach      14   

Section 9.03

  Termination by Licensee      14   

Section 9.04

  Effect of Termination; Survival      14   
ARTICLE X GROUP MEMBERS      15   
ARTICLE XI DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY      15   

Section 11.01

  Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties      15   

Section 11.02

  Disclaimer of Certain Damages      15   
ARTICLE XII INDEMNIFICATION      16   

Section 12.01

  Indemnification      16   

Section 12.02

  Indemnification Procedures      16   
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS      16   

Section 13.01

  Further Assurances      16   

Section 13.02

  Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power      16   

Section 13.03

  Governing Law      17   

Section 13.04

  Assignability      17   

Section 13.05

  Sublicensing Right      18   

Section 13.06

  Third-Party Beneficiaries      18   

 

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Section 13.07

  Notices      18   

Section 13.08

  Severability      19   

Section 13.09

  Headings      19   

Section 13.10

  Waivers of Default      20   

Section 13.11

  Dispute Resolution      20   

Section 13.12

  Specific Performance      20   

Section 13.13

  Amendments      20   

Section 13.14

  Interpretation      20   

Section 13.15

  Mutual Drafting      21   

 

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT

This INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AGREEMENT, dated as of [ ], 2014 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“ Rayonier ”), and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ SpinCo ”).

R E C I T A L S:

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Rayonier (the “ Rayonier Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of Rayonier and its shareholders to create a new publicly traded company that shall operate the SpinCo Business;

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the foregoing, the Rayonier Board has determined that it is appropriate and desirable to separate the SpinCo Business from the Rayonier Business (the “ Separation ”) and, following the Separation, make a distribution, on a pro rata basis, to holders of Rayonier Shares on the Record Date of all the outstanding SpinCo Shares owned by Rayonier (the “ Distribution ”);

WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Separation and the Distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2014 (the “ Separation and Distribution Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, the SpinCo Group desires to receive (and the Rayonier Group is willing to grant to the SpinCo Group) certain rights under Intellectual Property and Software owned by the Rayonier Group as of the Effective Time, and the Rayonier Group desires to receive (and the SpinCo Group is willing to grant to the Rayonier Group) certain rights under Intellectual Property and Software owned by the SpinCo Group as of the Effective Time, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Acquired Business ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.05 .

Acquiring Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.05 .

Action ” shall mean any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.


Affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Ancillary Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Derivative Work ” shall mean a work that is based upon one or more preexisting works, and which is a derivative work, including any revision, modification, translation, abridgment, condensation, expansion, collection, compilation and any other form in which such preexisting works may be recast, transformed or adapted, and that, if prepared without authorization by the owner of a preexisting work, would constitute copyright infringement.

Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.11 .

Distribution ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Distribution Date ” shall mean the date of the consummation of the Distribution, which shall be determined by the Rayonier Board in its sole and absolute discretion.

Effective Time ” shall mean 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the Distribution Date.

Governmental Authority ” shall mean any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

Group ” shall mean either the SpinCo Group or the Rayonier Group, as the context requires.

Improvements ” shall mean any improvements, additions, modifications, developments, variations, refinements, enhancements, compilations, collective works or Derivative Works.

Intellectual Property ” shall mean all of the following whether arising under the Laws of the United States or of any other foreign or multinational jurisdiction: (a) patents, patent applications (including patents issued thereon) and statutory invention registrations, including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions, renewals, extensions and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, and all rights in any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, trade dress, logos and other source or business identifiers, including all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and any and all common law rights in and to any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, and all reissues,

 

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extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, (c) Internet domain names, (d) copyrightable works, copyrights, moral rights, mask work rights, database rights and design rights, in each case, other than Software, whether or not registered, and all registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, and all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, (e) confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, invention disclosures, processes and know-how, in each case, other than Software, and (f) intellectual property rights arising from or in respect of any Technology.

Law ” shall mean any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any income tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

Liabilities ” shall mean all debts, guarantees, assurances, commitments, liabilities, responsibilities, Losses, remediation, deficiencies, damages, fines, penalties, settlements, sanctions, costs, expenses, interest and obligations of any nature or kind, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, claim (including any Third-Party Claim), demand, Action, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment or undertaking, or any fines, damages or equitable relief that is imposed, in each case, including all costs and expenses relating thereto.

Licensed Trademarks ” shall mean the Trademarks set forth (and only as set forth) on Schedule A , including any registrations and applications for registration set forth on Schedule A .

Licensee ” shall mean, with respect to any Intellectual Property or Software licensed hereunder, the Party receiving a license to such Intellectual Property or Software hereunder.

Licensor ” shall mean, with respect to any Intellectual Property or Software licensed hereunder, the Party granting a license to such Intellectual Property or Software hereunder.

Licensor Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.01 .

Losses ” shall mean actual losses (including any diminution in value), costs, damages, penalties and expenses (including legal and accounting fees and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim.

Other IP ” shall mean either the SpinCo Other IP or the Rayonier Other IP, as the context requires.

 

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Parties ” shall mean the parties to this Agreement.

Patents ” shall mean all patents, patent applications (including patents issued thereon) and statutory invention registrations, including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions, renewals, extensions and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, and all rights in any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions.

Person ” shall mean an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

Rayonier ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Rayonier Board ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Rayonier Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Rayonier Group ” shall mean Rayonier and each Person that is a Subsidiary of Rayonier.

Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks ” shall mean the names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers of either Party or any member of its Group using or containing “RAYONIER”, either alone or in combination with other words or elements, and all names, marks, trade dress, logos, monograms, domain names and other source or business identifiers confusingly similar to or embodying any of the foregoing either alone or in combination with other words or elements, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing.

Rayonier Other IP ” shall mean all Intellectual Property, except Trademarks and Patents, owned or controlled by Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group as of the Effective Time.

Rayonier Shares ” shall mean the common shares, no par value, of Rayonier.

Rayonier Software ” shall mean any Software that both (a) constitutes a Rayonier Asset under the Separation and Distribution Agreement and (b) is owned as of immediately after the Effective Time by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

Record Date ” shall mean the close of business on the date to be determined by the Rayonier Board as the record date for determining holders of Rayonier Shares entitled to receive SpinCo Shares pursuant to the Distribution.

Separation ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Separation and Distribution Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Software ” shall mean any and all (a) computer programs, including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form, (b) databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (c) descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, (d) screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons, and (e) documentation, including user manuals and other training documentation, relating to any of the foregoing.

SpinCo ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

SpinCo Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

SpinCo Field of Use ” shall mean any and all businesses, operations and activities involving the manufacturing, sale, marketing and distribution of (a) chemical cellulose (also referred to as dissolving pulp) and products sold into similar end uses as chemical cellulose (including cotton linters); (b) pulp and paper products; (c) chemicals; (d) plastics and other polymers; (e) processed foods and pharmaceutical products (including raw materials and intermediates used therein); (f) building materials (including raw materials and intermediates used therein); and/or (g) textiles (including raw materials and intermediates used therein); provided , however , that the foregoing clauses (a)  through (g)  shall not include solid and engineered wood products (including lumber and plywood) or materials comprised of solid and engineered wood products.

SpinCo Group ” shall mean SpinCo and each Person that is a Subsidiary of SpinCo.

SpinCo Other IP ” shall mean all Intellectual Property, except Trademarks and Patents, owned or controlled by SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group as of the Effective Time.

SpinCo Shares ” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of SpinCo.

SpinCo Software ” shall mean any Software that both (a) constitutes a SpinCo Asset under the Separation and Distribution Agreement and (b) is owned as of immediately after the Effective Time by either Party or any of its Subsidiaries.

Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

 

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Technology ” shall mean all technology, designs, formulae, algorithms, procedures, methods, discoveries, processes, techniques, ideas, know-how, research and development, technical data, tools, materials, specifications, processes, inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), apparatus, creations, improvements, works of authorship in any media, confidential, proprietary or nonpublic information, and other similar materials, and all recordings, graphs, drawings, reports, analyses and other writings, and other tangible embodiments of the foregoing in any form whether or not listed herein, in each case, other than Software.

Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 .

Third Party ” shall mean any Person other than the Parties or any of their Affiliates.

Third-Party Claim ” shall mean any Action commenced by any Third Party against any Party or any of its Affiliates.

Trademark ” shall mean trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, trade dress, logos, Internet domain names, and other source or business identifiers, including all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and any and all common law rights in and to any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, all rights in and to any of the foregoing provided by international treaties or conventions, and all reissues, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing.

Trademark License ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 .

ARTICLE II

GRANT OF TRADEMARKS LICENSE

Section 2.01 Licensed Trademarks . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, Rayonier hereby grants (or shall cause the applicable member of the Rayonier Group to grant) to the SpinCo Group an exclusive, fully paid-up, worldwide, non-sublicensable (except as provided in Section 13.05 ), non-assignable (except as provided in Sections 6.05 and 13.04 ), royalty-free and irrevocable (unless terminated in accordance with Section 6.05 or Article IX ) license to use and display the Licensed Trademarks for any use or purpose solely in the SpinCo Field of Use (the “ Trademark License ”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, the Trademark License shall include the right of members of the SpinCo Group to use the Licensed Trademarks in their respective corporate names, domain names and email addresses and in any and all electronic, social or other media (including, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and other electronic media and networking platforms), in each case, whether or not in existence as of the date hereof. The term of the Trademark License (the “ Term ”) shall commence at the Effective Time and shall continue in perpetuity, unless and until the earlier to occur of (a) the assignment, if any, of the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks to SpinCo pursuant to Section 6.05 and (b) the termination, if any, of the Trademark License pursuant to Article IX . Except

 

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pursuant to Section 6.05 , neither SpinCo nor any other member of the SpinCo Group shall acquire any ownership rights hereunder in the Licensed Trademarks (or any other Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks), and all goodwill symbolized by and connected with the use of the Licensed Trademarks by SpinCo or any other member of the SpinCo Group shall inure solely to the benefit of Rayonier.

Section 2.02 Additional Licensed Trademarks . During the Term, SpinCo and each other member of the SpinCo Group shall be permitted to use, solely in the SpinCo Field of Use, any Trademark in which any Licensed Trademark is immediately followed by one or more additional words or abbreviations so long as such additional words would not cause confusion with Rayonier’s own usage of a Trademark. At least twenty (20) days’ prior written notice shall be given to Rayonier in advance of the commencement of such use of such Trademark by any member of the SpinCo Group, together with examples of the intended use, so that Rayonier can verify and ensure that the RAYONIER name is being used in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement and all applicable Laws. So long as no written objection (together with reasonably detailed explanation) is received by SpinCo within the twenty (20)-day period following SpinCo’s delivery of such notice to Rayonier, such Trademark shall be deemed to be a Licensed Trademark for all purposes hereunder and the Parties shall add such Trademark (or shall cause such Trademark to be added) to Schedule A .

Section 2.03 Restriction on Rayonier . During the Term, Rayonier shall not (and shall cause the other members of the Rayonier Group not to), directly or indirectly, design, develop, manufacture, market, provide or perform any products or services under any of the Licensed Trademarks or grant a license to or otherwise authorize any Third Party to do any of the foregoing.

Section 2.04 Use of Rayonier Name . Without limiting any other provisions of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule A or as otherwise permitted in accordance with Section 2.01 , 2.02 or 2.06 , SpinCo shall not (and shall cause the other members of the SpinCo Group not to) use the name “RAYONIER” in connection with any aspect of its business, operations or affairs, whether conducted directly or indirectly, including as a corporate or business name, domain name or email address, unless the name “RAYONIER” is part of a Licensed Trademark. The Parties acknowledge and agree that this Agreement shall not restrict (a) any member of the SpinCo Group from using the abbreviation “RYAM” in its corporate or business name or in any other Trademark or (b) the right of any Party or any member of its Group to make use of any term or Trademark in a manner that constitutes fair use under applicable Law or factual use solely for historical or reference purposes.

Section 2.05 Display of Trademarks . The Parties acknowledge and agree that it is in their mutual best interest that, and the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other in good faith to ensure that, the Licensed Trademarks shall appear distinctive from the other Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks used by Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group. Any Dispute with respect to the appearance of a Licensed Trademark or the other Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks shall be resolved in accordance with Section 13.11 .

Section 2.06 Transitional Trademark License . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, Rayonier hereby grants (or shall

 

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cause the applicable member of the Rayonier Group to grant) to the SpinCo Group, for the six (6)-month period immediately after the Distribution Date, a non-exclusive, fully paid-up, worldwide, non-sublicensable, non-assignable, royalty-free and irrevocable (unless terminated in accordance with Section 6.05 or Article IX ) license to use the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks (in addition to the other rights granted to the SpinCo Group under this Article II ) solely in connection with (a) any and all inventory for sale that bears or incorporates the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks; (b) facilities, locations, buildings, machines or equipment, or other fixed assets, bearing or using the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks as of the Distribution Date; and (c) labels, invoices, bills of lading, signage and other documents and identifiers bearing or incorporating the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks as of the Distribution Date; provided that, as of the end of such six (6)-month period, SpinCo shall (and shall cause each other member of the SpinCo Group to) discontinue any and all use of such Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks unless otherwise in compliance with this Agreement. This Section 2.06 is not intended to and shall not preclude or limit any use of the Licensed Trademarks by SpinCo or the other members of the SpinCo Group in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

USE; REGISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE OF LICENSED TRADEMARKS

Section 3.01 Quality Standard . SpinCo shall cause the quality of all of the products and services of each member of the SpinCo Group that are designed, developed, manufactured, marketed, provided or performed under any Licensed Trademark to be maintained at a commercially reasonable level and comply with the requirements of all applicable Laws. The Parties agree that, without limitation, the quality of comparable products and services marketed by Rayonier or any other member of its Group prior to the Distribution Date is at a commercially reasonable level of quality. During the Term, upon at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice to SpinCo, Rayonier shall have the right (but not any obligation), at its own cost and expense and not more often than once in any six (6)-month period, to conduct, at the facilities of any member of the SpinCo Group, examination of specimens of the use of the Licensed Trademarks and of products manufactured by or for any member of the SpinCo Group, and to obtain from any member of the SpinCo Group information and documentation that would enable Rayonier to determine whether the quality of such products and services is maintained in accordance with this Section 3.01 .

Section 3.02 Unauthorized Use . SpinCo acknowledges and agrees that any use of the Licensed Trademarks other than that expressly authorized hereunder is prohibited without the prior written approval of Rayonier. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the Term, SpinCo shall (and shall cause the other members of the SpinCo Group to) only use and display the Licensed Trademarks in the SpinCo Field of Use.

Section 3.03 Registration; Maintenance of Licensed Trademarks .

(a) During the Term, upon SpinCo’s reasonable written request and at SpinCo’s cost and expense, Rayonier shall (i) subject to Section 3.03(b) , take all reasonably necessary steps to procure registration of the Licensed Trademarks in all jurisdictions requested by SpinCo and (ii) subject to Section 3.03(c) , use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain

 

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the Licensed Trademarks and all registrations thereof and applications therefor in all jurisdictions in which each is registered or an application therefor is pending. SpinCo shall (and shall cause the other members of the SpinCo Group to) execute all documents as are reasonably necessary or appropriate to aid in, and shall otherwise reasonably cooperate (at SpinCo’s cost and expense) with the efforts of Rayonier to prepare, obtain, file, record and maintain all such registrations and applications.

(b) The Parties may mutually agree, from time to time, that SpinCo shall procure registration of any Licensed Trademarks in any jurisdictions requested by SpinCo pursuant to Section 3.03(a) . If the Parties so agree, SpinCo shall be solely responsible for registering (at SpinCo’s cost and expense) such Licensed Trademarks in such jurisdictions and Rayonier shall (and shall cause the other members of the Rayonier Group to) execute all documents as are reasonably necessary or appropriate to aid in, and shall otherwise reasonably cooperate (at SpinCo’s cost and expense) with the efforts of SpinCo to prepare, obtain, file, record and maintain all such registrations and the applications related thereto.

(c) SpinCo acknowledges and agrees that neither Rayonier nor any other member of the Rayonier Group shall have any further maintenance obligations hereunder as to the Licensed Trademarks or any registration thereof or application therefor upon Rayonier’s providing reasonable advance written notice to SpinCo that Rayonier does not intend to continue such maintenance. Rayonier acknowledges and agrees that, upon SpinCo’s receiving such notice, SpinCo shall have the right (but not any obligation) to continue such maintenance at SpinCo’s cost and expense and in Rayonier’s name or in the name of any other member of the Rayonier Group specified by Rayonier. In the event SpinCo elects to continue such maintenance, Rayonier shall (and shall cause the other members of the Rayonier Group to), to the extent reasonably necessary, execute all documents to aid in, and otherwise cooperate with, the effort of SpinCo to maintain registrations of the Licensed Trademarks. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if and after Rayonier gives reasonable written notice to SpinCo in accordance with this Section 3.03(c) , neither SpinCo, Rayonier, nor any other member of their respective Groups shall be liable hereunder in any manner for any failure to maintain such Licensed Trademarks.

ARTICLE IV

GRANT OF SOFTWARE LICENSE

Section 4.01 Grant of Software License .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and subject to any rights of Third Parties that may be in effect, effective as of the Effective Time, Rayonier hereby grants (or shall cause the applicable member of the Rayonier Group to grant) to the SpinCo Group a nonexclusive, perpetual (unless terminated in accordance with Article IX ), fully paid-up, worldwide, non-sublicensable (except as provided in Section 13.05 ), non-assignable (except as provided in Section 13.04 ), royalty-free and irrevocable (unless terminated in accordance with Article IX ) license to (i) use, (ii) reproduce, (iii) display, and (iv) prepare Derivative Works based upon any and all Rayonier Software that was used in connection with the SpinCo Business prior to the Distribution Date.

 

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(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and subject to rights of Third Parties that may be in effect, effective as of the Effective Time, SpinCo hereby grants (or shall cause the applicable member of the SpinCo Group to grant) to the Rayonier Group a nonexclusive, perpetual (unless terminated in accordance with Article IX ), fully paid-up, worldwide, non-sublicensable (except as provided in Section 13.05 ), non-assignable (except as provided in Section 13.04 ), royalty-free and irrevocable (unless terminated in accordance with Article IX ) license to (i) use, (ii) reproduce, (iii) display, and (iv) prepare Derivative Works based upon any and all SpinCo Software that was used in connection with the Rayonier Business prior to the Distribution Date.

(c) Until the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the Distribution Date, Licensee may request a copy of Software licensed to its Group hereunder (including the source code for such Software) and Licensor shall provide a copy of such Software to Licensee; provided that, in each case, such Software was not previously provided to Licensee and such Software is then in the possession or control of Licensor or any other member of its Group. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Licensor need only provide to Licensee a copy of such Software in the form in which it existed as of the Distribution Date, and in no event shall Licensor (or any other member of its Group) be required to provide to Licensee (or any other member of its Group) any upgrades, updates, enhancements or other modifications to such Software or any additional copies of such Software.

(d) After the Distribution Date, if Licensee (or any other member of its Group) creates (or has another Person create) a Derivative Work of any Software licensed to its Group hereunder, Licensee shall own all rights in and to the particular modifications, additions or changes made to such Software, subject to the Intellectual Property rights of Licensor (and the other members of its Group) in such Software. No license is granted hereunder to such Derivative Work and neither Licensee nor any member of its Group shall, by virtue of creating any Derivative Work of such Software, gain any greater rights in or to such Software than are expressly granted hereunder.

(e) Licensee shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) treat any source code for Software licensed to its Group hereunder as confidential and proprietary information of Licensor, and Licensee shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) hold such source code in confidence in accordance with Section 6.9 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

ARTICLE V

OTHER IP LICENSES

Section 5.01 Grant of Other IP Licenses .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and subject to any rights of Third Parties that may be in effect, effective as of the Effective Time, Rayonier hereby grants (or shall cause the applicable member of the Rayonier Group to grant) to the SpinCo Group a nonexclusive, perpetual (unless terminated in accordance with Section 6.06 or Article IX ), fully paid-up, worldwide, non-sublicensable (except as provided in Section 13.05 ), non-assignable (except as provided in Sections 6.06 and 13.04 ), royalty-free and irrevocable (unless terminated in accordance with Section 6.06 or Article IX ) license, for any use or purpose, in and to the Rayonier Other IP that was used in connection with the SpinCo Business prior to the Distribution Date.

 

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(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and subject to rights of Third Parties that may be in effect, effective as of the Effective Time, SpinCo hereby grants (or shall cause the applicable member of the SpinCo Group to grant) to the Rayonier Group a nonexclusive, perpetual (unless terminated in accordance with Section 6.06 or Article IX ), fully paid-up, worldwide, non-sublicensable (except as provided in Section 13.05 ), non-assignable (except as provided in Sections 6.06 and 13.04 ), royalty-free and irrevocable (unless terminated in accordance with Section 6.06 or Article IX ) license, for any use or purpose, in and to the SpinCo Other IP that was used in connection with the Rayonier Business prior to the Distribution Date.

Section 5.02 Improvements . Licensee (and the other members of its Group) shall have the right to make Improvements to the Other IP licensed to its Group hereunder; provided , however , that, subject to Section 6.06 , Licensor will own and retain all right, title and interest in and to the Other IP licensed by Licensor (or the other members of its Group) hereunder.

Section 5.03 Restriction on Disclosure . Licensee shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) hold all confidential or proprietary information, including trade secrets, invention disclosures, processes and know-how, licensed to its Group hereunder and any other confidential or proprietary information disclosed to Licensee or any other member of its Group hereunder in confidence in accordance with Section 6.9 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Section 5.04 Maintenance of the Other IP . Neither Licensor nor any other member of its Group shall have any obligation to Licensee (or any other member of its Group) with respect to maintaining the pendency, subsistence, validity, enforceability, or confidentiality of any Other IP licensed by Licensor (or any other member of its Group) hereunder and Licensor (and the other members of its Group) may discontinue maintenance, abandon or dedicate to any Person the Other IP licensed by Licensor (or any other member of its Group) hereunder.

ARTICLE VI

PROPRIETARY RIGHTS

Section 6.01 Title to Intellectual Property . Licensee acknowledges and agrees that Licensor (or the applicable member of its Group) is the sole and exclusive owner of any and all Intellectual Property and Software licensed by Licensor or any other member of Licensor’s Group hereunder. Subject to Sections 6.05 and 6.06 , Licensor shall retain all right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property and Software, including all copyright and other proprietary rights.

Section 6.02 No Challenge to Title . Subject to Sections 6.05 and 6.06 , Licensee agrees that it shall not (and shall cause the other members of its Group not to), for any reason, whether during or after the termination of this Agreement, do or authorize any Person to do, any of the following with respect to any Intellectual Property or Software licensed to its Group hereunder: (a) represent to any Person in any manner that it owns or has any ownership rights in

 

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such Intellectual Property or Software; (b) except in accordance with Section 3.03(b) or (c) , apply for federal, state, or national registration of such Intellectual Property or Software; or (c) impair, dispute or contest the validity of Licensor’s (or any member of its Group) right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property or Software.

Section 6.03 No Other Rights . Only those rights specifically granted hereunder to Licensee or its Group are granted to Licensee or its Group hereunder and all other rights in the Intellectual Property or Software licensed to Licensee or its Group hereunder are expressly reserved by Licensor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Licensee shall not (and shall cause the other members of its Group not to) use any Intellectual Property or Software licensed to Licensee or its Group hereunder for any purpose other than as expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement.

Section 6.04 No Adverse Action . Licensee agrees that it shall not (and shall cause the other members of its Group not to), for any reason, take or voluntarily cooperate in any Action that might dilute, tarnish, disparage, or reflect adversely on Licensor (or any other member of its Group). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Licensee shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) only use any copyrighted work licensed to Licensee’s Group hereunder in accordance with sound copyright usage principles and in compliance with the requirements of all applicable Laws.

Section 6.05 Assignment of Trademarks upon Cessation . During the Term, if Rayonier determines (in its sole and absolute discretion) to permanently cease using the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks in active commerce, Rayonier shall reasonably promptly notify SpinCo in writing of such determination and Rayonier shall (and shall reasonably promptly execute, upon SpinCo’s written request, such other documentation as may be reasonably necessary to) irrevocably assign the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks to SpinCo for aggregate consideration to Rayonier of one U.S. dollar ($1.00). Upon any such assignment of the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks to SpinCo pursuant to this Section 6.05 , (a) the Trademark License shall automatically and immediately terminate without the need for any further action by any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group and (b) no member of the Rayonier Group shall have any rights whatsoever to use any Rayonier Name or Rayonier Marks subsequent to the date of such termination and Rayonier shall (and shall cause the other members of the Rayonier Group to) immediately cease using the Rayonier Name and Rayonier Marks in any and all forms. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon any termination of the Trademark License pursuant to this Section 6.05 , all other rights and licenses granted under this Agreement that are in effect at the time of such termination, whether to Rayonier, SpinCo or any other member of their respective Groups, shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

Section 6.06 Assignment of Other IP upon Cessation . During the term of the license of any Other IP licensed by Licensor (or any other member of its Group) hereunder, if Licensor determines (in its sole and absolute discretion) to permanently cease using such Other IP in connection with its business and Licensor does not intend to (and does not intend to cause the applicable member of its Group to) sell, transfer or assign such Other IP to a Third Party (it being understood that any such transaction would be subject to the terms of this Agreement), Licensor shall reasonably promptly notify Licensee in writing of such determination and, if

 

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Licensee (or any other member of its Group) is then using such Other IP in connection with Licensee’s business, Licensor shall or shall cause any other applicable member of its Group to (and Licensor agrees that the applicable member of Licensor’s Group shall reasonably promptly execute, upon Licensee’s written request, such other documentation as may be reasonably necessary to) irrevocably assign such Other IP to Licensee for aggregate consideration to Licensor (or the applicable member of its Group) of one U.S. dollar ($1.00). Upon any such assignment of such Other IP to Licensee pursuant to this Section 6.06 , (a) the license to such Other IP shall automatically and immediately terminate without the need for any further action by any member of the Licensee’s Group or the Licensor’s Group and (b) no member of the Licensor’s Group shall have any rights whatsoever to use such Other IP subsequent to the date of such termination and Licensor shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) immediately cease using such Other IP in any and all forms. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon any termination of the license to any Other IP pursuant to this Section 6.06 , all other rights and licenses granted under this Agreement that are in effect at the time of such termination, whether to Rayonier, SpinCo or any other member of their respective Groups, shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

Section 6.07 License Exceptions . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to license any Other IP or Software, in whole or in part, or any rights thereunder, if the agreement or attempt to license, without the consent of a Third Party, would in any way adversely affect the rights of any Party with respect to such Other IP or Software. If an attempted license would be ineffective or would adversely affect the rights of any Party, the Parties will cooperate with each other in good faith to effect an arrangement designed reasonably to provide the benefits of such Other IP or Software (as applicable) to the proposed licensee of such Other IP or Software.

ARTICLE VII

ENFORCEMENT

Licensee agrees that it shall advise Licensor reasonably promptly if (and in no event later than five (5) business days after) Licensee (or any other member of its Group) becomes aware of any unauthorized Third-Party use of any Intellectual Property or Software licensed to its Group hereunder. Licensee shall not (and shall cause the other members of its Group not to) take any steps to contact any such Third Party without Licensor’s prior written permission. Licensor shall have the sole discretion to determine whether and in what manner to respond to any such unauthorized Third-Party use and shall be exclusively entitled to any remedies, including monetary damages, related thereto or resulting therefrom. In the event that Licensor decides to initiate any claim against any Third Party, Licensee shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) cooperate fully with Licensor at Licensor’s cost and expense.

ARTICLE VIII

BANKRUPTCY

This Agreement constitutes a license of “intellectual property” within the meaning of Section 365(n) of the United States Bankruptcy Code. If Section 365(n) of the United States Bankruptcy Code (or any successor provision) is applicable, and the trustee or debtor-in-possession has rejected this Agreement and if Licensee (or any other member of its Group) has

 

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elected pursuant to Section 365(n) of the United States Bankruptcy Code to retain its rights hereunder, then upon the written request of Licensee, to the extent Licensee (or any other member of its Group) is otherwise entitled hereunder, the trustee or debtor-in-possession shall provide to Licensee any intellectual property (including embodiments thereof) held or controlled by the trustee or debtor-in-possession.

ARTICLE IX

TERMINATION

Section 9.01 Termination for Non-Use . If, during the Term, neither SpinCo, any other member of the SpinCo Group nor any assignee or sublicensee of SpinCo permitted in accordance with Section 13.04 or 13.05 , respectively, (a) has used a corporate name incorporating the name “RAYONIER” or (b) has otherwise used such name in active commerce, in either case for at least twelve (12) consecutive months (regardless of the reason for such non-use, whether because of acquisition, insolvency or otherwise), then the Trademark License shall automatically and immediately terminate without the need for any further action by any member of the Rayonier Group or the SpinCo Group or any such permitted assignee or sublicensee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon any termination of the Trademark License pursuant to this Section 9.01 , all other rights and licenses granted under this Agreement that are in effect at the time of such termination, whether to Rayonier, SpinCo or any other member of their respective Groups, shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

Section 9.02 Termination for Breach . Either Party may terminate this Agreement with respect to any Intellectual Property or Software, as the case may be, licensed hereunder in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by the other Party (or any other member of the other Party’s Group) with respect to such Intellectual Property or Software if such breach is not cured within thirty (30) days following the breaching Party’s receipt of written notice of such breach from the non-breaching Party. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon any termination of this Agreement with respect to any Intellectual Property or Software pursuant to this Section 9.02 , all other rights and licenses granted under this Agreement that are in effect at the time of such termination, whether to Rayonier, SpinCo or any other member of their respective Groups, shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

Section 9.03 Termination by Licensee . Licensee may terminate any license granted to it (or any other member of its Group) hereunder as to any Intellectual Property or Software licensed to it (or any other member of its Group) hereunder by providing at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of such termination to the other Party. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, upon any termination of this Agreement with respect to any Intellectual Property or Software pursuant to this Section 9.03 , all other rights and licenses granted under this Agreement that are in effect at the time of such termination, whether to Rayonier, SpinCo or any other member of their respective Groups, shall survive and remain in full force and effect.

Section 9.04 Effect of Termination; Survival . Upon the termination of the Trademark License pursuant to Section 9.01 , 9.02 or 9.03 , neither SpinCo nor any other member of the SpinCo Group shall have any rights whatsoever to use any Licensed Trademarks subsequent to date of such termination and SpinCo shall (and shall cause the other members of

 

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the SpinCo Group to) immediately cease using the Licensed Trademarks in any and all forms; provided that, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 9.02 , SpinCo and each of the other members of the SpinCo Group shall have the right to continue to use the Licensed Trademarks in accordance with this Agreement during the twelve (12)-month period immediately after the effective date of such termination; provided , however , that SpinCo shall (and shall cause each other member of the SpinCo Group to), within such twelve (12)-month period, (a) discontinue all use of the Licensed Trademarks, (b) delete the same from its corporate or business name, and (c) destroy all materials and papers, other than corporate records, upon which any Licensed Trademarks appear. Subject to Section 6.06 , upon the termination of this Agreement with respect to the license of any Other IP or Software, neither the Licensee nor any other member of its Group shall have any rights whatsoever to use such Other IP or Software (as applicable) subsequent to the date of such termination and Licensee shall (and shall cause each of the other members of its Group to) immediately cease using such Other IP or Software (as applicable). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Sections 4.01(e) , 5.03 , 6.01 , 6.02 and 6.04 and Article XI , Article XII and Article XIII shall survive any termination of this Agreement in whole or in part.

ARTICLE X

GROUP MEMBERS

Each Party shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any other member of such Party’s Group.

ARTICLE XI

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Section 11.01 Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties . ALL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND SOFTWARE LICENSED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT ARE FURNISHED “AS IS,” WITHOUT ANY SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE, MAINTENANCE (EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN SECTION 3.03 ), OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER. LICENSEE ASSUMES TOTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK FOR ITS (AND ANY OTHER MEMBER OF ITS GROUP) USE OF ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OR SOFTWARE LICENSED TO ITS GROUP HEREUNDER. NEITHER LICENSOR NOR ANY OTHER MEMBER OF ITS GROUP MAKE (AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS) ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WARRANTIES OF TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR ANY WARRANTY THAT ANY SUCH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS “ERROR FREE.”

Section 11.02 Disclaimer of Certain Damages . IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY, ANY MEMBER OF ITS GROUP OR THEIR RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE, SPECULATIVE OR SIMILAR DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF COMPENSATORY DAMAGES OF THE OTHER PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT (OTHER THAN ANY SUCH LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO A

 

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THIRD-PARTY CLAIM), AND EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ON BEHALF OF ITSELF, EACH OTHER MEMBER OF ITS GROUP AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES ANY CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER ARISING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE. THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH ABOVE IN THIS SECTION 11.02 SHALL NOT APPLY IN RESPECT OF ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH (A) EITHER PARTY’S LIABILITY FOR BREACHES OF CONFIDENTIALITY UNDER SECTION 4.01(e) OR 5.03 , (B) THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR FRAUD OF OR BY THE PARTY TO BE CHARGED, OR (C) CLAIMS FOR INDEMNIFICATION IN RESPECT OF THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE XII .

ARTICLE XII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 12.01 Indemnification . In addition to (but not in duplication of) its other indemnification obligations (if any) under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, Licensee shall (and shall cause the other members of its Group to) indemnify, defend and hold harmless Licensor, each of the other members of Licensor’s Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers, employees and agents, in each case in their respective capacities as such, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Licensor Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the Licensor Indemnitees to the extent that such Liabilities relates to, arises out of or results from (i) a breach of this Agreement by Licensee (or any other member of its Group) or (ii) use by Licensee (or any other member of its Group) of any of the Intellectual Property or Software licensed to Licensee (or any other member of its Group) hereunder.

Section 12.02 Indemnification Procedures . The procedures for indemnification set forth in Sections 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement shall govern claims for indemnification under this Agreement.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01 Further Assurances . Each Party shall take, or cause to be taken, any and all reasonable actions, including the execution, acknowledgment, filing and delivery of any and all documents and instruments that any other Party hereto may reasonably request in order to effect the intent and purpose of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

Section 13.02 Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power .

(a) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

(b) This Agreement, the Separation and Distribution Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the Exhibits, Schedules and appendices hereto and thereto contain the

 

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entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter, and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

(c) Rayonier represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each other member of the Rayonier Group and SpinCo represents on behalf of itself and, to the extent applicable, each other member of the SpinCo Group, as follows:

(i) each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and

(ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof.

(d) Each Party acknowledges and agrees that delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement (whether executed by manual, stamp or mechanical signature) by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF) shall be effective as delivery of such executed counterpart of this Agreement. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature (regardless of whether delivered in person, by mail, by courier, by facsimile or by email in portable document format (PDF)) made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature delivered in person, agrees that it will not assert that any such signature or delivery is not adequate to bind such Party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and delivered in person and agrees that, at the reasonable request of the other Party at any time, it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause this Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof) and delivered in person, by mail or by courier.

Section 13.03 Governing Law . This Agreement (and any Dispute arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of the choice of Laws principles of the State of Delaware, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

Section 13.04 Assignability . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that neither Party may assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such consent shall be required for the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements in whole ( i.e. , the assignment of a Party’s rights and obligations under the Separation and Distribution Agreement, this Agreement and all the other Ancillary Agreements all at the same time) in connection with a change of control, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets, of a

 

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Party so long as the resulting, surviving or transferee Person assumes all the obligations of the relevant party thereto by operation of Law or pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the other Party. Nothing herein is intended to, or shall be construed to, prohibit either Party or any member of its Group from being party to or undertaking a change of control.

Section 13.05 Sublicensing Right . Licensee shall not (and shall cause the other members of its Group not to) sublicense any of the Intellectual Property or Software licensed to it or its Group hereunder without the express prior written consent of the Licensor of such Intellectual Property or Software (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld in the case of the purchase or acquisition of an Acquired Business by an Acquiring Person); provided that, in the event that one or more Third Parties purchases or acquires (whether by way of merger, share exchange, consolidation, business combination, consolidation, acquisition of all or substantially all assets, or other similar transaction or otherwise) any of the segments, divisions or businesses of SpinCo (or any other member of the SpinCo Group) that design, develop, manufacture, market, provide or perform any products or services under any Licensed Trademark (any such segment, division or business, an “ Acquired Business ”; and any such Third Party, an “ Acquiring Person ”), SpinCo may, without obtaining the consent of Rayonier or any other member of the Rayonier Group, grant a sublicense to any such Acquiring Person to use and display the applicable Licensed Trademarks solely for use in the Acquired Business; provided , however, that each such Acquiring Person agrees in writing, in a sublicense agreement, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement that are applicable to the Licensed Trademarks (including complying with the quality standards and providing Rayonier with the examination rights set forth in Section 3.01 ) and that such sublicense agreement shall provide that (a) no such Acquiring Person shall have any right whatsoever to (i) assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under such sublicense agreement to any Person, (ii) grant a license or sublicense to or assign any Licensed Trademark or any other Rayonier Name or Rayonier Marks to any Person or (iii) use or display any Licensed Trademarks sublicensed to it other than in connection with the Acquired Business (and, in no event, other than in the SpinCo Field of Use); (b) such sublicense agreement shall expire on the first to occur of (i) the date on which the Term expires and (ii) the date that is the fifth (5th) anniversary of the completion of the purchase or acquisition of the applicable Acquired Business by the Acquiring Person (or such shorter period as the Acquiring Person and the SpinCo shall agree); and (c) Rayonier shall be a third-party beneficiary under such sublicense agreement, with the right to enforce any and all applicable provisions thereof (including those provisions required pursuant to clause (a)  or (b)  of this proviso). SpinCo shall provide Rayonier with a copy of the duly executed sublicense agreement.

Section 13.06 Third-Party Beneficiaries . Except as provided in Article XII with respect to the Licensor Indemnitees in their capacities as such, (a) the provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any other Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder and (b) there are no other Third-Party beneficiaries of this Agreement and this Agreement shall not provide any other Third Party with any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement.

Section 13.07 Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall

 

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be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 13.07 ):

If to Rayonier, to:

Rayonier Inc.

225 Water St., Suite 1400

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attention: General Counsel

and

Rayonier Inc.

225 Water St., Suite 1400

Jacksonville, FL 32202

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

If to SpinCo, to:

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: General Counsel

and

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

Any Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address to which such notices are to be given.

Section 13.08 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby. Upon such determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to effect the original intent of the Parties.

Section 13.09 Headings . The Article, Section and Paragraph headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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Section 13.10 Waivers of Default . Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the waiving Party. No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof prejudice any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

Section 13.11 Dispute Resolution . In the event of any controversy, dispute or claim (a “ Dispute ”) arising out of or relating to any Party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement (whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise) (including the interpretation or validity of this Agreement), such Dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution process referred to in Article VII of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.

Section 13.12 Specific Performance . Subject to Section 13.11 , in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief (on an interim or permanent basis) in respect of its rights or their rights under this Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, may be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any Action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond with such remedy are hereby waived by each of the Parties.

Section 13.13 Amendments . No provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by a Party, unless such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

Section 13.14 Interpretation . In this Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be deemed to include the other genders as the context requires; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (c) Article, Section, Exhibit, Annex and Schedule references are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; (d) unless otherwise stated, all references to any agreement shall be deemed to include the exhibits, schedules and annexes to such agreement; (e) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” unless otherwise specified; (f) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; (g) unless otherwise specified in a particular case, the word “days” refers to calendar days; (h) references to “business day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or required by law to close in the United States or Jacksonville, Florida; (i) references herein to this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein shall be deemed to refer to this Agreement or such other agreement as of the date on which it is executed and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented thereafter,

 

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unless otherwise specified; and (j) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall all be references to [ ], 2014.

Section 13.15 Mutual Drafting . This Agreement shall be deemed to be the joint work product of the Parties and any rule of construction that a document shall be interpreted or construed against a drafter of such document shall not be applicable to this Agreement.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

RAYONIER INC.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

[Signature Page to Intellectual Property Agreement]


Schedule A

Licensed Trademarks

Rayonier Advanced

Rayonier Advanced Materials

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

Rayonier AM

Rayonier A.M.

Rayonier Cellulose Specialties

Rayonier CS

Rayonier C.S.

Rayonier Dissolving Pulp

Rayonier High Purity

Rayonier Performance Fibers

Rayonier Performance Fibers Global Sales and Distribution Company

Rayonier PF

Rayonier P.F.

Rayonier Specialty Cellulose

Exhibit 10.5

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN RAYONIER

ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND INDIVIDUAL DIRECTORS OR OFFICERS

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into, effective as of between Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                              (the “Indemnitee”).

WHEREAS, it is essential that the Company attract and maintain responsible, qualified directors and corporate officers; and

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is a director or corporate officer of the Company; and

WHEREAS, both the Company and the Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and corporate officers of public companies in today’s environment, as well as the possibility that in certain control situations a threat of litigation may be employed to deter them from exercising their best judgment in the interest of the Company, and the consequent need to allocate the risk of personal liability through indemnification and insurance; and

WHEREAS, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Charter”) and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) require the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted from time to time by law and the Indemnitee is willing to serve or continue to serve as a director or corporate officer of the Company provided that he be indemnified as provided herein; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability and of the Indemnitee’s reliance on the Charter and Bylaws, and in part to provide Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by the Charter and Bylaws will be available to the Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the Charter or the Bylaws or any change in the composition of the Company’s Board of Directors or any acquisition transaction involving the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancement of expenses to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors and officers liability insurance policies.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the Indemnitee continuing to serve the Company directly or, at its request, another enterprise, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

1. Certain Definitions.

(a) Change in Control : Shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

(i) subject to the conditions contained in the final paragraph of this definition, the filing of a report on Schedule 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) disclosing that any person, other than the Company or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company, is the beneficial owner (as the term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act) directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20 percent or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities (calculated as provided in paragraph (d) of Rule 13d-3 under the Act in the case of rights to acquire Voting Securities); or


(ii) the purchase by any person, other than the Company or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company, of shares pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer to acquire any Voting Securities of the Company (or securities convertible into such Voting Securities) for cash, securities, or any other consideration, provided that after consummation of the offer, the person in question is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20 percent or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities (all as calculated under clause (i)); or

(iii) the approval by the shareholders of the Company, and the subsequent occurrence, of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation (other than a merger of the Company in which holders of Common Shares of the Company immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of Common Shares of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger as immediately before), or pursuant to which Common Shares of the Company would be converted into cash, securities, or other property, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all the assets of the Company; or

(iv) a change in the composition of the Board of the Company at any time during any consecutive 24-month period such that “continuing directors” cease for any reason to constitute at least a 70 percent majority of the Board.

For purposes of this definition of “Change in Control,” the term “Voting Securities” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of members of the Board and the term “continuing directors” means those members of the Board who either were directors at the beginning of a consecutive 24-month period or were elected during such period by or on the nomination or recommendation of at least a 70 percent majority of the then-existing Board. So long as there has not been a Change in Control within the meaning of clause (iv) above, the Board may adopt by a 70 percent majority vote of the “continuing directors” a resolution to the effect that the occurrence of an event described in clause (i) (a “Clause (i) Event”) does not constitute a “Change in Control” (an “Excluding Resolution”) or a resolution to the effect that the occurrence of a Clause (i) Event does constitute a “Change in Control” (an “Including Resolution”). The adoption of an Excluding Resolution with respect to any Clause (i) Event shall not deprive the Board of the right to adopt an Including Resolution with respect to such Clause (i) Event at a later date. A Clause (i) Event shall not in and of itself constitute a “Change in Control” until the earlier of (x) the effective date of an Including Resolution with respect thereto or (y) the passage of a period of 30 calendar days after the occurrence thereof without an Excluding Resolution having been adopted with respect thereto; notwithstanding the adoption of an Excluding Resolution within the 30-day period referred to in (y), an Including Resolution may subsequently be adopted with respect to the relevant Clause (i) Event while it continues to exist, in which event a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this definition upon the effective date of such Including Resolution. The provisions of this paragraph of the definition of “Change in Control” relate only to situations where a Clause (i) Event has occurred and no Change in Control within the meaning of clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of the preceding paragraph has occurred, and nothing in this paragraph shall derogate from the principle that the occurrence of an event described in clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of the preceding paragraph shall be deemed an immediate Change in Control regardless of whether or not a Clause (i) Event has occurred and an Excluding Resolution or Including Resolution become effective.

(b) Disinterested Director : Shall mean a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnificationis sought by the Indemnitee.

(c) Expenses : Shall mean expenses of every kind incurred in connection with a Proceeding, including counsel fees. Expenses shall include, without limitation, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone and fax charges, postage, delivery service charges, costs associated with procurement of surety bonds or loans or other costs associated with the stay of a judgment, penalty or fine, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.

 

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(d) Independent Counsel : Shall mean a lawyer or law firm that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or the Indemnitee in any matter, or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(e) Proceeding : Shall mean any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative and whether formal or informal. A “Proceeding” may be instituted by another party, or by or in the right of the Company, or by the Indemnitee. The term “Proceeding” shall also include any preliminary inquiry or investigation that the Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of a “Proceeding”.

(f) Reviewing Party : Shall mean, with respect to any determination required by applicable law regarding the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement, any appropriate person or body consisting of (i) if requested by the Indemnitee, by Independent Counsel, or (ii) if no request is made by the Indemnitee for a determination by Independent Counsel, (1) the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or (ii) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, or (iii) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority vote of the Voting Securities.

(g) Voting Securities : Shall mean any securities of the Company which vote generally in the election of directors.

2. Term of Agreement.

This Agreement shall continue until and terminate upon the later of (i) the tenth anniversary after the date that the Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company (or in any other capacity in respect of which he has rights of indemnification hereunder); or (ii) the final termination of all pending Proceedings in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder, including any Proceeding commenced by the Indemnitee to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

3 . Right to Indemnification and Advance; How Determined .

(a) In the event the Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, a Proceeding by reason of (or arising in whole or in part out of) Indemnitee’s present or former status as a director, officer or fiduciary of the Company, or Indemnitee having served at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof (and to such greater extent as applicable law may hereafter permit) against the obligation to pay any and all Expenses, liability and loss, judgments, settlements, penalties, or fines (including any interest assessed, and including any excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) incurred on account of or with respect to such Proceeding, and such indemnification shall continue in the event the Indemnitee has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee, fiduciary or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. This Agreement shall be effective as well with respect to any such Proceedings which relate to acts or omissions occurring or allegedly occurring prior to the execution of this Agreement.

(b) To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, together with such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by the Indemnitee for indemnification, a determination, if required

 

3


by applicable law, with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made by the Reviewing Party. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the commencement of the Proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a Change of Control, ” in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination

(c) To the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Company to provide greater rights to advancement of expenses than said law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment or modification), the Indemnitee shall have (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to have) the right, without the need for any action by the Board of Directors, to be paid by the Company (and any successor of the Company by merger or otherwise) the expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Company within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided , however , that if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter, the “ Undertaking ”) by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal (a “ final disposition ”) that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Agreement or otherwise.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, prior to a Change in Control, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Proceeding initiated by the Indemnitee unless the Board of Directors has authorized or consented to the initiation of such Proceeding. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, a Proceeding shall not be deemed to have been “initiated” by the Indemnitee where its primary purpose is to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

4. Claims .

(a) (1) If a claim for indemnification under Section 3 is not paid in full by the Company within thirty (30) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 3(b) has been received by the Company, or (2) if a request for advancement of expenses under Section 3(c) is not paid in full by the Company within twenty (20) days after a statement pursuant to Section 3(c) and the required Undertaking, if any, have been received by the Company, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim for indemnification or request for advancement of expenses and, if successful in whole or in part, the Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action that, under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Indemnitee has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible for the Company to indemnify the Indemnitee for the amount claimed or that the Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested advancement of expenses, but (except where the required Undertaking, if any, has not been tendered to the Company) the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Company. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Board of Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Company (including its Board of Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

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(b) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 3(b) that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 4(a) above.

(c) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to Section 4(a) that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.

(d) If there has been a Change in Control and any dispute arises under this Agreement, the parties agree that at the Indemnitee’s option such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration proceedings in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association and the results of such proceedings shall be conclusive on both parties and shall not be subject to judicial interference or review on any ground whatsoever, including without limitation any claim that the Company was wrongfully induced to enter into this agreement to arbitrate such a dispute. The Company shall pay the cost of any arbitration proceedings under this Agreement. The Indemnitee shall be entitled to advancement of his Expenses in connection with such proceedings and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in subsection (c) above, the Indemnitee shall be obligated to reimburse the Company for his Expenses in connection with such arbitration proceedings only if it is finally and specifically determined by the arbitrators that the Indemnitee’s position in initiating the arbitration was frivolous and completely without merit.

(e) Considering that a fundamental purpose of this Agreement is to provide for and ensure the timely advance of an Indemnitee’s Expenses in any event, if there is a Change of Control and the Indemnitee must commence arbitration proceedings to secure an advance of his Expenses, the arbitrators shall have discretion to award punitive damages to the Indemnitee if it is found that the Company’s failure to advance the Indemnitee’s expenses makes such an award appropriate in the circumstances.

5. Success; Partial Indemnity, etc. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all claims made against him in a Proceeding or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal without prejudice, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses incurred in connection therewith. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Expenses, judgments, settlements, penalties or fines paid as a result of a Proceeding but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

6. Burden of Proof . In connection with any determination by the Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the person or persons or entity or body making such determination shall presume that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement and the burden of overcoming such presumption by clear and convincing evidence shall be on the Company. The termination of any claim, action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere , or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee’s activities were at the time taken known or believed by him to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the Company, or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted. In addition, neither the failure of the Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to the Indemnitee’s state of mind, nor an actual determination by the Reviewing Party that the Indemnitee had a state of mind prior to the commencement of arbitration (if applicable) or legal proceedings to secure a determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under this agreement and applicable law, shall be a defense to the Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption of any kind. The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent, fiduciary or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

7. Nonexclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights the Indemnitee may have under the Charter, Bylaws, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any other agreement, a vote of shareholders or a resolution of the Board of Directors or otherwise. To the extent that a change in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (whether

 

5


by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the Charter, Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties that the Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.

8. Contribution . In the event the indemnification provided for in Section 3 of this Agreement is unavailable to the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding under any Federal law, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying the Indemnitee, shall contribute to the Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in such proportion as deemed fair and reasonable by the Reviewing Party, in light of all the circumstances of the Proceeding giving rise to such Expenses, in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and the Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving rise to such Proceeding, and (ii) the relative fault of each.

9. Liability Insurance . To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, the Indemnitee shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director or officer.

10. Period of Limitations . No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

11. Procedures Valid . The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Agreement that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. If a determination is made that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration.

12. Amendments, Etc. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

13. Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee, who shall execute an appropriate document in favor of the Company to secure such rights.

14. No Duplication of Payments . The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Proceeding to the extent the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, the Charter, Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

15. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director or corporate officer of the Company or of any other entity at the Company’s request. In the event of his demise, this agreement shall be enforceable by the Indemnitee’s legal representatives as fully as if the Indemnitee had survived.

16. Severability; Headings; Pronouns . The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable in any

 

6


respect, and the validity and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof. The masculine pronoun wherever used in this Agreement includes the corresponding feminine pronoun.

17. Notice of Proceedings; Notices . The Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) upon delivery if delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, or (ii) on the third business day after mailing if mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, and addressed as follows: If to the Indemnitee, as shown after the Indemnitee’s signature below; and if to the Company, to Corporate Secretary, Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32202 or such other address as may have been furnished in writing to the Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by the Indemnitee, as the case may be.

18. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

“Company”

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

By:    
 

“Indemnitee”

By:    
 

 

7

Exhibit 10.6

[Rayonier Letterhead]

May 28, 2014

Paul Boynton

Chief Executive Officer

Rayonier Advanced Materials Company

1301 Riverplace Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32207

Dear Paul:

The Rayonier Inc. Board of Directors believes that your efforts in your capacity as Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“RYAM”) are crucial to the success of RYAM and to enhancing shareholder value.

To acknowledge your efforts in the successful completion of the spin off of RYAM as a separate public company (the “Transaction”) and to reward your commitment to remain as its chief executive officer through August 31, 2018, this letter describes a Special Restricted Stock Grant, your right to which will vest if the Transaction closes and you satisfy the Employment Condition described below.

Special Stock Grant

If the closing of the Transaction is successful and you meet the Employment Condition specified below, you will receive a special grant of $4,000,000 in shares of common stock of RYAM, with the number of shares determined by applying the average closing price of a share of RYAM common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten trading days preceding the date of issuance (“ Special Stock Grant ”), together with a cash payment of the Dividend Equivalent Amount (defined below). The Dividend Equivalent Amount will be paid along with the shares reflecting the Special Stock Grant, within ten business days after satisfaction of the Employment Condition.

The “Dividend Equivalent Amount” shall be equal to the sum of the value of dividends that would have been paid on a notional investment of the number of RYAM shares of common stock in the Special Stock Grant had such investment been made on the first trading day after the closing of the Transaction at the closing price on that day, together with notional interest on such amounts at the applicable federal rate for short term obligations, adjusted quarterly, from the dividend payment date, in each case through the date your Employment Condition is satisfied.

Your right to the Special Stock Grant and the Dividend Equivalent Amount is subject to your employment with RYAM not being voluntarily terminated by you or terminated by RYAM for Cause, as defined in the RYAM Executive Severance Pay Plan (the “Severerance Plan”), prior to August 31, 2018 (the “Employment Condition”). Additionally, the Employment Condition will be deemed satisfied and the Special Stock Grant and Dividend Equivalent Amount will be payable immediately upon a Change in Control (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if required to avoid penalties thereunder at the time, and otherwise as such term is defined for purposes of the Severance Plan) or if you are terminated for reasons other than Cause.


The Board of Directors’ intent is that this agreement is to award you the Special Stock Grant upon satisfaction of the Employment Condition as an award of restricted stock units for purposes of the RYAM Incentive Stock Plan. For the avoidance of doubt, this agreement is effective only upon the closing of the Transaction before December 31, 2014.

Miscellaneous

Nothing in this agreement shall be construed as changing your status as an employee-at-will of Rayonier or RYAM at any time.

The terms and provisions of this agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of your heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives and shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of RYAM and its successors and assigns.

This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Special Stock Grant and the Dividend Equivalent Amount and no other agreement, oral or otherwise, shall be binding upon the parties unless it is in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. There are no promises, representations, inducements or statements between the parties with respect to this matter other than those that are expressly contained in this agreement.

If any provision of this agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or unenforceable for any reason, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions of this agreement, or their remaining portions, will nevertheless continue with full force and effect, and you agree that a court of competent jurisdiction will have jurisdiction to reform such provision to the extent necessary to cause it be to enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law, and you agree to be bound by such reformation.

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.


* * * *

Please indicate your understanding and agreement with the above by signing this document and returning it to my attention.

 

By:   /s/ James L. Posze
Name:   James L. Posze
Title:  

SVP, Human Resources

Rayonier Advanced Materials

Rayonier Inc.

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
/s/ Paul G. Boynton
Paul G. Boynton
Date:   May 28, 2014

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Exhibit 10.7

E ASTMAN – R AYONIER

CHEMICAL CELLULOSE AGREEMENT

RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC (“RAYONIER”) agrees to sell and EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY (“EASTMAN”) agrees to purchase products as specified in this Agreement (“Agreement “). As of January 1, 2012 (the “effective date”), this Agreement replaces and supplants in its entirety that certain Chemical Cellulose Agreement with an effective date of July 1, 2003 (“2003 Agreement”), as was amended from time to time, between RAYONIER and EASTMAN (collectively referred to as the “Parties”). For clarity, each party’s obligations and rights under the 2003 Agreement for the 2011 contract year and which, by their terms, survive expiration or termination of the 2003 Agreement, shall be complied with by the parties.

WHEREAS, RAYONIER is regularly engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling both cellulose specialties pulp (including dissolving pulp) and fluff pulp;

WHEREAS, EASTMAN is regularly engaged in the business of buying dissolving pulp;

WHEREAS, RAYONIER is considering whether to undertake the expansion of its cellulose specialties capacity in a way that will reduce RAYONIER’s fluff pulp capacity;

WHEREAS, EASTMAN wants RAYONIER to undertake the expansion of its cellulose specialties capacity and is desirous of buying cellulose specialties from RAYONIER;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, and the premises and mutual consideration set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. Definitions:

(a) Board Approval means the initial and continued approval of the Board of Directors of Rayonier Inc. (the “Board”) for RAYONIER to proceed with undertaking the process and steps necessary to successfully complete the CSE. The Parties recognize and agree the Board may withdraw its approval at any time prior to the successful completion of the CSE, contingent upon many factors including, without limitation, the feasibility of the CSE, the ability and costs to obtain or comply with the necessary permitting and governmental approvals, and overall market conditions.

(b) C Mill means the one mill line at RAYONIER’s Jesup, Georgia facility, that has historically been used primarily in the production of fluff pulp.

(c) Cellulose Specialties Expansion (“CSE”) means the conversion of C Mill from a primarily fluff production line to a cellulose specialties line capable of consistently manufacturing approximately 190,000 Air Dry Metric Tons (“ADMT”) of on grade cellulose specialties consistent with RAYONIER’s standards and specifications.


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

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(d) Cellulose Specialties Expansion Volume (“CSE Volume”) means Product manufactured by RAYONIER as a result of RAYONIER’s increased capacity resulting from RAYONIER undergoing Cellulose Specialties Expansion (“CSE”). Although the CSE may only increase cellulose specialties capacity of C Mill, CSE Volume refers to all chemical cellulose manufactured by RAYONIER as a result of such increased capacity on the C mill line at RAYONIER’s Jesup, Georgia facility to include volume produced on other lines in Jesup, Georgia, as well as volume produced at RAYONIER’s Fernandina, Florida facility.

(e) Chemical Cellulose shall have the same meaning as “Products”.

(f) Base Volume means the difference of: the total quantity of Chemical Cellulose to be purchased and sold in each year as set forth in paragraph 3(a), minus the CSE Volume.

(g) Product means cellulose specialties in the grades of Chemical Cellulose designated by RAYONIER as *** and such other grades of Chemical Cellulose as may be added hereto by written agreement. EASTMAN’S identification numbers for such grades are as follows:

 

RAYONIER Grade    EASTMAN
Global Material Number
  EASTMAN Purchase
Specification Number

***

    

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

***

    

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***  

2. Price Addendum and *** Addendum.

The “Price Addendum” (Addendum la attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof) lists the price and the allowance, if any, for the above grades. The Price Addendum shall be updated whenever there is any change in price in accordance with Article 6 hereof. The “*** Addendum” (Addendum 1b attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof) provides the schedule of volume related ***.

EASTMAN and RAYONIER shall maintain their activities related to improving product quality and the manufacturing economics of both parties.

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

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3. Quantities:

(a) Although this is not a “take-or-pay” contract, this is a contract whereby EASTMAN agrees to purchase the following quantities of Chemical Cellulose in the years specified:

 

Year

   Total Quantity (ADMT)   Base Volume (ADMT)

2012

   ***   ***

2013

   ***   ***

2014

   ***   ***

2015

   ***   ***

2016

   ***   ***

2017 and subsequent years*

   ***   ***

 

* Unless otherwise terminated as provided under Article 7.

(b) *** ADMT per year of volume for each of the years 2014 through 2017, and for each subsequent year, shall be CSE Volume. RAYONIER’s obligation to sell the CSE Volume to EASTMAN shall be subject to the conditions precedent set forth in Article 4.

(c) In no event will EASTMAN’s obligation to purchase Chemical Cellulose in any calendar year be less than the quantities stated in subsection (a) above (with each *** quantities above indicating *** in each year), except as provided under Article 6(b). Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, EASTMAN shall purchase and RAYONIER shall sell the Base Volume.

4. Conditions Precedent: Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the obligations of RAYONIER relating to CSE Volume and the CSE Volume *** (as contained in the *** Addendum) under this Agreement are expressly conditioned upon the following:

(a) Board Approval (as defined above);

(b) Approval and Permits by governmental and regulatory authorities (including, without limitation, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, and all other state, local, and federal governments and agencies); and

(c) The completion of the CSE.

5. Purchase Notice and Shipping Schedule: EASTMAN shall give RAYONIER sufficient notice of purchase needs and shall spread weekly shipment quantities as evenly as possible throughout the year. RAYONIER and EASTMAN shall follow the procedures for production and shipment planning as detailed in Addendum 2 attached hereto and by reference made a part hereof.

 

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6. Price:

(a) The price and allowances, if any, for each grade of Chemical Cellulose on the effective date of this Agreement shall be as specified in the Price Addendum. Thereafter RAYONIER shall inform EASTMAN of its estimated price change(s) for the following calendar year, if any, by *** of each year and the actual price by *** of such year.

(b) At any time during the term of this Agreement, EASTMAN may notify RAYONIER in writing of its receipt of an offer ***. Such notice must include sufficient information to allow RAYONIER to ***.

(c) ***

(d) It is understood that a large capital investment needs to be made by RAYONIER to implement the CSE, and EASTMAN is desirous that RAYONIER proceed with the CSE. By agreeing to purchase the CSE Volume under the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, EASTMAN is providing RAYONIER substantial inducement for Rayonier to complete the CSE and is helping to facilitate the possible undertaking of CSE. In light of this, ***.

(e) If, during any calendar year during the term of this Agreement, RAYONIER makes *** as used herein, is defined as ***. Notwithstanding the above, in 2012 and 2013, RAYONIER may ***.

(f) At all times during the term of this Agreement, RAYONIER shall not allow ***. In addition, RAYONIER shall not allow, at any time during the term hereof, ***. Notwithstanding the above, RAYONIER may ***.

(g) EASTMAN shall have reasonable audit rights regarding applicable pricing data. Specifically, EASTMAN shall be able to inspect RAYONIER’s records (via a mutually agreed-upon third party) to verify the different pricing mechanisms mentioned in this Article 6. The auditor making such inspection shall be required to sign a reasonable confidentiality agreement provided by RAYONIER and shall report only that RAYONIER is in compliance with the pricing mechanisms, and if not, the amount of such discrepancy. Upon receipt by RAYONIER of a report showing such a pricing discrepancy, RAYONIER shall revise the applicable price charged to EASTMAN so that such discrepancy no longer exists in the future, and shall provide the appropriate credit to adjust the incorrectly priced previously purchased Chemical Cellulose within 30 days. The expense and fees of the auditor shall be paid by EASTMAN, unless a discrepancy in excess of $*** per ADMT (annual basis) is found in favor of EASTMAN, in which case the expenses and fees shall be paid by RAYONIER.

(h) A RAYONIER corporate officer shall confirm by every January 30, beginning January 30, 2013, that RAYONIER has complied with the requirements of this Article 6 during the preceding calendar year.

 

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7. Term: This Agreement shall continue in effect from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2017, and shall be automatically continued in effect from year to year thereafter unless terminated by either party as set forth in this Article 7. On or after October 1, 2017, either party may give notice of termination of this Agreement at any time, with a termination date not less than *** months from such notice, and start the following schedule of shipment reduction. Adherence to the shipment reduction schedule shall be a condition to effective termination of the Agreement. Three (3) months from the beginning of the first calendar quarter after notice is received, shipment reduction shall begin and proceed over the ensuing four (4) calendar quarters. The reduction schedule shall be from a Base Quarterly Quantity. Base Quarterly Quantity shall be defined as either of the following (at the election of the party receiving the termination notice): a) ***% of the Agreement Quantity for the then current year (current as of receipt of notice), or b) ***% of the total quantity shipped during the twelve (12) months prior to the date of termination notice.

Shipment quantities shall be as follows:

 

    First calendar quarter – the Base Quarterly Quantity less ***% .

 

    Second calendar quarter – the Base Quarterly Quantity less ***% .

 

    Third calendar quarter – the Base Quarterly Quantity less ***% .

 

    Fourth calendar quarter – the Base Quarterly Quantity less ***% .

 

    Fifth calendar quarter – the Base Quarterly Quantity less ***% .

Assuming the shipment reduction schedule has been followed, at the beginning of the fifth (5th) quarter following the start of the shipment reduction schedule, this Agreement shall be terminated.

If Agreement termination notice is given by EASTMAN, the obligation of RAYONIER to give EASTMAN the benefit of *** and *** as described in Article 5 and the *** Addendum of this Agreement shall no longer apply, unless mutually agreed to in writing by the parties.

8. Terms of Payment: The terms shall be payment via wire transfer on the *** day from invoice date. Payment should be made pursuant to instructions appearing on RAYONIER’S invoice.

9. Prior Agreements and Contracts Superseded: This Agreement supersedes all other agreements and contracts entered into by the parties prior to the date hereof with respect to the purchase and sale of grades of Chemical Cellulose to be sold hereunder and such other agreements and contracts shall continue in effect only with respect to chemical cellulose delivered to a common carrier prior to the date hereof.

10. Notice: Any notice shall be sufficiently given when duly mailed, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to:

 

RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC

P.O. Box 1280

Jesup, Georgia 31545

  

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY

200 S. Wilcox Drive

Kingsport, TN, 37622, U.S.A.

Attention:    Vice President Sales, Marketing and Research    Attention:    Vice President, Global Procurement

 

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REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

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11. Construction of Contract: This Agreement, which includes Addenda 1a, 1b, 2 and 2a, and all sales of Chemical Cellulose made pursuant hereto, are subject to the General Terms of Sale set forth in the attached Addendum 3, all of which are included herein and made a part hereof. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between any terms or conditions of this Agreement and the General Terms of Sale (Addendum 3), the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern. The parties anticipate that either EASTMAN or RAYONIER may employ, as an administrative matter, purchase orders, order confirmations, agreements of sales or other forms which incorporate other provisions which by their terms purport to apply to a sale hereunder. The parties expressly stipulate that only this Agreement shall govern, and that no provisions in any such form other than terms which are consistent with this Agreement and which identify a specific shipment, shall apply to any sale pursuant hereto. This Agreement may be altered or added to only by express agreement in writing signed by EASTMAN and RAYONIER, and no such agreement shall be implied by any act of shipment or acceptance of Chemical Cellulose.

Executed in duplicate this 15 th day of June , 2011.

 

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY     RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael A. Berry

    By:  

/s/ Lee M. Thomas

  Name:   Michael A. Berry       Name:   Lee M. Thomas
  Title:   VP, Global Procurement       Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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Addendum 1a

CHEMICAL CELLULOSE AGREEMENT

PRICE ADDENDUM

Prices

For information only, the prices in effect as of January 1, 2011 under the 2003 Agreement for RAYONIER’s grades of chemical cellulose sold to EASTMAN are as follows:

 

RAYONIER Grade

   EASTMAN
Global Material Number
  Price, $/ADMT *

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***

****.

    

Beginning January 1, 2012 the price for *** delivered after January 1, 2012, will be determined by *** to the then current price of ***.

Prices for all grades are subject to change as set forth in Article 6 of this Agreement. Pricing as of the effective date of this Agreement shall also be determined in accordance with Article 6.

 


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Addendum 1b

C HEMICAL C ELLULOSE AGREEMENT

*** A DDENDUM

RAYONIER shall grant EASTMAN *** from the prices in Addendum 1a (as updated by the parties) of this Agreement determined and paid as set forth below, unless this Agreement has been terminated by EASTMAN as provided in Article 7. RAYONIER shall pay all *** by the *** immediately following *** unless EASTMAN is in breach under this Agreement. For accounting purposes, it is assumed ***. If, at the end of any calendar year EASTMAN ***.

Standard *** :

A *** shall be payable on all Base Volume and CSE Volume of Product purchased and paid for by EASTMAN (the “Standard ***”).

CSE Volume ***:

A *** shall be payable on all CSE Volume purchased and paid for by EASTMAN (the “CSE Volume ***”). The CSE Volume *** shall not be payable on Base Volume. For purposes of calculating the CSE Volume *** only, CSE Volume shall be calculated as the quantity of Product purchased by EASTMAN in excess of *** in a calendar year, up to an ***, to fulfill EASTMAN’s total minimum quantity requirement of *** per calendar year ***. For accounting purposes it will be assumed that EASTMAN will purchase the full CSE Volume of *** each year, subject to reimbursement as set forth above.

Special *** :

In addition to the Standard *** and CSE Volume ***, Special *** on the below Products only which are purchased and paid for, will be paid *** according to the following schedule:

 

     2012   2013   2014   2015   2016   2017

***

   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

***

   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

***

            

***

   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

Special *** figures are $/ADMT.

The *** will be paid on volume of Product purchased up to *** each calendar year of this Agreement.

 


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Addendum 2

C HEMICAL C ELLULOSE AGREEMENT

PURCHASE NOTICE AND SHIPPING SCHEDULES

The objective of these procedures is to ensure good communication between the parties regarding EASTMAN’S requirements for shipments of Chemical Cellulose and RAYONIER’S ability to produce the Chemical Cellulose to meet the required shipment schedule. The result of the planning should be the development of good production and shipment schedules two (2) to three (3) months ahead, the even flow of shipments over the course of the quarters and year, and *** from RAYONIER’s Fernandina Beach, Florida, and Jesup, Georgia, mills. Commencing in 2012, a target of ***%, +/- ***%, of the *** pulp volume must be purchased from the Fernandina Beach, Florida mill. The parties anticipate that following completion of the CSE it will be necessary to change the ratio of total Product shipments to approximately ***. This *** for ***. Within three (3) months of the completion of the CSE, the parties agree to confer and, if warranted, negotiate in good faith any adjustment to this ratio.

As a second objective, the estimates described herein shall form the basis for estimating any reductions in volume pursuant to Article 7 of the Agreement. The procedure shall be:

 

    By *** of each year EASTMAN shall give RAYONIER a “budget notice” in writing of its estimated quarterly purchases from RAYONIER for the following calendar year.

 

    By *** of each year EASTMAN and RAYONIER shall review EASTMAN’s estimated quarterly purchases hereunder and determine if any revisions to the budget notice are appropriate.

 

    No later than *** days before the start of each calendar quarter, EASTMAN shall give RAYONIER information such as planned production rates, maintenance downtime and/or market curtailments foreseen for the upcoming quarter and RAYONIER shall give EASTMAN similar information related to pulp mill operations over the same period. Product shipments required for the quarter should be scheduled as much as possible in equal weekly increments throughout the quarter.

 

    Both parties shall strive to maintain a firm daily shipping schedule of at least *** prior to the actual shipping dates. By Monday of each week a daily shipment schedule shall be agreed upon for the second shipping week ahead.

 


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Addendum 2a

C HEMICAL C ELLULOSE AGREEMENT

***

Upon completion of CSE, but in no event earlier than January 1, 2014, for sales to EASTMAN’s Kingsport facility, RAYONIER shall *** subject to the following:

 

  a. RAYONIER shall be ***.

 

  b. Title to the inventory shall remain with RAYONIER and shall be held by RAYONIER until such Product is delivered by RAYONIER to EASTMAN at its Kingsport facility. EASTMAN shall be liable for all risks of loss or damage to the inventory from the time it is delivered to Eastman’s Kingsport facility.

 

  c. RAYONIER will send EASTMAN a Certificate of Analysis for each shipment of Product entering inventory at the time of shipment from RAYONIER’s mill.

 

  d. Rayonier ***.

 

  e. EASTMAN consents to Rayonier ***. EASTMAN agrees, upon request, to execute ***.

 

  f. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, EASTMAN shall *** and *** except if this Agreement is terminated due to a breach by ***. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that this Agreement is terminated due to a breach by ***.

 


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Addendum 3

RAYONIER – EASTMAN CHEMICAL

GENERAL TERMS OF SALE

(1) TITLE: Title and risk of loss to Chemical Cellulose shall pass to EASTMAN when the relevant shipment is delivered to EASTMAN’s Kingsport, Tennessee facility.

(2) WEIGHT: In case of Chemical Cellulose “Ton” means “Metric Ton” 1,000 kgs. on an air dry basis (i.e., 90% bone-dry Chemical Cellulose by weight and 10% moisture) and usual packaging materials.

(3) SHIPPING COST AND TAXES: Unless the terms of sale specified in the Agreement are *** and, unless the terms of sale specified in the Agreement are ***. In the event *** shall also pay any sales, use, excise or other tax, imposed or increased by Federal, State, Provincial or other taxing authority (except income, excess profits or social security taxes) resulting ***. In the event *** shall pay all present and future charges after arrival of any shipment at Port of Entry, including, but not limited to, all warehouse charges, import duties, consular fees and charges, tariff charges and taxes imposed by any taxing authority in the Port of Entry or country of destination.

(4) QUANTITY: A maximum margin of l0%, more or less, on the quantities shipped is to be allowed for convenience of arranging freighting.

(5) CLAIMS: In the event EASTMAN’s location to which the Chemical Cellulose is being shipped is located in the United States of America or Canada, all claims except for claims of latent defect relating to any shipment must be made in writing within *** after arrival of shipment at destination and in no event later than *** after date of shipment from RAYONIER’s mill. In the event EASTMAN’s location to which the Chemical Cellulose is being shipped is located outside of the United States of America or Canada, all claims relating to any shipment must be made in writing within *** after arrival of the shipment at Port of Entry. A reasonable quantity of such shipment shall be held intact by EASTMAN pending examination. No defect or nonconformity in any shipment or installment shall excuse EASTMAN from accepting and paying for any shipment or installment as to which no defect or nonconformity shall exist; but RAYONIER, at its option, may treat default in payment for any shipment or installment of conforming goods as a breach of the entire Agreement and pursue its rights as described and referred to in paragraph 10.

(6) TESTS: In the event of a dispute as to the moisture content of any Chemical Cellulose, a retest shall be made in accordance with the procedures for the *** as set forth in *** as revised and corrected in ***. EASTMAN shall, however, pay the invoice for the Chemical Cellulose in full, when due, subject to the result of the retest. If the difference in moisture between that described herein or in the Agreement on the one hand and that determined by retesting on the other hand does not exceed l% moisture, the cost of retesting shall be borne by EASTMAN; otherwise, an appropriate adjustment shall be made to the invoice in accordance with the results of the retests and RAYONIER shall bear the cost of the retest.

(7) SELLER’S LIABILITY: RAYONIER warrants that the Chemical Cellulose shall comply with the *** in the Agreement, BUT MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. RAYONIER’s liability hereunder shall in any case be limited to not exceed the purchase price of the particular delivery giving rise to a claim by EASTMAN. Neither party shall be liable to the other party for any special, incidental, indirect, punitive or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, loss of use, or loss of profit, breach of contract between a third party and EASTMAN or RAYONIER, negligence or any other cause of action, nor for cost of litigation related thereto.

(8) CONTINGENCIES: In the event of any contingency preventing or substantially interfering with the production, shipment or delivery of the products deliverable hereunder, including but not limited to such contingencies as fire, accident, sabotage, use, act of war or the public enemy, uprising, riot, restraint by any

 


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government, regulation, rule or order (whether or not actually valid) of any governmental agency or authority, the fixing of price ceilings on any products deliverable hereunder by a governmental agency or authority below prices agreed to for such products by RAYONIER and EASTMAN, strike, sitdown, lockout, labor dispute, shortage of labor, fuel, power or raw materials, embargo, restriction or scarcity of transportation facilities, act of God or other cause beyond the control of either party, restrictions as to contracts, materials and shipping, and allocations or priorities, RAYONIER shall be under no obligation during such contingency to make shipments if the contingency shall be one immediately affecting RAYONIER and the shipments which otherwise would have been made during such period shall be canceled unless EASTMAN and RAYONIER otherwise mutually agree. If the contingency shall be one immediately affecting EASTMAN such that it is unable to purchase any acetate pulp from any supplier, including RAYONIER, EASTMAN shall immediately notify RAYONIER in writing and shall be under no obligation during the period thereof to accept shipments from RAYONIER except such as have been delivered to common carrier prior to the receipt by RAYONIER of notice from EASTMAN of such contingency. ***. Upon the termination of any such contingency, the obligation of the parties hereunder shall (except as herein otherwise provided) again become fully effective with respect to products, the date for shipment of which have not passed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this article shall be used to ***.

In the event ***. In the event *** for purposes of determining whether EASTMAN has complied with the terms of this Agreement, ***.

(9) CSE VOLUME CONTINGENCIES: In addition to the contingencies set forth in the preceding paragraph, CSE Volume shall be subject to the following contingencies: In the event of any contingency preventing or substantially interfering with the production of cellulose specialties to RAYONIER’s standards and specifications on C Mill, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) such contingencies as set forth in the preceding paragraph; (2) lack of or delay in continued Board Approval for CSE; (3) inadequate or untimely approvals and permitting by governmental authorities; and (4) performance or capacity problems on C Mill. An event or condition that substantially interferes with the production of cellulose specialties to RAYONIER’s standard and specifications on C Mill.

(10) SOURCE OF SHIPMENT: ***.

(11) DEFAULTS: If EASTMAN shall be in default for *** in payment due, or, if either party shall be in default in the performance of any other obligation, term or condition hereof, of the Agreement for a period of ***after receipt of written notice from RAYONIER, or if EASTMAN or RAYONIER shall become insolvent, admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, file a petition in proceedings in bankruptcy or insolvency or for reorganization or liquidation or relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or debtor laws, make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, consent to the appointment of a receiver of it or of any substantial part of its property, be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent on a petition filed against it in bankruptcy or under insolvency or debtor laws, or if an order shall be made by any court appointing a receiver of either EASTMAN or RAYONIER or of any substantial part of the property of either, or if any court shall assume custody or control of either EASTMAN or RAYONIER or of any substantial part of the property of either; then, and in any such event, the non-defaulting party may, at its option, without further demand or further notice of any kind and without prejudice to any other remedies afforded it under the Uniform Commercial Code, under any other applicable law or otherwise, either suspend performance hereunder during the continuance of such event (in which event, if the non-defaulting party elects, the Agreement shall be deemed extended for a period of time equal to that during which performance has been suspended) or terminate the Agreement, any contract entered into pursuant thereto, and/or any other contracts with the defaulting party without prejudice to any right of action for damages against the defaulting party.

(12) ASSIGNMENT: The Agreement shall bind the respective successors and assigns of the parties thereto, but none of either party’s rights or obligations thereunder may be assigned without the other party’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be reasonably withheld except to a subsidiary or affiliated corporation of the assignor, provided that such assignment shall not relieve the assignor of its obligation thereunder. Any such assignment by one party without the other party’s written consent shall be void.

(13) SEVERABILITY: If any provision herein is or becomes invalid or illegal in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed amended, as nearly as possible, to be consistent with the intent expressed herein, in

 

General Terms – Page 2


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REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit, and any contract entered into pursuant thereto, and if such is impossible, that provision shall fail by itself without invalidating any of the remaining provisions not otherwise invalid or illegal.

(14) NOTICE: Any notice shall be sufficiently given when duly mailed, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to RAYONIER at P.O. Box 2070, Jesup, Georgia 31598, U.S.A., Attention: Senior Vice President, Performance Fibers and to EASTMAN 200 S. Wilcox Drive, Kingsport, TN, 37622, U.S.A., Attention Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer , or to such other address for either party as that party may by proper notice designate.

(15) GOVERNING LAWS: These General Terms of Sale, the Agreement to which they are attached as an exhibit and each Chemical Cellulose Agreement entered into pursuant thereto shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the ***.

(16) COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW: When producing in the United States of America the products deliverable under the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and any Chemical Cellulose Agreement entered into pursuant thereto, RAYONIER shall comply with the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1938, as amended, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

(17) DELAY NO CAUSE FOR REFUSAL: Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in the event of a carrier or vessel being delayed in arriving at EASTMAN’s location to which the Chemical Cellulose is being shipped or to any foreign Port of Entry, through no fault of RAYONIER, beyond the estimated time of arrival (ETA), such delay shall not by itself constitute a cause for refusal of the shipment by EASTMAN.

 

General Terms – Page 3

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Exhibit 10.8

AMENDMENT TO

EASTMAN – RAYONIER

CHEMICAL CELLULOSE AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT is effective as of January 1, 2012, and is entered into by and between EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY (“EASTMAN”) and RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC (“RAYONIER”), collectively, the “PARTIES.”

WHEREAS , Rayonier and Eastman entered into that certain Chemical Cellulose Agreement with the effective date of January 1, 2012 (the “Agreement”);

WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Agreement and revise certain terms contained therein.

NOW THEREFORE , the Parties hereby amend the Agreement as follows:

 

  1. Article 3(a) of the Agreement is replaced with the following:

3(a) Although this is not a “take-or-pay” contract, this is a contract whereby EASTMAN agrees to purchase the following quantities of Chemical Cellulose in the years specified:

 

Year

   Total Quantity (ADMT)   Base Volume (ADMT)

2012

   ***   ***

2013

   ***   ***

2014

   ***   ***

2015

   ***   ***

2016

   ***   ***

2017 and subsequent years*

   ***   ***

 

* Unless otherwise terminated as provided under Article 7.

Except as amended herein, the remaining provisions of Article 3 shall continue in full force and effect.

2. Article 6(b) of the agreement is replaced with the following:

(b) At any time during the term of this Agreement after *** EASTMAN may notify RAYONIER in writing of ***. Such notice must include sufficient information to allow RAYONIER to ***.

Except as amended herein, the remaining provisions of Article 3 shall continue in full force and effect.


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

3. Except as amended above, all remaining provisions the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY     RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael A. Berry

    By:  

/s/ Paul Boynton

  Name:   Michael A. Berry       Name:   Paul Boynton
  Title:   VP, Global Procurement       Title:   President

 

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED

WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Exhibit 10.9

NANTONG CELLULOSE - RAYONIER

C ELLULOSE S PECIALTIES A GREEMENT

Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC (“Rayonier”) with a business address at 4470 Savannah Highway, Jesup, Georgia, 31545 agrees to sell and Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co., Ltd. (“Buyer”) with a business address at 27, East Zhong Xiu Road, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226008, China, agrees to purchase the Product(s) described below, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this Cellulose Specialties Agreement (“Agreement”).

 

(1) TERM : The term of this Agreement shall be from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014.

 

(2) PRODUCTS : *** and any other mutually agreed-upon grades of chemical cellulose.

 

(3) QUANTITY AND DELIVERIES :

(a) Buyer shall purchase and Rayonier shall sell the following annual quantities:

2012 ***

2013 ***

2014 ***

(b) The specific quantities, grades, delivery dates, and terms of each individual shipment shall be set forth in Rayonier’s Pulp Sales Contract applicable to such shipment.

(c) By *** of each year Buyer may request that the volume for the coming year be greater than that shown in (a) above. Rayonier will accept a volume increase of up to ***% above the ***. Any additional volume requested in excess of ***% will be negotiated and subject to the signed written agreement of Rayonier and Buyer.

 

(4) PRICE AND TERMS :

(a) Payment terms shall be ***.

(b) The delivered price minus *** during the term of this Agreement shall be equal to the sum of: ***.

 

(5) ***

 

(6) ***

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED

WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

(7) PAYMENT : For each shipment to Buyer, Rayonier shall deliver to *** by Buyer all shipping documents, Rayonier’s invoice, ***. Upon execution of *** all shipping documents and Rayonier’s invoice shall be released to Buyer and Buyer shall ***.

 

(8) AUDIT RIGHTS : Buyer shall have reasonable audit rights regarding the calculation of Price. Specifically, Buyer may inspect Rayonier’s records (via a mutually agreed-upon accounting firm, such agreement upon the accounting firm shall not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to verify the Price. The accounting firm making such inspection shall be required to sign a reasonable confidentiality agreement provided by Rayonier and shall report only that Rayonier is in compliance with the pricing mechanism, and if not, the amount of such discrepancy in price. Upon receipt by Rayonier of a report showing such discrepancy, Rayonier shall revise the applicable price charged to Buyer so that such discrepancy no longer exists. Buyer shall be solely responsible for all expenses associated with such audit, provided, however, that in the event the accounting firm determines there is a discrepancy in Rayonier’s calculation of the Price for any year, and if the aggregate price for all Product shipped to Buyer during such year exceeds *** percent (***%) of the aggregate price for said Product as determined by the accounting firm for said years, Rayonier shall be responsible for the accounting firm’s expenses associated with the audit for such period. Audit rights under this Article shall be limited to one (1) audit per calendar year, and such audits may only be requested during the first three (3) months of the calendar year following the year for which the audit is intended, and the audit report must be delivered within six (6) months of the day the audit request is delivered. Any failure to deliver a request for an audit, or to deliver an audit report, within these time constraints shall constitute a waiver of such an audit.

 

(9) ASSIGNMENT : This Agreement shall not be assigned in whole or part without the express written consent of the other party, except that either party may assign its interest to a subsidiary or other affiliated company wholly owned by such assigning party or its affiliate.

 

(10) CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT : This Agreement, and all sales of chemical cellulose made pursuant hereto, are subject to the General Terms of Sale set forth in Exhibit A, all of which are included herein and by reference made a part hereof. The parties anticipate that either Nantong or Rayonier may employ as an administrative matter purchase orders, order confirmations, contracts of sale or other forms which incorporate other provisions which by their terms purport to apply to a sale hereunder. The parties expressly stipulate that only this Agreement shall govern, and that no provisions in any such form, other than terms which are consistent with this Agreement and which identify a specific shipment, shall apply to any sale pursuant hereto. This Agreement may be altered or added to only by express agreement in writing signed by Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co., Ltd. and Rayonier, and no such agreement shall be implied by any act of shipment or acceptance of chemical cellulose. This Agreement may be made in duplicate in English and one or more other languages, in the event of a conflict between the English language text and a duplicate translation, the English language text shall govern.

Executed in duplicate this      day of             , 2010.

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED

WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

NANTONG CELLULOSE FIBERS CO., LTD     RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC

/s/ Liu Jingru

   

/s/ Lee M. Thomas

Name:   Liu Jingru     Name:   Lee M. Thomas
Title:   Chairman, Board of Directors     Title:   Chairman, and Chief Executive Office
Dated:  

2011/11/3

      Dated:  

 

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED

WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

Exhibit A to Cellulose Specialties Agreement

Rayonier

GENERAL TERMS OF SALE

(1) TITLE; DEFINITION OF “PORT OF ENTRY:” Unless contrary provisions specifically referring to title and/or risk of loss are set forth in the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit or on the face of any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto, title and risk of loss or damage to all products deliverable hereunder, including Wood Pulp and Chemical Cellulose (hereinafter for convenience called “Cellulose”) shall pass to the Buyer, regardless of time, terms or method of payment and without diminution or release of Seller’s security interest therein: (i) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are F.O.B., upon tender of delivery by Seller aboard common carrier at such F.O.B. location; (ii) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are C. & F., when the relevant shipment is loaded on board the carrying vessel at the Port of Exit; (iii) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are C.I.F., when the vessel carrying the relevant shipment arrives dockside at the Port of Entry; (iv) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are Free Terminal, when the relevant shipment is delivered inside such terminal; (v) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are F.A.S., upon delivery alongside the carrying vessel at the Port of Exit identified in such terms or on a dock designated and provided by the Buyer at such Port of Exit; or (vi) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are DDU, when the relevant shipment is delivered at the named place of destination, provided, however, that Buyer shall bear all risk of loss or damage resulting from Buyer’s failure to clear the products for import in time. As used in these General Terms, “Port of Entry” means the port outside of the United States of America at which the carrying vessel actually docks for purposes of unloading the Cellulose, regardless of whether such port is identified in the C.I.F. terms on the applicable Pulp Sales Contract.

(2) WEIGHT: In case of Cellulose “Ton” means “Metric Ton” 1,000 kgs. on an airdry basis (i.e., 90% bone-dry Cellulose by weight and 10% moisture) and usual packaging materials.

(3) SHIPPING COST AND TAXES: Unless the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are *** the Buyer *** all insurance costs, and, unless the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are *** all freight or other shipping costs of any shipment beyond the point at which title passes as specified in paragraph (1). In the event the *** any sales, use, excise or other tax, imposed or increased by Federal, State, Provincial or other taxing authority (except income, excess profits or social security taxes) ***. In the event the *** all present and future charges after arrival of any shipment at Port of Entry, including, but not limited to, all warehouse charges, import duties, consular fees and charges, tariff charges and taxes imposed by any taxing authority in the Port of Entry or country of destination.

(4) QUANTITY: A maximum margin of l0%, more or less, on the quantities shipped is to be allowed for convenience of arranging freighting.

(5) CLAIMS: In the event the Buyer’s location to which the Cellulose is being shipped is located in the United States of America or Canada, all claims relating to any shipment must be made in writing *** after arrival of shipment at destination and in no event later than *** after date of shipment from Seller’s mill. In the event the Buyer’s location to which the Cellulose is being shipped is located outside of the United States of America or Canada, all claims relating to any shipment must be made in writing within *** after arrival of the shipment at Port of Entry. A reasonable quantity of such shipment shall be held intact by Buyer pending examination. No defect or nonconformity in any shipment or installment shall excuse the Buyer from accepting and paying for any shipment or installment as to which no defect or nonconformity shall exist; but the Seller, at its option, may treat default in payment for any shipment or installment as a breach of the entire Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit or as a breach of any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto and pursue its rights as described and referred to in paragraph 10.

(6) TESTS: In the event of a dispute as to the moisture content of any Cellulose, a retest shall be made in accordance with the procedures for the *** as set forth in *** as revised and corrected ***. The Buyer shall, however, pay the invoice for the Cellulose in full, when due, subject to the result of the retest. If the difference in moisture between that described herein or in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract on the one hand and that determined by retesting on the other hand does not exceed l% moisture, the cost of retesting shall be borne by the Buyer; otherwise, an appropriate adjustment shall be made to the invoice in accordance with the results of the retests and the Seller shall bear the cost of the retest.

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED

WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

(7) SELLER’S LIABILITY: Seller warrants that the Cellulose shall comply with the description set out in the ***, BUT MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Seller’s liability hereunder shall in any case be limited to not exceed the purchase price of the particular delivery giving rise to a claim by the Buyer. Seller shall not be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, punitive or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, loss of use, or loss of profit, breach of contract between Buyer and any third party, negligence or any other cause of action, nor for cost of litigation related thereto.

(8) CONTINGENCIES: In the event of any contingency preventing or substantially interfering with the production, shipment or delivery of the products deliverable hereunder, including but not limited to such contingencies as fire, accident, sabotage, act of war or the public enemy, uprising, riot, restraint by any government, regulation, rule or order (whether or not actually valid) of any governmental agency or authority, the fixing of price ceilings on any products deliverable hereunder by a governmental agency or authority below prices agreed to for such products by the Seller and the Buyer, strike, sitdown, lockout, labor dispute, shortage of labor, fuel, power or raw materials, embargo, restriction or scarcity of transportation facilities, act of God or other cause beyond the control of either party, restrictions as to contracts, materials and shipping, and allocations or priorities, the Seller shall be under no obligation during such contingency to make shipments if the contingency shall be one immediately affecting the Seller and the shipments which otherwise would have been made during such period shall be canceled unless the Buyer and Seller otherwise mutually agree. If the contingency shall be one immediately affecting the Buyer, the Buyer shall be under no obligation during the period thereof to accept shipments except such as have been delivered to common carrier prior to the receipt by the Seller of notice from the Buyer of such contingency. If ***.

(9) SOURCE OF SHIPMENT: ***.

(10) DEFAULTS: If the Buyer shall be in default for *** in payment due, or if the Buyer shall default in the performance of any other obligation, term or condition hereof, of the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit or of any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto, or if the Buyer or the Seller shall become insolvent, admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, file a petition in proceedings in bankruptcy or insolvency or for reorganization or liquidation or relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or debtor laws, make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, consent to the appointment of a receiver of it or of any substantial part of its property, be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent on a petition filed against it in bankruptcy or under insolvency or debtor laws, or if an order shall be made by any court appointing a receiver of either Buyer or Seller or of any substantial part of the property of either, or if any court shall assume custody or control of either the Buyer or Seller or of any substantial part of the property of either; then, and in any such event, the non-defaulting party may, at its option, without demand or notice of any kind and without prejudice to any other remedies afforded it under the Uniform Commercial Code, under any other applicable law or otherwise, either suspend performance hereunder during the continuance of such event (in which event, if the non-defaulting party elects, the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and/or any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto shall be deemed extended for a period of time equal to that during which performance has been suspended) or terminate the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit, any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto and/or any other contracts with the defaulting party without prejudice to any right of action for damages against the defaulting party.

(11) ASSIGNMENT: The agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and each Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto shall bind the respective successors and assigns of the parties thereto, but none of Buyer’s rights or obligations thereunder may be assigned without the Seller’s prior written consent, except to a subsidiary or affiliated corporation of the Buyer, provided that such assignment shall not relieve the assignor of its obligation thereunder. Any such assignment without the Seller’s written consent shall be void.

(12) SEVERABILITY: If any provision herein is or becomes invalid or illegal in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed amended, as nearly as possible, to be consistent with the intent expressed herein, in the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit, and any applicable Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto, and if such is impossible, that provision shall fail by itself without invalidating any of the remaining provisions not otherwise invalid or illegal.

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED

WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

(13) NOTICE: Any notice shall be sufficiently given when duly mailed, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Seller at 4470 Savannah Highway, P.O.Box 2070, Jesup, Georgia 31598, U.S.A., Attention: Vice President, Pulp Marketing, and to Buyer at its address appearing in the Agreement to which these General Terms are attached as an exhibit, or to such other address for either party as that party may by proper notice designate.

(14) GOVERNING LAWS: These General Terms of Sale, the Agreement to which they are attached as an exhibit and each Pulp Sale Contract entered into pursuant thereto shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the ***. The application of the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded.

(15) COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW: When producing in the United States of America the products deliverable under the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and any Pulp Sale Contract entered into pursuant thereto, the Seller shall comply with the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1938, as amended, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

(16) DELAY NO CAUSE FOR REFUSAL: Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in the event of a carrier or vessel being delayed in arriving at Buyer’s location to which the Cellulose is being shipped or to any foreign Port of Entry, through no fault of Seller, beyond the estimated time of arrival (ETA), such delay shall not by itself constitute a cause for refusal of the shipment by the Buyer.

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT

REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS

BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Exhibit 10.10

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

CELLULOSE SPECIALTIES AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT is effective as of January 1, 2012, and is entered into by and between Nantong Cellulose Fibers Co., Ltd. (“Buyer”), and Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC (“Seller”), collectively, the “Parties.”

WHEREAS , Buyer and Seller entered into a Cellulose Specialties Agreement with an effective date of January 1, 2012 (the “Agreement”);

WHEREAS , the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to revise the parties respective purchase and sales volumes obligations;

WHEREAS , the Parties desire to revise certain business terms in the Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE , the Parties hereby amend the Agreement as follows:

 

1. Replace Article 3(a) in its entirety with the following:

(a) Buyer shall purchase and Rayonier shall sell the following annual quantities:

2012 ***

2013 ***

2014 ***

Except as amended above, all remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have executed this Amendment effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

NANTONG CELLULOSE FIBERS CO., LTD.     RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Mao Jun

    By:  

/s/ Erin Byers

Name:  

Mao Jun

    Name:  

Erin Byers

Title:  

Deputy Gen. Mgr. Administration

    Title:  

VP Sales Market Research

Date:  

11/1/11

    Date:  

11/1/11

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Exhibit 10.11

DAICEL CHEMICAL - RAYONIER

AMENDED AND RESTATED

C ELLULOSE S PECIALTIES A GREEMENT

RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC, with a business address at 4474 Savannah Highway, Jesup, Georgia 31545 (“Rayonier”) agrees to sell and DAICEL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD., with a business address at JR Shinagawa East Bldg., 2-18-1, Konan, Minato-ku , Tokyo 108-8230, Japan, on behalf of itself, its affiliates, and its subsidiaries (“Daicel”), agrees to purchase the Products described below, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Amended and Restated Cellulose Specialties Agreement (This “Agreement”).

As of January 1, 2012, this Agreement amends and restates in its entirety that certain Cellulose Specialties Agreement between Rayonier and Daicel with an effective date of January 1, 2008, as was amended effective October 1, 2010 (collectively, the “2008 Agreement”), and that certain Cellulose Specialties Agreement with an effective date of January 1, 2012 which was executed contemporaneously with the October 1, 2010 amendment. The 2008 Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for all shipments made through December 31, 2011.

 

(1) PRODUCTS : *** and any acetate and ether grades mutually agreed by Rayonier and Daicel consistent with Rayonier’s standard specifications.

 

(2) TERM : This Agreement is effective as of January 1, 2012, and shall continue in full force and effect through December 31, 2016.

 

(3) QUANTITY AND DELIVERIES :

 

(a) Daicel agrees to purchase and Rayonier agrees to sell the following quantity of Product, which shall be measured in air dry metric tons (“ADMT”) during the calendar years specified below:

 

Calendar Year

   Purchase Volume
Requirement (ADMT)

2012

   ***

2013

   ***

2014 *

   ***

2015 *

   ***

2016 *

   ***

 

*

For each respective calendar year specified, Daicel shall notify Rayonier no later than *** of the previous calendar year of the actual volume, within the range specified, that it will purchase for such coming calendar year and that stated volume will become Daicel’s


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

  purchase volume requirement for said year. The parties agree to negotiate in good faith a potential purchase and sale agreement (including the quantities and prices) for Product for calendar year 2017, such negotiations to begin no later than the fourth quarter of calendar year 2015.

Total shipments of *** shall be limited to a maximum of *** ADMT each calendar year.

Shipments of *** shall be limited to *** each calendar quarter. In the event that Daicel agrees to changes to certain Product specifications as described in Rayonier’s purchase specifications for *** to the levels set forth in Exhibit B, the quarterly shipment limit on shipments of *** purchased under the new specifications shall be removed.

The specific quantities, grades (Products), delivery dates, and terms of each individual shipment shall be agreed upon and set forth in Rayonier’s Pulp Sales Contract applicable to such shipment; such Pulp Sales Contract shall serve as order confirmation only and shall not alter the terms of this Agreement. Daicel shall use its best efforts to schedule its purchases in equal monthly increments throughout the year, and agrees to provide to Rayonier rolling quarterly purchase forecasts.

 

(b) ***

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that if ***.

 

(4) PRICE AND TERMS :

 

(a) Payment terms shall be *** but in no event later than *** from the date of the Bill of Lading. If Daicel requests delivery to a destination other than ***, the terms for such deliveries shall be at Rayonier’s discretion, stated on the Pulp Sales Contract associated with such shipments, and Daicel shall be responsible for all additional costs, if any, associated with delivery to such other destinations.

 

(b) The price for Product shall be as follows: (i) for all volume of *** the price per ADMT shall be the delivered price charged to Daicel for the volume of such grades purchased in the previous year, plus *** the price per ADMT shall be equal to the sum of the *** the price per ADMT shall be equal to the ***. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that ***.

For purposes of this Agreement, *** means ***

 

(c) Each year of this Agreement, except for *** commencing with all shipments made on or after January 1, 2013, ***. For example, *** for calendar year 2013 will be calculated based on ***. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the *** under this 4(c) shall not *** during the term of this Agreement. For example, ***.

 

(5) *** CHARGE : ***

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

(6) SURCHARGE : If Rayonier experiences a significant increase in its cost of raw materials or operating costs, beyond Rayonier’s control, Rayonier and Daicel agree ***.

 

(7) ALLOWANCE : Provided Daicel is not in default under this Agreement, for each calendar year during the term hereof in which Daicel purchases and pays for the minimum volumes set forth in Article 3 above, Rayonier shall ***.

Volume *** shall be advanced within 30 days of the end of each quarter based on the assumption that the minimum annual volume requirement described in Article 3 is met. Daicel agrees to reimburse Rayonier the volume *** for each calendar year in which the minimum annual volume requirement is not met. Repayment of the volume *** shall be ***.

 

(8) CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT : This Agreement, and all sales of Product made pursuant hereto, are subject to the General Terms of Sale set forth in Exhibit A , all of which are included herein and by reference made a part hereof. The parties anticipate that either Daicel or Rayonier may employ as an administrative matter purchase orders, order confirmations, contracts of sale or other forms which incorporate other provisions which by their terms purport to apply to a sale hereunder. The parties expressly stipulate that only this Agreement shall govern, and that no provisions in any such form shall apply to a sale hereunder, except to confirm an order or identify a specific shipment. This Agreement amends and restates any previous agreements with regard to transactions occurring on or after January 1, 2012. This Agreement may be altered or modified only by express agreement in writing signed by both Daicel and Rayonier, and no such agreement shall be implied by any act of shipment or acceptance of Product. This Agreement may be made in duplicate in English and one or more other languages, in the event of a conflict between the English language text and a duplicate translation, the English language text shall govern.

 

DAICEL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.     RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Shuzaburo Kumano

    By:  

/s/ Paul G. Boynton

Name:   Shuzaburo Kumano     Name:   Paul G. Boynton
Title:   Managing Executive Officer & President Cellulose Company     Title:   President
Date:  

 

    Date:  

 

 

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THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

Exhibit A to Cellulose Specialties Agreement    

Rayonier

GENERAL TERMS OF SALE

(1) TITLE; DEFINITION OF “PORT OF ENTRY:” Unless contrary provisions specifically referring to title and/or risk of loss are set forth in the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit or on the face of any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto, title and risk of loss or damage to all products deliverable hereunder, including Wood Pulp and Chemical Cellulose (hereinafter for convenience called “Cellulose”) shall pass to the Buyer, regardless of time, terms or method of payment and without diminution or release of Seller’s security interest therein: (i) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are FOB, upon tender of delivery by Seller aboard common carrier at such FOB location; (ii) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are CIP, when the relevant shipment is delivered to the named destination; (iii) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are CFR, when the relevant shipment is loaded on board the carrying vessel at the Port of Exit; (iv) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are CIF, when the vessel carrying the relevant shipment arrives dockside at the Port of Entry; (v) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are FAS., upon delivery alongside the carrying vessel at the port of exit identified in such terms or on a dock designated and provided by the Buyer at such port of exit; (vi) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are FCA, when the relevant shipment is delivered to the named destination; or (vii) in the event the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are DAP, when the relevant shipment is delivered at the named place of destination, provided, however, that Buyer shall bear all risk of loss or damage resulting from Buyer’s failure to clear the products for import in time. As used in these General Terms, “Port of Entry” means the port outside of the United States of America at which the carrying vessel actually docks for purposes of unloading the Cellulose, regardless of whether such port is identified in the CIF terms on the applicable Pulp Sales Contract.

(2) WEIGHT: In case of Cellulose “Ton” means “Metric Ton” 1,000 kgs. on an airdry basis (i.e., 90% bone-dry Cellulose by weight and 10% moisture) and usual packaging materials.

(3) SHIPPING COST AND TAXES: Unless the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are *** all insurance costs, and, unless the terms of sale specified in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract are *** all freight or other shipping costs of any shipment beyond the point at which title passes as specified in paragraph (1). In the event *** any sales, use, excise or other tax, imposed or increased by Federal, State, Provincial or other taxing authority (except income, excess profits or social security taxes) resulting ***. In the event the *** all present and future charges after arrival of any shipment at Port of Entry, including, but not limited to, all warehouse charges, import duties, consular fees and charges, tariff charges and taxes imposed by any taxing authority in the Port of Entry or country of destination.

(4) QUANTITY: A maximum margin of l0%, more or less, on the quantities shipped is to be allowed for convenience of arranging freighting.

(5) CLAIMS: In the event the Buyer’s location to which the Cellulose is being shipped is located in the United States of America or Canada, all claims relating to any shipment must be made in writing within *** after arrival of shipment at destination and in no event later than *** after date of shipment from Seller’s mill. In the event the Buyer’s location to which the Cellulose is being shipped is located outside of the United States of America or Canada, all claims relating to any shipment must be made in writing within *** after arrival of the shipment at Port of Entry. Buyer shall be entitled to reject any shipment or installment for defect or failure to conform within the time period stated above, and such defective or nonconforming shipment or installment shall be returned to Seller at Seller’s sole cost and expense. No defect or nonconformity in any shipment or installment shall excuse the Buyer from accepting and paying for any shipment or installment as to which no defect or nonconformity shall exist; but the Seller, at its option, may treat default in payment for any shipment or installment as a breach of the entire Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit or as a breach of any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto and pursue its rights as described and referred to in paragraph 10. Buyer’s payment for any shipment or installment prior to examination and acceptance of such shipment or installment shall not be deemed an act of acceptance by Buyer.

(6) TESTS: In the event of a dispute as to the moisture content of any Cellulose, a retest shall be made in accordance with the procedures for the *** as set forth in *** as revised and corrected ***. The Buyer shall, however, pay the invoice for the Cellulose in full, when due, subject to the result of the retest. If the difference in moisture between that described herein or in the applicable Pulp Sales Contract on the one hand and that determined by retesting on the other hand does not exceed l% moisture, the cost of retesting shall be borne by the Buyer; otherwise, an appropriate adjustment shall be made to the invoice in accordance with the results of the retests and the Seller shall bear the cost of the retest.

 

-4-


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

(7) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Seller warrants that the Cellulose shall comply with the description set out in the *** BUT MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Either party’s liability hereunder shall in any case be limited to not exceed the purchase price of the particular delivery to Buyer hereunder giving rise to a claim by the other party. The parties shall not be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, punitive or consequential damages, including, but not limited to, loss of use, or loss of profit, breach of contract between either party and any third party, negligence or any other cause of action, nor for cost of litigation related thereto.

(8) CONTINGENCIES: In the event of any contingency preventing or substantially interfering with the production, shipment, delivery or acceptance of the products deliverable hereunder, including but not limited to such contingencies as fire, accident, sabotage, act of war or the public enemy, uprising, riot, restraint by any government, regulation, rule or order (whether or not actually valid) of any governmental agency or authority, the fixing of price ceilings on any products deliverable hereunder by a governmental agency or authority below prices agreed to for such products by the Seller and the Buyer, strike, sitdown, lockout, labor dispute, shortage of labor, fuel, power or raw materials, embargo, restriction or scarcity of transportation facilities, act of God or other cause beyond the control of either party, restrictions as to contracts, materials and shipping, and allocations or priorities, then the affected party shall be under no obligation during such contingency to make shipments in the case of Seller, or accept shipments, in the case of Buyer or any of its affiliates and subsidiaries, except such as have been delivered to common carrier prior to the receipt by the Seller of notice from the Buyer of such contingency. If any such contingency shall ***.

(9) SOURCE OF SHIPMENT: ***

(10) DEFAULTS: If the Buyer shall be in default for *** in payment due, or if the Buyer shall default in the performance of any other obligation, term or condition hereof, of the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit or of any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto, or if the Buyer or the Seller shall become insolvent, admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, file a petition in proceedings in bankruptcy or insolvency or for reorganization or liquidation or relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or debtor laws, make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, consent to the appointment of a receiver of it or of any substantial part of its property, be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent on a petition filed against it in bankruptcy or under insolvency or debtor laws, or if an order shall be made by any court appointing a receiver of either Buyer or Seller or of any substantial part of the property of either, or if any court shall assume custody or control of either the Buyer or Seller or of any substantial part of the property of either; then, and in any such event, the non-defaulting party may, at its option, without demand or notice of any kind and without prejudice to any other remedies afforded it under applicable law or otherwise, either suspend performance hereunder during the continuance of such event (in which event, if the non-defaulting party elects, the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and/or any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto shall be deemed extended for a period of time equal to that during which performance has been suspended) or terminate the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit, any Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto and/or any other contracts with the defaulting party without prejudice to any right of action for damages against the defaulting party.

(11) ASSIGNMENT: The Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and each Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto shall bind the respective successors and assigns of the parties thereto, but neither party’s rights or obligations thereunder may be assigned without the other party’s prior written consent, except to a subsidiary or affiliated corporation of such assigning party, provided that such assignment shall not relieve the assignor of its obligation thereunder. Any such assignment without the other party’s written consent shall be void .

(12) SEVERABILITY: If any provision herein is or becomes invalid or illegal in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed amended, as nearly as possible, to be consistent with the intent expressed herein, in the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit, and any applicable Pulp Sales Contract entered into pursuant thereto, and if such is impossible, that provision shall fail by itself without invalidating any of the remaining provisions not otherwise invalid or illegal.

(13) NOTICE: Any notice shall be sufficiently given when duly mailed, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Seller at 4474 Savannah Highway, P.O.Box 1280, Jesup, Georgia 31545, U.S.A., Attention: Vice President, Pulp Marketing, and to Buyer at its address appearing in the Agreement to which these General Terms are attached as an exhibit, or to such other address for either party as that party may by proper notice designate.

 

-5-


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

(14) GOVERNING LAWS AND DISPUTES: These General Terms of Sale, the Agreement to which they are attached as an exhibit and each Pulp Sale Contract entered into pursuant thereto shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the ***. The application of the U.N. Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is expressly excluded.

 

(a) ***

 

(b) ***

 

(c) ***

(15) COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW: When producing in the United States of America the products deliverable under the Agreement to which these General Terms of Sale are attached as an exhibit and any Pulp Sale Contract entered into pursuant thereto, the Seller shall comply with the Fair Labor Standard Act of 1938, as amended, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

(16) DELAY NO CAUSE FOR REFUSAL: Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in the event of a carrier or vessel being delayed in arriving at Buyer’s location to which the Cellulose is being shipped or to any foreign Port of Entry, through no fault of Seller, beyond the estimated time of arrival (ETA), such delay shall not by itself constitute a cause for refusal of the shipment by the Buyer.

 

-6-


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL

TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED MATERIAL IS

MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND

EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

EXHIBIT B TO CELLULOSE SPECIALTIES AGREEMENT

Potential Revisions to

***

Referred to in 4(b)(iii)

 

     Single roll   Lot average
     max   max

***

   ***   ***

 

         Jumbo   Lot Average
     Target   Min   max   min   max

***

   ***   ***   ***   ***   ***

***

          

***

          

***

          

 

-7-

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A

CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED

MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

Exhibit 10.12

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO

DAICEL – RAYONIER

AMENDED CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT is effective as of February 15, 2013, and is entered into by and between Daicel Corporation (“Daicel”) and Rayonier Performance Fibers, LLC (“Rayonier”).

WHEREAS, Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. and Rayonier are parties to an Amended and Restated Chemical Specialties Agreement, with an effective date of January 1, 2012 (hereinafter the “Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. is now Daicel Corporation; and

WHEREAS, Daicel and Rayonier (the “Parties”) wish to revise the certain terms of the Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, the Parties hereby amend the Agreement as follows:

 

1. The Parties agree that all references to Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. are hereby deleted and replaced with Daicel Corporation.

 

2. The Parties further agree that the table in Subarticle 3(a) shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

 

Calendar Year

  

Purchase Volume Requirement (ADMT)

2013    ***
2014 *    ***
2015 *    ***
2016 *    ***

 

3. The Parties further agree that the following sentence shall be inserted in the paragraph immediately following the table in Subarticle 3(a), before the sentence starting, “The parties agree to negotiated…”:

Daicel shall notify Rayonier no later than October 31, 2013 whether it commits to raise the minimum Purchase Volume Requirement by *** in each of years ***, *** and ***.


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A

CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED

MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

4. The Parties further agree that the quantity of Product specified in Subarticle 3(b) shall be revised from *** to ***.

 

5. The Parties further agree that Subarticles 4(b) and(c) shall be deleted in their entirety and replaced with the following provisions:

 

  (b) The price for Product shall be as follows: *** BAT, plus $40/ADMT.

For the calculation of *** means ***

 

  (c) For 2013 and 2014 only, except for *** commencing with all shipments made on or after January 1, 2013, the price for Product calculated pursuant to 4(b) shall ***.

For example, ***.

 

  (d) For all shipments made in 2012-2016, ***.

 

6. Parties further agree that Article 5, *** shall be deleted in its entirely & replaced with the following:

Daicel agrees that ***. Rayonier agrees that ***.

 

7. The Parties further agree that Article 7, ALLOWANCE, shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Provided Daicel is not in default under this Agreement, then the rebates in this Article 7 shall apply:

 

  (a) ***

 

  (b) ***

 

  i) If Daicel qualifies for a Standard Volume ***, Rayonier will pay the rebate as follows:

 

  a. ***

 

  b. ***

 

  c. ***

An example calculation based on 7(b)i) ***

***

 

2


THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN REDACTED AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A

CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST PURSUANT TO RULE 24b-2. REDACTED

MATERIAL IS MARKED WITH [***] AND HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.

 

***

***

or

 

  ii) ***

 

  a. ***

 

  b. ***

 

  c. ***

An example calculation based on 7(b)ii) ***

***

***

***

***

 

8. Except as amended above, all remaining provisions of the Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

DAICEL CORPORATION     RAYONIER PERFORMANCE FIBERS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Masayuki Mune

    By:  

/s/ Paul G. Boynton

Name:   Masayuki Mune       Name:   Paul G. Boynton

 

Title:

 

 

Managing Executive Officer,

      Title:   President
  Cellulose Company and        
  Raw Material Purchasing Center        

 

3

Exhibit 10.13

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN

 

1. Purpose

The purpose of the Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Incentive Stock Plan is to attract and retain highly qualified employees and directors, to motivate and reward performance that will lead to sustained increases in shareholder value, and to assume certain awards granted under equity compensation plans of Rayonier Inc. The Plan furthers opportunities for share ownership by our employees in order to increase their proprietary interest in Rayonier Advanced Materials and, as a result, their interest in our long-term success and their commitment to creating shareholder value.

 

2. Definitions

When used herein, the following terms shall have the indicated meaning:

“Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

“Award” means an award granted to any Key Employee in accordance with the provisions of the Plan in the form of Options, Rights, Performance Shares, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or any combination of the foregoing.

“Award Agreement” means the written agreement or document, including electronic communication, evidencing each Award granted to a Key Employee under the Plan.

“Beneficiary” means the estate of a Key Employee or such other beneficiary or beneficiaries lawfully designated pursuant to Section 10 to receive the amount, if any, payable under the Plan upon the death of a Key Employee.

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Change in Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 9(g).

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. (All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.)

“Committee” means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

“Company” means Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. and its successors and assigns.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.

“Fair Market Value”, unless otherwise indicated in the provisions of this Plan, means, as of any date, the closing price for one share of Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the most recently completed trading day or, if no sales of Stock have taken place on such date, the closing price on the most recent date on which selling prices were quoted, the determination to be made in the discretion of the Committee.

“GAAP” means U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.


“Incentive Stock Option” means a stock option qualified under Section 422 of the Code.

“Key Employee” means an employee (including any officer or director who is also an employee) of any Participating Company whose responsibilities and decisions, in the judgment of the Committee, directly affect the performance of the Company and its subsidiaries. References to the term “Key Employees” shall be read to include “Non-employee Directors” in the application of Sections 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9 through 16 of the Plan as the context may require in relationship to Awards to Non-employee Directors hereunder. Except as otherwise may be determined by the Board, a Non-employee Director’s ceasing to be a director of the Company shall be treated in the same manner as a voluntary termination of employment by a Key Employee on such date.

“Non-employee Director” means a member of the Board who is not otherwise an employee of the Company.

“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a non-qualified stock option awarded under Section 5 of the Plan.

“Participating Company” means the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company; provided, however, for Incentive Stock Options only, “Participating Company” means the Company or any corporation that at the time such Option is granted qualifies as a “subsidiary” of the Company under Section 424(f) of the Code.

“Performance Goals” means or may be expressed in terms of any, but not limited to, of the following business criteria: (i) net income, (ii) earnings per share, (iii) operating income, (iv) operating cash flow, (v) cash available for distribution, (vi) earnings before income taxes and depreciation, (vii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, (viii) operating margins, (ix) reductions in operating expenses, (x) sales or return on sales, (xi) total stockholder return, (xii) return on equity, (xiii) return on total capital, (xiv) return on invested capital, (xv) return on assets, (xvi) economic value added, (xvii) cost reductions and savings, (xviii) increase in surplus, (xix) productivity improvements, and (xx) an executive’s attainment of personal objectives with respect to any of the foregoing criteria or other criteria such as growth and profitability, customer satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, business development, negotiating transactions and sales or developing long term business goals. A Performance Goal may be measured over a Performance Period on a periodic, annual, cumulative or average basis and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or established with respect to one or more operating units, divisions, subsidiaries, acquired businesses, minority investments, partnerships or joint ventures. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals will be determined using GAAP consistently applied during a Performance Period by no later than the earlier of the date that is ninety days after the commencement of the Performance Period or the day prior to the date on which twenty-five percent of the Performance Period has elapsed.

“Performance Objective” means the level or levels of performance required to be attained with respect to specified Performance Goals in order that a Key Employee


shall become entitled to specified rights in connection with a Performance Share. The level or levels of performance specified with respect to a Performance Goal may be established in absolute terms, as objectives relative to performance in prior periods, as an objective compared to the performance of one or more peer companies or an index covering multiple companies, or otherwise as the Committee may determine.

“Performance Period” means the calendar year, or such other shorter or longer period designated by the Committee, during which performance will be measured in order to determine a Key Employee’s entitlement to receive payment of a Performance Share.

“Performance Share” means a performance share awarded under Section 6 of the Plan.

“Plan” means this Rayonier Advanced Materials Incentive Stock Plan, as it may be amended, administered or interpreted from time to time.

“Plan Year” means the calendar year.

“Retirement” means an employee’s separation from service having met the age and service requirements that would have resulted in the employee’s being eligible to receive immediate retirement benefits under a Participating Company qualified defined benefit pension plan, but without regard to whether or not such employee participates in such pension plan.

“Restricted Stock” means Stock awarded under Section 7 of the Plan subject to such restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable.

“Restricted Stock Unit” means a contractual right pursuant to an Award Agreement that entitling a Key Employee to receive a shares of Stock at a future date subject to such terms and conditions as are set by the Committee, including the attainment of time vesting criteria and/or Performance Objectives, as provided in Section 6 and 7 of the Plan.

“Right” means a stock appreciation right awarded in connection with an option under Section 5 of the Plan.

“Share Limit” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.

“Shareholder Approval” shall mean approval of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock represented and voting in person or by proxy at an annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company where a quorum is present.

“Stock” means the common shares of the Company.

“Total Disability” means the complete and permanent inability of a Key Employee to perform all of his or her duties under the terms of his or her employment with any Participating Company, as determined by the Committee upon the basis of such evidence, including independent medical reports and data, as the Committee deems appropriate or necessary.

“Transfer Agreement Terms” means the provisions of the Employee Matters Agreement by and between Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. addressing certain rights and obligations of the parties related to the transfer of employees from Rayonier Inc. to the Company.

“Voting Securities” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.


3. Shares Subject to the Plan

(a) From and after the Effective Date, the total number of shares of Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall not exceed 4,500,000 plus the number of shares reserved for issuance for Awards under the equity compensation plans of Rayonier Inc. transferred to the Company pursuant to the Transfer Agreement Terms. The shares of Stock may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired shares of Stock. Shares may be issued in connection with a merger or acquisition as permitted by NYSE Listed Company Manual Section 303A.08, and such issuance shall not reduce the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. No more than 1,000,000 shares of Stock may be cumulatively available for Awards of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. For any Plan Year, no individual employee may receive an Award of Options, Performance Shares, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Rights for more than four percent (4%) of the total number of shares authorized under the Plan (with respect to any Key Employee, his or her “Share Limit”); provided that , to accommodate transition and retention Awards, the Share Limit shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total number of shares authorized under the Plan in the first Plan Year. The number of shares available in each category hereunder shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 in connection with a Stock split, Stock dividend, or other extraordinary transaction affecting the Stock.

(b) Subject to the above limitations, shares of Stock to be issued under the Plan may be made available from the authorized but unissued shares, or from shares purchased in the open market. For the purpose of computing the total number of shares of Stock available for future Awards under the Plan, shares of Stock shall be reserved for issuance under outstanding Performance Shares programs at the maximum award level and counted against the foregoing limitations. If any Awards under the Plan are forfeited, terminated, expire unexercised, are settled in cash in lieu of Stock, are exchanged for other Awards or are released from a reserve for failure to meet the maximum payout under a program, the shares of Stock that were theretofore subject to or reserved for such Awards shall again be available for Awards under the Plan to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration of such Awards or so released from a reserve. Any shares that are exchanged (either actually or constructively) by optionees as full or partial payment to the Company of the purchase price of shares being acquired through the exercise of a stock option granted under the Plan will not be available for subsequent Awards. If any shares subject to a Stock Award are not delivered to a Participant because such shares are withheld for the payment of taxes or the Stock Award is exercised through a reduction of shares subject to the Stock Award ( i.e. , “net exercised”) or an appreciation distribution in respect of a Right is paid in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares subject to the Stock Award that are not delivered to the Participant shall not remain available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. If the exercise price of any Stock Award is satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock held by the Participant (either by actual delivery or attestation), then the number of shares so tendered shall not remain available for issuance under the Plan.


4. Grant of Awards and Award Agreements

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall (i) determine and designate from time to time those Key Employees or groups of Key Employees to whom Awards are to be granted; (ii) determine the form or forms of Award to be granted to any Key Employee; (iii) determine the amount or number of shares of Stock subject to each Award, and (iv) determine the terms and conditions of each Award, including any Awards reflecting the awards previously granted under equity compensation plans of Rayonier Inc. assumed by the Company pursuant to the Transfer Agreement Terms.

(b) The Board shall serve to administer and interpret the Plan with respect to any grants of Awards made to Non-employee Directors. Non-employee Directors shall only be eligible for Stock Options pursuant to Section 5 and/or Restricted Stock under Section 7. Non-employee Directors shall not be entitled to receive any Rights. Any such Awards, and all duties, powers and authority given to the Committee in this Plan, including those provided for in this Section 4, in Section 11 and elsewhere in the Plan, in connection with Awards to Participants shall be deemed to be given to the Board in its sole discretion in connection with Awards to Non-employee Directors. The Board may request of the Committee, its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or of any other Board committee comprised of independent directors, its recommendation on the level of Awards for this purpose. Except as may be specifically provided by the Board at the time of grant or in the applicable Award Agreement, the provisions of Sections 9, 14 and 15 shall not apply in respect of Awards made to Non-employee Directors.

(c) Each Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement. Such agreement shall be subject to and incorporate the express terms and conditions, if any, required under the Plan or required by the Committee, including such covenants and agreements with respect to the subject matter of Sections 14 and 15 as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion.

 

5. Stock Options and Rights

(a) With respect to Options and Rights, the Committee shall (i) authorize the granting of Incentive Stock Options, nonqualified stock options, or any combination thereof; (ii) authorize the granting of Rights that may be granted in connection with all or part of any Option granted under this Plan, either concurrently with the grant of the Option or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option; (iii) determine the number of shares of Stock subject to each Option or the number of shares of Stock that shall be used to determine the value of a Right; and (iv) determine the time or times when and the manner in which each Option or Right shall be exercisable and the duration of the exercise period.

(b) Any Option issued hereunder that is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to such limitations or requirements as may be necessary for the purposes of Section 422 of the Code or any regulations and rulings thereunder to the extent and in such form as determined by the Committee in its discretion.


(c) Rights may be granted to any Key Employee or director, in the discretion of the Committee.

(d) The exercise period for Options and any related Rights shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant.

(e) The Option price per share shall be determined by the Committee at the time any Option is granted and shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date the Option is granted.

(f) No part of any Option or Right may be exercised until the Key Employee who has been granted the Award shall have remained in the employ of a Participating Company for such period after the date of grant as the Committee may specify, if any, and the Committee may further require exercisability in installments; provided, however, the period during which a Right is exercisable shall commence no earlier than six months following the date the Option or Right is granted.

(g) The Option purchase price shall be paid to the Company at the time of exercise either in cash or Stock already owned by the optionee, or any combination thereof, having a total Fair Market Value equal to the purchase price. The Committee shall determine acceptable methods for tendering Stock as payment upon exercise of an Option and may impose such limitations and prohibitions on the use of Stock to exercise an Option as it deems appropriate.

(h) Unless Section 9 shall provide otherwise, Rights granted to a director or officer shall terminate when such person ceases to be considered a director or officer of the Company subject to Section 16 of the Act.

(i) In case of termination of employment, the following provisions shall apply:

(A) If a Key Employee who has been granted an Option shall die before such Option has expired, his or her vested Options may be exercised in full by the person or persons to whom the Key Employee’s rights under the Option pass by will, or if no such person has such right, by his or her executors or administrators, at any time, or from time to time, in each such case, such heir, executor or administrator may exercise the Option within five years after the date of the Key Employee’s death or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, but in all events not later than the expiration date specified in Section 5(d) above. Unless the Committee or the Award Agreement shall specify otherwise, unvested Options shall be forfeited as of the date of the Key Employee’s death.

(B) If the Key Employee’s employment by any Participating Company terminates because of his or her Retirement or Total Disability, he or she may exercise his or her Options in full at any time, or from time to time, within five years after the date of the termination of his or her employment or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, but not later than the expiration date specified in Section 5(d) above. Any such Options not fully exercisable immediately prior to such optionee’s Retirement shall become fully exercisable upon such Retirement unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall otherwise determine.


(C) Except as provided in Section 9, if the Key Employee shall voluntarily resign before eligibility for Retirement or he or she is terminated for cause as determined by the Committee, the Options shall be cancelled coincident with the effective date of the termination of employment.

(D) If the Key Employee’s employment terminates for any other reason, he or she may exercise his or her Options, to the extent that he or she shall have been entitled to do so at the date of the termination of his or her employment, at any time, or from time to time, within three months after the date of the termination of his or her employment or within such other period, and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, but not later than the expiration date specified in Section 5(d) above.

(j) No Option or Right granted under the Plan shall be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of the optionee, an Option or Right shall be exercisable only by the Key Employee to whom the Option or Right is granted.

(k) With respect to an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee shall specify such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine to be necessary or desirable in order to qualify such Option as an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(l) With respect to the exercisability and settlement of Rights:

(A) Upon exercise of a Right, the Key Employee shall be entitled, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, to receive upon exercise thereof all or a portion of the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock at the time of exercise, as determined by the Committee, over (ii) a specified amount that shall not, subject to Section 5(e), be less than the Fair Market Value of such specified number of shares of Stock at the time the Right is granted. Upon exercise of a Right, payment of such excess shall be made by the issuance or transfer to the Key Employee of whole shares of Stock with a Fair Market Value at such time equal to any excess, all as determined by the Committee. The Company will not issue a fractional share of Stock and, if a fractional share would otherwise be issuable, the Company shall pay cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the fractional share of Stock at such time.

(B) In the event of the exercise of such Right, the Company’s obligation in respect of any related Option or such portion thereof will be discharged by payment of the Right so exercised.

 

6. Performance Shares

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall (i) determine and designate from time to time those Key Employees or groups of Key Employees to whom Awards of Performance Shares are to be made, (ii) determine the Performance Period and Performance Objectives applicable to such Awards, (iii) determine the form of settlement


of a Performance Share and (iv) generally determine the terms and conditions of each such Award. At any date, each Performance Share shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at such date; provided that the Committee may limit the aggregate amount payable upon the settlement of any Award.

(b) The Committee shall determine a Performance Period of not less than two nor more than five years with respect to the award of Performance Shares. Performance Periods may overlap and Key Employees may participate simultaneously with respect to Performance Shares for which different Performance Periods are prescribed.

(c) The Committee shall determine the Performance Objectives of Awards of Performance Shares. Performance Objectives may vary from Key Employee to Key Employee and between groups of Key Employees and shall be based upon such Performance Goals as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Performance Objective shall be established by the Committee prior to, or reasonably promptly following the inception of, a Performance Period but, to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code, by no later than the earlier of the date that is ninety days after the commencement of the Performance Period or the day prior to the date on which twenty-five percent of the Performance Period has elapsed.

(d) Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing, in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent applicable, whether the Performance Objective and other material terms for paying amounts in respect of each Performance Share Award related to that Performance Period have been achieved or met. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Performance Share Awards shall not be settled until the Committee has made the certification specified under this Section 6(d).

(e) The Committee is authorized at any time during or after a Performance Period to reduce or eliminate the Performance Share Award of any Key Employee for any reason, including, without limitation, changes in the position or duties of any Key Employee with the Participating Company during or after a Performance Period, whether due to any termination of employment (including death, disability, retirement, voluntary termination or termination with or without cause) or otherwise. In addition, to the extent necessary to preserve the intended economic effects of the Plan to the Participating Company and the Key Employee, the Committee shall adjust Performance Objectives, the Performance Share Awards or both to take into account: (i) a change in corporate capitalization, (ii) a corporate transaction, such as any merger of the Company or any subsidiary into another corporation, any consolidation of the Company or any subsidiary into another corporation, any separation of the Company or any subsidiary (including a spin-off or the distribution of stock or property of the Company or any subsidiary), any reorganization of the Company or any subsidiary or a large, special and non-recurring dividend paid or distributed by the Company (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of Section 368 of the Code), (iii) any partial or complete liquidation of the Company or any subsidiary or (iv) a change in accounting or other relevant rules or regulations (any adjustment pursuant to this Clause (iv) shall be subject to the timing requirements of the last sentence of the definition of Performance Goal set forth in Section 2 of the Plan); provided, however, that no adjustment hereunder shall be


authorized or made if and to the extent that the Committee determines that such authority or the making of such adjustment would cause the Performance Bonus Awards to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to a particular Key Employee.

(f) At the beginning of a Performance Period, the Committee shall determine for each Key Employee or group of Key Employees the number of Performance Shares or the percentage of Performance Shares that shall be paid to the Key Employee or member of the group of Key Employees if Performance Objectives are met in whole or in part.

(g) If a Key Employee terminates service with all Participating Companies during a Performance Period because of death, Total Disability, Retirement, or under other circumstances where the Committee in its sole discretion finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, that Key Employee may, as determined by the Committee, be entitled to an Award of Performance Shares at the end of the Performance Period based upon the extent to which the Performance Objectives were satisfied at the end of such period, which Award, in the discretion of the Committee, may be maintained without change or reduced and prorated for the portion of the Performance Period during which the Key Employee was employed by any Participating Company; provided, however, the Committee may provide for an earlier payment in settlement of such Performance Shares in such amount and under such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate or desirable, but only to the extent consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent applicable in respect of such Key Employee. If a Key Employee terminates service with all Participating Companies during a Performance Period for any other reason, then such Key Employee shall not be entitled to any Award with respect to that Performance Period unless the Committee shall otherwise determine.

(h) Each Award of a Performance Share shall be paid in whole shares of Stock, with payment to commence as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant Performance Period but no earlier than following the determination made in Section 6(d) hereof. To the extent provided at the beginning of a Performance Period and in the applicable Award Agreement, the Award may be individual dividends deemed invested in additional shares of stock. Subject to the terms of the applicable program, the Award may also be paid in shares of Stock or Restricted Stock.

(i) A Key Employee shall not be granted Performance Shares for all of the Performance Periods commencing in the same calendar year that permit the Key Employee to earn Stock covering more than the Share Limit in respect of such Key Employee. In addition, separate and apart from the limit in the previous sentence, with respect to Performance Share Awards to be settled in cash, a Key Employee shall not be granted Performance Share Awards for all of the Performance Periods commencing in a calendar year that permit the Key Employee in the aggregate to earn a cash payment in excess of the Fair Market Value of the Share Limit as of the first day of the first Performance Period commencing in such calendar year.

(j) Performance Share Awards may be structured in the form of Restricted Stock Units or any substantially similar instrument evidencing the right to receive a share of


Stock at some future date upon the lapse of the applicable restrictions established by the Committee or upon the satisfaction of any applicable Performance Goals established by the Committee hereunder. To the extent provided for by the Committee, the rules of Section 7 shall apply to Restricted Stock Units.

 

7. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall (i) determine and designate from time to time those Key Employees or groups of Key Employees to whom Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are to be made, (ii) determine the restrictions applicable to such Awards and any applicable including the attainment of time vesting criteria and/or Performance Objectives; (iii) determined a restriction period (after which restrictions will lapse), which shall mean a period commencing on the date the Award is granted and ending on such date as the Committee shall determine (the “Restriction Period”); (iv) determine the form of settlement of an Restricted Stock Unit and (v) generally determine the terms and conditions of each Award of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may provide for the lapse of restrictions in installments where deemed appropriate.

(b) Except as may be provided in the applicable Award agreement or when the Committee determines otherwise pursuant to Section 7(d), if a Key Employee terminates employment with all Participating Companies for any reason before the expiration of the Restriction Period, all shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units still subject to restriction shall be forfeited by the Key Employee and shall be reacquired by the Company.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7, no shares of Restricted Stock received by a Key Employee shall be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of during the Restriction Period.

(d) In cases of death, Total Disability or Retirement or in cases of special circumstances, the Committee may, in its sole discretion when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company, elect to waive any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such Key Employee’s Restricted Stock.

(e) The Committee may require, under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate or desirable, that the certificates for Stock delivered under the Plan may be held in custody by a bank or other institution, or that the Company may itself hold such shares in custody until the Restriction Period expires or until restrictions thereon otherwise lapse, and may require, as a condition of any Award of Restricted Stock that the Key Employee shall have delivered a stock power endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Stock.

(f) Nothing in this Section 7 shall preclude a Key Employee from exchanging any shares of Restricted Stock subject to the restrictions contained herein for any other shares of Stock that are similarly restricted.

(g) Subject to Section 7(e) and Section 8, each Key Employee entitled to receive Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be issued a certificate for the shares of Stock. Such


certificate shall be registered in the name of the Key Employee, and shall bear an appropriate legend reciting the terms, conditions and restrictions, if any, applicable to such Award and shall be subject to appropriate stop-transfer orders.

(h) Restricted Stock Units are contractual rights only, and no Stock will be issued unless and until the terms and conditions set by Committee are obtained. Restricted Stock Units do not carry any rights of a stockholder, including voting rights, and unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, do not carry a right to receive an amount in respect of dividends.

 

8. Certificates for Awards of Stock

(a) The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates for shares of Stock prior to (i) the listing of such shares on any stock exchange on which the Stock may then be listed and (ii) the completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any federal or state law, or any ruling or regulation of any government body that the Company shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.

(b) All certificates for shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Stock is then listed and any applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. The foregoing provisions of this Section 8(b) shall not be effective if and to the extent that the shares of Stock delivered under the Plan are covered by an effective and current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, or if and so long as the Committee determines that application of such provisions is no longer required or desirable. In making such determination, the Committee may rely upon an opinion of counsel for the Company. The rules applicable to certificates hereunder shall apply equally to noncertificated shares of Stock held pursuant to any electronic, book entry or other means or record of ownership and transfer.

(c) Except for the restrictions on Restricted Stock under Section 7, each Key Employee who receives Stock in settlement of an Award of Stock, shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such shares, including the right to vote the shares and receive dividends and other distributions. No Key Employee awarded an Option, a Right, a Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Share shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by his or her Option, Right, Restricted Stock Unit or Performance Share prior to the date of issuance to him or her of a certificate or certificates for such shares.

 

9. Change in Control

Notwithstanding any provisions in this Plan to the contrary:

(a) Each outstanding Option granted under the Plan shall become immediately exercisable in full for the aggregate number of shares covered thereby and all related Rights shall also become exercisable upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and


shall continue to be exercisable in full for a period of 60 calendar days beginning on the date that such Change in Control occurs and ending on the 60 th calendar day following that date; provided, however, that no Option or Right shall be exercisable beyond the expiration date of its original term.

(b) Options and Rights shall not terminate and shall continue to be fully exercisable for a period of seven months following the occurrence of a Change in Control in the case of an employee who is terminated other than for just cause or who voluntarily terminates his or her employment because he or she in good faith believes that as a result of such Change in Control he or she is unable effectively to discharge the duties of the position he or she occupied just prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control. For purposes of Section 9 only, termination shall be for “just cause” only if such termination is based on fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement on the part of the employee that results in a final conviction of a felony. Under no circumstances, however, shall any Option or Right be exercised beyond the expiration date of its original term.

(c) The restrictions applicable to Awards of Restricted Stock and time vested Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to Section 7 shall lapse upon the occurrence of a Change in Control and the Company shall issue stock certificates without a restrictive legend.

(d) Subject to any change or interpretation of the Committee under Section 16(f), if a Change in Control occurs during the course of a Performance Period applicable to an Award of Performance Shares pursuant to Section 6, then the Key Employee shall be deemed to have satisfied the Performance Objectives.

(e) For purposes of this Plan, “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:

 

(i) subject to the conditions contained in the final paragraph of this definition, the filing of a report on Schedule 13D with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) disclosing that any person, other than the Company or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company, is the beneficial owner (as the term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act) directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20 percent or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities (calculated as provided in paragraph (d) of Rule 13d-3 under the Act in the case of rights to acquire Voting Securities); or

 

(ii) the purchase by any person, other than the Company or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company, of shares pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer to acquire any Voting Securities of the Company (or securities convertible into such Voting Securities) for cash, securities, or any other consideration, provided that after consummation of the offer, the person in question is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities representing 20 percent or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities (all as calculated under clause (i)); or

 

(iii)

the approval by the shareholders of the Company, and the subsequent occurrence, of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the


  continuing or surviving corporation (other than a merger of the Company in which holders of Common Shares of the Company immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of Common Shares of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger as immediately before), or pursuant to which Common Shares of the Company would be converted into cash, securities, or other property, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all the assets of the Company; or

 

(iv) a change in the composition of the Board of the Company at any time during any consecutive 24-month period such that “continuing directors” cease for any reason to constitute at least a 70 percent majority of the Board.

For purposes of this definition of “Change in Control,” the term “Voting Securities” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of members of the Board and the term “continuing directors” means those members of the Board who either were directors at the beginning of a consecutive 24-month period or were elected during such period by or on the nomination or recommendation of at least a 70 percent majority of the then-existing Board. So long as there has not been a Change in Control within the meaning of clause (iv) above, the Board may adopt by a 70 percent majority vote of the “continuing directors” a resolution to the effect that the occurrence of an event described in clause (i) (a “Clause (i) Event”) does not constitute a “Change in Control” (an “Excluding Resolution”) or a resolution to the effect that the occurrence of a Clause (i) Event does constitute a “Change in Control” (an” Including Resolution”). The adoption of an Excluding Resolution with respect to any Clause (i) Event shall not deprive the Board of the right to adopt an Including Resolution with respect to such Clause (i) Event at a later date. A Clause (i) Event shall not in and of itself constitute a “Change in Control” until the earlier of (x) the effective date of an Including Resolution with respect thereto or (y) the passage of a period of 30 calendar days after the occurrence thereof without an Excluding Resolution having been adopted with respect thereto; notwithstanding the adoption of an Excluding Resolution within the 30-day period referred to in (y), an Including Resolution may subsequently be adopted with respect to the relevant Clause (i) Event while it continues to exist, in which event a “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this definition upon the effective date of such Including Resolution. The provisions of this paragraph of the definition of “Change in Control” relate only to situations where a Clause (i) Event has occurred and no Change in Control within the meaning of clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of the preceding paragraph has occurred, and nothing in this paragraph shall derogate from the principle that the occurrence of an event described in clause (ii), (iii), or (iv) of the preceding paragraph shall be deemed an immediate Change in Control regardless of whether or not a Clause (i) Event has occurred and an Excluding Resolution or Including Resolution become effective.

 

10. Beneficiary

The Beneficiary of a Key Employee shall be the Key Employee’s estate, which shall be entitled to receive the Award, if any, payable under the Plan upon his or her death. A Key Employee may file with the Company a written designation of one or more persons as a Beneficiary in lieu of his or her estate, who shall be entitled to receive the Award, if


any, payable under the Plan upon his or her death, subject to the enforceability of the designation under applicable law at that time. A Key Employee may from time-to-time revoke or change his or her Beneficiary designation, with or without the consent of any prior Beneficiary as required by applicable law, by filing a new designation with the Company. Subject to the foregoing, the last such designation received by the Company shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Company prior to the Key Employee’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If the Committee is in doubt as to the right of any person to receive such Award, the Company may retain such Award, without liability for any interest thereon, until the Committee determines the rights thereto, or the Company may pay such Award into any court of appropriate jurisdiction and such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Company therefore.

 

11. Administration of the Plan

(a) Each member of the Committee shall be both a member of the Board, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) under the Act or successor rule or regulation and an “outside director “ within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) All decisions, determinations or actions of the Committee made or taken pursuant to grants of authority under the Plan shall be made or taken in the sole discretion of the Committee and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes.

(c) The Committee shall have full power, discretion and authority to interpret, construe and administer the Plan and any part thereof, and its interpretations and constructions thereof and actions taken thereunder shall be, except as otherwise determined by the Board, final, conclusive and binding on all persons for all purposes.

(d) The Committee’s decisions and determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Key Employees, whether or not such Key Employees are similarly situated.

(e) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, delegate such of its powers as it deems appropriate; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its responsibility (i) to make Awards to executive officers of the Company; (ii) to make Awards that are intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code; or (iii) to certify the satisfaction of Performance Objectives pursuant to Section 6(d) or in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may also appoint agents to assist in the day-to-day administration of the Plan and may delegate the authority to execute documents under the Plan to one or more members of the Committee or to one or more officers of the Company.

(f) If a Change in Control has not occurred and if the Committee determines that a Key Employee has taken action inimical to the best interests of any Participating Company, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, terminate in whole or in part such portion of any Option (including any related Right) as has not yet become exercisable at


the time of termination, terminate any Performance Share Award for which the Performance Period has not been completed or terminate any Award of Restricted Stock for which the Restriction Period has not lapsed.

 

12. Amendment, Extension or Termination

The Board may, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan and, specifically, may make such modifications to the Plan as it deems necessary to avoid the application of Section 162(m) of the Code and the Treasury regulations issued thereunder. However, no amendment shall, without approval by a majority of the Company’s stockholders, (a) alter the group of persons eligible to participate in the Plan, (b) except as provided in Section 13 increase the maximum number of shares of Stock that are available for Awards under the Plan, or (c) except for adjustments pursuant to Section 13 or as otherwise provided for in the Plan, decrease the Option price for any outstanding Option or Right after the date the Option or Right is granted, or cancel or accept the surrender of any outstanding Option or Right at a time when its exercise price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying Stock, in exchange for another Award, cash or other property or the grant of a new Option or Right with a lower price than the Option or Right being surrendered. If a Change in Control has occurred, no amendment or termination shall impair the rights of any person with respect to a prior Award.

 

13. Adjustments in Event of Change in Common Stock

In the event of any recapitalization, reclassification, split-up or consolidation of shares of Stock or stock dividend, merger or consolidation of the Company or sale by the Company of all or a portion of its assets, the Committee shall make such adjustments in the Stock subject to Awards, including Stock subject to purchase by an Option, or the terms, conditions or restrictions on Stock or Awards, including the price payable upon the exercise of such Option, as the Committee deems equitable; provided however, that in the event of a stock split, stock dividend or consolidation of shares, the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option and the exercise price thereof, and the number of outstanding Performance Shares, shall be proportionately adjusted to reflect such action. With respect to Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, such adjustments shall be made only to the extent that the Committee determines that such adjustments may be made without a loss of deductibility for such Awards under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

14. Forfeiture of Gains on Exercise

Except following a Change in Control, if the Key Employee terminates employment in breach of any covenants and conditions subsequent set forth in Section 15 and becomes employed by a competitor of the Company within one year after the date of exercise of any Option or the receipt of any Award, the Key Employee shall pay to the Company an amount equal to any gain from the exercise of the Option or the value of the Award other than Options, in each case measured by the amount reported as taxable compensation to the Key Employee by the Company for federal income tax purposes and in the case of Options that are incentive stock options, in an amount equal to the amount that would have been reported as taxable income were such Options not incentive stock options, and in each case without regard to any subsequent fluctuation in the market price


of the shares of common stock of the Company. Any such amount due hereunder shall be paid by the Key Employee within thirty days of becoming employed by a competitor. By accepting an Option or other Award hereunder, the Key Employee is authorizing the Company to withhold, to the extent permitted by law, the amount owed to the Company hereunder from any amounts that the Company may owe to the Key Employee in any capacity whatsoever.

 

15. Conditions Subsequent

Except after a Change in Control, the exercise of any Option or Right and the receipt of any Award shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions subsequent: (i) that Key Employee refrain from engaging in any activity that in the opinion of the Committee is competitive with any activity of the Company or any Subsidiary, excluding any activity undertaken upon the written approval or request of the Company, (ii) that Key Employee refrain from otherwise acting in a manner inimical or in any way contrary to the best interests of the Company, and (iii) that the Key Employee furnish the Company such information with respect to the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions subsequent as the Committee shall reasonably request. In addition, except as may otherwise be excused by action of the Committee, the Key Employee by the exercise of the Option or the receipt of the Award agrees to remain in the employ of the Company, unless earlier terminated by the Company or by the Key Employee by reason of his or her death, disability or retirement.

 

16. Miscellaneous

(a) Except as provided in Section 9, nothing in this Plan or any Award granted hereunder shall confer upon any employee any right to continue in the employ of any Participating Company or interfere in any way with the right of any Participating Company to terminate his or her employment at any time. No Award payable under the Plan shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan or other arrangement of any Participating Company for the benefit of its employees unless the Company shall determine otherwise. No Key Employee shall have any claim to an Award until it is actually granted under the Plan. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as provided in Section 7(e) with respect to Restricted Stock.

(b) The Committee may cause to be made, as a condition precedent to the payment of any Award, or otherwise, appropriate arrangements with the Key Employee or his or her Beneficiary, for the withholding of any federal, state, local or foreign taxes.

(c) The Plan and the grant of Awards shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required.


(d) The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(e) Captions preceding the sections hereof are inserted solely as a matter of convenience and in no way define or limit the scope or intent of any provision hereof.

(f) To the extent Awards issued under the Plan are intended to be exempt from the application of Section 162(m) of the Code, which restricts under certain circumstances the Federal income tax deduction for compensation paid by a public company to named executives in excess of $1 million per year, the Committee may, without stockholder approval, amend the Plan retroactively or prospectively to the extent it determines necessary in order to comply with any subsequent clarification of Section 162(m) of the Code required to preserve the Company’s Federal income tax deduction for compensation paid pursuant to the Plan.

(g) To the extent applicable, the Plan is intended to be compliant with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted and administered accordingly, though no guarantee or warranty of such compliance is made to any individual.

 

17. Effective Date, Term of Plan and Shareholder Approval

This Plan shall become effective upon Shareholder Approval on May 27, 2014 (the “Effective Date”). The Plan will continue in effect for existing Awards as long as any such Award is outstanding. Unless the Company determines otherwise, Section 6 of the Plan and the definition of “Performance Goal” shall be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for Shareholder Approval at such time as may be required by Section 162(m) of the Code and in accordance with the requirements thereof.

Exhibit 10.14

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NON-EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1. Purpose

The Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Non-Equity Incentive Plan is the vehicle through which the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Rayonier Advanced Materials Board of Directors will make cash incentive awards to key personnel, referred to as Designated Employees, that have an impact on the Company’s, or its Affiliates, achievement of annual or other short-term Performance Objectives, as determined by the Committee or established at its direction, from time to time. The Plan is effected through one or more Bonus Programs adopted periodically by the Committee and made effective for designated Performance Periods or until such time as the particular Bonus Program is modified or terminated.

 

2. Definitions

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms have the indicated definitions. Terms not defined in the Plan have the same meaning as under the Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Incentive Stock Plan.

(a) “ Affiliate ” means, with respect to the Company, any person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company. For purposes of this definition, the term “controlled by” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

(b) “ Beneficiary ” means the estate of a Designated Employee or such other beneficiary or beneficiaries lawfully designated pursuant to Section 6(h) to receive the amount, if any, payable under the Plan upon the death of a Designated Employee.

(c) “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(d) “ Bonus Award ” means the right of a Designated Employee to receive a cash payment pursuant to a Bonus Program under the Plan following the completion of a Performance Period based upon achievement of individual, group or Company Performance Objectives in respect of one or more Performance Goals during the Performance Period and with respect to Designated Employees who are not Covered Executive, based on such other measures as the Committee determines appropriate in respect of the Performance Period. The Bonus Award shall become payable to the extent the Performance Objectives established by, or pursuant to the instructions of, the Committee are satisfied as determined by the Committee in accordance with the rules applicable to the Bonus Program.

(e) “ Bonus Program ” means the particular terms applicable to Bonus Awards for a Performance Period as determined by the Committee not later than the Outside Rules Date.

 

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(f) “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended and the applicable regulations thereunder. (All citations to sections of the Code are to such sections as they may from time to time be amended or renumbered.)

(g) “ Committee ” means the Compensation and Management Development Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board assigned by the Board to administer the Plan.

(h) “ Company ” means Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation, including any successor thereto by merger, consolidation, acquisition of all or substantially all the assets thereof, or otherwise.

(i) “ Covered Executive ” means a Designated Employee whose compensation is required to be reported to shareholders in the Company’s proxy statement in respect of any year to the extent that the deduction for amounts payable to such Designated Employee in respect of such year are subject to the Section 162(m) Rules or who is otherwise so designated by the Committee or under rules established by the Committee.

(j) “ Designated Employees ” means with respect to any applicable Performance Period, the Covered Executives and other employees of the Company or any Affiliate designated by the Committee as eligible to receive Bonus Awards for a particular Bonus Program, which designation may be made by reference to salary grade or otherwise, and which designation in the case of a Covered Executive shall be made prior to the Outside Rules Date.

(k) “ Outside Rules Date ” means the date that is not later than the earlier of (i) the date that is 90 days after the commencement of the Performance Period and (ii) the day prior to the date on which 25% of the Performance Period has elapsed, or such other date by which the related action must be taken in accordance with the Section 162(m) Rules in respect of a Covered Executive.

(l) “ Performance Goals ” means the performance goals established by the Committee in connection with a Bonus Program. In the case of Bonus Awards for Covered Executives and other Designated Employees, such goals shall be based on or expressed in terms of one or more of the following business criteria: (i) net income, (ii) earnings per share, (iii) operating income, (iv) operating cash flow, (v) earnings before income taxes and depreciation, (vi) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, (vii) operating margins (viii) reductions in operating expenses, (ix) sales or return on sales, (x) total stockholder return, (xi) return on equity, (xii) return on total capital, (xiii) return on invested capital, (xiv) return on assets, (xv) economic value added, (xvi) cost reductions and savings, (xvii) increase in surplus, (xviii) productivity improvements, and (xix) cash available for distribution, and, in the case of Designated Employees other than Covered Executives, may include (xx) an executive’s attainment of personal objectives with respect to any of the foregoing criteria or other criteria such as growth and profitability, customer satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, business development, negotiating transactions and sales or developing long term business goals. A Performance Goal may be measured over a Performance Period on a periodic, annual, cumulative or average basis and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or established with respect to one or more operating units, divisions, subsidiaries, acquired businesses, minority investments, partnerships or joint ventures. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Performance Goals will be determined using GAAP consistently applied during a Performance Period by no later than the Outside Rules Date.

 

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(m) “ Performance Objective ” means the level or levels of performance required to be attained with respect to specified Performance Goals in order that a Designated Employee shall become entitled to specified rights in connection with a Bonus Award. The level or levels of performance specified with respect to a Performance Goal may be established in absolute terms, as objectives relative to performance in prior periods, as an objective compared to the performance of one or more peer companies or an index covering multiple companies, or otherwise as the Committee may determine.

(n) “ Performance Period ” means a Plan Year or any other period designated by the Committee with respect to which Bonus Awards are granted under the applicable Bonus Program.

(o) “ Plan ” means this Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Non-Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor hereto.

(p) “ Plan Year ” shall mean the calendar year or, if different and so designated by the Committee, the fiscal year of the Company.

(q) “ Section 162(m) Rules ” means the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, or any successor thereto, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and any applicable guidance issued in respect thereof.

(r) “Section 409A Rules ” means the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, or any successor thereto, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and any applicable guidance issued in respect thereof.

(s) “Stock Plan” means the Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Incentive Stock Plan, as amended from time to time.

(t) “ Target Award ” means with respect to a Designated Employee, the amount, which may be expressed as the percentage of the Designated Employee’s base salary as in effect on the last day of a Plan Year (or if the Performance Period shall include more than one Plan Year, then unless the Committee shall have established otherwise, as in effect on the last day of each Plan Year within such Performance Period applied separately to each such year) or such other amount as may be designated by the Committee for the Designated Employee pursuant to the Bonus Program applicable to the Performance Period.

 

3. Administration of the Plan

(a) Administration . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the power to do all things necessary or convenient to effect the intent and purposes of the Plan consistent with the provisions hereof, including without limitation, the power to:

(i) determine the terms and conditions of each Bonus Program under the Plan, including the Performance Goals and Performance Objectives thereunder;

 

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(ii) select those employees of the Company or any Affiliate who shall be Designated Employees to whom Bonus Awards shall be granted pursuant to a Bonus Program under the Plan;

(iii) determine the amount to be paid pursuant to each Bonus Award;

(iv) determine whether and the extent to which the conditions to the payment of a Bonus Award have been satisfied;

(v) provide rules and regulations from time to time for the management, operation and administration of the Plan and the Bonus Programs;

(vi) construe the Plan and the Bonus Programs, which construction shall be final and conclusive upon all parties; and

(vii) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and any Bonus Programs in such manner and to such extent as it shall deem expedient.

The resolution of any questions with respect to payments and entitlements pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and any Bonus Programs shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion, and all such determinations shall be final and binding.

(b) Delegation of Authority . The Committee may delegate to an officer of the Company, or a committee of two or more officers of the Company, discretion under the Plan or any Bonus Program, to grant, amend, interpret and administer Bonus Awards with respect to any Designated Employee other than a Covered Executive.

 

4. Eligibility

Awards may be granted only to employees of the Company and its Affiliates, as determined by the Committee and who are identified as Designated Employees with respect to a Bonus Program. No Awards shall be granted to an individual who is not an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. No employee shall, at any time, have a right to become a Designated Employee in the Bonus Program for any Performance Period, for any reason, including notwithstanding the individual’s having previously participated in the Bonus Program.

 

5. Procedures Applicable to Bonus Programs and Bonus Awards

(a) Bonus Programs . The Committee shall determine the scope of the Bonus Program for a particular Performance Period and, pursuant thereto, the Committee is authorized to grant Bonus Awards. For each Bonus Program, the Committee shall, in accordance with the terms of the Plan and prior to the Outside Rules Date, set or determine the following:

(i) Identify Designated Employees . The Committee shall determine the Designated Employees, or the class of Designated Employees, who will participate in the Bonus Program for the particular Performance Period.

(ii) Identify Performance Goals and Establish Performance Objectives . The Committee shall identify the Performance Goals and the parameters of the Performance

 

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Objectives to be applied for the Performance Period, including any applicable weightings to be given in respect of the Performance Goals for each Designated Employee or class of Designated Employees, and in this connection the Committee may:

(1) establish the Performance Objectives as consisting of one or more levels of performance with respect to a given Performance Goal;

(2) cause the Performance Objectives to differ for Bonus Awards among different Designated Employees;

(3) provide that more than one Performance Goal is incorporated in a Performance Objective, in which case achievement with respect to each Performance Goal may be assessed individually or in combination with each other; and

(4) establish a matrix setting forth the relationship between performance on two or more Performance Goals and allocate the amount of a Bonus Award among Performance Goals.

(iii) Set Target Awards . The Committee shall establish a Target Award for the Performance Period for each Designated Employee or class of Designated Employees in the Bonus Program, including for each Covered Executive.

(iv) Set Discretionary Variation Percentages . In the case of Designated Employees who are not Covered Executives, the Committee shall establish the percentage by which individual Bonus Awards may be increased or decreased based upon the Designated Employee’s performance against identified individual objectives established for such Designated Employee or class of Designated Employees.

(b) Duration of the Performance Periods . The Committee shall establish the duration of each Performance Period at the time that it sets the Performance Objectives for the Bonus Program applicable to that Performance Period. The Committee shall be authorized to permit overlapping or consecutive Performance Periods.

(c) Bonus Awards . The following terms shall apply to Bonus Awards generally under any Bonus Program:

(i) Conditional Right . Bonus Awards shall represent the conditional right of a Designated Employee to receive cash, based upon achievement of one or more pre-established Performance Objectives during a Performance Period. Bonus Awards shall be subject to such conditions, including deferral of settlement, risks of forfeiture and other terms and conditions as shall be specified by the Committee.

(ii) Non-Uniformity of Awards . The provisions of Bonus Awards need not be the same with respect to each Designated Employee.

(iii) Bonus Pools . In the Committee’s discretion, Bonus Awards may take the form of a percentage of a bonus pool the magnitude of which shall be determined in a manner consistent with the determination of individual Bonus Awards based on individual Performance Objectives for all of the members in the pool, with the time period for establishing the magnitude

 

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of the pool and the fixing of the applicable percentage available to any individual, which shall be determined in accordance with the requirements of the Section 162(m) Rules with respect to the individuals eligible to receive Bonus Awards from the pool to the extent applicable to such individuals.

(iv) Time of Payment . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, any amounts payable in respect of Bonus Awards for a Performance Period will generally be paid as soon as practicable at the end of the Performance Period and not later than March 15th of the year following the Performance Period or at such other time as to allow the payment to be a “short term deferral” or otherwise not subject to Section 409A of the Code, as determined under the Section 409A Rules; provided that, the payment of a Bonus Award to a Covered Executive shall not be made prior to the certification required by Section 5(e)(ii) , below.

(v) Deferral of Payment . Subject to such terms, conditions and administrative guidelines as the Committee shall specify from time to time, a Designated Employee shall have the right to elect to defer receipt of part or all of any payment due with respect to a Bonus Award.

(d) Adjustments to Bonus Awards and Performance Objectives .

(i) The Committee is authorized at any time during or after a Performance Period to reduce or eliminate the Bonus Award of any Designated Employee for any reason, including, without limitation, changes in the position or duties of any Designated Employee with the Company or an Affiliate during or after a Performance Period, whether due to any termination of employment (including death, disability, retirement, voluntary termination or termination with or without cause) or otherwise.

(ii) To the extent necessary to preserve the intended economic effects of the Plan to the Company and the Designated Employees, the Committee shall adjust Performance Objectives, the Bonus Awards or both to take into account: (A) a change in corporate capitalization, (B) a corporate transaction, such as any merger of the Company or any subsidiary into another corporation, any consolidation of the Company or any subsidiary into another corporation, any separation of the Company or any subsidiary (including a spin-off or the distribution of stock or property of the Company or any subsidiary), any reorganization of the Company or any subsidiary or a large, special and non-recurring dividend paid or distributed by the Company (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of Section 368 of the Code), (C) any partial or complete liquidation of the Company or any subsidiary or (D) a change in accounting or other relevant rules or regulations; provided , however , that (x) no adjustment hereunder shall be authorized or made if and to the extent that the Committee determines that such authorization or the making of such adjustment would cause the Bonus Awards for any Covered Executive that are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under the Section 162(m) Rules to fail to so qualify, and (y) any adjustment pursuant to clause (D) shall be subject to the timing requirements of the last sentence of the definition of Performance Goal.

 

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(e) Additional Rules Applicable to Covered Executives .

(i) Section 162(m) Rules . Performance Objectives for any Covered Executive shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of the Section 162(m) Rules. If any provision of this Bonus Program would cause a Performance Bonus Award not to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) with respect to a Covered Executive, that provision shall be severed from, and shall be deemed not to be a part of, the Bonus Program, in respect of such Covered Executive but the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that changes are made to the Section 162(m) Rules to permit greater flexibility under a Bonus Program as applied to Covered Executives, the Committee may make any adjustments it deems appropriate.

(ii) Certification . Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing, in accordance with the requirements of the Section 162(m) Rules, whether the Performance Objective and other material terms for paying amounts in respect of each Bonus Award for any Covered Executive related to that Performance Period have been achieved or met. Bonus Awards for a Covered Executive shall not be settled until the Committee has made the certification required hereby.

(iii) Maximum Amount Payable per Covered Executive . A Covered Executive shall not be granted Bonus Awards for all of the Performance Periods commencing in a calendar year that permit the Covered Executive in the aggregate to earn a payment in excess of 200% of the Covered Executive’s base salary in effect at the end of such calendar year.

(iv) Reduction in Bonus Award for Covered Executives . Notwithstanding the determination of the amount of a Covered Executive’s Bonus Award payable with respect to any Bonus Program, the Committee shall have the discretion to reduce or eliminate the Bonus Award otherwise payable to a Covered Executive if it determines that such a reduction or elimination of the bonus is in the best interests of the Company.

(f) Termination of Employment . In the event a Designated Employee terminates employment for any reason during a Performance Period or prior to the Bonus Award payment, he or she (or his or her Beneficiary, in the case of death) shall not be entitled to receive any Bonus Award for such Performance Period unless the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, elects to pay all or any part of a Bonus Award to such Designated Employee (or his or her Beneficiary, if applicable).

 

6. Miscellaneous Provisions

(a) No Right Prior to Making of Bonus Award . No Designated Employee shall have any claim or right to be granted or be paid a Bonus Award under the Bonus Program until such Bonus Award is actually determined by the Committee and any conditions applicable to payment of such Bonus Award are satisfied.

(b) Unsecured Creditor Status . No Designated Employee or any other party claiming an interest in amounts earned under the Bonus Program shall have any interest whatsoever in any specific asset of the Company. To the extent that any person or entity acquires a right to receive payments under the Bonus Program, such rights shall be that of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

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(c) Non-Assignment of Awards . With the exception of payments made following the death of a Designated Employee, the rights and benefits of a Designated Employee hereunder are personal to the Designated Employee and shall not be subject to any voluntary or involuntary alienation, assignment, pledge, transfer, encumbrance, attachment, garnishment or other disposition.

(d) Other Company Plans . Nothing contained in this Bonus Program shall limit the ability of the Company to make payments or awards to Designated Employees under any other plan, agreement or arrangement in effect at time the Bonus Program is established or upon a subsequent date. Bonus Awards under this Bonus Program shall not constitute compensation for the purpose of determining participation or benefits under any other plan of the Company unless specifically included as compensation in such plan.

(e) No Employment Right . Neither the existence of this Plan, nor any action taken hereunder, shall be construed as giving any Designated Employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company or in any way interfere with or limit the right of the Company to terminate any Designated Employee’s employment at any time.

(f) Withholding . The Company shall withhold the amount of any federal, state, local or other tax, charge or assessment attributable to the grant of any Bonus Award or lapse of restrictions under any Bonus Award as it may deem necessary or appropriate, in its sole discretion. The Company shall have the right to deduct from a Bonus Award or from any other amounts due the Designated Employee from the Company, any other amounts required or permitted to be withheld by law.

(g) Committee Discretion and Authority . All questions pertaining to the construction, regulation, validity and effect of the provisions of the Bonus Program shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

(h) Beneficiary . The Beneficiary of a Designated Employee shall be the Designated Employee’s estate, which shall be entitled to receive the Bonus Award, if any, payable under the Plan upon his or her death. A Designated Employee may file with the Company a written designation of one or more persons as a Beneficiary in lieu of his or her estate, who shall be entitled to receive the Bonus Award, if any, payable under the Plan upon his or her death, subject to the enforceability of the designation under applicable law at that time. A Designated Employee may from time-to-time revoke or change his or her Beneficiary designation, with or without the consent of any prior Beneficiary as required by applicable law, by filing a new designation with the Company. Subject to the foregoing, the last such designation received by the Company shall be controlling; provided, however, that no designation, or change or revocation thereof, shall be effective unless received by the Company prior to the Designated Employee’s death, and in no event shall it be effective as of a date prior to such receipt. If the Committee is in doubt as to the right of any person to receive such Bonus Award, the Company may retain such Bonus Award, without liability for any interest thereon, until the Committee determines the rights thereto, or the Company may pay such Bonus Award into any court of appropriate jurisdiction and such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Company therefore.

 

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7. Amendment and Termination

The Committee may amend, suspend, modify or terminate this Plan or a Bonus Program at any time.

 

8. Effective Date

The effective date of the Plan is May 27, 2014

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

June [ ], 2014

Dear Rayonier Inc. Shareholder:

Earlier this year, we announced plans to separate our performance fibers business from our forest resources and real estate businesses. The separation will occur by means of a spin-off of a newly formed company named Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“SpinCo”), which will contain the Performance Fibers segment of Rayonier Inc. (“Rayonier”). Rayonier, the existing publicly traded company, will continue to manage its forest resources and real estate businesses. As two distinct publicly traded companies, Rayonier and SpinCo will be better positioned to capitalize on significant growth opportunities and focus resources on their respective businesses and strategic priorities.

Both of these companies will be industry-leading in terms of both products and services. With 2.6 million acres of high-quality timber and real estate holdings in the United States and New Zealand, Rayonier will continue to be an international leader in the forest resources industry, with a strong capital structure and greater ability to focus its capital deployment strategy on growing its timberland base. SpinCo will continue to be the world’s largest producer of high-value specialty cellulose fibers, which are used in a variety of products, including cigarette filters, liquid crystal displays, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, cosmetics, impact-resistant plastics, and food casings.

The separation will provide current Rayonier shareholders with equity ownership in both Rayonier and SpinCo. We expect that the separation will be tax-free to Rayonier shareholders and have requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the tax-free nature of the separation.

The separation will be effected by means of a pro rata distribution of 100% of the outstanding shares of SpinCo common stock to holders of Rayonier common shares. Each Rayonier shareholder will receive one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares held as of the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution. No vote of Rayonier shareholders is required for distribution. You do not need to take any action to receive shares of SpinCo common stock to which you are entitled as a Rayonier shareholder, and you do not need to pay any consideration or surrender or exchange your Rayonier common shares.

I encourage you to read the attached information statement, which is being provided to all Rayonier shareholders who held shares on the record date for the distribution. The information statement describes the separation in detail and contains important business and financial information about SpinCo.

I believe the separation provides tremendous opportunities for our businesses and our shareholders, as we work to continue building long-term shareholder value. We appreciate your continuing support of Rayonier, and look forward to your future support of both companies.

Sincerely,

LOGO

Paul G. Boynton

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Rayonier Inc.


Table of Contents

LOGO

June [ ], 2014

Dear Future Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Stockholder:

I am pleased to welcome you as a future stockholder of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“SpinCo”), whose common stock we intend to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYAM”. Although we are newly independent, we have long been the world leader in the production of high purity specialty cellulose fibers. With more than 85 years of experience, we have unparalleled knowledge and expertise in this business, which translates into superior quality, customer focus and service.

Our high-value cellulose specialties are derived from wood that has been processed into custom fibers using SpinCo’s proprietary knowledge to achieve customers’ exacting specifications. In 2013, we generated $1.0 billion in sales and $289 million in operating income. Our strong cash flow has allowed us to invest in additional capacity and successfully complete a $385 million project to expand capacity by approximately 190,000 metric tons in 2013.

As explained in the attached information statement, we intend to capitalize on our differentiated product offering, strengthen our leadership position in the manufacture of the highest value-added cellulose specialties and drive growth opportunities, as well as continue to focus on operational excellence and maximize cash flow. As a newly independent company, we believe that our leading positions, culture of innovation, technologically-advanced operations, long-term relationships and demonstrated financial resilience will enable us to meet these goals.

Our stockholder value proposition is simple: provide superior returns to SpinCo stockholders by maintaining our leadership position in cellulose specialties production, investing in the growth of our newly stand-alone company and generating strong cash flows.

We invite you to learn more about SpinCo and our strategic initiatives by reading the attached information statement. We thank you in advance for your support as a future stockholder of SpinCo.

Sincerely,

LOGO

Paul G. Boynton

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.


Table of Contents

Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A Registration Statement on Form 10 relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 29, 2014

INFORMATION STATEMENT

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

This information statement is being furnished in connection with the distribution by Rayonier Inc. (“Rayonier”) to its shareholders of all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“SpinCo”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier that will hold directly or indirectly the assets and liabilities associated with Rayonier’s performance fibers business. To implement the distribution, Rayonier will distribute all of the shares of SpinCo common stock on a pro rata basis to Rayonier shareholders in a manner that is intended to be tax-free in the United States.

For every three common shares of Rayonier held of record by you as of the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution, you will receive one share of SpinCo common stock. You will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of SpinCo common stock that you would have received after application of the above ratio. As discussed under “The Separation and Distribution—Trading Between the Record Date and Distribution Date,” if you sell your Rayonier common shares in the “regular-way” market after the record date and before the distribution, you also will be selling your right to receive shares of SpinCo common stock in connection with the separation. SpinCo expects the shares of SpinCo common stock to be distributed by Rayonier to you at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 27, 2014. SpinCo refers to the date of the distribution of the SpinCo common stock as the “distribution date.”

No vote of Rayonier shareholders is required for the distribution. Therefore, you are not being asked for a proxy, and you are requested not to send Rayonier a proxy, in connection with the distribution. You do not need to pay any consideration, exchange or surrender your existing Rayonier common shares or take any other action to receive your shares of SpinCo common stock.

There is no current trading market for SpinCo common stock, although SpinCo expects that a limited market, commonly known as a “when-issued” trading market, will develop on or shortly before the record date for the distribution, and SpinCo expects “regular-way” trading of SpinCo common stock to begin on the first trading day following the completion of the distribution. SpinCo has applied to have its common stock authorized for listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYAM.” Following the spin-off, Rayonier will continue to trade under the symbol “RYN.”

In reviewing this information statement, you should carefully consider the matters described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 19.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this information statement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This information statement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

The date of this information statement is June [ ], 2014.

This information statement was first mailed to Rayonier shareholders on or about June [ ], 2014.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Questions and Answers about the Separation and Distribution

     1   

Information Statement Summary

     7   

Risk Factors

     19   

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

     34   

The Separation and Distribution

     36   

Dividend Policy

     42   

Capitalization

     43   

Selected Historical Combined Financial Data of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

     44   

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

     45   

Business

     55   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation

     66   

Management

     81   

Directors

     83   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     90   

Executive Compensation

     104   

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

     124   

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

     132   

Description of Material Indebtedness

     135   

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

     138   

Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock

     140   

Where You Can Find More Information

     144   

Index to Financial Statements and Schedule

     145   


Table of Contents

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION

 

What is SpinCo and why is Rayonier separating SpinCo’s business and distributing SpinCo stock?    SpinCo, which is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier, was formed to own and operate Rayonier’s performance fibers business. The separation of SpinCo from Rayonier and the distribution of SpinCo common stock are intended to provide you with equity ownership in two separate, publicly traded companies that will be able to focus exclusively on each of their respective businesses. Rayonier and SpinCo expect that the separation will result in enhanced long-term performance of each business for the reasons discussed in the sections entitled “The Separation and Distribution—Reasons for the Separation.”
Why am I receiving this document?    Rayonier is delivering this document to you because you are a holder of Rayonier common shares. If you are a holder of Rayonier common shares as of the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date of the distribution, you will be entitled to receive one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares that you held at the close of business on such date. This document will help you understand how the separation and distribution will affect your post-separation ownership in Rayonier and SpinCo, respectively.
How will the separation of SpinCo from Rayonier work?    To accomplish the separation, Rayonier will distribute all of the outstanding shares of SpinCo common stock to Rayonier shareholders on a pro rata basis as a distribution intended to be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Why is the separation of SpinCo structured as a distribution?    Rayonier believes that a tax-free distribution of shares in the United States of SpinCo stock to the Rayonier shareholders is an efficient way to separate its performance fibers business in a manner that will create long-term value for Rayonier, SpinCo and their respective shareholders.
What is the record date for the distribution?    The record date for the distribution will be June 18, 2014.
When will the distribution occur?    It is expected that all of the shares of SpinCo common stock will be distributed by Rayonier at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 27, 2014 to holders of record of Rayonier common shares at the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution.
What do shareholders need to do to participate in the distribution?    Shareholders of Rayonier as of the record date for the distribution will not be required to take any action to receive SpinCo common stock in the distribution, but you are urged to read this entire information statement carefully. No shareholder approval of the distribution is required. You are not being asked for a proxy. You do not need to pay any consideration, exchange or surrender your existing Rayonier common shares or take any other action to receive your shares of SpinCo common stock. Please do not send in your Rayonier stock certificates. The distribution will not affect the number of outstanding Rayonier common shares or any rights of Rayonier shareholders, although it will affect the market value of each outstanding Rayonier common share.
How will shares of SpinCo common stock be issued?    You will receive shares of SpinCo common stock through the same channels that you currently use to hold or trade Rayonier common shares, whether through a brokerage account, 401(k) plan or other channel. Receipt of SpinCo shares will be documented for you in the same manner that you typically receive shareholder updates, such as monthly broker statements and 401(k) statements.

 

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Table of Contents
   If you own Rayonier common shares as of the close of business on the record date for the distribution, including shares owned in certificate form, Rayonier, with the assistance of Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the distribution agent, will electronically distribute shares of SpinCo common stock to you or to your brokerage firm on your behalf in book-entry form. Computershare will mail you a book-entry account statement that reflects your shares of SpinCo common stock, or your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the shares. If you own Rayonier common shares through the Rayonier dividend reinvestment plan, the SpinCo shares you receive will be distributed to a new SpinCo dividend reinvestment plan account that will be created for you.
If I was enrolled in the Rayonier dividend reinvestment plan, will I automatically be enrolled in the SpinCo dividend reinvestment plan?    Yes. If you elected to have your Rayonier cash dividends applied toward the purchase of additional Rayonier common shares, the SpinCo shares you receive in the distribution will be automatically enrolled in the SpinCo dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by Computershare (SpinCo’s transfer agent and registrar), unless you notify Computershare that you do not want to reinvest any SpinCo cash dividends in additional SpinCo shares. For contact information for Computershare, see “Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock—Transfer Agent and Registrar.”
How many shares of SpinCo common stock will I receive in the distribution?    Rayonier will distribute to you one share of SpinCo common stock for every three common shares of Rayonier held by you as of close of business on the record date for the distribution. Based on approximately 126.5 million Rayonier common shares outstanding as of May 27, 2014, a total of approximately 42.2 million shares of SpinCo common stock will be distributed. For additional information on the distribution, see “The Separation and Distribution.”
Will SpinCo issue fractional shares of its common stock in the distribution?    No. SpinCo will not issue fractional shares of its common stock in the distribution. Fractional shares that Rayonier shareholders would otherwise have been entitled to receive will be aggregated and sold in the public market by the distribution agent. The aggregate net cash proceeds of these sales will be distributed pro rata (based on the fractional share such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive) to those shareholders who would otherwise have been entitled to receive fractional shares. Recipients of cash in lieu of fractional shares will not be entitled to any interest on the amounts of payment made in lieu of fractional shares.
What are the conditions to the distribution?    The distribution is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Rayonier in its sole discretion) of the following conditions:
  

•     the transfer of assets and liabilities from Rayonier to SpinCo shall be completed in accordance with the distribution agreement;

  

•     Rayonier shall have received a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (or the “IRS”) to the effect that, among other things, the contribution by Rayonier of assets and liabilities to SpinCo and the distribution, taken together, will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the “Code”), and certain transactions related to the transfer of assets and liabilities to SpinCo in connection with the separation will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss to Rayonier, SpinCo or their shareholders, and such private letter ruling shall not have been revoked or modified in any material respect;

 

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•    Rayonier shall have received an opinion from Rayonier’s outside tax counsel to the effect that with respect to certain requirements for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code on which the IRS will not rule, such requirements will be satisfied;

  

•    the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or the “SEC”) shall have declared effective the registration statement of which this information statement forms a part, and this information statement shall have been mailed to the Rayonier shareholders;

  

•    all actions or filings necessary or appropriate under applicable U.S. federal, U.S. state or other securities laws shall have been taken and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted by the applicable governmental entity;

  

•    the transaction agreements relating to the separation shall have been duly executed and delivered by the parties;

  

•    no order, injunction, or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the separation, distribution or any of the related transactions shall be in effect;

  

•    the shares of SpinCo common stock to be distributed shall have been accepted for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of distribution;

  

•    Rayonier shall have received the proceeds from the cash transfers from SpinCo, as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Separation Agreement—Cash Transfers,” and Rayonier shall be satisfied in its sole and absolute discretion that as of the effective time of the distribution, it shall have no further liability under any of the SpinCo financing arrangements described under “Description of Material Indebtedness”; and

  

•    no other event or development shall exist or have occurred that, in the judgment of Rayonier’s board of directors, in its sole discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the separation, distribution and other related transactions.

 

Rayonier and SpinCo cannot assure you that any or all of these conditions will be met and may also waive any of the conditions to the distribution. In addition, Rayonier can decline at any time to go forward with the separation. For a complete discussion of all of the conditions to the distribution, see “The Separation and Distribution—Conditions to the Distribution.”

What is the expected date of completion of the separation?    The completion and timing of the separation are dependent upon a number of conditions. It is expected that the shares of SpinCo common stock will be distributed by Rayonier at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 27, 2014 to the holders of record of Rayonier common shares at the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution. However, no assurance can be provided as to the timing of the separation or that all conditions to the distribution will be met.

 

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Can Rayonier decide to cancel the distribution of SpinCo common stock even if all the conditions have been met?    Yes. The distribution is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. See the section entitled “The Separation and Distribution—Conditions to the Distribution.” Until the distribution has occurred, Rayonier has the right to terminate the distribution, even if all of the conditions are satisfied.
What if I want to sell my Rayonier common shares or my SpinCo common stock?    You should consult with your financial advisors, such as your stockbroker, bank or tax advisor.
What is “regular-way” and “ex-distribution” trading of Rayonier common shares?    Beginning on or shortly before the record date for the distribution and continuing up to and through the distribution date, it is expected that there will be two markets in Rayonier common shares: a “regular-way” market and an “ex-distribution” market. Rayonier common shares that trade in the “regular-way” market will trade with an entitlement to shares of SpinCo common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Shares that trade in the “ex-distribution” market will trade without an entitlement to shares of SpinCo common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. If you decide to sell any Rayonier common shares before the distribution date, you should make sure your stockbroker, bank or other nominee understands whether you want to sell your Rayonier common shares with or without your entitlement to SpinCo common stock pursuant to the distribution.
Where will I be able to trade shares of SpinCo common stock?    SpinCo has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYAM.” SpinCo anticipates that trading in shares of its common stock will begin on a “when-issued” basis on or shortly before the record date for the distribution and will continue up to and through the distribution date and that “regular-way” trading in SpinCo common stock will begin on the first trading day following the completion of the separation. If trading begins on a “when-issued” basis, you may purchase or sell SpinCo common stock up to and through the distribution date, but your transaction will not settle until after the distribution date. SpinCo cannot predict the trading prices for its common stock before, on or after the distribution date.
What will happen to the listing of Rayonier common shares?    Rayonier common shares will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange after the distribution under the symbol “RYN.”
Will the number of Rayonier common shares that I own change as a result of the distribution?    No. The number of Rayonier common shares that you own will not change as a result of the distribution.
Will the distribution affect the market price of my Rayonier common shares?    Yes. As a result of the distribution, Rayonier expects the trading price of Rayonier common shares immediately following the distribution to be lower than the “regular-way” trading price of such shares immediately prior to the distribution because the trading price will no longer reflect the value of the performance fibers business. There can be no assurance that the aggregate market value of the Rayonier common shares and the SpinCo common stock following the separation will be higher or lower than the market value of Rayonier common shares if the separation did not occur. This means, for example, that the combined trading prices of one Rayonier common share and one share of SpinCo common stock after the distribution may be equal to, greater than or less than the trading price of one Rayonier common share before the distribution.

 

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What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the contribution and the distribution?    It is a condition to the completion of the distribution that Rayonier receive a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that, among other things, the contribution of assets and liabilities from Rayonier to SpinCo and the distribution, taken together, will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and that such ruling shall not have been revoked or modified in any material respect. In addition, it is a condition to the completion of the distribution that Rayonier receive an opinion from outside tax counsel to the effect that, with respect to certain requirements for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code on which the IRS will not rule, such requirements will be satisfied. Under the private letter ruling from the IRS, the contribution of assets and liabilities from Rayonier to SpinCo and the distribution, taken together, will qualify as a reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 and Section 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized by Rayonier in connection with the contribution and distribution and, except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of SpinCo common stock, no gain or loss will be recognized by you, and no amount will be included in your income, upon the receipt of shares of SpinCo common stock in the distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You will, however, recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of SpinCo common stock. For more information regarding the private letter ruling and the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences to SpinCo and to you of the contribution and the distribution, see the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”
How will I determine my tax basis in the SpinCo shares I receive in the distribution?    For U.S. federal income tax purposes, your aggregate basis in the common shares that you hold in Rayonier and the new SpinCo common stock received in the distribution (including any fractional share interest in SpinCo common stock for which cash is received) will equal the aggregate basis in the Rayonier common shares held by you immediately before the distribution, allocated between your Rayonier common shares and the SpinCo common stock (including any fractional share interest in SpinCo common stock for which cash is received) you receive in the distribution in proportion to the relative fair market value of each on the distribution date. You should consult your tax advisor about the particular consequences of the distribution to you, including the application of the tax basis allocation rules and the application of state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.
What will SpinCo’s relationship be with Rayonier following the separation?    SpinCo will enter into a separation and distribution agreement with Rayonier to effect the separation and provide a framework for SpinCo’s relationship with Rayonier after the separation and will enter into certain other agreements, such as a transition services agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement and an intellectual property agreement. These agreements will provide for the separation between SpinCo and Rayonier of the assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including its investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) of Rayonier and its subsidiaries attributable to periods prior to, at and after SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier and will govern the relationship between SpinCo and Rayonier subsequent to the completion of the separation. For additional information regarding the separation and distribution agreement and other transaction agreements, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Separation” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

 

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Who will manage SpinCo after the separation?    SpinCo will benefit from a management team with an extensive background in the performance fibers business. Led by Paul G. Boynton, who will be SpinCo’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer after the separation, SpinCo’s management team will possess deep knowledge of, and extensive experience in, its industry. For more information regarding SpinCo’s management, see “Management.”
Are there risks associated with owning SpinCo common stock?    Yes. Ownership of SpinCo common stock is subject to both general and specific risks relating to SpinCo’s business, the industry in which it operates, its ongoing contractual relationships with Rayonier and its status as a separate, publicly traded company. Ownership of SpinCo common stock is also subject to risks relating to the separation. These risks are described in the “Risk Factors” section of this information statement beginning on page 19. You are encouraged to read that section carefully.
Does SpinCo plan to pay dividends?    SpinCo currently expects that it will initially pay a regular cash dividend. However, the declaration and payment of any dividends in the future by SpinCo will be subject to the sole discretion of its board of directors and will depend upon many factors. See “Dividend Policy.”
Will SpinCo incur any indebtedness prior to or at the time of the distribution?   

Yes. SpinCo anticipates having approximately $950 million of indebtedness upon completion of the separation. On the distribution date, SpinCo anticipates that the debt will consist of $325 million of term loans under the term loan facilities of Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of SpinCo after the separation, borrowings of $75 million under SpinCo’s revolving credit facility and $550 million of corporate bonds issued by Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. See “Description of Material Indebtedness” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to SpinCo’s Business.” Promptly following the distribution, it is anticipated that the $75 million of revolving borrowings by SpinCo will be repaid with the proceeds of a delayed draw term loan expected to be made available to Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. under the term loan facilities described above.

Who will be the distribution agent, transfer agent, registrar and information agent for the SpinCo common stock?    The distribution agent, transfer agent and registrar for the SpinCo common stock will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A. For questions relating to the transfer or mechanics of the stock distribution, you should contact: If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you may call Computershare toll free at (866) 246-0322 or non toll free at (201) 680-6578.
Where can I find more information about Rayonier and SpinCo?   

Before the distribution, if you have any questions relating to Rayonier’s business performance, you should contact:

 

Rayonier Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard

Suite 2300

Jacksonville, Florida 32207

Attention: Investor Relations

 

After the distribution, SpinCo stockholders who have any questions relating to SpinCo’s business performance should contact SpinCo at:

 

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

1301 Riverplace Boulevard

Suite 2300

Jacksonville, Florida 32207

Attention: Investor Relations

 

The SpinCo investor Web site ( rayonieram.com ) will be operational as of June 27, 2014.

 

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INFORMATION STATEMENT SUMMARY

Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the information included in this information statement about Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. assumes the completion of all of the transactions referred to in this information statement in connection with the separation and distribution. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this information statement to “SpinCo” refer to Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its combined subsidiaries. References to SpinCo’s historical business and operations refer to the business and operations of Rayonier’s performance fibers business that will be transferred to SpinCo in connection with the separation and distribution. References in this information statement to “Rayonier” refer to Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“SpinCo”) is the leading global producer of high-purity cellulose, a natural polymer, used as a raw material to manufacture a broad range of consumer-oriented products such as cigarette filters, liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints and lacquers. Purified cellulose is an organic material primarily derived from either wood or cotton and sold as cellulose specialties or commodity viscose, depending on its purity level. Cellulose specialties typically contain over 95% cellulose, while commodity viscose typically contains less than 95% cellulose. Cellulose specialties generally command a price premium, earn higher margins and benefit from greater demand stability through the economic cycle relative to commodity viscose.

SpinCo’s cellulose specialties require high levels of purity, process knowledge and are custom engineered and manufactured to customers’ exacting specifications. SpinCo’s customers (primarily specialty chemical companies) place a high premium on products that have great impact in terms of form, function and composition as they modify SpinCo’s fibers through various chemical reactions, which require high purity and uniformity for efficient production. As a result, cellulose specialties require a stringent qualification process as any inconsistencies in purity and/or uniformity can result in very negative and costly consequences to SpinCo’s customers.

With approximately 675,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity and nearly double the sales of its next largest competitor, SpinCo is the global leader in the production of cellulose specialties. SpinCo’s key competitive advantage is the “SpinCo Recipe” — its unique ability to utilize its manufacturing facilities to engineer cellulose specialties fibers to customers’ exacting specifications. SpinCo is the only cellulose specialties producer with manufacturing facilities that provide flexibility to use both hardwood and softwood, kraft and sulfite cooking processes, and a variety of proprietary chemical treatments. Additionally, SpinCo has a tremendous asset of process knowledge: the understanding of wood fiber properties and their modification under a sequence of chemical processes, accumulated and developed over 85 years of practical application to achieve unique properties for a variety of customer needs. When this process knowledge is combined with its manufacturing flexibility and knowledge of customers’ applications and specifications, it allows SpinCo to have the most extensive capability set to modify cellulose fibers in the industry.

SpinCo’s strategy has resulted in an increase in gross margin from $201 million in 2009 to $333 million in 2013. Net income has decreased from $305 million in 2009 to $220 million in 2013, as 2009 included $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (or “Adjusted EBITDA”) increased from $226 million in 2009 to $363 million in 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate (or “CAGR”) of 13%. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

 

 

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SpinCo categorizes its cellulose specialties into three product lines: acetate, high-value ethers and other cellulose specialties which account for 81%, 6% and 13% of its total cellulose specialties volume, respectively. SpinCo’s products are used primarily in the manufacture of a broad range of end-use products, as shown in the table below.

 

LOGO

 

 

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SpinCo estimates that cellulose specialties demand was approximately 1.6 million metric tons in 2012. SpinCo believes that its 2013 sales volume of approximately 486,000 metric tons makes it the industry leader, reflecting sales in three product lines where SpinCo’s management estimates that it was one of the top three producers by volume. The charts below summarize the global end use breakdown by product line of the cellulose specialties business:

Global Cellulose Specialties End Use Breakdown (1)(2)

 

     
Acetate     High Value Ethers (3)    

Other Cellulose

Specialties

 

End Use Breakdown

 

   

End Use Breakdown

 

   

End Use Breakdown

 

LOGO

 

    LOGO     LOGO
     

Estimated Product Demand

n     ~ 710,000 metric tons

n     1—2% growth per year

   

Estimated Product Demand

n     ~ 503,000 metric tons

n     4—6% growth per year

   

Estimated Product Demand

n     ~ 355,000 metric tons

n     2—3% growth per year

     

Estimated SpinCo Position

n     Number 1

   

Estimated SpinCo Position

n     Top 4

   

Estimated SpinCo Position

n     Top 2

 

 

Source: Hawkins Wright, PCI Fibres, Markets and Markets, and company estimates

(1) Data from 2012. (latest available)

(2) Product line size includes approximately 130,000 to 160,000 metric tons of cotton linter.

(3) Product line size includes approximately 100,000 metric tons MCC.

SpinCo’s production facilities, located in Jesup, Georgia, and Fernandina Beach, Florida, have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 675,000 metric tons. The Jesup mill can produce approximately 520,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties, or approximately 77% of SpinCo’s total capacity. The Fernandina Beach mill can produce approximately 155,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties, or approximately 23% of SpinCo’s total capacity. Combined, these facilities manufacture more than 25 different grades of purified cellulose.

Historically, about one-third of SpinCo’s production was absorbent materials, a commodity product mainly used in disposable baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, incontinence pads, convalescent bed pads, industrial towels and wipes, and non-woven fabrics. In May 2011, SpinCo decided to convert its absorbent material production line located in the Jesup mill to cellulose specialties based on increased demand from its customers for high-value cellulose specialties and SpinCo’s desire to exit commodity-like product lines. Management believes this conversion, referred to as the cellulose specialties expansion project, positions SpinCo as the only fully dedicated supplier of cellulose specialties.

The cellulose specialties expansion project cost $385 million and converted approximately 260,000 metric tons of absorbent materials capacity into approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity. The

 

 

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project was completed in June 2013, after significant modifications to the production line and increased capacity of ancillary systems.

In July 2013, SpinCo restarted the converted production line and began the qualification process for the line’s production with its customers. SpinCo expects to produce cellulose specialties, commodity viscose and other products, modulating volumes in each product group to meet demand. As cellulose specialties demand grows over the next several years, SpinCo expects to increase its sales of cellulose specialties and complete its transition to a dedicated cellulose specialties supplier.

Strategies

Key elements of SpinCo’s business strategy are as follows:

Strengthen SpinCo’s cellulose specialties leadership position. With approximately 675,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity and nearly double the sales of the next largest competitor, SpinCo is the global leader in the production of cellulose specialties, a high-value sector. SpinCo believes the global demand is growing approximately 45,000 to 50,000 metric tons a year as customers’ product needs continue to expand. SpinCo’s cellulose specialties expansion project’s approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity is in the process of qualification with new and existing customers. As demand continues to grow for cellulose specialties, SpinCo will be positioned to drive increases in margins and cash flows.

Differentiate through technically superior products and research and development . The quality and consistency of SpinCo’s cellulose specialties and its premier research and development capabilities create a significant competitive advantage, resulting in a premium price (a price greater than competitors) for SpinCo’s products and driving strong profitability. SpinCo manufactures products that are tailored to the precise and demanding chemical and physical requirements of its customers, achieving industry leading high purity levels and product functionality for specific grades. Its ability to manufacture technically superior products is the result of its proprietary production processes, intellectual property, technical expertise, diverse manufacturing processes and knowledge of cellulosic chemistry.

SpinCo’s premier research and development facility allows it to replicate its customers’ manufacturing processes which differentiates SpinCo from its competitors. Combined with SpinCo’s deep understanding of its customers’ processes and historical success in applied research and development, SpinCo is uniquely qualified to continue partnering with its customers to develop new products to meet evolving consumer needs and to trouble shoot customer production issues. For the periods ending December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, SpinCo recorded research and development expenses of approximately $3.3 million, $2.8 million and $2.8 million respectively.

Drive growth and diversification. Expanding sales to other cellulose specialty applications will provide attractive opportunities for increasing revenue and improving profitability. With 80% of its current sales volume in the acetate product line, SpinCo intends to expand its sales in the faster growing ethers and other cellulose specialty product lines. SpinCo’s additional approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity combined with its process knowledge and expertise in cellulose specialties manufacturing will allow it to pursue growth and diversification without additional investment. SpinCo also intends to evaluate adjacent specialty chemical market opportunities for further growth and diversification.

Focus on operational excellence. Operating mills reliably and at a competitive cost while producing consistently high-quality and high-value cellulose is critical to SpinCo’s existing customers and enhances its ability to attract new customers. SpinCo strives to continuously improve its cost position, throughput and reliability of its manufacturing facilities through targeted expenditures and capital investments. For instance, SpinCo has identified a number of high return projects that it expects will achieve internal rates of return greater than 20 percent and are executable in the next three years. Additionally, SpinCo continues to develop maintenance systems and procedures that will improve the throughput, purity and uniformity of SpinCo’s products by increasing the reliability of its manufacturing processes. SpinCo’s continued focus on operational excellence will continue to enable it to drive profitability and strengthen customer relationships.

 

 

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Maximize cash flow. SpinCo has historically maintained a strong margin profile as part of Rayonier. As a stand-alone business, the SpinCo team will be able to implement a focused strategy to more efficiently allocate resources and further maximize cash flow. Additionally, SpinCo believes that its production capacity is sufficient to meet its current growth initiatives without significant additional spending. Over the last five years, Rayonier invested approximately $397 million in growth capital expenditures for capacity expansions and productivity enhancements. Given the significant investment to date, SpinCo anticipates that further investment in growth capital will be spent only upon the expectation of significant returns. SpinCo’s strong balance sheet, financial flexibility and significant cash flows are key, differentiating attributes from its competitors in its industry.

Strengths

SpinCo believes the following strengths support its business strategies:

Leading position in high-value cellulose specialties. With nearly double the sales of the next largest competitor, SpinCo is the largest global producer of high-value cellulose specialties and is ideally positioned to capture anticipated growth in its markets. SpinCo’s leadership position in custom-engineered high-value cellulose specialties reflects its technical expertise, outstanding product purity and consistency, strong partnership with its global customers and continued investment in capacity. SpinCo’s processes and products are technologically difficult to replicate for other cellulose specialty producers and SpinCo believes they are not possible without significant investment in equipment and intellectual property. As a result, none of the competitors currently are able to match the consistency and purity of SpinCo’s products and the breadth of its product offering. More broadly, in the past 10 years, SpinCo believes there was only one new entrant into the specialty cellulose industry.

SpinCo decided to leverage its process and product expertise by investing $385 million in its recently-completed cellulose specialties expansion project. The project converted SpinCo’s approximate 260,000 metric tons of absorbent materials production capacity to approximately 190,000 metric tons of additional cellulose specialties capacity, positioning SpinCo to capture the anticipated growth in demand in developed and emerging markets and to expand its sales to other cellulose specialty uses, such as ethers, which offer attractive growth rates and profit margins.

Broad product offering and customization enabled by the proprietary “SpinCo recipe.” SpinCo’s manufacturing processes have been developed over 85 years. SpinCo’s production facilities utilize kraft and sulfite manufacturing processes, hardwood and softwood fibers, proprietary bleaching sequences and specialized cold caustic processes to engineer and manufacture highly customized cellulose specialties. This operational flexibility, combined with its state-of-the-art research and development facility, industry-leading technical capabilities, access to desirable hardwood and softwood species and proprietary process knowledge, allows SpinCo to engineer a wide breadth of customized fibers each specifically configured for its customers’ unique needs, and to achieve the specific properties required for a broad range of end uses. New product development is another area where SpinCo is the preferred partner for its customers that collaborate with SpinCo to develop and qualify the proprietary formulations for customized fibers.

Long-term relationships with financially strong, global customers. SpinCo benefits from long-standing relationships with blue-chip, industry-leading companies in each of its key product lines, as well as from low customer turnover (SpinCo’s average customer relationship among SpinCo’s top 10 customers is 38 years). SpinCo has customers in more than 35 countries across five continents and delivers its products to more than 79 ports around the world and, as a result, has developed strategic competence in handling global logistics and distribution. SpinCo’s five largest customers, who account for approximately 70% of sales, are all either well known global diversified specialty chemical companies or state owned enterprises. SpinCo has long-term volume contracts with most of the world’s cellulose specialties-based product manufacturers, representing a significant majority of SpinCo’s cellulose specialties production. SpinCo’s relationships with its largest cellulose specialties

 

 

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customers span 24 to 82 years, facilitating a deep understanding of its customers’ products and manufacturing processes that have led to strong partnerships on new product development. See Note 4— Segment and Geographical Information of SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements for information on SpinCo’s major customers.

Resilience through economic cycles. SpinCo’s technically-demanding products are used in many consumer end-use products such as cigarette filters, sausage casings, food additives, personal care products and pharmaceuticals, which benefit from stable demand throughout the economic cycle. As a result, SpinCo’s financial performance tends to be relatively less impacted during cyclical downturns because of the resilient demand for its end-use products. As an example, during the 2008—2009 economic downturn, SpinCo’s sales increased by 5%, SpinCo’s net income increased 12%, excluding the 2009 inclusion of $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit, and SpinCo’s Adjusted EBITDA grew 18%. SpinCo believes that its end-use markets will continue to grow in various economic environments given their stable nature. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

Attractive margins and strong free cash flow generation. SpinCo’s gross margin increased from $201 million in 2009 to $333 million in 2013. Net income decreased from $305 million in 2009 to $220 million in 2013, as 2009 included $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit. Cash flow from operations was $258 million, $305 million, $258 million, $408 million and $128 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. From the beginning of fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2013, SpinCo has generated strong Adjusted Free Cash Flow totaling $633 million. SpinCo produced Adjusted EBITDA of $363 million, $402 million, $339 million, $258 million and $226 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. During this five-year period, net income margins averaged 19%, excluding $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit in 2009. Adjusted EBITDA margins averaged 32%. SpinCo attributes its strong financial performance to its technical product consistency and purity, significant capital investment in its production and research and development facilities, and its deep understanding of customers’ manufacturing processes and product requirements and anticipates that its business will continue to generate attractive returns to its shareholders. For a reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow to cash flow from operations and Adjusted EBITDA to net income, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

Industry

Cellulose Specialties

SpinCo believes the global demand in 2012 for cellulose specialties was about 1.6 million metric tons, including 130,000 to 160,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties derived from cotton linters. SpinCo expects global demand to grow approximately 3% to 4% per year for the next 5 years. SpinCo is the global leader in the manufacture of cellulose specialties, and categorizes its sales of cellulose specialties into the following key product lines:

 

    Acetate. SpinCo is the leading global manufacturer of cellulose specialties for acetate products. SpinCo estimates that the global demand in 2012 for cellulose specialties for acetate products was approximately 710,000 metric tons and expects this demand to grow 1% to 2% per year over the next 5 years.

 

    High Value Ethers . SpinCo is a leading global manufacturer of cellulose specialties for ethers products. SpinCo estimates that the global demand in 2012 for cellulose specialties for ethers products was approximately 503,000 metric tons and expects this demand to grow 4% to 6% per year over the next 5 years.

 

 

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    Other Cellulose Specialties . SpinCo is a leading global manufacturer of other cellulose specialties. SpinCo estimates that the global demand in 2012 for other cellulose specialties is approximately 355,000 metric tons and expects this demand to grow 2% to 3% per year over the next 5 years.

In 2013, additional cellulose specialties capacity was added, including approximately 190,000 metric tons added by SpinCo following the completion of its cellulose specialties expansion project and approximately 45,000 metric tons added by SpinCo’s competitors. SpinCo believes global capacity totaled approximately 1.8 million metric tons (including the new capacity) at the end of 2013.

Commodity Viscose

Commodity viscose is primarily sold to producers of viscose staple fibers. Viscose staple is used in woven applications such as textiles for clothing and other fabrics, and in non-woven applications such as baby wipes, cosmetic and personal wipes, industrial wipes and mattress ticking. In recent years, shifts in fashion styles and higher than historical cotton prices have increased demand for viscose staple fibers. Weak global cotton harvests during 2011 provided a further boost to demand for viscose staple as a cotton substitute. Additionally, variability in cotton linter supply, due to competing uses of cotton seeds in agriculture, and increasing concerns about the environmental impact of producing viscose staple from cotton have resulted in viscose staple producers shifting volume to commodity viscose derived from wood. SpinCo believes global demand for commodity viscose in 2012 was approximately 4.4 million metric tons (including approximately 800,000 metric tons derived from cotton) and expects this demand to grow approximately 9% to 10% per year for the next 5 years.

Significant new commodity viscose capacity has been added in the last three years to meet this demand. SpinCo believes global capacity totaled 5.7 million metric tons at the end of 2013, and an additional 1.0 million metric tons of capacity has been announced and is expected to be completed in the next two years.

In February 2013, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated an anti-dumping investigation of imports of dissolving wood, cotton and bamboo pulp into China from the U.S., Canada and Brazil during 2012. In November 2013, MOFCOM issued a preliminary determination that SpinCo’s lower purity Fibernier grade product used in commodity viscose applications would be subject to a 21.7% interim duty effective November 7, 2013. In April 2014, MOFCOM issued a final determination reducing duty from 21.7% to 17.2% effective April 6, 2014. SpinCo expects MOFCOM’s final determination to remain in place for five years. SpinCo does not expect that MOFCOM’s duty will materially affect its business results. For more information regarding the investigation, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to SpinCo’s Business” and “Business—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings.”

Although SpinCo’s business is focused on the production of cellulose specialties, it expects to sell approximately 135,000 metric tons of commodity viscose to commodity markets in 2014. As demand for cellulose specialties increases over the next several years, SpinCo expects to shift production from commodity viscose markets to cellulose specialties until it has essentially exited commodity viscose.

Summary of Risk Factors

An investment in SpinCo’s common stock is subject to a number of risks, including risks relating to SpinCo’s business, risks related to the separation and risks related to SpinCo’s common stock. Set forth below are some, but not all, of these risks. Please read the information in the section captioned “Risk Factors” for a more thorough description of these and other risks.

Risks Related to SpinCo’s Business

 

    The industry in which SpinCo operates is highly competitive. Actions by SpinCo’s competitors and excess production capacity, as well as decreased prices resulting from excess production capacity, could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

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    SpinCo is dependent on relatively few large customers for a majority of its sales, and the loss of all or a substantial portion of its sales to any of these customers could adversely affect its financial results.

 

    Changes in energy or raw material prices could affect SpinCo’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

    SpinCo is subject to risks associated with doing business outside of the United States.

 

    SpinCo’s business is subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations that may restrict or adversely affect SpinCo’s ability to conduct its business.

 

    A material disruption at one of SpinCo’s manufacturing facilities could prevent SpinCo from meeting customer demand, reduce SpinCo’s sales or negatively affect SpinCo’s results of operation and financial condition.

 

    Failure to develop new ideas and protect SpinCo’s intellectual property could negatively affect its future performance and growth.

 

    Future tobacco legislation, campaigns to discourage smoking, increases in tobacco taxes, increased costs of tobacco products and increased use of non-filtered substitutes could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to the Separation

 

    SpinCo has no history operating as an independent company, and its historical and pro forma financial information is not necessarily representative of the results that it would have achieved as a separate, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of its future results.

 

    SpinCo may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation, and the separation may adversely affect SpinCo’s business.

 

    After SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier, SpinCo will have debt obligations that could restrict SpinCo’s ability to pay dividends and have a negative impact on SpinCo’s financing options and liquidity position.

Risks Related to SpinCo’s Common Stock

 

    SpinCo cannot be certain that an active trading market for its common stock will develop or be sustained after the separation, and following the separation, SpinCo’s stock price may fluctuate significantly.

 

    A significant number of shares of SpinCo common stock may be traded following the separation, which may cause SpinCo’s stock price to decline.

 

    Certain provisions in SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and of Delaware law, may prevent or delay an acquisition of SpinCo, which could decrease the trading price of SpinCo’s common stock.

 

    SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain an exclusive forum provision that may discourage lawsuits against SpinCo and SpinCo’s directors and officers. Alternatively, if a court were to find the exclusive forum provision inapplicable or unenforceable, SpinCo may incur additional litigation costs, which could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

 

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The Separation and Distribution

On January 27, 2014, Rayonier announced that it intends to separate its performance fibers business from its forest resources and real estate businesses. The separation will occur by means of pro rata distribution to the Rayonier shareholders of 100% of the shares of common stock of SpinCo, which was formed to hold Rayonier’s performance fibers business.

On May 27, 2014, the Rayonier board of directors approved the distribution of all of SpinCo’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock on the basis of one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares held as of the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution.

SpinCo’s Post-Separation Relationship with Rayonier

SpinCo will enter into a separation and distribution agreement with Rayonier, which is referred to in this information statement as the “separation agreement” or the “separation and distribution agreement.” In connection with the separation, SpinCo will also enter into various other agreements to effect the separation and provide a framework for its relationship with Rayonier after the separation, such as a transition services agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement and an intellectual property agreement. These agreements will provide for the allocation between SpinCo and Rayonier of Rayonier’s assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including its investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to, at and after SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier and will govern certain relationships between SpinCo and Rayonier after the separation. For additional information regarding the separation agreement and other transaction agreements, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Separation” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

Reasons for the Separation

The Rayonier board of directors believes that separating the performance fibers business from the remaining businesses of Rayonier is in the best interests of Rayonier and its shareholders for a number of reasons, including that:

 

    The separation will allow investors to separately value Rayonier and SpinCo based on their unique investment identities, including the merits, performance and future prospects of their respective businesses. The separation will also provide investors with two distinct and targeted investment opportunities.

 

    The separation will allow each business to more effectively pursue its own distinct operating priorities and strategies, and will enable the management of both companies to pursue unique opportunities for long-term growth and profitability, free from potential REIT structural constraints that could limit the future growth potential of the performance fibers business.

 

    The separation will permit each company to concentrate its financial resources solely on its own operations, providing greater flexibility to invest capital in its business in a time and manner appropriate for its distinct strategy and business needs. This will facilitate a more efficient allocation of capital.

 

    The separation will create separate independent equity structures that will afford each company direct access to capital markets and facilitate the ability to capitalize on its unique growth opportunities and effect future acquisitions utilizing its common stock.

 

    The separation will facilitate incentive compensation arrangements for employees more directly tied to the performance of each relevant company’s business, and enhance employee hiring and retention by, among other things, improving the alignment of management and employee incentives with performance and growth objectives.

 

 

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The Rayonier board of directors also considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the separation, including, among others, risks relating to the creation of a new public company, possible increased costs and one-time separation costs, but concluded that the potential benefits of the separation outweighed these factors. For more information, see the sections entitled “The Separation and Distribution—Reasons for the Separation” and “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this information statement.

Corporate Information

SpinCo was incorporated in Delaware for the purpose of holding Rayonier’s performance fibers business in connection with the separation and distribution described herein. Prior to the contribution of this business to SpinCo, which will occur immediately prior to the distribution, SpinCo will have no operations. The address of SpinCo’s principal executive offices is 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300, Jacksonville, Florida 32207. SpinCo’s telephone number after the distribution will be (904) 357-4600. SpinCo maintains an Internet site at www.rayonieram.com . SpinCo’s website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein, and you should not rely on any such information in making an investment decision.

SpinCo owns or has rights to use the trademarks, service marks and trade names that it uses in conjunction with the operation of its business. SpinCo will have the right to use “Rayonier” as part of SpinCo’s name pursuant to the intellectual property agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Intellectual Property Agreement.”

Reason for Furnishing this Information Statement

This information statement is being furnished solely to provide information to shareholders of Rayonier who will receive shares of SpinCo common stock in the distribution. It is not and is not to be construed as an inducement or encouragement to buy or sell any of SpinCo’s securities. The information contained in this information statement is believed by SpinCo to be accurate as of the date set forth on its cover. Changes may occur after that date and neither Rayonier nor SpinCo will update the information except in the normal course of their respective disclosure obligations and practices.

 

 

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Summary Historical and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data

The following summary financial data reflects the combined operations of SpinCo. SpinCo derived the summary combined income statement data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and the summary combined balance sheet data as of March 31, 2014 from its unaudited interim combined financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this information statement. SpinCo derived the summary combined income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and summary combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, as set forth below, from its audited combined financial statements, which are included in the “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” section of this information statement. SpinCo derived the summary combined balance sheet data as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2011 from SpinCo’s underlying financial records, which were derived from the financial records of Rayonier and are not included in this information statement. The historical results do not necessarily indicate the results expected for any future period. To ensure a full understanding of this summary financial data, you should read the summary combined financial data presented below in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the combined financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this information statement.

The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013 has been prepared to reflect the separation, including the incurrence of indebtedness of approximately $950 million. The $950 million of indebtedness is expected to consist of $325 million of borrowings by Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of SpinCo following the separation, under new term loan and revolving credit facilities, $550 million of corporate bonds issued by Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. and $75 million of borrowings by SpinCo under its revolving credit facility. The net proceeds of the borrowings are expected to fund cash transfers of approximately $950 million, less certain fees and expenses, to Rayonier, and Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier, as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Separation Agreement—Cash Transfers.” In addition, SpinCo anticipates that it and its wholly-owned subsidiary Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. will have $250 million of borrowing capacity under a new revolving credit facility for working capital and general corporate purposes. Prior to the distribution, it is anticipated that SpinCo will borrow $75 million under such revolving credit facility and transfer the proceeds of such borrowing, together with SpinCo common stock and the assumption of certain liabilities, in exchange for the contribution by Rayonier of Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s common stock and certain other assets to SpinCo. Such borrowing under the revolving credit facility is anticipated to be repaid with the proceeds of a delayed draw term loan expected to be made available to Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. under the new term loan facilities promptly after the distribution. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined income statement data presented for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013 assumes the spin-off occurred on January 1, 2013. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet data assumes the separation occurred on March 31, 2014. The assumptions used and pro forma adjustments derived from such assumptions are based on currently available information and SpinCo believes such assumptions are reasonable under the circumstances.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are not necessarily indicative of SpinCo’s results of operations or financial condition had the distribution and its anticipated post-separation capital structure been completed on the dates assumed. Also, they may not reflect the results of operations or financial condition that would have resulted had SpinCo been operating as an independent, publicly traded company during such periods. In addition, they are not necessarily indicative of its future results of operations or financial condition.

You should read this summary financial data together with “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements,” “Capitalization,” “Selected Historical Combined Financial Data of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the combined financial statements and accompanying notes included in this information statement.

 

 

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     As of and for the Three
Months Ended March 31,
    As of and for the Years Ended December 31,  
     Pro forma     

 

   

 

    Pro forma     

 

   

 

   

 

 
(dollar amounts in millions)    2014      2014     2013     2013      2013     2012     2011  

Statement of Income Data:

  

 

Sales

   $       243        $       243       $       285       $       1,047       $       1,047       $       1,095       $       1,021    

Gross margin

     54          54         97         333         333         379         323    

Operating income

     43          43         87         286         289         342         283    

Net income

     25          31         80         174         220         242         214    

Balance Sheet Data:

                

Total assets

   $       1,121        $       1,122       $       1,053         n/a       $ 1,120       $ 921       $ 665    

Property, plant and equipment, net

     849          848         745         n/a         846         681         433    
Statement of Cash Flows Data:                 

Cash provided by operating activities

     n/a       $ 55       $ 30         n/a       $ 258       $ 305       $ 258    

Cash used for investing activities

     n/a         (21     (55     n/a         (251     (305     (131

Cash used for financing activities

     n/a         (34     25         n/a         (7     —         (127

Capital expenditures

     n/a         (22     (21     n/a         (96     (105     (97

Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion project

     n/a         —         (37     n/a         (141     (201     (43

Other Data:

                

EBITDA (a)

     n/a       $       64       $       102         n/a       $ 363       $ 402       $ 339    

Sales volumes (thousands of metric tons)

                

Cellulose specialties

     n/a         113         132         n/a         486         503         504    

Absorbent materials

     n/a         16         56         n/a         106         214         227    

Commodity viscose

     n/a         34         —         n/a         51         —         —    
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        163         188            643         717         731    
     

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(a) For a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income and cash flow from operations, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the following risks and other information in this information statement in evaluating SpinCo and SpinCo’s common stock. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition or results of operations. The risk factors generally have been separated into three groups: risks related to SpinCo’s business, risks related to the separation and risks related to SpinCo’s common stock.

Risks Related to SpinCo’s Business

The industry in which SpinCo operates is highly competitive.

SpinCo faces competition from domestic and foreign producers of high purity cellulose specialties and producers of products that can substitute for them in certain applications, such as cotton linters. Moreover, the entry of new competitors and the expansion of existing competitors could create excess capacity, which might cause SpinCo to lose sales or result in price reductions. For example, over the past 24 months some manufacturers of commodity viscose have publicly announced plans to convert facilities to manufacture, or claimed to have already commenced production of, high purity cellulose specialties that may compete with SpinCo’s products. In addition to SpinCo’s recently completed cellulose specialties expansion project, which added approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity, a few competitors have announced expansions of their capacity. Buckeye Technologies recently completed a project to increase its cellulose specialties capacity by 40,000 metric tons at its Perry, Florida operation. Tembec, Inc. announced plans to increase capacity by 5,000 metric tons.

As a result of the increased cellulose specialties capacity described above, SpinCo expects 2014 cellulose specialties prices to decrease 7 percent to 8 percent. Although SpinCo plans to gradually increase cellulose specialties production in line with demand, additional increases in cellulose specialties capacity could continue to adversely affect product pricing, which could result in a potential decline in SpinCo’s revenues and margins, thereby adversely affecting SpinCo’s financial condition and results of operations.

SpinCo is dependent on a relatively few large customers for a majority of its sales. The loss of all or a substantial portion of its sales to any of these large customers could have a material adverse effect on SpinCo.

SpinCo is subject to risks related to customer concentration because of the relative importance of its largest customers, many of whom have been doing business with Rayonier for decades, and the ability of those customers to influence pricing and other contract terms. SpinCo depends on major acetate tow manufacturers for a substantial portion of its sales. SpinCo’s five largest customers, which account for approximately 70% of its sales, are all either well known global diversified specialty chemical companies or state owned enterprises. Although SpinCo strives to broaden and diversify its customer base, a significant portion of its revenue is derived from a relatively small number of large-volume customers, and the loss of all or a substantial portion of sales to any of these customers, or significant unfavorable changes to pricing or terms contained in SpinCo’s contracts with them, could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition or results of operations. SpinCo is also subject to credit risk associated with this customer concentration. If one or more of SpinCo’s largest customers were to become bankrupt, insolvent or otherwise were unable to pay for its products, SpinCo may incur significant write-offs of accounts that may have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations. See Note 4— Segment and Geographical Information of SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements for information on SpinCo’s major customers.

SpinCo’s business is exposed to risks associated with the cyclicality of the business of certain of its customers, which may adversely affect its business and results of operations.

Some of the industries in which SpinCo’s end-use customers participate, such as the construction, automotive and textile industries, are cyclical in nature, thus posing a risk to SpinCo which is beyond its control. The

 

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industries in which these customers participate are highly competitive, to a large extent driven by end-use applications, and may experience overcapacity or reductions in demand, all of which may affect demand for and pricing of SpinCo’s products. The consequences of this could include the reduction, delay or cancellation of customer orders, and bankruptcy of customers, suppliers or other creditors. Although the occurrence of these events has not had a material impact on SpinCo’s historical financial condition, the occurrence of these events may adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operation in the future.

SpinCo is subject to risks associated with doing business outside of the United States.

Although SpinCo’s production facilities are located in the United States, a significant portion of its sales are to customer locations outside of the United States, including China, the European Union and other international markets. The export of SpinCo’s products into international markets results in risks that are inherent in conducting business under international laws, regulations and customs. Sales to customers outside of the United States made up approximately 62% of SpinCo’s revenue in 2012. SpinCo expects that international sales will continue to contribute to future growth. The risks associated with SpinCo’s business outside the United States include:

 

    changes in and reinterpretations of the laws, regulations and enforcement priorities of the countries in which SpinCo sells its products;

 

    responsibility to comply with anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions;

 

    trade protection laws, policies and measures and other regulatory requirements affecting trade and investment, including loss or modification of exemptions for taxes and tariffs, imposition of new tariffs and duties and import and export licensing requirements;

 

    difficulty in establishing, staffing and managing non-U.S. operations;

 

    product damage or losses incurred during shipping;

 

    potentially negative consequences from changes in or interpretations of tax laws;

 

    political instability and actual or anticipated military or political conflicts;

 

    economic instability, inflation, recessions and interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations;

 

    uncertainties regarding non-U.S. judicial systems, rules and procedures; and

 

    minimal or limited protection of intellectual property in some countries.

These risks could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in global economic conditions, market trends and world events could negatively affect customer demand.

The global reach of SpinCo’s business subjects it to unexpected, uncontrollable and rapidly changing events and circumstances, such as those that may result from the volatile state of the global economic and financial markets, in addition to those experienced in the United States. Adverse changes in the following factors, among others, could have a negative impact on SpinCo’s business and results of operations:

 

    fluctuations in currencies other than the U.S. dollar; and

 

    countervailing duty and anti-dumping tariffs, or similar types of tariffs, that may be imposed on SpinCo, which could result in reduced revenues and margins on some of SpinCo’s businesses.

 

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A Chinese anti-dumping investigation has resulted in duties on SpinCo’s lower purity commodity viscose products, which could affect sales of the products into China.

In February 2013, China’s Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) notified SpinCo and a number of other parties that it had commenced an anti-dumping investigation into imports of dissolving, cotton and bamboo pulp into China from the United States, Canada and Brazil during 2012. In November 2013, MOFCOM issued its preliminary determination in respect of its investigation. Pursuant to the preliminary determination, SpinCo’s lower purity commodity viscose, which is primarily utilized to produce viscose staple fiber for use in the manufacture of fabrics, was assessed an interim duty of 21.7%, effective November 7, 2013. In April 2014, MOFCOM issued a final determination reducing the duty from 21.7% to 17.2% effective April 6, 2014. SpinCo expects MOFCOM’s final determination to remain in place for five years. However, SpinCo’s high-value cellulose acetate products, were specifically excluded from assessment of any dumping duty, and SpinCo’s other high-value cellulose products were, likewise, exempted from any dumping duty.

Although SpinCo is evaluating its commercial and legal options and does not expect that MOFCOM’s duty will materially affect its business results, MOFCOM’s duty could have an adverse effect on the sales of commodity viscose into China by SpinCo. During the year ended December 31, 2013, SpinCo had $29 million of commodity viscose sales into China.

SpinCo’s business is subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations that may restrict or adversely affect SpinCo’s ability to conduct its business.

Environmental laws and regulations are constantly changing and are generally becoming more restrictive. Laws, regulations and related judicial decisions and administrative interpretations affecting SpinCo’s business are subject to change, and new laws and regulations are frequently enacted. These changes may adversely affect SpinCo’s ability to operate SpinCo’s manufacturing facilities. These laws and regulations may relate to, among other things, air emissions, wastewater discharges, receiving water quality, timber harvesting practices, and remedial standards for contaminated property and groundwater. Over time, the complexity and stringency of these laws and regulations have increased and the enforcement of these laws and regulations has intensified. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has pursued a number of initiatives that, if implemented, could impose additional operational and pollution control obligations on industrial facilities like those of SpinCo, especially in the area of air emissions and wastewater and stormwater control. In 2013, the EPA issued final regulations that significantly tighten emissions limits of certain air pollutants from industrial boilers, which will result in SpinCo’s expenditure of significant capital for compliance. Environmental laws and regulations will likely continue to become more restrictive and over time could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

SpinCo’s mills are subject to stringent environmental laws, regulations and permits that may limit operations and production. Many of SpinCo’s operations are subject to stringent environmental laws, regulations and permits that contain conditions governing how SpinCo operates its facilities and, in many cases, how much product SpinCo can produce. These laws, regulations and permits, now and in the future, may restrict SpinCo’s current production and limit its ability to increase production, and impose significant costs on SpinCo’s operations with respect to environmental compliance. It is expected that, overall, costs will likely increase over time as environmental laws, regulations and permit conditions become more stringent, and as the expectations of the communities in which SpinCo operates become more demanding.

Environmental groups and interested individuals may seek to delay or prevent a variety of operations . SpinCo expects that environmental groups and interested individuals will intervene with increasing frequency in the regulatory processes in the states where it operates mills. Delays or restrictions due to the intervention of environmental groups or interested individuals could adversely affect SpinCo’s operating results. In addition to intervention in regulatory proceedings, interested groups and individuals may file or threaten to file lawsuits that seek to prevent SpinCo from obtaining permits, implementing capital improvements or pursuing operating plans. For example, in March 2014, SpinCo was served with a complaint filed in federal court by the Altamaha Riverkeeper alleging violations of federal and state environmental laws relating to the Jesup mill. See

 

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“Business—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings—Altamaha Riverkeeper Litigation-Jesup Mill” for a description of the pending legal proceedings with the Altamaha Riverkeeper.

Any lawsuit or even a threatened lawsuit could affect how SpinCo operates or limit its ability to modify or invest in its mills.

SpinCo currently owns or may acquire properties that may require environmental remediation or otherwise be subject to environmental and other liabilities. SpinCo currently owns and formerly operated manufacturing facilities that it does not currently own, and may acquire additional facilities in the future, which are subject to environmental liabilities, such as remediation of soil, sediment and groundwater contamination and other existing or potential liabilities. The cost of investigation and remediation of contaminated properties could increase operating costs and adversely affect financial results. Although SpinCo believes it currently has adequate reserves for the investigation and remediation of its properties, legal requirements relating to assessment and remediation of these properties continue to become more stringent and there can be no assurance that actual expenditures will not exceed expectations, or that other unknown liabilities will not be discovered in the future. SpinCo has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant capital, operating and other expenditures complying with applicable environmental laws and regulations and as a result of remedial obligations. SpinCo could also incur substantial costs, such as civil or criminal fines, sanctions and enforcement actions (including orders limiting its operations or requiring corrective measures, installation of pollution control equipment or other remedial actions), clean-up and closure costs, and third-party claims for property damage and personal injury as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws and regulations.

Changes in raw material and manufacturing input prices could affect SpinCo’s results of operations and financial condition.

Because pricing for the majority of SpinCo’s cellulose specialty fibers contracts is set annually, SpinCo typically has very limited ability to pass along fluctuations in costs to customers once annual pricing has been established. Raw material costs and energy, such as wood, chemicals, oil and natural gas are a significant operating expense. The cost of raw materials and energy can be volatile and are susceptible to rapid and substantial increases due to factors beyond SpinCo’s control, such as changing economic conditions, political unrest, instability in energy-producing nations, and supply and demand considerations. For example, caustic soda, a key manufacturing input, has historically had significant price volatility. The price of oil has also substantially increased in recent years, and SpinCo has, at times, experienced limited availability of hardwood, primarily due to wet weather conditions which can limit harvesting, each of which could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Future tobacco legislation, campaigns to discourage smoking, increases in tobacco taxes, increased costs of tobacco products and increased use of non-filtered substitutes could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The majority of SpinCo’s fibers are used to manufacture acetate tow, the filter component of a cigarette. SpinCo’s sales for this end-use have historically accounted for an important portion of SpinCo’s total sales revenue. Significant increases in cigarette costs and potential actions taken by the United States and other countries to discourage smoking, such as tax increases on tobacco products and, future legislation, may have a material adverse effect on the demand for tobacco products. Additionally, increased use of e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products may affect demand for cigarettes. Reduced sales of tobacco products that use acetate-based filters could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations. SpinCo estimates that in each of the past three years approximately 58% of sales were related to the production of acetate which was subsequently used to produce cigarette filters.

The impacts of climate-related initiatives, at the international, federal and state levels, remain uncertain at this time.

There continue to be numerous international, federal and state-level initiatives and proposals to address domestic and global climate issues. Within the United States, most of these proposals would regulate and/or tax,

 

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in one fashion or another, the production of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” to facilitate the reduction of carbon compound emissions to the atmosphere, and provide tax and other incentives to produce and use more “clean energy.”

In late 2009, the EPA issued an “endangerment finding” under the Clean Air Act with respect to certain greenhouse gases, and this finding could lead to the regulation of carbon dioxide as a criteria pollutant under the Clean Air Act and have significant ramifications for SpinCo and the industry in general. In this regard, the EPA has published various proposed regulations, which are currently subject to numerous legal challenges, affecting the operation of existing and new industrial facilities that emit carbon dioxide. In addition, as a result of the EPA’s decision to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, the states will now have to consider them in permitting new or modified facilities.

Overall, it is reasonably likely that legislative and regulatory activity in this area will in some way affect SpinCo, but it is unclear at this time whether such impact will be, in the aggregate, positive, negative, neutral or material. For example, while SpinCo’s mills produce greenhouse gases and utilize fossil fuels, they also generate a substantial amount of their energy from wood fiber (often referred to as “biomass”), which may be viewed more favorably than fossil fuels in future legislative and regulatory proposals, but that is uncertain at this time. However, to date, many environmental groups have generally opposed the use of biomass for energy production due to their concerns about deforestation. SpinCo continues to monitor political and regulatory developments in this area, but their overall impact on SpinCo, from a cost, benefit and financial performance standpoint, remains uncertain at this time.

Investment returns on pension assets may be lower than expected or interest rates may decline, requiring SpinCo to make significant additional cash contributions to SpinCo’s benefit plans.

SpinCo sponsors several defined benefit pension plans, which cover many of SpinCo’s salaried and hourly employees. The Federal Pension Protection Act of 2006 requires that certain capitalization levels be maintained in each of these benefit plans. Because it is unknown what the investment return on pension assets will be in future years or what interest rates may be at any point in time, no assurances can be given that applicable law will not require SpinCo to make future material plan contributions. Any such contributions could adversely affect SpinCo’s financial condition. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” for additional information about these plans, including funding status.

SpinCo’s failure to maintain satisfactory labor relations could have a material adverse effect on its business.

As of December 31, 2013, approximately 72 percent of SpinCo’s work force is unionized. As a result, SpinCo is required to negotiate the wages, benefits and other terms with these employees collectively. SpinCo’s financial results could be adversely affected if labor negotiations were to restrict the efficiency of SpinCo’s operations. In addition, SpinCo’s inability to negotiate acceptable contracts with any of these unions as existing agreements expire could result in strikes or work stoppages by the affected workers. If SpinCo’s unionized employees were to engage in a strike or other work stoppage, SpinCo could experience a significant disruption of its operations, which could adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, collective bargaining agreements at SpinCo’s Fernandina Beach, Florida mill expired on April 30, 2014. All parties have agreed to extend the contracts while negotiations continue.

Weather and other natural conditions may increase the prices of and reduce access to raw materials.

SpinCo uses large quantities of wood as a raw material in its fiber manufacturing process. Weather conditions, timber growth cycles and restrictions on access to timberlands for harvesting (for example, due to prolonged wet conditions) may limit the availability and increase the price of wood, as may other factors, including damage by fire, insect infestation, disease, prolonged drought and natural disasters such as wind storms and hurricanes.

 

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Raw materials are available from a number of suppliers and SpinCo has not historically experienced material supply interruptions or substantial sustained price increases; however, SpinCo’s requirements for certain raw materials, such as wood, may increase as a result of its recent Jesup mill expansion. As a result, SpinCo may not be able to purchase sufficient quantities of these raw materials to meet its production requirements at prices acceptable to it during times of tight supply caused by weather and other natural conditions. An insufficient supply of wood could materially adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

SpinCo depends on third parties for transportation services and increases in costs and the availability of transportation could adversely affect SpinCo’s business.

SpinCo’s business depends on transportation services provided by third parties, both domestically and internationally. SpinCo relies on these providers for transportation of the products that it manufactures as well as delivery of its raw materials to its manufacturing facilities. A significant portion of the products SpinCo manufactures and raw materials it uses are transported in the United States by railroad or trucks, and internationally by ship.

If any of SpinCo’s transportation providers were to fail to deliver the goods that SpinCo manufactures in a timely manner, or damaged them during transport, SpinCo may be unable to sell those products at full value, or at all. Similarly, if any of these providers were to fail to deliver raw materials to SpinCo in a timely manner, SpinCo may be unable to timely manufacture its products in response to customer demand.

Any significant failure of third-party transportation providers to deliver raw materials or finished products could harm SpinCo’s reputation, negatively affect its customer relationships and adversely affect its business. In addition, increases in transportation rates or fuel costs could adversely affect SpinCo’s financial condition and results of operations.

A material disruption at one of SpinCo’s manufacturing facilities could prevent SpinCo from meeting customer demand, reduce SpinCo’s sales or adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operation.

Any of SpinCo’s manufacturing facilities, or a part of any particular facility, could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including:

 

    unscheduled maintenance outages;

 

    prolonged power failures;

 

    equipment failure;

 

    a chemical spill or release;

 

    explosion of a boiler or other pressure vessel;

 

    fires, floods, windstorms, earthquakes, hurricanes or other catastrophes;

 

    terrorism or threats of terrorism; and

 

    other operational problems.

Furthermore, depending on the nature, extent and length of any operational interruption due to any such event, the results could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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SpinCo’s operations require substantial capital .

SpinCo requires substantial capital for ongoing maintenance, repair and replacement of existing facilities and equipment. Although SpinCo maintains its production equipment with regular scheduled maintenance, key pieces of equipment may need to be repaired or replaced periodically. The costs of repairing or replacing such equipment and the associated downtime of the affected production line could adversely affect SpinCo’s financial condition and results of operations.

SpinCo believes its capital resources will, at the time of separation, be adequate to meet its current projected operating needs, capital expenditures and other cash requirements. However, if for any reason SpinCo is unable to provide for its operating needs, capital expenditures and other cash requirements on reasonable economic terms, SpinCo could experience an adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.

SpinCo is dependent upon attracting and retaining key personnel, the loss of whom could adversely affect SpinCo’s business.

SpinCo believes that its success depends, to a significant extent, upon its ability to attract and retain key senior management and operations management personnel. SpinCo’s failure to recruit and retain these key personnel could adversely affect its business, financial condition or results of operations.

Failure to protect SpinCo’s intellectual property could negatively affect its future performance and growth.

SpinCo relies on process knowledge, confidentiality agreements and internal security measures to protect its trade secrets and other intellectual property. Failure to protect this intellectual property could negatively affect SpinCo’s future performance and growth.

SpinCo may need additional financing in the future to meet its capital needs or to make opportunistic acquisitions, and such financing may not be available on favorable terms, if at all, and may be dilutive to existing stockholders.

SpinCo may need to seek additional financing for its general corporate purposes. For example, it may need to increase its investment in research and development activities or require funding to make acquisitions. SpinCo may be unable to obtain desired additional financing on terms favorable to it, if at all. For example, during periods of volatile credit markets, there is a risk that lenders, even those with strong balance sheets and sound lending practices, could fail or refuse to honor their credit commitments and obligations, including but not limited to extending credit up to the maximum permitted by a credit facility and otherwise accessing capital and/or honoring loan commitments. If SpinCo’s lenders are unable to fund borrowings under their loan commitments or SpinCo is unable to borrow, it could be difficult to replace such loan commitments on similar terms or at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, SpinCo may be unable to fund growth opportunities, successfully develop or enhance products, or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could negatively affect SpinCo’s business. If SpinCo raises additional funds through the issuance of equity securities, its stockholders will experience dilution of their ownership interest. If SpinCo raises additional funds by issuing debt, it may be subject to limitations on its operations and ability to pay dividends due to restrictive covenants, in addition to those that are expected to be in place pursuant to the term loan and revolving credit facilities and the indenture governing the bonds.

SpinCo’s business exposes it to potential product liability claims, which could adversely affect SpinCo’s financial condition and performance.

The development, manufacture and sale of cellulose specialties by SpinCo, including products manufactured for use by the food, cigarette, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries, involves a risk of exposure to product liability claims, and related adverse publicity. A product liability claim or judgment against SpinCo could also result in substantial and unexpected expenditures, affect confidence in SpinCo’s products, and divert management’s attention from other responsibilities. Although SpinCo maintains product liability insurance, there can be no assurance that this type or the level of coverage is adequate or that SpinCo will be able to continue to

 

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maintain SpinCo’s existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance at a reasonable cost, if at all. A partially or completely uninsured judgment against SpinCo could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial condition. Although SpinCo has standard contracting policies and controls, it may not always be able to contractually limit its exposure to third-party claims should its failure to perform result in downstream supply disruptions or product recalls.

The inability to make or effectively integrate future acquisitions may affect SpinCo’s results.

As part of SpinCo’s growth strategy, SpinCo may pursue additional acquisitions of complementary businesses and product lines, and invest in joint ventures. The ability to grow through acquisitions or other investments depends upon SpinCo’s ability to identify, negotiate, complete and integrate suitable acquisitions or joint venture arrangements. If SpinCo fails to successfully integrate acquisitions into SpinCo’s existing business, SpinCo’s business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to the Separation

The combined post-separation value of Rayonier and SpinCo shares may not equal or exceed the pre-separation value of Rayonier common shares.

As a result of the distribution, Rayonier expects the trading price of Rayonier common shares immediately following the distribution to be lower than the “regular-way” trading price of such shares immediately prior to the distribution because the trading price will no longer reflect the value of the performance fibers business held by SpinCo. There can be no assurance that the aggregate market value of the Rayonier common shares and the SpinCo common stock following the separation will be higher or lower than the market value of Rayonier common shares if the separation did not occur.

SpinCo has no history of operating as an independent company, and SpinCo’s historical and pro forma financial information is not necessarily representative of the results that it would have achieved as a separate, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of its future results.

The historical information about SpinCo in this information statement refers to SpinCo’s business as operated by and integrated with Rayonier. SpinCo’s historical and pro forma financial information included in this information statement is derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Rayonier. Accordingly, the historical and pro forma financial information included in this information statement does not necessarily reflect the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows that SpinCo would have achieved as a separate, publicly traded company during the periods presented or those that SpinCo will achieve in the future primarily as a result of the factors described below:

 

    Prior to the separation, SpinCo’s business has been operated by Rayonier as part of its broader corporate organization, rather than as an independent company. Rayonier or one of its affiliates performed various corporate functions for SpinCo, such as legal, treasury, accounting, auditing, human resources, public affairs and finance. SpinCo’s historical and pro forma financial results reflect allocations of corporate expenses from Rayonier for such functions and are likely to be less than the expenses SpinCo would have incurred had it operated as a separate publicly traded company.

 

    Currently, SpinCo’s business is integrated with the other businesses of Rayonier. Historically, SpinCo has shared economies of scope and scale in costs, employees, vendor relationships and customer relationships. Although SpinCo will enter into transition agreements with Rayonier, these arrangements may not fully capture the benefits that SpinCo has enjoyed as a result of being integrated with Rayonier and may result in SpinCo paying higher charges than in the past for these services. This could have an adverse effect on SpinCo’s results of operations and financial condition following the completion of the separation.

 

   

Generally, SpinCo’s working capital requirements and capital for its general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and capital expenditures, have historically been satisfied as part of the

 

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corporate-wide cash management policies of Rayonier. Following the completion of the separation, SpinCo may need to obtain additional financing from banks, through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities, strategic relationships or other arrangements, which may or may not be available and maybe more costly.

 

    After the completion of the separation, the cost of capital for SpinCo’s business may be higher than Rayonier’s cost of capital prior to the separation.

 

    SpinCo’s historical financial information does not reflect the debt that it will incur as part of the separation and distribution.

Other significant changes may occur in SpinCo’s cost structure, management, financing and business operations as a result of operating as a company separate from Rayonier. For additional information about the past financial performance of SpinCo’s business and the basis of presentation of the historical combined financial statements and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of SpinCo’s business, see “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements,” “Selected Historical Combined Financial Data of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this information statement.

There could be significant liability if the distribution is determined to be a taxable transaction.

A condition to the distribution is the receipt by Rayonier of a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that, among other things, the separation and the distribution will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code, and it is a condition to the distribution that this private letter ruling shall not be revoked or modified in any material respect. In addition, it is a condition to the distribution that Rayonier receives an opinion from outside tax counsel to the effect that, with respect to certain requirements for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code on which the IRS will not rule, such requirements will be satisfied. The ruling and the opinion rely on certain facts, assumptions, representations and undertakings from Rayonier and SpinCo regarding the past and future conduct of the companies’ respective businesses and other matters. If any of these facts, assumptions, representations or undertakings is incorrect or not satisfied, Rayonier and its shareholders may not be able to rely on the ruling or the opinion of tax counsel and could be subject to significant tax liabilities.

Notwithstanding the private letter ruling from the IRS and opinion of tax counsel, the IRS could determine on audit that the separation is taxable if it determines that any of these facts, assumptions, representations or undertakings are not correct or have been violated or if it disagrees with the conclusions in the opinion that are not covered by the private letter ruling, or for other reasons, including as a result of certain significant changes in the share ownership of Rayonier or SpinCo after the separation. If the separation is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Rayonier and its shareholders that are subject to U.S. federal income tax could incur significant U.S. federal income tax liabilities and SpinCo could incur significant liabilities. For a description of the sharing of such liabilities between Rayonier and SpinCo, see “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Matters Agreement.”

SpinCo may not be able to engage in certain corporate transactions after the separation.

To preserve the tax-free treatment to Rayonier of the separation and the distribution, under the tax matters agreement that SpinCo will enter into with Rayonier, SpinCo will be restricted from taking any action that prevents the distribution and related transactions from being tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under the tax matters agreement, for the two-year period following the distribution, SpinCo will be prohibited, except in certain circumstances, from:

 

    entering into any transaction resulting in the acquisition of 40% or more of its stock or substantially all of its assets, whether by merger or otherwise;

 

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    merging, consolidating, or liquidating;

 

    issuing equity securities beyond certain thresholds;

 

    repurchasing its capital stock; and

 

    ceasing to actively conduct its business.

These restrictions may limit SpinCo’s ability to pursue certain strategic transactions or other transactions that it may believe to be in the best interests of its stockholders or that might increase the value of its business. In addition, under the tax matters agreement, SpinCo is required to indemnify Rayonier against any such tax liabilities as a result of the acquisition of SpinCo’s stock or assets, even if it did not participate in or otherwise facilitate the acquisition.

Until the separation occurs, Rayonier has sole discretion to change the terms of the separation in ways which may be unfavorable to SpinCo.

Until the separation occurs, SpinCo will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier. Accordingly, Rayonier will effectively have the sole and absolute discretion to determine and change the terms of the separation, including the establishment of the record date for the distribution and the separation date. These changes could be unfavorable to SpinCo. In addition, Rayonier may decide at any time not to proceed with the separation and distribution.

SpinCo may not achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the separation, and the separation may adversely affect SpinCo’s business.

SpinCo may not be able to achieve the full strategic and financial benefits expected to result from the separation, or such benefits may be delayed or not occur at all. The separation and distribution is expected to provide the following benefits, among others:

 

    a distinct investment identity allowing investors to evaluate the merits, performance, and future prospects of SpinCo separately from Rayonier;

 

    more efficient allocation of capital for both Rayonier and SpinCo;

 

    direct access by SpinCo to the capital markets; and

 

    facilitating incentive compensation arrangements for employees more directly tied to the performance of the relevant company’s business, and enhancing employee hiring and retention by, among other things, improving the alignment of management and employee incentives with performance and growth objectives, while at the same time creating an independent equity structure that will facilitate SpinCo’s ability to effect future acquisitions utilizing SpinCo common stock.

SpinCo may not achieve these and other anticipated benefits for a variety of reasons, including, among others: (a) the separation will require significant amounts of management’s time and effort, which may divert management’s attention from operating and growing SpinCo’s business; (b) following the separation, SpinCo may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events than if it were still a part of Rayonier; (c) following the separation, SpinCo’s business will be less diversified than Rayonier’s business prior to the separation; and (d) the other actions required to separate Rayonier’s and SpinCo’s respective businesses could disrupt SpinCo’s operations. If SpinCo fails to achieve some or all of the benefits expected to result from the separation, or if such benefits are delayed, the business, financial conditions, and results of operations of SpinCo could be adversely affected.

 

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SpinCo may fail to perform under various transaction agreements that will be executed as part of the separation or it may fail to have necessary systems and services in place when certain of the transaction agreements expire.

In connection with the separation, SpinCo and Rayonier will enter into a separation agreement and will also enter into various other agreements, including a transition services agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement and an intellectual property agreement. The separation agreement, the tax matters agreement and employee matters agreement will determine the allocation of assets and liabilities between the companies following the separation for those respective areas and will include any necessary indemnifications related to liabilities and obligations. The transition services agreement will provide for the performance of certain services by each company for the benefit of the other for a period of time after the separation. SpinCo will rely on Rayonier to satisfy its performance and payment obligations under these agreements. If Rayonier is unable to satisfy its obligations under these agreements, including its indemnification obligations, SpinCo could incur operational difficulties or losses. If SpinCo does not have in place its own systems and services, or if SpinCo does not have agreements with other providers of these services once certain transaction agreements expire, SpinCo may not be able to operate its business effectively and its profitability may decline. SpinCo is in the process of creating its own, or engaging third parties to provide, systems and services to replace many of the systems and services that Rayonier currently provides to SpinCo. However, SpinCo may not be successful in implementing these systems and services or in transitioning data from Rayonier’s systems to SpinCo’s.

After SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier, SpinCo will have debt obligations that could adversely affect SpinCo’s business and its ability to meet SpinCo’s obligations.

As of March 31, 2014, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the new financing arrangements that SpinCo expects to enter into in connection with the separation and after giving effect to the application of the net proceeds of such financing, SpinCo’s total combined indebtedness would have been $950 million.

This significant amount of debt could have important consequences to SpinCo and its investors, including:

 

    requiring a substantial portion of SpinCo’s cash flow from operations to make interest payments on this debt;

 

    making it more difficult to satisfy debt service and other obligations;

 

    increasing the risk of a future credit ratings downgrade of its debt, which could increase future debt costs and limit the future availability of debt financing;

 

    increasing SpinCo’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

    reducing the cash flow available to fund capital expenditures and other corporate purposes and to grow SpinCo’s business;

 

    limiting SpinCo’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the industry;

 

    placing SpinCo at a competitive disadvantage relative to its competitors that may not be as highly leveraged with debt; and

 

    limiting SpinCo’s ability to borrow additional funds as needed or take advantage of business opportunities as they arise, pay cash dividends or repurchase common stock.

To the extent that SpinCo incurs additional indebtedness, the risks described above could increase. In addition, SpinCo’s actual cash requirements in the future may be greater than expected. SpinCo’s cash flow from operations may not be sufficient to repay all of the outstanding debt as it becomes due, and SpinCo may not be able to borrow money, sell assets or otherwise raise funds on acceptable terms, or at all, to refinance SpinCo’s debt.

 

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Challenges in the commercial and credit environments may materially adversely affect SpinCo’s ability to complete the separation and SpinCo’s future access to capital.

SpinCo’s ability to issue debt or enter into other financing arrangements on acceptable terms could be materially adversely affected if there is a material decline in the demand for SpinCo’s products or in the solvency of its customers or suppliers or if other significantly unfavorable changes in economic conditions occur. Volatility in the world financial markets could increase borrowing costs or affect SpinCo’s ability to gain access to the capital markets, which could have a material adverse effect on SpinCo’s competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Many contracts, which will need to be assigned from Rayonier or its affiliates to SpinCo in connection with the separation, require the consent of the counterparty to such an assignment and failure to obtain these consents could increase SpinCo’s expenses or otherwise reduce SpinCo’s profitability.

The separation agreement will provide that, in connection with SpinCo’s separation, a number of contracts are to be assigned from Rayonier or its affiliates to SpinCo or SpinCo’s affiliates. SpinCo currently anticipates that such contracts would be assigned prior to the completion of the distribution. However, some of these contracts may require the contractual counterparty’s consent to such an assignment. It is possible that some parties may use the consent requirement to seek more favorable contractual terms from SpinCo. If SpinCo is unable to obtain these consents, SpinCo may be unable to obtain some of the benefits, assets and contractual commitments that are intended to be allocated to SpinCo as part of SpinCo’s separation. While none of the contracts to be assigned are material to SpinCo’s business, if SpinCo is unable to obtain consents with respect to any of the contracts, the loss of the contracts could increase SpinCo’s expenses or otherwise reduce SpinCo’s profitability.

Risks Related to Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Common Stock

SpinCo cannot be certain that an active trading market for its common stock will develop or be sustained after the separation, and following the separation, SpinCo’s stock price may fluctuate significantly.

A public market for SpinCo common stock does not currently exist. SpinCo anticipates that on or prior to the record date for the distribution, trading of shares of its common stock will begin on a “when-issued” basis and will continue through the distribution date. However, SpinCo cannot guarantee that an active trading market will develop or be sustained for its common stock after the separation. Nor can SpinCo predict the prices at which shares of its common stock may trade after the separation. Similarly, SpinCo cannot predict the effect of the separation on the trading prices of its common stock or whether the combined market value of the shares of SpinCo common stock and the Rayonier common shares will be less than, equal to or greater than the market value of Rayonier common shares prior to the separation.

The market price of SpinCo common stock may fluctuate significantly due to a number of factors, some of which may be beyond SpinCo’s control, including:

 

    actual or anticipated fluctuations in SpinCo’s operating results;

 

    changes in earnings estimated by securities analysts or SpinCo’s ability to meet those estimates;

 

    the operating and stock price performance of comparable companies;

 

    changes to the regulatory and legal environment under which SpinCo operates; and

 

    domestic and worldwide economic conditions.

A number of shares of SpinCo common stock are or will be eligible for future sale, which may cause SpinCo’s stock price to decline.

Any sales of substantial amounts of SpinCo common stock in the public market or the perception that such sales might occur, in connection with the distribution or otherwise, may cause the market price of SpinCo

 

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common stock to decline. Upon completion of the distribution, SpinCo expects that it will have an aggregate of approximately 42.2 million shares of its common stock issued and outstanding on June 27, 2014. These shares will be freely tradeable without restriction or further registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), unless the shares are owned by one of SpinCo’s “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. SpinCo is unable to predict whether large amounts of its common stock will be sold in the open market following the distribution. SpinCo is also unable to predict whether a sufficient number of buyers would be in the market at that time.

SpinCo cannot guarantee the timing, amount or payment of dividends on its common stock.

Although SpinCo expects to pay regular cash dividends following the separation, the timing, declaration, amount and payment of future dividends to stockholders will fall within the discretion of SpinCo’s board of directors. The board’s decisions regarding the payment of dividends will depend on many factors, such as SpinCo’s financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, debt service obligations, covenants associated with certain of SpinCo’s debt service obligations, industry practice, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors that the board deems relevant. For more information, see “Dividend Policy.” SpinCo’s ability to pay dividends will depend on its ongoing ability to generate cash from operations and on its access to the capital markets. SpinCo cannot guarantee that it will pay a dividend in the future or continue to pay any dividend if SpinCo commences paying dividends.

Your percentage of ownership in SpinCo may be diluted in the future.

In the future, your percentage ownership in SpinCo may be diluted because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or otherwise, including equity awards that SpinCo will be granting to SpinCo’s directors, officers and employees. SpinCo’s employees will have options to purchase shares of its common stock after the distribution as a result of conversion of their Rayonier stock options (in whole or in part) to SpinCo stock options. SpinCo anticipates its compensation committee will grant additional stock options or other stock-based awards to its employees after the distribution. Such awards will have a dilutive effect on SpinCo’s earnings per share, which could adversely affect the market price of SpinCo’s common stock. From time to time, SpinCo will issue additional options or other stock-based awards to its employees under SpinCo’s employee benefits plans.

In addition, SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize SpinCo to issue, without the approval of SpinCo’s stockholders, one or more classes or series of preferred stock having such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, including preferences over SpinCo’s common stock respecting dividends and distributions, as SpinCo’s board of directors generally may determine. The terms of one or more classes or series of preferred stock could dilute the voting power or reduce the value of SpinCo’s common stock. For example, SpinCo could grant the holders of preferred stock the right to elect some number of SpinCo’s directors in all events or on the happening of specified events or the right to veto specified transactions. Similarly, the repurchase or redemption rights or liquidation preferences SpinCo could assign to holders of preferred stock could affect the residual value of the common stock. See “Description of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Capital Stock.”

Certain provisions in SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, and of Delaware law, may prevent or delay an acquisition of SpinCo, which could decrease the trading price of SpinCo’s common stock.

SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will contain, and Delaware law contains, provisions that are intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive to the bidder and to encourage prospective acquirers to negotiate with SpinCo’s board of directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others:

 

    the inability of SpinCo’s stockholders to call a special meeting;

 

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    rules regarding how stockholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at stockholder meetings;

 

    the right of SpinCo’s board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval;

 

    the division of SpinCo’s board of directors into three classes of directors, with each class serving a staggered three-year term, and this classified board provision could have the effect of making the replacement of incumbent directors more time consuming and difficult;

 

    a provision that stockholders may only remove directors with cause;

 

    the ability of SpinCo’s directors, and not stockholders, to fill vacancies on SpinCo’s board of directors; and

 

    the requirement that the affirmative vote of stockholders holding at least 80 percent of SpinCo’s voting stock is required to amend certain provisions in SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and SpinCo’s amended and restated bylaws relating to the number, term and election of SpinCo’s directors, the filling of board vacancies, the calling of special meetings of stockholders and director and officer indemnification provisions.

In addition, because SpinCo has not chosen to be exempt from Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, this provision could also delay or prevent a change of control that you may favor. Section 203 provides that, subject to limited exceptions, persons that acquire, or are affiliated with a person that acquires, more than 15 percent of the outstanding voting stock of a Delaware corporation shall not engage in any business combination with that corporation, including by merger, consolidation or acquisitions of additional shares, for a three-year period following the date on which that person or its affiliates becomes the holder of more than 15 percent of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

SpinCo believes these provisions will protect its stockholders from coercive or otherwise unfair takeover tactics by requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with SpinCo’s board of directors and by providing SpinCo’s board of directors with more time to assess any acquisition proposal. These provisions are not intended to make SpinCo immune from takeovers. However, these provisions will apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some stockholders and could delay or prevent an acquisition that SpinCo’s board of directors determines is not in the best interests of SpinCo and SpinCo’s stockholders. These provisions may also prevent or discourage attempts to remove and replace incumbent directors.

In addition, an acquisition or further issuance of SpinCo’s stock could trigger the application of Section 355(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. For a discussion of Section 355(e), see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.” Under the tax matters agreement, SpinCo would be required to indemnify Rayonier for the resulting tax, and this indemnity obligation might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control that you may consider favorable.

SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will designate the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by SpinCo’s stockholders, which could discourage lawsuits against SpinCo and SpinCo’s directors and officers.

SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that unless the board of directors otherwise determines, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of SpinCo, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director of officer of SpinCo to SpinCo or SpinCo’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, any action asserting a claim against SpinCo or any director or officer of SpinCo arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, or SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against SpinCo or any director or officer of

 

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SpinCo governed by the internal affairs doctrine. However, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the action may be brought in another court sitting in the State of Delaware. Although SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will include this exclusive forum provision, it is possible that a court could rule that this provision is inapplicable or unenforceable. This exclusive forum provision may limit the ability of SpinCo’s stockholders to bring a claim in a judicial forum that such stockholders find favorable for disputes with SpinCo or SpinCo’s directors or officers, which may discourage such lawsuits against SpinCo and SpinCo’s directors and officers. Alternatively, if a court were to find this exclusive forum provision inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings described above, SpinCo may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect SpinCo’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This information statement and other materials Rayonier and SpinCo have filed or will file with the SEC contain, or will contain, certain forward-looking statements regarding business strategies, market potential, future financial performance and other matters. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. In particular, information included under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business,” and “The Separation and Distribution” contain forward-looking statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, an expectation or belief as to future results or events is expressed, such expectation or belief is based on the current plans and expectations of SpinCo management and expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished. Except as may be required by law, SpinCo undertakes no obligation to modify or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this information statement. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include the matters described under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in addition to the following other factors:

 

    competitive pressures in the markets in which SpinCo operates;

 

    risks associated with customer concentration;

 

    raw material and energy prices;

 

    risks associated with international operations;

 

    changes in global economic conditions;

 

    the Chinese dumping duties imposed on commodity viscose;

 

    litigation with the Altahama Riverkeeper;

 

    the effect of current and future environmental laws and regulations;

 

    potential impact of future tobacco-related restrictions;

 

    potential for additional pension contributions;

 

    labor relations;

 

    the effect of weather and other natural conditions;

 

    transportation cost and availability;

 

    the failure to attract and retain key personnel;

 

    the failure to develop new ideas and protect SpinCo’s intellectual property;

 

    uncertainties related to the availability of additional financing to SpinCo in the future and the terms of such financing;

 

    risks associated with product liability claims;

 

    the inability to make or effectively integrate future acquisitions;

 

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    SpinCo’s inability to engage in certain corporate transactions following the separation;

 

    any failure to realize expected benefits from the separation;

 

    risks associated with SpinCo’s debt obligations following the separation; and

 

    uncertainties relating to general economic, political, business, industry, regulatory and market conditions.

 

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THE SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION

Overview

On January 27, 2014, Rayonier announced that it intends to separate its performance fibers business from its forest resources and real estate businesses. Rayonier announced that it intends to effect the separation through a pro rata distribution of the common stock of a new entity, which is SpinCo, formed to hold the assets and liabilities associated with the performance fibers business.

On May 27, 2014, the Rayonier board of directors approved the distribution of the issued and outstanding shares of SpinCo common stock on the basis of one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares held as of the close of business on the record date of June 18, 2014.

At 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 27, 2014, the distribution date, each Rayonier shareholder will receive one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares held at the close of business on the record date for the distribution, as described below. Rayonier shareholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of SpinCo common stock that they would have received after application of this ratio. You will not be required to make any payment, surrender or exchange your Rayonier common shares or take any other action to receive your shares of SpinCo’s common stock in the distribution. The distribution of SpinCo’s common stock as described in this information statement is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. For a more detailed description of these conditions, see “Conditions to the Distribution.”

Reasons for the Separation

The Rayonier board of directors determined that the separation of Rayonier’s performance fibers business from its forest resources and real estate businesses would be in the best interests of Rayonier and its shareholders and approved the plan of separation. A wide variety of factors were considered by the Rayonier board of directors in evaluating the separation. Among other things, the Rayonier board of directors considered the following potential benefits of the separation:

 

    Distinct investment identity. The separation will allow investors to separately value Rayonier and SpinCo based on their distinct investment identities. SpinCo’s performance fibers business differs from Rayonier’s business in several respects, such as the market for products, manufacturing processes, research and development capabilities and capital intensity. The separation will enable investors to evaluate the merits, performance and future prospects of each company’s respective business and to invest in each company separately based on these distinct characteristics, and may attract new investors, who may not have properly assessed the potentially higher value of the performance fibers business relative to the value it is currently accorded as a business of a taxable REIT subsidiary.

 

    Enhanced strategic and management focus. The separation will allow SpinCo and Rayonier to more effectively pursue their distinct operating priorities and strategies and enable management of both companies to focus on unique opportunities for long-term growth and profitability. For example, while SpinCo’s management will be able to focus exclusively on its performance fibers business, the management of Rayonier will be dedicated solely to growing its forest resources and real estate businesses.

 

    More efficient allocation of capital. The separation will permit each company to concentrate its financial resources solely on its own operations without having to compete with each other for investment capital. This will provide each company with greater flexibility to invest capital in its businesses in a time and manner appropriate for its distinct strategy and business needs and facilitate a more efficient allocation of capital. In particular, the separation will allow SpinCo to incur higher leverage than it currently has on a stand-alone basis, which would result in a lower overall cost of capital.

 

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    Direct access to capital markets. The separation will create an independent equity structure that will afford SpinCo direct access to the capital markets and will facilitate SpinCo’s ability to effect future acquisitions utilizing SpinCo’s common stock. As a result, each company will have more flexibility to capitalize on its unique growth opportunities.

 

    Alignment of incentives with performance objectives. The separation will facilitate incentive compensation arrangements for employees more directly tied to the performance of the relevant company’s business, and enhance employee hiring and retention by, among other things, improving the alignment of management and employee incentives with performance and growth objectives.

Neither SpinCo nor Rayonier can assure you that, following the separation, any of the benefits described above or otherwise will be realized to the extent anticipated or at all.

The Rayonier board of directors also considered a number of potentially negative factors in evaluating the separation, including the loss of synergies and joint purchasing power and increased costs resulting from operating as a separate public entity, one-time costs of the separation, the risk of not realizing the anticipated benefits of the separation and limitations placed upon SpinCo as a result of any tax-sharing agreement. The Rayonier board of directors concluded that the potential benefits of the separation outweighed these factors.

Formation of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

SpinCo was formed in Delaware on January 16, 2014, for the purpose of holding Rayonier’s performance fibers business. As part of the plan to separate the performance fibers business from the remainder of its businesses, Rayonier plans to transfer the equity interests of certain entities that operate the performance fibers business and the assets and liabilities of the performance fibers business to SpinCo prior to the distribution, including environmental liabilities relating to prior disposed operations which were unrelated to SpinCo’s ongoing operations.

When and How You Will Receive the Distribution

With the assistance of Computershare, Rayonier expects to distribute SpinCo common stock at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 27, 2014, the distribution date, to all holders of outstanding Rayonier common shares as of the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution. Computershare, which currently serves as the transfer agent and registrar for Rayonier’s common shares, will serve as the settlement and distribution agent in connection with the distribution and the transfer agent and registrar for SpinCo common stock.

If you own Rayonier common shares as of the close of business on the record date for the distribution, SpinCo’s common stock that you are entitled to receive in the distribution will be issued electronically, as of the distribution date, to you in direct registration form or to your bank or brokerage firm on your behalf. If you are a registered holder, Computershare will then mail you a direct registration account statement that reflects your shares of SpinCo common stock. If you hold your shares through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the shares. If you own Rayonier common shares through the Rayonier dividend reinvestment plan, the SpinCo shares you receive will be distributed to a new SpinCo dividend reinvestment plan account that will be created for you. Direct registration form refers to a method of recording share ownership when no physical share certificates are issued to shareholders, as is the case in this distribution. If you sell Rayonier common shares in the “regular-way” market up to and including the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive shares of SpinCo common stock in the distribution.

Commencing on or shortly after the distribution date, if you hold physical share certificates that represent your Rayonier common shares and you are the registered holder of the shares represented by those certificates, the distribution agent will mail to you an account statement that indicates the number of shares of SpinCo’s common stock that have been registered in book-entry form in your name.

 

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Most Rayonier shareholders hold their common shares through a bank or brokerage firm. In such cases, the bank or brokerage firm would be said to hold the shares in “street name” and ownership would be recorded on the bank or brokerage firm’s books. If you hold your Rayonier common shares through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will credit your account for the SpinCo common stock that you are entitled to receive in the distribution. If you have any questions concerning the mechanics of having shares held in “street name,” please contact your bank or brokerage firm.

Transferability of Shares You Receive

Shares of SpinCo common stock distributed to holders in connection with the distribution will be transferable without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, except for shares received by persons who may be deemed to be SpinCo affiliates. Persons who may be deemed to be SpinCo affiliates after the distribution generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by or are under common control with SpinCo, which may include certain SpinCo executive officers, directors or principal stockholders. Securities held by SpinCo affiliates will be subject to resale restrictions under the Securities Act. SpinCo affiliates will be permitted to sell shares of SpinCo common stock only pursuant to an effective registration statement or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemption afforded by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Number of Shares of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Common Stock You Will Receive

For every three Rayonier common shares that you own at the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution, you will receive one share of SpinCo common stock on the distribution date. Rayonier will not distribute any fractional shares of SpinCo common stock to its shareholders. Instead, if you are a registered holder, Computershare (which is sometimes referred to herein as the distribution agent) will aggregate fractional shares into whole shares, sell the whole shares in the open market at prevailing market prices and distribute the aggregate cash proceeds (net of discounts and commissions) of the sales pro rata (based on the fractional share such holder would otherwise be entitled to receive) to each holder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a fractional share in the distribution. The distribution agent, in its sole discretion, without any influence by Rayonier or SpinCo, will determine when, how, and through which broker-dealer and at what price to sell the whole shares. Any broker-dealer used by the distribution agent will not be an affiliate of either Rayonier or SpinCo. Computershare is not an affiliate of either Rayonier or SpinCo. Neither SpinCo nor Rayonier will be able to guarantee any minimum sale price in connection with the sale of these shares. Recipients of cash in lieu of fractional shares will not be entitled to any interest on the amounts of payment made in lieu of fractional shares.

The aggregate net cash proceeds of these sales of fractional shares will be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” for an explanation of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the distribution. If you hold physical certificates for Rayonier common shares and are the registered holder, you will receive a check from the distribution agent in an amount equal to your pro rata share of the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales. SpinCo estimates that it will take approximately two weeks from the distribution date for the distribution agent to complete the distributions of the aggregate net cash proceeds. If you hold your Rayonier common shares through a bank or brokerage firm, your bank or brokerage firm will receive, on your behalf, your pro rata share of the aggregate net cash proceeds of the sales and will electronically credit your account for your share of such proceeds.

Treatment of Equity Based Compensation

As of the distribution date, each Rayonier stock option will be converted into both an adjusted Rayonier stock option and a SpinCo stock option, with adjustments made to the exercise prices and number of shares subject to each option in order to preserve the aggregate intrinsic value of the original Rayonier stock option as measured immediately before and immediately after the separation, subject to rounding. The adjusted Rayonier stock options and the SpinCo stock options will be subject to substantially the same terms, vesting conditions, post-termination exercise rules, and other restrictions that applied to the original Rayonier stock option immediately before the separation. Holders of Rayonier restricted stock, including Rayonier non-employee

 

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directors, will retain those awards and also will receive restricted stock of SpinCo, in an amount that reflects the distribution to Rayonier shareholders, by applying the distribution ratio to Rayonier restricted stock awards as though they were unrestricted Rayonier common shares.

Performance share awards outstanding as of the distribution date will be treated as follows:

 

    Performance share awards granted in 2012 (with a 2012-2014 performance period) will be split into both Rayonier performance share awards and SpinCo performance share awards and will continue to be subject to the same performance criteria as applied immediately prior to the separation, except that total shareholder return at the end of the performance period will be based on the combined stock prices of Rayonier and SpinCo and any payment earned will be made to the applicable award holder in shares of Rayonier common stock and shares of SpinCo common stock.

 

    Performance share awards granted in 2013 (with a 2013-2015 performance period) will be cancelled as of the distribution date and, following the effective time of the distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo, as applicable, will replace the cancelled awards held by their respective employees with time-vested equity awards of the post-separation employer of each award holder (Rayonier or SpinCo, as the case may be) that will vest 24 months after the distribution date, generally subject to the holder’s continued employment. The value of each time-vested equity award will be equivalent to the grant date value of the performance share award that it replaces, subject to rounding.

 

    Performance share awards granted in 2014 (with a 2014-2016 performance period) will be cancelled as of the distribution date and, following the effective time of the distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo, as applicable, will replace the cancelled awards held by their respective employees with performance share awards of the post-separation employer of each holder (Rayonier or SpinCo, as the case may be), which will be subject to the achievement of performance criteria that relate to the post-separation business of the applicable employer during a performance period ending December 31, 2016. The value of each replacement performance share award will be equivalent to the grant date value of the performance share award that it replaces, subject to rounding.

Treatment of 401(k) Shares

Rayonier common shares held in Rayonier’s 401(k) plans will be treated in the same manner in the distribution as outstanding Rayonier common shares.

Results of the Distribution

After its separation from Rayonier, SpinCo will be an independent, publicly traded company. The actual number of shares to be distributed will be determined at the close of business on June 18, 2014, the record date for the distribution, and will reflect any exercise of Rayonier options between the date the Rayonier board of directors declares the distribution and the record date for the distribution. The distribution will not affect the number of outstanding Rayonier common shares or any rights of Rayonier shareholders. Rayonier will not distribute any fractional shares of SpinCo common stock.

SpinCo will enter into a separation agreement and other related agreements with Rayonier before the distribution to effect the separation and provide a framework for SpinCo’s relationship with Rayonier after the separation. These agreements will provide for the allocation between Rayonier and SpinCo of Rayonier’s assets, liabilities and obligations (including employee benefits, intellectual property, and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier and will govern the relationship between Rayonier and SpinCo after the separation. For a more detailed description of these agreements, see “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions.”

Market for Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Common Stock

There is currently no public trading market for SpinCo’s common stock. SpinCo has applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYAM.” SpinCo has not and will not set the initial price of its common stock. The initial price will be established by the public markets.

 

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SpinCo cannot predict the price at which its common stock will trade after the distribution. In fact, the combined trading prices, after the separation, of the shares of SpinCo common stock that each Rayonier shareholder will receive in the distribution and the Rayonier common shares held at the record date for the distribution may not equal the “regular-way” trading price of an Rayonier share immediately prior to the separation. The price at which SpinCo common stock trades may fluctuate significantly, particularly until an orderly public market develops. Trading prices for SpinCo common stock will be determined in the public markets and may be influenced by many factors. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to SpinCo’s Common Stock.”

Incurrence of Debt

On March 22, 2014, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. issued $550 million in aggregate principal amount of corporate bonds. In connection with the distribution, SpinCo expects to incur approximately $400 million of additional new debt. On the distribution date, SpinCo anticipates that its debt will consist of $325 million of term loans under the term loan facilities of Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of SpinCo after the separation, borrowings of $75 million under SpinCo’s revolving credit facility and $550 million of corporate bonds previously issued by Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. The net proceeds of such debt are expected to fund cash transfers of approximately $950 million to Rayonier, as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Separation Agreement—Cash Transfers.” Promptly following the distribution, it is anticipated that the $75 million of revolving borrowings by SpinCo will be repaid with the proceeds of a delayed draw term loan expected to be made available to Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. under the term loan facilities described above.

Trading Between the Record Date and Distribution Date

Beginning on or shortly before the record date for the distribution and continuing up to and including through the distribution date, Rayonier expects that there will be two markets in Rayonier common shares: a “regular-way” market and an “ex-distribution” market. Rayonier common shares that trade on the “regular-way” market will trade with an entitlement to SpinCo common shares distributed pursuant to the separation. Rayonier common shares that trade on the “ex-distribution” market will trade without an entitlement to SpinCo common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. Therefore, if you sell Rayonier common shares in the “regular-way” market up to and including through the distribution date, you will be selling your right to receive SpinCo common stock in the distribution. If you own Rayonier common shares at the close of business on the record date and sell those shares on the “ex-distribution” market up to and including through the distribution date, you will receive the shares of SpinCo common stock that you are entitled to receive pursuant to your ownership as of the record date of the Rayonier common shares.

Furthermore, beginning on or shortly before the record date for the distribution and continuing up to and including the distribution date, SpinCo expects that there will be a “when-issued” market in its common stock. “When-issued” trading refers to a sale or purchase made conditionally because the security has been authorized but not yet issued. The “when-issued” trading market will be a market for SpinCo common stock that will be distributed to holders of Rayonier common shares on the distribution date. If you owned Rayonier common shares at the close of business on the record date for the distribution, you would be entitled to SpinCo common stock distributed pursuant to the distribution. You may trade this entitlement to shares of SpinCo common stock, without the Rayonier common shares you own, on the “when-issued” market. On the first trading day following the distribution date, “when-issued” trading with respect to SpinCo common stock will end, and “regular-way” trading will begin.

Conditions to the Distribution

SpinCo has announced that the distribution will be effective at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on June 27, 2014, which is the distribution date, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived by Rayonier in its sole discretion):

 

    the transfer of assets and liabilities from Rayonier to SpinCo shall have been completed in accordance with the separation agreement;

 

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    Rayonier shall have received a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that, among other things, the contribution of assets and liabilities from Rayonier to SpinCo and the distribution, taken together, will qualify as a transaction that is tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code and certain transactions related to the transfer of assets and liabilities to SpinCo in connection with the separation will not result in the recognition of any gain or loss to Rayonier, SpinCo or their shareholders, and such private letter ruling shall not have been revoked or modified in any material respect;

 

    Rayonier shall have received an opinion from Rayonier’s outside tax counsel to the effect that, with respect to certain requirements for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code on which the IRS will not rule, such requirements will be satisfied;

 

    the SEC shall have declared effective SpinCo’s registration statement on Form 10, of which this information statement forms a part, and this information statement shall have been mailed to the Rayonier shareholders;

 

    all actions and filings necessary or appropriate under applicable U.S. federal, U.S. state or other securities laws shall have been taken and, where applicable, have become effective or been accepted by the applicable governmental authority;

 

    the transaction agreements relating to the separation shall have been duly executed and delivered by the parties;

 

    no order, injunction, or decree issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the separation, distribution or any of the related transactions shall be in effect;

 

    the shares of SpinCo common stock to be distributed shall have been accepted for listing on the NYSE subject to official notice of distribution;

 

    Rayonier shall have received the proceeds from the cash transfers from SpinCo, as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Separation Agreement—Cash Transfers”, and Rayonier shall be satisfied in its sole and absolute discretion that, as of the effective time of the distribution, it shall have no further liability under any of the SpinCo financing arrangements described under “Description of Material Indebtedness”; and

 

    no event or development shall have occurred or exist that, in the judgment of Rayonier’s board of directors, in its sole and absolute discretion, makes it inadvisable to effect the separation, the distribution and other related transactions.

Rayonier will have the sole and absolute discretion to determine (and change) the terms of, and whether to proceed with, the distribution and, to the extent it determines to so proceed, to determine the record date for the distribution and the distribution date and the distribution ratio. Rayonier will also have sole discretion to waive any of the conditions to the distribution. Rayonier does not intend to notify its shareholders of any modifications to the terms of the separation that, in the judgment of its board of directors, are not material. For example, the Rayonier board of directors might consider material such matters as significant changes to the distribution ratio, the assets to be contributed or the liabilities to be assumed in the separation. To the extent that the Rayonier board of directors determines that any modifications by Rayonier materially change the material terms of the distribution, Rayonier will notify Rayonier shareholders in a manner reasonably calculated to inform them about the modification as may be required by law, by, for example, publishing a press release, filing a current report on Form 8-K, or circulating a supplement to this information statement.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

SpinCo expects that it will pay a regular cash dividend at an annual rate comparable to other similarly situated specialty chemical companies, starting with the quarterly dividend to be paid in the third quarter of 2014. However, the timing, declaration, amount of and payment of any dividends following the separation by SpinCo is within the discretion of its board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including SpinCo’s financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of its operating subsidiaries, debt service obligations, covenants associated with certain of SpinCo’s debt service obligations, legal requirements, regulatory constraints, industry practice, ability to gain access to capital markets, and other factors deemed relevant by its board of directors. Moreover, if SpinCo determines to pay any dividend in the future, there can be no assurance that it will continue to pay such dividends or the amount of such dividends.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth SpinCo’s capitalization as of March 31, 2014, on a historical basis and on a pro forma basis to give effect to the pro forma adjustments included in SpinCo’s unaudited pro forma financial information. The information below is not necessarily indicative of what SpinCo’s capitalization would have been had the separation, distribution and related financing transactions been completed as of March 31, 2014. In addition, it is not indicative of SpinCo’s future capitalization. This table should be read in conjunction with “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements,” “Selected Historical Combined Financial Data of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and SpinCo’s combined financial statements and notes included in the “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” section of this information statement.

 

     March 31, 2014  
(dollar amounts in millions)    Actual      Pro Forma  

Cash

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     $         —          $         —    

Capitalization:

     

Revolving credit facility

     $         —          $         —    

Term loan A-1

     —          110    

Term loan A-2

     —          290    

Corporate bonds

     —          550    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

     $         —          $ 950    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Investment

     

Common stock

     $ —          $ —    

Additional paid-in capital

     —          (5)    

Retained earnings

     1,447          —    

Transfers to parent, net

     (440)          —    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (39)          (54)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net investment

     968          (59)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

     $             968          $ 891    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA OF RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

The following selected financial data reflect the combined operations of SpinCo. SpinCo derived the selected combined income statement data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and the selected combined balance sheet data as of March 31, 2014 from its unaudited interim combined financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this information statement. SpinCo derived the selected combined income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and the selected combined balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, as set forth below, from its audited combined financial statements, which are included in the “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” section of this information statement. SpinCo derived the selected combined income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and the selected combined balance sheet data as of March 31, 2013, December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 from SpinCo’s underlying financial records, which were derived from the financial records of Rayonier and are not included in this information statement. The historical results do not necessarily indicate the results expected for any future period. To ensure a full understanding, you should read the selected combined financial data presented below in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the combined financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this information statement.

 

    Three Months
Ended March 31,
    Years Ended December 31,  
(dollar amounts in millions)      2014           2013           2013           2012           2011           2010           2009     

Statement of Income Data:

     

Sales

  $       243       $       285        $       1,047        $       1,095        $       1,021        $       884        $       841    

Gross margin

    54         97         333         379         323         232         201    

Operating income (a)

    43         87         289         342         283         201         373    

Net income (a)

    31         80         220         242         214         159         305    

Balance Sheet Data:

             

Total assets (b)

  $ 1,122       $ 1,053       $ 1,120       $ 921       $ 665       $ 568       $ 737    

Property, plant and equipment, net

    848         745         846         681         433         358         318    

Other Operating Data:

             

EBITDA (a) (c)

  $ 64       $ 102       $ 363       $ 402       $ 339       $ 258       $ 431    

Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit

    —         —         —         —         —         —         (205)    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

  $ 64       $ 102       $ 363       $ 402       $ 339       $ 258       $ 226    

Sales volumes (thousands of metric tons)

             

Cellulose specialties

    113         132         486         503         504         480         464    

Absorbent materials

    16         56         106         214         227         238         270    

Commodity viscose

    34         —         51         —         —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    163         188         643         717         731         718         734    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Results for 2009 include $205.2 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”). See Note 7 — Income Taxes to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

(b) Total Assets in 2009 include a $215.5 million receivable related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”). See Note 7 — Income Taxes to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

(c) For a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income and cash flow from operations, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

 

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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements presented below have been derived from SpinCo’s historical combined financial statements included in this information statement. While the historical combined financial statements reflect the past financial results of SpinCo’s performance fibers business, these pro forma statements give effect to the separation of that business into an independent, publicly traded company. The pro forma adjustments to reflect the separation include:

 

    The distribution of SpinCo common stock to Rayonier shareholders.

 

    The issuance by SpinCo of $950 million of new debt in connection with the separation.

 

    The transfer by SpinCo of approximately $950 million to Rayonier prior to the distribution.

 

    The transfer of assets and liabilities from Rayonier to SpinCo, primarily related to postretirement benefit plans, certain property, plant and equipment, and environmental liabilities associated with prior disposed operations, which were not included in the historical combined statements.

The pro forma adjustments are based on available information and assumptions management believes are reasonable; however, such adjustments are subject to change as the costs of operating as a stand-alone company are determined. In addition, such adjustments are estimates and may not prove to be accurate. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements do not reflect all of the costs of operating as a stand-alone company, including possible higher information technology, tax, accounting, treasury, legal, investor relations, insurance and other similar expenses associated with operating as a stand-alone company. Only costs that management has determined to be factually supportable and recurring are included as pro forma adjustments, including the items described above. Incremental costs and expenses associated with operating as a stand-alone company, which are not reflected in the accompanying pro forma condensed combined financial statements, are estimated to be approximately $9 million before-tax annually.

Subject to the terms of the separation and distribution agreement, SpinCo will generally pay all nonrecurring third-party costs and expenses related to the separation and incurred by SpinCo prior to the separation date. Such nonrecurring amounts are expected to include costs to separate and/or duplicate information technology systems, investment banker fees, outside legal and accounting fees, debt issuance and other similar costs. After the separation, subject to the terms of the separation and distribution agreement, all costs and expenses related to the separation incurred by either Rayonier or SpinCo will be borne by the party incurring the costs and expenses. Nonrecurring costs associated with the separation, which SpinCo expects to include in its income within one year after the separation, are estimated to be approximately $2 million before-tax.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013 have been prepared as though the separation occurred on January 1, 2013. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet at March 31, 2014 has been prepared as though the separation occurred on March 31, 2014. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are for illustrative purposes only, and do not reflect what SpinCo’s financial position and results of operations would have been had the separation occurred on the dates indicated and are not necessarily indicative of its future financial position and future results of operations.

SpinCo’s retained cash balance and the amount of the cash distribution to Rayonier are subject to certain adjustments for SpinCo employee-related assets and liabilities. The following pro forma statements do reflect the impact of such adjustments, though the amount of the adjustment at the separation date will be different (either higher or lower) depending on the final selection of employees.

 

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The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with SpinCo’s historical combined financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in this information statement. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements constitute forward-looking information and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. See “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” included elsewhere in this information statement.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

UNAUDITED PROFORMA CONDENSED

COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2014

(in millions of dollars, except for per share amounts)

 

    As
Reported
     Disposed
Operations
    Debt     CBPC (a)      Pro Forma  

SALES

    $ 243          $         —         $         —         $         —          $         243    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

           

Cost of sales

    189          —         —         —          189    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

    54          —         —         —          54    
           

Selling and general expenses

            —         —         —            

Other operating expense

            —     (b)       —         —            
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

    43          —         —         —          43    

Interest expense

    —          —         10     (c)       —          10    

Interest and miscellaneous income, net

    —          —         —         —          —    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    43          —         (10     —          33    

Income tax expense

    12          —     (d)       (4 )   (d)       —            
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET INCOME

    $         31          $         —         $ (6 )       $ —          $ 25    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
           

Pro forma earnings per share:

           

Basic

              0.59     (e)  

Diluted

              0.59     (e)  

Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):

           

Basic

              42,115     (e)  

Diluted

              42,238     (e)  

See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

UNAUDITED PROFORMA CONDENSED

COMBINED STATEMENT OF INCOME

For the Year Ended December 31, 2013

(in millions of dollars, except for per share amounts)

 

    As
Reported
     Disposed
Operations
    Debt     CBPC
(a)
     Pro Forma  

SALES

    $ 1,047          $         —         $         —       $ —          $         1,047    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

           

Cost of sales

    714          —         —         —          714    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

    333          —         —         —          333    
           

Selling and general expenses

    36          —         —         —          36    

Other operating expense

            3    (b)       —         —          11    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

    289          (3     —         —          286    

Interest expense

    —          —         39     (c)       —          39    

Interest and miscellaneous income, net

    —          —         —         —          —    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    289          (3     (39     —          247    

Income tax expense

    69          (1 )   (d)       (14 )   (d)       19         73    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET INCOME

    $         220          $ (2     $ (25 )     $ (19 )        $ 174    
 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
           

Pro forma earnings per share:

           

Basic

              4.15     (e)  

Diluted

              4.13     (e)  

Pro forma weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):

           

Basic

              41,906     (e)  

Diluted

              42,113     (e)  

See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

As of March 31, 2014

(in millions of dollars unless otherwise stated)

 

    As
Reported
    Disposed
Operations
(f)
    Benefits
(g)
    Debt
(h)
    CBPC
(a)
    Other     Pro
Forma
 
ASSETS   

CURRENT ASSETS

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —    

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $140 thousand

    80         —         —         —         —         —         80    

Inventory

    126         —         —         —         —         —         126    

Deferred tax assets

    16         —         —         —         (13)        —           

Prepaid and other current assets

    26         —         —         —         —         —         26    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    248         —         —         —         (13)        —         235    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

             

Land

    14         —         —         —         —         —         14    

Buildings

    174         —         —         —         —         —         174    

Machinery and equipment

    1,754         —         —         —         —                1,756    

Construction in progress

    32         —         —         —         —         —         32    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, gross

    1,974         —         —         —         —                1,976    

Less—accumulated depreciation

    (1,126)        —         —         —         —         (1)        (1,127)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

    848         —         —         —         —                849    

OTHER ASSETS

    26         11         —         —         —         —         37    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,122        $ 11        $ —        $ —        $ (13)       $       $ 1,121    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND NET INVESTMENT

  

CURRENT LIABILITIES

             

Accounts payable

   $ 63        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 63    

Current liabilities for disposed operations

    —                —         —         —         —           

Other current liabilities

    23                —         —         —                27    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    86                —         —         —                96    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LONG-TERM DEBT

    —         —         —         950         —         —         950    

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES FOR DISPOSED OPERATIONS

    —         67         —         —         —         —         67    

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

    21         —         33         —         —         —         54    
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES     46         (27)        (8)        —         —         —         11    

OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

           —         —         —         —                  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES              

NET INVESTMENT

             

Common stock

    —         —         —         —           —         —    

Additional paid-in capital

    —         —         —         (950)   (i)      (13)        958   (i)      (5)   

Retained earnings

    1,447         —         —         —         —         (1,447)   (i)      —    

Transfers to Rayonier, net

    (440)        (36)        (10)        —         —         486   (i)      —    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (39)        —         (15)        —         —         —         (54)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL NET INVESTMENT

    968         (36)        (25)        (950)        (13)            (3)        (59)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND

NET INVESTMENT

   $   1,122        $         11        $       —        $       —        $     (13)       $         1        $     1,121    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

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(a) Represents the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”) tax credit carryforward which will be utilized in the income tax returns of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rayonier. SpinCo was a subsidiary of Rayonier and, for purposes of U.S. federal and state income taxes, was not directly subject to income taxes but was included in the income tax return of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. At the date of separation, any CBPC carryforward will not be available to offset future taxes of SpinCo but will remain with Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. As such, the pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2014 contains an adjustment of $13 million to remove the tax credit carryforward with an offset to additional paid-in capital. The pro forma statement of income contains an adjustment of $19 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 to exclude the impact of this tax credit from SpinCo’s historical results. There was no income statement impact for this tax credit for the three months ended March 31, 2014. See Note 3 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 7— Income Taxes to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

(b) Represents adjustments to the estimates of environmental remediation relating to prior disposed operations of Rayonier.

 

(c) Represents adjustments to estimate interest expense resulting from the assumed incurrence of $950 million of indebtedness in connection with the separation. The interest rates are based on estimated current rates that SpinCo expects upon completion of the transaction and expected timing of accessing capital markets (including $550 million at 5.5%). For each one-eighth of 1% (12.5 basis points) change in the estimated interest rates associated with the $950 million of borrowings, interest expense would increase or decrease by $0.3 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, respectively.

 

(d) Represents the tax effect of pro forma adjustments to income before income taxes using the statutory tax rate (35% federal rate plus an effective 1.5% state rate) for three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013. The effective tax rate of SpinCo could be different (either higher or lower) depending on activities subsequent to the separation.

 

(e) The calculations of pro forma basic earnings per share and average shares outstanding for the period presented are based on the number of shares used to calculate Rayonier common shares outstanding for three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, adjusted for the distribution ratio of one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares outstanding.

The calculations of pro forma diluted earnings per share and average shares outstanding for the period presented are based on the number of shares used to calculate Rayonier diluted earnings per share for three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013, adjusted for the same distribution ratio. This calculation may not be indicative of the dilutive effect that will actually result from SpinCo stock-based awards issued in connection with the adjustment of outstanding Rayonier stock-based awards or the grant of new stock-based awards. The number of dilutive shares of common stock underlying SpinCo stock-based awards issued in connection with the adjustment of outstanding Rayonier stock-based awards will not be determined until after the distribution date.

 

(f) Represents environmental assets and liabilities relating to prior disposed operations of Rayonier. Assets consist of $11 million of land, land improvements, and docks located at Rayonier’s disposed operations sites, primarily Port Angeles, Washington, Augusta, Georgia and Spartanburg, South Carolina, and $27 million of related deferred tax assets. See “Liabilities for Disposed Operations” for additional information.

As part of the spin-off transaction, the entire amount of Rayonier’s environmental liability portfolio, as shown in the pro forma adjustments, is being assumed by SpinCo. These pro forma adjustments are excluded from the historical financial statements which are included in the “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” section of this information statement.

 

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The objective of the historical financial statements is to reflect the historical operations of the Performance Fibers business on a standalone basis in order to depict how the business has been managed and how it has evolved over time. The vast majority of Rayonier’s environmental liabilities relate to facilities closed prior to 1994, when Rayonier was spun-off from ITT Corporation and primarily relate to wood treatment plants that Rayonier operated in several states in the Southeast. Since then, the remediation of these sites has been managed by Rayonier corporate office personnel as opposed to those involved with managing the operations of SpinCo. In anticipation of the separation, it was decided that SpinCo would service these liabilities in the future.

The objective of the pro forma financial statements is to present how the spin-off transaction would have affected the historical financial position and results of operations had the transaction occurred on an earlier date. In addition, pro forma financial statements must reflect items related to the transaction that will be included or excluded from the historical financial statements. As such, the pro forma financial statements include all of the assets, liabilities, and charges relating to the environmental liabilities described above. For additional information, see “Liabilities for Disposed Operations” below.

 

(g) Represents the funded status associated with Rayonier-sponsored pension plans and other employee benefit arrangements for SpinCo employees located in the United States. The actual amount of pension and employee benefit assets and liabilities will be different (either higher or lower) based on the final selection of employees.

 

(h) The $950 million of long-term debt is expected to consist of $400 million of term loans and $550 million of corporate bonds. In addition, SpinCo expects to have access to approximately $250 million in liquidity through a revolving credit facility. The actual debt structure may vary depending on market conditions. Costs and expenses related to obtaining the debt, including the liquidity facility, will be deferred and amortized.

 

(i) Represents the elimination of the net investment by Rayonier and adjustments to additional paid in capital resulting from the following:

 

(dollars in millions)       

Reclassification of Rayonier’s net investment

     $                     (440)    

Reclassification of SpinCo’s retained earnings

     1,447     

Distribution to Rayonier Inc.

     (950)    

New assets and liabilities recorded on SpinCo’s books

     (64)    

Impact of CBPC tax credits

     (13)    

New accumulated other comprehensive loss recorded on SpinCo’s books

     15     
  

 

 

 

Total additional paid-in capital

     $ (5)    
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES FOR DISPOSED OPERATIONS

Included in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet at March 31, 2014 are environmental liabilities relating to prior disposed operations, which include Rayonier’s Port Angeles, Washington dissolving pulp mill that was closed in 1997; Rayonier’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Southern Wood Piedmont Company (“SWP”), which ceased operations other than environmental investigation and remediation activities in 1989; and other miscellaneous assets held for disposition. Southern Wood Piedmont Company owns or has liability for ten inactive former wood treating sites that are subject to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and/or other similar federal or state statutes relating to the investigation and remediation of environmentally-impacted sites.

Use of Estimates

At March 31, 2014, these prior disposed operations had $73 million of accrued liabilities for environmental costs. Numerous cost assumptions are used in estimating these obligations. Factors affecting these estimates

 

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include changes in the nature or extent of contamination, changes in the content or volume of the material discharged or treated in connection with one or more impacted sites, requirements to perform additional or different assessment or remediation, changes in technology that may lead to additional or different environmental remediation strategies, approaches and workplans, discovery of additional or unanticipated contaminated soil, groundwater or sediment on or off-site, changes in remedy selection, changes in law or interpretation of existing law and the outcome of negotiations with governmental agencies or non-governmental parties. Management periodically reviews its environmental liabilities and also engages third-party consultants to assess its ongoing remediation of contaminated sites. A significant change in any of the estimates could have a material effect on the results of operations. Typically, these cost estimates do not vary significantly on a quarter-to-quarter basis, although there can be no assurance that such a change will not occur in the future.

Significant Accounting Policies

Liabilities are established to assess, remediate and monitor sites related to disposed operations from which no current or future benefit is discernible. These obligations are established based on payments over the next 20 years and require significant estimates to determine the proper amount at any point in time. Generally, monitoring expense obligations are fixed once remediation projects are at or near completion. The projected period, from 2014 through 2033, reflects the time in which potential future costs are both estimable and probable. As new information becomes available, these cost estimates are updated and recorded liabilities are adjusted appropriately. Environmental liabilities are accounted for on an undiscounted basis and are reflected in current and non-current “Liabilities for disposed operations” in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet.

An analysis of activity in the liabilities for disposed operations for the three years ended December 31 follows:

 

    March 31,      December 31,  
(dollars in millions)   2014      2013      2012      2011  

Balance, beginning of period

      $            76.4           $             81.7           $             90.8           $             93.2     

Expenditures charged to liabilities

    (2.5)          (8.6)          (9.9)          (9.2)    

Increase to liabilities

    —           3.3           0.8           6.8     
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of period

    73.9           76.4           81.7           90.8     

Less: Current portion

    (6.4)          (6.8)          (8.1)          (9.9)    
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Non-current portion

    $            67.5           $ 69.6           $ 73.6           $ 80.9     
 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Below are disclosures for specific site liabilities where current estimates exceed 10 percent of the total liabilities for disposed operations at March 31, 2014. An analysis of the activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013 is as follows:

 

    Activity (in millions)  

Sites

 

2012

Liability

   

Expenditures

   

Increase
(Reduction)

to

Liabilities

   

2013

Liability

   

Expenditures

   

Increase
(Reduction)
to
Liabilities

   

March 31,
2014

Liability

 

Augusta, Georgia

    $       12.1          $       (1.0)         $       0.8          $       11.9          $       (0.5)         $       —          $       11.4     

Spartanburg, South Carolina

    14.0          (1.4)         (0.8)         11.8          (0.4)               —          11.4     

East Point, Georgia

    10.9          (0.8)         (0.2)         9.9          (0.1)         —          9.8     

Baldwin, Florida

    9.1          (1.1)         2.7          10.7          (0.2)         —          10.5     

Other SWP sites

    20.9          (2.1)         (0.2)         18.6          (0.3)         —          18.3     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total SWP

    67.0          (6.4)         2.3          62.9          (1.5)         —          61.4     

Port Angeles, Washington

    9.5          (1.5)         1.4          9.4          (0.4)         —          9.0     

All other sites

    5.2          (0.7)         (0.4)         4.1          (0.6)         —          3.5     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL

  $ 81.7        $ (8.6)       $ 3.3        $ 76.4        $ (2.5)       $ —        $ 73.9     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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A brief description of each of these sites is as follows:

Augusta, Georgia — SWP operated a wood treatment plant at this site from 1928 to 1988. The majority of visually contaminated surface soils have been removed, and remediation activities currently consist primarily of a groundwater treatment and recovery system. The site operates under a 10-year hazardous waste permit issued pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which expires in 2014. Current cost estimates could change if recovery or discharge volumes increase or decrease significantly, or if changes to current remediation activities are required in the future. Total spending as of March 31, 2014 was $68.8 million. Liabilities are recorded to cover obligations for the estimated remaining remedial and monitoring activities through 2033.

Spartanburg, South Carolina — SWP operated a wood treatment plant at this site from 1925 to 1989. Remediation activities include: (1) a recovery system and biological wastewater treatment plant, (2) an ozone-sparging system treating soil and groundwater and (3) an ion-exchange resin system treating groundwater. In 2012, SWP entered into a consent decree with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control which governs future investigatory and assessment activities at the site. Depending on the results of this investigation and assessment, additional remedial actions may be required in the future. Therefore, current cost estimates could change. Total spending as of March 31, 2014 was $40.6 million. Liabilities are recorded to cover obligations for the estimated remaining assessment, remedial and monitoring activities through 2033.

East Point, Georgia — SWP operated a wood treatment plant at this site from 1908 to 1984. This site operates under a 10-year Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste permit, which is currently in the renewal process. In 2009, SWP entered into a consent order with the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources which requires that SWP perform certain additional investigatory, analytical and potentially, remedial activity. Therefore, while active remedial measures are currently ongoing, additional remedial measures may be necessary in the future. Total spending as of March 31, 2014 was $21.9 million. Liabilities are recorded to cover obligations for the estimated remaining assessment, remedial and monitoring activities through 2033.

Baldwin, Florida — SWP operated a wood treatment plant at this site from 1954 to 1987. This site operates under a 10-year hazardous waste permit issued pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which expires in 2016. Visually contaminated surface soils have been removed, and current remediation activities primarily consist of a groundwater recovery and treatment system. Investigation and assessment of other potential areas of concern are ongoing in accordance with the facility’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit and additional remedial activities may be necessary in the future. Therefore, current cost estimates could change. Total spending as of March 31, 2014 was $21.9 million. Liabilities are recorded to cover obligations for the estimated remaining assessment, remedial and monitoring activities through 2033.

Port Angeles, Washington — Rayonier operated a dissolving pulp mill at this site from 1930 until 1997. The site and the adjacent marine areas (a portion of Port Angeles harbor) have been in various stages of the assessment process under the Washington Model Toxics Control Act (“MTCA”) since about 2000, and several voluntary interim soil clean-up actions have also been performed during this time. In 2010, Rayonier entered into an agreed order with the Washington Department of Ecology (“Ecology”), under which the MTCA investigatory, assessment and feasibility and alternatives study process will be completed on a set timetable, subject to approval of all reports and studies by Ecology. Upon completion of all work required under the agreed order and negotiation of an approved remedy, additional remedial measures for the site and adjacent marine areas may be necessary in the future. Total spending as of March 31, 2014 was $43.1 million. Liabilities are recorded to cover obligations for the estimated assessment, remediation and monitoring obligations that are deemed probable and estimable at this time.

The estimated expenditures for environmental investigation, remediation, monitoring and other costs for all disposed operations will be approximately $8 million in 2014 and $7 million in 2015. Such costs will be charged against the established liabilities for disposed operations, which include environmental assessment, remediation and monitoring costs. Management believes established liabilities are sufficient for costs expected to be incurred

 

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over the next 20 years with respect to its disposed operations. Remedial actions for these sites vary, but include on-site (and in certain cases off-site) removal or treatment of contaminated soils and sediments, recovery and treatment/remediation of groundwater, and source remediation and/or control.

In addition, these prior disposed operations are exposed to the risk of reasonably possible additional losses in excess of the established liabilities. As of March 31, 2014, this amount could range up to $30 million, allocable over several of the applicable sites, and arises from uncertainty over the availability, feasibility or effectiveness of certain remediation technologies, additional or different contamination that may be discovered, development of new or more effective environmental remediation technologies and the exercise of discretion in interpretation of applicable law and regulations by governmental agencies.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview

SpinCo is the leading global producer of high-value cellulose, a natural polymer, used as a raw material to manufacture a broad range of consumer-oriented products such as cigarette filters, liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints and lacquers. Purified cellulose is an organic material primarily derived from either wood or cotton and sold as cellulose specialties or commodity viscose, depending on its purity level. Cellulose specialties typically contain over 95% cellulose, while commodity viscose typically contains less than 95% cellulose. Cellulose specialties generally command a price premium, earn higher margins and benefit from greater demand stability through the economic cycle relative to commodity viscose.

SpinCo’s cellulose specialties require high levels of purity, process knowledge and are custom engineered and manufactured to customers’ exacting specifications. SpinCo’s customers (primarily specialty chemical companies) place a high premium on products that have great impact in terms of form, function and composition as they modify SpinCo’s fibers through various chemical reactions, which require high purity and uniformity for efficient production. As a result, cellulose specialties require a stringent qualification process as any inconsistencies in purity and/or uniformity can result in very negative and costly consequences to SpinCo’s customers.

With approximately 675,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity and nearly double the sales of its next largest competitor, SpinCo is the global leader in the production of cellulose specialties. SpinCo’s key competitive advantage is the “SpinCo Recipe”—its unique ability to utilize its manufacturing facilities to engineer cellulose specialties fibers to customers’ exacting specifications. SpinCo is the only cellulose specialties producer with manufacturing facilities that provide flexibility to use both hardwood and softwood, kraft and sulfite cooking processes, and a variety of proprietary chemical treatments. Additionally, SpinCo has a tremendous asset of process knowledge: the understanding of wood fiber properties and their modification under a sequence of chemical processes, accumulated and developed over 85 years of practical application to achieve unique properties for a variety of customer needs. When this process knowledge is combined with its manufacturing flexibility and knowledge of customers’ applications and specifications, it allows SpinCo to have the most extensive capability set to modify cellulose fibers in the industry.

SpinCo’s strategy has resulted in an increase in gross margin from $201 million in 2009 to $333 million in 2013. Net income has decreased from $305 million in 2009 to $220 million in 2013, as 2009 included $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (or “Adjusted EBITDA”) increased from $226 million in 2009 to $363 million in 2013, representing a compound annual growth rate (or “CAGR”) of 13%. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

 

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SpinCo categorizes its cellulose specialties into three product lines: acetate, high-value ethers and other cellulose specialties which account for 81%, 6% and 13% of its total cellulose specialties volume, respectively. SpinCo’s products are used primarily in the manufacture of a broad range of end-use products, as shown in the table below.

 

LOGO

 

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SpinCo estimates that cellulose specialties demand was approximately 1.6 million metric tons in 2012. SpinCo believes that its 2013 sales volume of approximately 486,000 metric tons makes it the industry leader, reflecting sales in three product lines where SpinCo’s management estimates that it was one of the top three producers by volume. The charts below summarize the global end use breakdown by product line of the cellulose specialties business:

Global Cellulose Specialties End Use Breakdown (1)(2)

 

     
Acetate      High Value Ethers (3)    

Other Cellulose

Specialties

End Use Breakdown

 

    

End Use Breakdown

 

   

End Use Breakdown

 

LOGO

 

     LOGO     LOGO
     

Estimated Product Demand

n     ~ 710,000 metric tons

n     1—2% growth per year

    

Estimated Product Demand

n     ~ 503,000 metric tons

n     4—6% growth per year

   

Estimated Product Demand

n     ~ 355,000 metric tons

n     2—3% growth per year

     

Estimated SpinCo Position

n     Number 1

    

Estimated SpinCo Position

n     Top 4

   

Estimated SpinCo Position

n     Top 2

      

 

   

 

 

 

Source: Hawkins Wright, PCI Fibres, Markets and Markets, and company estimates

(1) Data from 2012. (latest available)
(2) Product line size includes approximately 130,000 to 160,000 metric tons of cotton linter.
(3) Product line size includes approximately 100,000 metric tons MCC.

SpinCo’s production facilities, located in Jesup, Georgia, and Fernandina Beach, Florida, have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 675,000 metric tons. The Jesup mill can produce approximately 520,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties, or approximately 77% of SpinCo’s total capacity. The Fernandina Beach mill can produce approximately 155,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties, or approximately 23% of SpinCo’s total capacity. Combined, these facilities manufacture more than 25 different grades of purified cellulose.

Transition to All Cellulose Specialties

Historically, about one-third of SpinCo’s production was absorbent materials, a commodity product mainly used in disposable baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, incontinence pads, convalescent bed pads, industrial towels and wipes, and non-woven fabrics. In May 2011, SpinCo decided to convert its absorbent material production line located in the Jesup mill to cellulose specialties based on increased demand from its customers for high-value cellulose specialties and SpinCo’s desire to exit commodity-like product lines. Management believes this conversion, referred to as the cellulose specialties expansion project, positions SpinCo as the only fully dedicated supplier of cellulose specialties.

The cellulose specialties expansion project cost $385 million and converted approximately 260,000 metric tons of absorbent materials capacity into approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity. The project was completed in June 2013, after significant modifications to the production line and increased capacity of ancillary systems.

 

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In July 2013, SpinCo restarted the converted production line and began the qualification process for the line’s production with its customers. SpinCo expects to produce cellulose specialties, commodity viscose and other products, modulating volumes in each product group to meet demand. As cellulose specialties demand grows over the next several years, SpinCo expects to increase its sales of cellulose specialties and complete its transition to a dedicated cellulose specialties supplier.

Business Strategies

Key elements of SpinCo’s business strategy are as follows:

Strengthen SpinCo’s cellulose specialties leadership position. With approximately 675,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity and nearly double the sales of the next largest competitor, SpinCo is the global leader in the production of cellulose specialties, a high-value sector. SpinCo believes the global demand is growing approximately 45,000 to 50,000 metric tons a year as customers’ product needs continue to expand. SpinCo’s cellulose specialties expansion project’s approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity is in the process of qualification with new and existing customers. As demand continues to grow for cellulose specialties, SpinCo will be positioned to drive increases in margins and cash flows.

Differentiate through technically superior products and research and development. The quality and consistency of SpinCo’s cellulose specialties and its premier research and development capabilities create a significant competitive advantage, resulting in a premium price (a price greater than competitors) for SpinCo’s products and driving strong profitability. SpinCo manufactures products that are tailored to the precise and demanding chemical and physical requirements of its customers, achieving industry leading high purity levels and product functionality for specific grades. Its ability to manufacture technically superior products is the result of its proprietary production processes, intellectual property, technical expertise, diverse manufacturing processes and knowledge of cellulosic chemistry.

SpinCo’s premier research and development facility allows it to replicate its customers’ manufacturing processes, which differentiates SpinCo from its competitors. Combined with SpinCo’s deep understanding of its customers’ processes and historical success in applied research and development, SpinCo is uniquely qualified to continue partnering with its customers to develop new products to meet evolving consumer needs and to trouble shoot customer production issues. For the periods ending December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, SpinCo recorded research and development expenses of approximately $3.3 million, $2.8 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

Drive growth and diversification. Expanding sales to other cellulose specialty applications will provide attractive opportunities for increasing revenue and improving profitability. With 80% of its current sales volume in the acetate product line, SpinCo intends to expand its sales in the faster growing ethers and other cellulose specialty product lines. SpinCo’s additional approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity combined with its process knowledge and expertise in cellulose specialties manufacturing will allow it to pursue growth and diversification without additional investment. SpinCo also intends to evaluate adjacent specialty chemical market opportunities for further growth and diversification.

Focus on operational excellence. Operating mills reliably and at a competitive cost while producing consistently high quality and high-value cellulose is critical to SpinCo’s existing customers and enhances its ability to attract new customers. SpinCo strives to continuously improve its cost position, throughput and reliability of its manufacturing facilities through targeted expenditures and capital investments. For instance, SpinCo has identified a number of high return projects that it expects will achieve internal rates of return greater than 20 percent and are executable in the next three years. Additionally, SpinCo continues to develop maintenance systems and procedures that will improve the throughput, purity and uniformity of SpinCo’s products by increasing the reliability of its manufacturing processes. SpinCo’s continued focus on operational excellence will continue to enable it to drive profitability and strengthen customer relationships.

Maximize cash flow. SpinCo has historically maintained a strong margin profile as part of Rayonier. As a stand-alone business, the SpinCo team will be able to implement a focused strategy to more efficiently allocate

 

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resources and further maximize cash flow. Additionally, SpinCo believes that its production capacity is sufficient to meet its current growth initiatives without significant additional spending. Over the last five years, Rayonier invested approximately $397 million in growth capital expenditures for capacity expansions and productivity enhancements. Given the significant investment to date, SpinCo anticipates that further investment in growth capital will be spent only upon the expectation of significant returns. SpinCo’s strong balance sheet, financial flexibility and significant cash flows are key, differentiating attributes from its competitors in its industry.

Strengths

SpinCo believes the following strengths support its business strategies:

Leading position in high-value cellulose specialties. With nearly double the sales of the next largest competitor, SpinCo is the largest global producer of high-value cellulose specialties and is ideally positioned to capture anticipated growth in its markets. SpinCo’s leadership position in custom-engineered high-value cellulose specialties reflects its technical expertise, outstanding product purity and consistency, strong partnership with its global customers and continued investment in capacity. SpinCo’s processes and products are technologically difficult to replicate for other cellulose specialty producers and SpinCo believes they are not possible without significant investment in equipment and intellectual property. As a result, none of the competitors currently are able to match the consistency and purity of SpinCo’s products and the breadth of its product offering. More broadly, in the past 10 years, SpinCo believes there was only one new entrant into the specialty cellulose industry.

SpinCo decided to leverage its process and product expertise by investing $385 million in its recently-completed cellulose specialties expansion project. The project converted SpinCo’s approximate 260,000 metric tons of absorbent materials production capacity to approximately 190,000 metric tons of additional cellulose specialties capacity, positioning SpinCo to capture the anticipated growth in demand in developed and emerging markets and to expand its sales to other cellulose specialty uses, such as ethers, which offer attractive growth rates and profit margins.

Broad product offering and customization enabled by the proprietary “SpinCo recipe.” SpinCo’s manufacturing processes have been developed over 85 years. SpinCo’s production facilities utilize kraft and sulfite manufacturing processes, hardwood and softwood fibers, proprietary bleaching sequences and specialized cold caustic processes to engineer and manufacture highly customized cellulose specialties. This operational flexibility, combined with its state-of-the-art research and development facility, industry-leading technical capabilities, access to desirable hardwood and softwood species and proprietary process knowledge, allows SpinCo to engineer a wide breadth of customized fibers each specifically configured for its customers’ unique needs, and to achieve the specific properties required for a broad range of end uses. New product development is another area where SpinCo is the preferred partner for its customers that collaborate with SpinCo to develop and qualify the proprietary formulations for customized fibers.

Long-term relationships with financially strong, global customers. SpinCo benefits from long-standing relationships with blue-chip, industry-leading companies in each of its key product lines, as well as from low customer turnover (SpinCo’s average customer relationship among SpinCo’s top 10 customers is 38 years). SpinCo has customers in more than 35 countries across five continents and delivers its products to more than 79 ports around the world and, as a result, has developed strategic competence in handling global logistics and distribution. SpinCo’s five largest customers, who account for approximately 70% of sales, are all either well known global diversified specialty chemical companies or state owned enterprises. SpinCo has long-term volume contracts with most of the world’s cellulose specialties-based product manufacturers, representing a significant majority of SpinCo’s cellulose specialties production. SpinCo’s relationships with its largest cellulose specialties customers span 24 to 82 years, facilitating a deep understanding of its customers’ products and manufacturing processes that have led to strong partnerships on new product development. See Note 4— Segment and Geographical Information of SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements for information on SpinCo’s major customers.

 

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Resilience through economic cycles. SpinCo’s technically-demanding products are used in many consumer end-use products such as cigarette filters, sausage casings, food additives, personal care products and pharmaceuticals, which benefit from stable demand throughout the economic cycle. As a result, SpinCo’s financial performance tends to be relatively less impacted during cyclical downturns because of the resilient demand for its end-use products. As an example, during the 2008—2009 economic downturn, SpinCo’s sales increased by 5%, SpinCo’s net income increased 12%, excluding the 2009 inclusion of $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit, and SpinCo’s Adjusted EBITDA grew 18%. SpinCo believes that its end-use markets will continue to grow in various economic environments given their stable nature. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income and cash flow from operations, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

Attractive margins and strong free cash flow generation. SpinCo’s gross margin increased from $201 million in 2009 to $333 million in 2013. Net income decreased from $305 million in 2009 to $220 million in 2013, as 2009 included $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit. Cash flow from operations was $258 million, $305 million, $258 million, $408 million and $128 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. From the beginning of fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2013, SpinCo has generated strong adjusted free cash flow from operations totaling $633 million. SpinCo produced Adjusted EBITDA of $363 million, $402 million, $339 million, $258 million and $226 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 respectively. During this five-year period, net income margins averaged 19%, excluding $205 million, net of expenses, related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit in 2009. Adjusted EBITDA margins averaged 32%. SpinCo attributes its strong financial performance to its technical product consistency and purity, significant capital investment in its production and research and development facilities, and its deep understanding of customers’ manufacturing processes and product requirements and anticipates that its business will continue to generate attractive returns to its shareholders. For a reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow to cash flow from operations and Adjusted EBITDA to net income see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

Industry

Cellulose Specialties

SpinCo believes the global demand in 2012 for cellulose specialties was about 1.6 million metric tons, including 130,000 to 160,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties derived from cotton linters. SpinCo expects global demand to grow approximately 3% to 4% per year for the next 5 years. SpinCo is the global leader in the manufacture of cellulose specialties, and categorizes its sales of cellulose specialties into the following key product lines:

 

    Acetate. SpinCo is the leading global manufacturer of cellulose specialties for acetate products. SpinCo estimates that the global demand in 2012 for cellulose specialties for acetate products was approximately 710,000 metric tons and expects this demand to grow 1% to 2% per year over the next 5 years.

 

    High Value Ethers . SpinCo is a leading global manufacturer of cellulose specialties for ethers products. SpinCo estimates that the global demand in 2012 for cellulose specialties for ethers products was approximately 503,000 metric tons and expects this demand to grow 4% to 6% per year over the next 5 years.

 

    Other Cellulose Specialties . SpinCo is a leading global manufacturer of other cellulose specialties. SpinCo estimates that the global demand in 2012 for other cellulose specialties products is approximately 355,000 metric tons and expects this demand to grow 2% to 3% per year over the next 5 years.

 

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In 2013, additional cellulose specialties capacity was added, including approximately 190,000 metric tons added by SpinCo following the completion of its cellulose specialties expansion project and approximately 45,000 metric tons added by SpinCo’s competitors. SpinCo believes global capacity totaled approximately 1.8 million metric tons (including the new capacity) at the end of 2013.

Commodity Viscose

Commodity viscose is primarily sold to producers of viscose staple fibers. Viscose staple is used in woven applications such as textiles for clothing and other fabrics, and in non-woven applications such as baby wipes, cosmetic and personal wipes, industrial wipes and mattress ticking. In recent years, shifts in fashion styles and higher than historical cotton prices have increased demand for viscose staple fibers. Weak global cotton harvests during 2011 provided a further boost to demand for viscose staple as a cotton substitute. Additionally, variability in cotton linter supply, due to competing uses of cotton seeds in agriculture, and increasing concerns about the environmental impact of producing viscose staple from cotton have resulted in viscose staple producers shifting volume to commodity viscose derived from wood. SpinCo believes global demand for commodity viscose in 2012 was approximately 4.4 million metric tons (including approximately 800,000 metric tons derived from cotton) and expects this demand to grow approximately 9% to 10% per year for the next 5 years.

Significant new commodity viscose capacity has been added in the last three years to meet this demand. SpinCo believes global capacity totaled 5.7 million metric tons at the end of 2013, and an additional 1.0 million metric tons of capacity has been announced and is expected to be completed in the next two years.

In February 2013, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated an anti-dumping investigation of imports of dissolving wood, cotton and bamboo pulp into China from the U.S., Canada and Brazil during 2012. In November 2013, MOFCOM issued a preliminary determination that SpinCo’s lower purity Fibernier grade product used in commodity viscose applications would be subject to a 21.7% interim duty effective November 7, 2013. In April 2014, MOFCOM issued a final determination reducing the duty from 21.7% to 17.2% effective April 6, 2014. SpinCo expects MOFCOM’s final determination to remain in place for five years. SpinCo does not expect that MOFCOM’s duty will materially affect its business results. For more information regarding the investigation, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to SpinCo’s Business” and “Business—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings.”

Although SpinCo’s business is focused on the production of cellulose specialties, it expects to sell approximately 135,000 metric tons of commodity viscose to commodity markets in 2014. As demand for cellulose specialties increases over the next several years, SpinCo expects to shift production from commodity markets to cellulose specialties until it has essentially exited commodity markets.

Competition

Potential entrants to the cellulose specialties business face considerable challenges. Significant intellectual property, technical expertise and experience are needed to design the customized fibers and then manufacture them to exacting customer specifications. These specifications include parameters for purity, viscosity, brightness, reactivity and other physical properties, requiring extensive research and development capabilities to formulate the product to achieve the desired characteristics. Qualification time is often lengthy, extending six to nine months. Resulting customer relationships are typically long term, based on a deep understanding of customer production processes and the technical expertise to problem solve production issues and support new product development. A substantial investment is needed to establish a production line and to obtain required production technologies. Additionally, significant capital and maintenance expenditures are required annually to ensure the facilities operate reliably.

Cellulose Specialties

Product performance, technical service and price are principal methods of competition in cellulose specialties. Product performance is primarily determined by the purity and uniformity of the cellulose specialties. SpinCo’s intellectual property, technical expertise and experience provide the basis by which it is able to

 

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uniformly produce high-value cellulose specialties. Additionally, SpinCo is able to produce the greatest breadth of high-value, uniform cellulose specialties through its diverse manufacturing processes (both kraft and sulfite), sources of wood cellulose fibers (both hardwood and softwood), and its proprietary processes.

SpinCo competes with both domestic and foreign producers in cellulose specialties. Principal competitors include Buckeye Technologies, Inc., Borregaard and Sateri Holdings Ltd. SpinCo also competes against Tembec, Inc., Neucel Specialty Cellulose Ltd, Sappi Ltd, Cosmo Specialty Fibers, Inc., and Aditya Birla Group in limited applications. Some competitors use both wood and to a small extent cotton linter fibers as a source for cellulose fibers. Although cotton linter fibers can be a higher purity source of cellulose, the variability of their fiber structure and limited availability negatively impact their ability to be a reliable substitute product.

Global production capacity for cellulose specialties has recently increased. In addition to SpinCo’s cellulose specialties expansion project which added approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity, a few competitors have announced capacity expansions. Buckeye Technologies recently completed a project to increase its cellulose specialties capacity by 40,000 metric tons at its Perry, Florida operation. Tembec, Inc. announced plans to increase capacity by 5,000 metric tons. These additional cellulose specialties capacities did not adversely affect SpinCo’s 2013 results.

Commodity Viscose

The principal method of competition in commodity viscose is price, as purity and uniformity are less critical differentiators. SpinCo competes with both domestic and foreign producers in commodity viscose. There are approximately 42 competitors that derive their commodity viscose from wood and 17 competitors that derive their commodity viscose from cotton linters. Although cellulose specialties can generally be sold to meet cellulose specialties or commodity viscose demand, the opposite is typically not true for commodity viscose.

There have been significant production capacity increases recently by commodity viscose producers. SpinCo believes global capacity totaled 5.7 million metric tons at the end of 2013, and an additional 1.0 million metric tons of capacity has been announced and is expected to be completed in the next two years.

Raw Materials and Energy

SpinCo’s manufacturing processes require significant amounts of wood to produce purified cellulose. SpinCo purchases approximately 1.8 million short green tons of hardwood chips and 2.3 million short green tons of softwood chips per year. The cost of timber is directly affected by supply and demand fluctuations in the wood products and pulp and paper markets, and also by weather.

SpinCo’s manufacturing processes also require significant amounts of chemicals, including caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), sulfuric acid, sodium chlorate, and various deresinators. These chemicals are purchased under negotiated supply agreements with third parties.

SpinCo’s manufacturing processes also require a significant amount of energy. The great majority of Spinco’s energy is produced through the burning of lignin and other residual biomass in recovery and power boilers located at its mills. However, the mills still require fuel oil, natural gas and electricity to supplement their energy requirements.

Raw materials and energy are subject to significant changes in prices and availability. SpinCo continually pursues reductions in usage and costs of key raw materials, supplies and services and does not foresee any material constraints in the near term from pricing or availability.

Manufacturing Processes

SpinCo’s production facilities, located in Jesup, Georgia, and Fernandina Beach, Florida, have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 675,000 metric tons of purified cellulose.

 

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The Jesup mill can produce approximately 520,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties using both hardwood and softwood in a pre-hydrolyzed kraft, or high pH, cooking process. The Fernandina Beach mill can produce approximately 155,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties and commodity viscose using softwood in a sulfite, or low pH, cooking process. These different cooking processes are used with various types of wood cellulose and combined with proprietary bleaching sequences and a cold caustic extraction process to manufacture more than 25 different grades of purified cellulose.

The general process of extracting and purifying cellulose from wood at SpinCo’s Jesup and Fernandina mills is as follows:

Wood Chips. Logs are purchased, debarked and chipped into uniform dimensions to improve the chip’s reaction to chemicals during the cooking process. Hardwood and softwood species, as well as different areas of the log, are used to produce the various grades of purified cellulose. To manufacture approximately one metric ton of purified cellulose, SpinCo uses approximately six short green tons of wood.

Cooking and Washing. The chips are loaded into pressure vessels with various chemicals and heated to separate lignin, the natural component that binds the cellulose fibers together, from the cellulose. After the cooking process is complete, the lignin and chemicals are separated from the cellulose in a washing process. The lignin is generally recovered and burned for energy, and the chemicals are recovered and reused in the production process.

Bleaching. The cellulose obtained from the washing process is bleached with various chemicals to impart the required brightness and increase the purity and uniformity of the cellulose. In order to increase the purity and uniformity of the cellulose to SpinCo’s customer specifications, some cellulose specialties require a processing through a cold caustic extraction, or CCE stage. SpinCo’s CCE process, which is a key element of SpinCo’s intellectual property, generates cellulose specialties purity levels up to 98%.

Machining, Drying and Packaging. Following the bleaching stage, the purified cellulose is compressed, dried and rolled into large rolls. These large rolls are then cut into smaller rolls or sheets in accordance with SpinCo’s customer specifications, packaged and shipped.

Environmental Matters

SpinCo’s manufacturing operations are subject to significant, federal, state and local environmental regulations. For a more detailed discussion see “Risk Factors”, “Business—Legal and Regulatory Proceedings,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Environmental Regulation,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements—Liabilities for Disposed Operations” and Note 12— Contingencies to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

Legal and Regulatory Proceedings

SpinCo is engaged in various legal actions and has been named as a defendant in various other lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business. While SpinCo has procured reasonable and customary insurance covering risks normally occurring in connection with its businesses, it has in certain cases retained some risk through the operation of self-insurance, primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation, property insurance and general liability. In SpinCo’s opinion, these and other lawsuits and claims, either individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on SpinCo’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

Antidumping Investigation . In February 2013, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) initiated an anti-dumping investigation of imports of dissolving wood, cotton and bamboo pulp into China from the U.S., Canada and Brazil during 2012. In November 2013, MOFCOM issued a preliminary determination that SpinCo’s lower purity product used in commodity viscose applications will be subject to a 21.7% interim duty effective

 

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November 7, 2013. In April 2014, MOFCOM issued a final determination reducing the duty from 21.7% to 17.2% effective April 6, 2014. SpinCo expects MOFCOM’s final determination to remain in place for five years. However, SpinCo’s high-value cellulose acetate products, which constitute a large majority of SpinCo’s sales into China, were specifically excluded from assessment of any dumping duty, and SpinCo’s other high-value cellulose products were, likewise, exempted from any dumping duty because their higher quality specifications, including in the area of cellulose purity, do not meet the determination’s specifications applicable to lower-purity products that are dutiable under the determination. Other U.S. producers were assessed duties ranging from 16.9% to 17.2%, while all but one Canadian producer were assessed a duty of 13%, and a Brazilian producer was assessed a duty of 6.8%.

SpinCo is evaluating its potential commercial and legal options and does not expect that MOFCOM’s duty will materially affect its business results.

Altamaha Riverkeeper Litigation-Jesup Mill. In November 2013, SpinCo received a “sixty day letter” from lawyers representing a non-profit environmental organization, the Altamaha Riverkeeper. In the letter, the Altamaha Riverkeeper threatened to file a citizen suit against SpinCo as permitted under the federal Clean Water Act and the Georgia Water Quality Control Act due to what the letter alleges to be ongoing violations of such laws, if SpinCo does not correct such violations within 60 days of the date of the letter. The allegations relate to the color and odor of treated effluent discharged into the Altamaha River by SpinCo’s Jesup, Georgia mill.

On March 26, 2014, SpinCo was served with a complaint, captioned Altamaha Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Rayonier Inc. and Rayonier Performance Fibers LLC , which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. In the complaint, the Altamaha Riverkeeper alleges, among other things, violations of the federal Clean Water Act and Georgia Water Quality Control Act, negligence and public nuisance, relating the permitted discharge from the Jesup mill. The complaint seeks, among other things, injunctive relief, monetary damages, and attorneys’ fees and expenses. The total amount of monetary relief being sought by the plaintiff cannot be determined at this time.

The mill’s treated effluent is discharged pursuant to a permit issued by the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (referred to as the “EPD”), as well as the terms of a consent order entered into in 2008 (and later amended) by EPD and SpinCo. SpinCo disagrees with the Altamaha Riverkeeper and strongly believes that it is in compliance with applicable law relating to the Jesup mill’s discharge, including compliance with the terms of its permit and consent order with EPD. SpinCo intends to defend this lawsuit vigorously.

Customers

See Note 4— Segment and Geographical Information of SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements for information on SpinCo’s major customers. The current agreements with SpinCo’s four largest customers—Eastman Chemical Company, Nantong Cellulose Fibers, Co., Ltd., Celanese Acetate, LLC and Daicel Corporation—expire (or expired, as applicable) on December 31, 2017, December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

General

SpinCo has representative sales offices in London, Tokyo and Shanghai to support its customers in the European Union, eastern Europe and Asia.

SpinCo’s results are normally not affected by seasonal changes.

SpinCo owns numerous patents, trademarks and trade secrets, and has developed significant know-how, relating to the production of purified cellulose, which it deems important to its operations. SpinCo intends to continue taking steps as necessary to protect its intellectual property, including, when appropriate, filing patent

 

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applications for inventions that are deemed important to its operations. SpinCo’s U.S. patents generally have a duration of 20 years from the date of filing.

SpinCo currently employs approximately 1,200 people, of whom approximately 99 percent reside in the United States. Approximately 72 percent of SpinCo’s hourly employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements and are represented by one of several labor unions. SpinCo believes its relations with employees are satisfactory.

Properties

The following table details the significant properties SpinCo owns or leases at December 31, 2013:

 

       

Capacity

 

  Owned/Leased  

Purified Cellulose Facilities

  Jesup, Georgia   520,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties   Owned
  Fernandina Beach, Florida   155,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties   Owned
  Jesup, Georgia   Research Facility   Owned
     

Wood Chipping Facilities

  Offerman, Georgia   800,000 short green tons of wood chips   Owned
  Eastman, Georgia   350,000 short green tons of wood chips   Owned
  Barnesville, Georgia   350,000 short green tons of wood chips   Owned
  Quitman, Georgia   200,000 short green tons of wood chips   Owned
  Jarratt, Virginia   250,000 short green tons of wood chips   Owned
     

Corporate and Other

  Jacksonville, Florida   Corporate Headquarters   Leased

SpinCo’s manufacturing facilities are maintained through ongoing capital investments, regular maintenance and equipment upgrades. During 2013, SpinCo’s chemical cellulose fibers manufacturing facilities produced at or near capacity levels for most of the year.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the audited combined financial statements and corresponding notes, the unaudited interim condensed combined financial statements and corresponding notes, and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements and corresponding notes included elsewhere in this information statement. This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to risk, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please see “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements” for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements.

The Separation

On January 27, 2014, Rayonier announced that it intends to separate its performance fibers business from its forest resources and real estate businesses. Rayonier announced that it intends to effect the separation through a pro rata distribution of the common stock of SpinCo, which was formed to hold the assets and liabilities associated with the performance fibers business. On May 27, 2014, the Rayonier board of directors approved the distribution of the issued and outstanding shares of SpinCo common stock on the basis of one share of SpinCo common stock for every three Rayonier common shares held as of the close of business on the record date of June 18, 2014. The distribution of SpinCo common stock is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions. For a description of these conditions, see “The Separation and Distribution—Conditions to the Distribution.”

Executive Summary

As of the completion of the separation and distribution, SpinCo will consist of the Performance Fibers segment of Rayonier and will be the leading global producer of high-value cellulose, a natural polymer, used as a raw material to manufacture a broad range of consumer-oriented products such as cigarette filters, liquid crystal displays, impact-resistant plastics, thickeners for food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, high-tenacity rayon yarn for tires and industrial hoses, food casings, paints and lacquers. Purified cellulose is an organic material primarily derived from either wood or cotton and sold as cellulose specialties or commodity viscose, depending on its purity level. Cellulose specialties typically contain over 95% cellulose, while commodity viscose typically contains less than 95% cellulose. Cellulose specialties generally command a price premium, earn higher margins and benefit from greater demand stability through the economic cycle relative to commodity viscose.

SpinCo’s cellulose specialties require high levels of purity, process knowledge and are custom engineered and manufactured to customers’ exacting specifications. SpinCo’s customers (primarily specialty chemical companies) place a high premium on products that have great impact in terms of form, function and composition as they modify SpinCo’s fibers through various chemical reactions, which require high purity and uniformity for efficient production. As a result, cellulose specialties require a stringent qualification process as any inconsistencies in purity and/or uniformity can result in very negative and costly consequences to SpinCo’s customers.

With approximately 675,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity and nearly double the sales of its next largest competitor, SpinCo is the global leader in the production of cellulose specialties. SpinCo’s key competitive advantage is the “SpinCo Recipe”—its unique ability to utilize its manufacturing facilities to engineer cellulose specialties fibers to customers’ exacting specifications. SpinCo is the only cellulose specialties producer with manufacturing facilities that provide flexibility to use both hardwood and softwood, kraft and sulfite cooking processes, and a variety of proprietary chemical treatments. Additionally, SpinCo has a tremendous asset of process knowledge: the understanding of wood fiber properties and their modification under a sequence of chemical processes, accumulated and developed over 80 years of practical application to achieve

 

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unique properties for a variety of customer needs. When this process knowledge is combined with its manufacturing flexibility and knowledge of customers’ applications and specifications, it allows SpinCo to have the most extensive capability set to modify cellulose fibers in the industry.

Cost of sales includes the cost of wood, chemicals, energy, depreciation, manufacturing overhead and transportation used to manufacture and deliver cellulose fibers. Significant components and percentage of per metric ton cost are as follows:

 

    Wood costs represent approximately 26 percent of the per metric ton cost of sales. SpinCo purchases approximately 1.8 million short green tons of hardwood chips and 2.3 million short green tons of softwood chips per year. The cost of timber is directly affected by supply and demand fluctuations in the wood products and pulp and paper markets, and also by weather.

 

    Chemical costs represent approximately 17 percent of the per metric ton cost of sales. Chemicals, including caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), sulfuric acid, sodium chlorate, and various deresinators are purchased under negotiated supply agreements with third parties.

 

    Energy costs represent approximately 6 percent of the per metric ton costs of sales. The great majority of Spinco’s energy is produced through the burning of lignin and other residual biomass in recovery and power boilers located at its mills. However, the mills still require fuel oil, natural gas and electricity to supplement their energy requirements.

Wood, chemicals and energy are subject to significant changes in price and availability. SpinCo continually pursues reductions in usage and costs of key raw materials, supplies and services and does not foresee any material constraints in the near term from pricing or availability. SpinCo has limited ability to pass costs increases on to its customers.

SpinCo’s production facilities, located in Jesup, Georgia, and Fernandina Beach, Florida, have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 675,000 metric tons. The Jesup mill can produce approximately 520,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties, or approximately 77 percent of SpinCo’s total capacity. The Fernandina Beach mill can produce approximately 155,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties, or approximately 23 percent of SpinCo’s total capacity. Combined, these facilities manufacture more than 25 different grades of cellulose specialties.

Historically, about one-third of SpinCo’s production was absorbent materials, a commodity product mainly used in disposable baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, incontinence pads, convalescent bed pads, industrial towels and wipes, and non-woven fabrics. In May 2011, SpinCo decided to convert its absorbent material production line located in the Jesup mill to cellulose specialties based on increased demand from its customers for high-value cellulose specialties and SpinCo’s desire to exit commodity-like product lines. Management believes this conversion, referred to as the cellulose specialties expansion project, positions SpinCo as the only fully dedicated supplier of cellulose specialties.

The cellulose specialties expansion project cost $385 million and converted approximately 260,000 metric tons of absorbent materials capacity into approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity. The project was completed in June 2013, after significant modifications to the production line and increased capacity of ancillary systems. In July 2013, SpinCo restarted the converted production line and began the qualification process for the line’s cellulose specialties production with its customers.

SpinCo expects a majority of its acetate end-use products will be fully qualified by year end 2014 and the anticipated costs of the qualification are not expected to be material. SpinCo expects to produce cellulose specialties, commodity viscose and other products, modulating volumes in each product group to meet demand. SpinCo expects the global demand for cellulose specialties to grow approximately 45,000 to 50,000 metric tons a year as customers’ product needs continue to expand. As demand for cellulose specialties grows, SpinCo expects to increase sales of cellulose specialties and complete the transition to become a dedicated cellulose specialties supplier by 2017/2018. As production of cellulose specialties increases, SpinCo anticipates an increase in total

 

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sales and operating income, assuming 2013 price levels, as higher prices received on the additional cellulose specialties volume more than offset expected cost increases and the net reduction in overall production capacity.

Industry and Market Conditions

From 2008 through most of 2012, demand for commodity viscose steadily increased while very little new supply was added. This shortage of supply was evident in 2010, prompting SpinCo’s customers to request it add capacity to support their growth plans.

However, in early 2013, certain end markets (particularly in Europe) such as tire cord and construction ethers weakened, and competitors began trying to place volumes into stronger end markets such as acetate tow. Additionally, commodity viscose prices remain low, which provides incentive for swing producers to attempt to increase volumes into cellulose specialties. Finally, additional cellulose specialties capacity is affecting the market.

SpinCo just completed 2014 price negotiations with its customers. Because of the market conditions noted above, SpinCo expects 2014 cellulose specialties prices to decrease 7% to 8% in 2014. Additionally, SpinCo expects 2014 sales volumes of cellulose specialties of approximately 520,000 to 540,000 metric tons, which considers the reduced production of 35,000 to 40,000 metric tons discussed below. Overall, this is an increase of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 metric tons above 2013. The remainder of SpinCo’s 2014 production would be commodity viscose/other. SpinCo extended its 2014 maintenance outage to perform boiler maintenance previously scheduled for 2015. This will reduce 2014 production capacity to approximately 635,000 to 640,000 metric tons, or a decrease of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 metric tons. The 2014 operating income/EBITDA impact of this reduction is approximately $12 million to $14 million, but will provide the ability to produce more cellulose specialties in 2015 should demand improve. For a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Performance Indicators.”

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements requires SpinCo to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect SpinCo’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and to disclose contingent assets and liabilities in SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements. SpinCo bases these estimates and assumptions on historical data and trends, current fact patterns, expectations and other sources of information it believes are reasonable. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Revenue Recognition

SpinCo generally recognizes sales when the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists,(ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) SpinCo’s price to the buyer is fixed and determinable, and (iv) collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally, title passes upon delivery to the agreed upon location. Based on the time required to reach each location, customer orders are generally received in one period with the corresponding revenue recognized in a subsequent period. As such, there could be substantial variation in orders received and revenue recognized from period to period.

Depreciation of long-lived assets

Depreciation expense is computed using the units-of-production method for the performance fibers plant and equipment and the straight-line method on all other property, plant and equipment over the useful economic lives of the assets involved. The total units of production used to calculate depreciation expense is determined by factoring annual production days, based on normal production conditions, by the economic useful life of the asset involved. On average, the units-of-production and straight line methodologies accounted for approximately 95% and 5% of depreciation expense, respectively. The physical life of equipment, however, may be shortened by economic obsolescence caused by environmental regulation, competition or other causes. SpinCo depreciates its

 

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non-production performance fiber assets, including office, lab and transportation equipment, using the straight-line depreciation method over 3 to 25 years. Buildings and land improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over 15 to 35 years and 5 to 30 years, respectively. SpinCo believes that these depreciation methods are the most appropriate under the circumstances as they most closely match revenues with expenses versus other generally accepted accounting methods.

Gains and losses on the retirement of assets are included in operating income. Long-lived assets are reviewed annually for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets that are held and used is measured by net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Property, plant and equipment are grouped for purposes of evaluating recoverability at the lowest level for which independent cash flows are identified. Therefore, cash flows for performance fibers plant and equipment are identified at the individual mill level. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the assets, based on a discounted cash flow model. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Determining the adequacy of pension and other postretirement benefit assets and liabilities

SpinCo has two qualified benefit plans that cover most of its U.S. workforce. Additionally, certain SpinCo employees participate in defined benefit pension and postretirement health and life insurance plans sponsored by Rayonier (which are referred to as shared plans), which include participants of other Rayonier subsidiaries. All pension plans are currently closed to new participants. Pension expense attributable to SpinCo’s two qualified pension plans was $5.0 million in 2013. Pension expense attributable to SpinCo’s participation in Rayonier’s shared plans was $9.8 million in 2013. Numerous estimates and assumptions are required to determine the proper amount of pension and postretirement liabilities and annual expense to record in SpinCo’s financial statements. The key assumptions include discount rate, return on assets, salary increases, health care cost trends, mortality rates, longevity and service lives of employees. Although there is authoritative guidance on how to select most of these assumptions, SpinCo exercises some degree of judgment when selecting these assumptions based on input from its actuary. Different assumptions, as well as actual versus expected results, would change the periodic benefit cost and funded status of the benefit plans recognized in the financial statements.

In determining SpinCo’s pension expense for its two qualified pension plans in 2013, a $12.5 million return on assets was assumed based on an expected long-term rate of return of 8.5 percent. The actual return for 2013 was a gain of $20.9 million, or 13 percent. SpinCo’s long-term return assumption was established based on historical long-term rates of return on broad equity and bond indices, discussions with SpinCo’s actuary and investment advisors and consideration of the actual annualized rate of return from 1994 (the date of Rayonier Inc.’s spin-off from ITT Corporation) through 2012. At the end of 2013, SpinCo reviewed this assumption for reasonableness and determined that the 2013 long-term rate of return assumption should remain at 8.5 percent. At December 31, 2013, SpinCo’s asset mix consisted of 66 percent equities, 29 percent bonds and five percent real estate equity funds and short term investments. SpinCo does not expect this mix to change materially in the near future.

In determining future pension obligations, SpinCo selects a discount rate based on information supplied by its actuary. The actuarial rates are developed by models which incorporate high-quality (AA rated), long-term corporate bond rates into their calculations. The discount rate increased from 3.70 at December 31, 2012 to 4.60 percent at December 31, 2013.

SpinCo’s pension plans were underfunded by $3 million at December 31, 2013, a $28 million improvement in funded status from December 31, 2012 due primarily to the increased discount rate. SpinCo had no mandatory pension contributions and did not make discretionary contributions to its qualified pension plans in 2013, 2012 or 2011. Future contribution requirements will vary depending on actual investment performance, changes in valuation assumptions, interest rates and requirements under the Pension Protection Act. See Note 16— Employee Benefit Plans of SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

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In 2014, SpinCo expects pension expense to be below 2013 due to an decrease in the amortization of actuarial losses resulting from an increase in the discount rate. Future pension expense will be impacted by many factors including actual investment performance, changes in discount rates, timing of contributions and other employee related matters.

The sensitivity of SpinCo’s pension expense and projected benefit obligation related to its two qualified pension plans to changes in economic assumptions is highlighted below:

 

     Impact on:  

Change in Assumption

       Pension Expense              Projected Benefit    
Obligation
 

  25 bp decrease in discount rate

     + 0.4 million         + 5.0 million   

  25 bp increase in discount rate

     - 0.3 million         - 4.7 million   

  25 bp decrease in long-term return on assets

     + 0.4 million      

  25 bp increase in long-term return on assets

     - 0.4 million      

Realizability of both recorded and unrecorded tax assets and tax liabilities

SpinCo has recorded certain deferred tax assets that it believes will be realized in future periods. These assets are reviewed periodically in order to assess their realizability. This review requires SpinCo to make assumptions and estimates about future profitability affecting the realization of these tax benefits. If the review indicates that the realizability may be less than likely, a valuation allowance is recorded at that time.

SpinCo’s income tax returns are subject to examination by U.S. federal and state taxing authorities. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with various tax filing positions, SpinCo records a tax benefit for an uncertain tax position if it is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the issue. SpinCo records a liability for an uncertain tax position that does not meet this criterion. The liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are adjusted in the period in which it is determined the issue is settled with the taxing authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when new facts or information becomes available. See Note 7— Income Taxes of SpinCo’s Combined Financial Statements for additional information about SpinCo’s unrecognized tax benefits.

New Accounting Standards

See Note 1— Separation and Basis of Presentation of SpinCo’s Condensed Combined Financial Statements for a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may affect SpinCo’s financial results and disclosures in future periods.

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements presented in the section entitled “Index to Financial Statements and Schedule” were used as the basis for the following discussion of SpinCo’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011. The statements were prepared in accordance with U.S generally accepted accounting principles for the purpose of separately presenting the financial position of the performance fibers business of Rayonier and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in equity.

The statements of operations for SpinCo include allocations of certain costs from Rayonier directly related to the operations of SpinCo including; medical costs for active salaried and retired employees, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs, equity based compensation and a pro-rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, human resource services and information system maintenance. These corporate administrative costs were charged to SpinCo based on employee headcount and payroll costs. The combined statement of income also includes expense allocations for

 

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certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments. These allocations are based on revenues and specific identification of time and/or activities associated with SpinCo. Management believes the methodologies employed for the allocation of costs were reasonable in relation to the historical reporting of Rayonier, but may not be indicative of costs had SpinCo operated on a stand-alone basis, nor what the costs may be in the future.

The financial statements for SpinCo include a provision for income taxes determined on a separate return basis which takes into account the impact of the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”) and subsequent exchanges for the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”). SpinCo was a subsidiary of Rayonier and, for purposes of U.S. federal and state income taxes, was not directly subject to income taxes but was included in the income tax return of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rayonier.

Summary of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.’s Results of Operations:

 

    Three Months Ended
March 31,
    Years Ended December 31,  

Financial Information (in millions)

  2014     2013     2013     2012     2011  

Sales

         

Performance fibers

         

Cellulose specialties

    $ 206            $ 247            $ 930            $ 935            $ 824       

Absorbent materials

    10            37            73            159            196       

Commodity viscose/Other

    27            1            44            1            1       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total sales

 

 

  $

 

        243    

 

  

 

 

  $

 

        285    

 

  

    $     1,047            $     1,095            $     1,021       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and expenses

         

Cost of sales

 

 

 

 

189    

 

  

 

 

 

 

188    

 

  

    714            716            698       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross margin

    54            97            333            379            323       

Selling and general expenses

    8            10            36            36            33       

Other operating expense, net

 

 

 

 

3    

 

  

 

 

 

 

—    

 

  

    8            1            7       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income

    43            87            289            342            283       

Income tax expense

    12            7            69            100            69       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

    $ 31            $ 80            $ 220            $ 242            $ 214       
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Data

                             

Cellulose specialties, sales price ($ per metric ton)

    $ 1,823            $ 1,874            $ 1,913            $ 1,859            $ 1,636       

Cellulose specialties, sales volume (thousands of metric tons)

    113            132            486            503            504       

Gross margin %

 

 

 

 

22.2% 

 

  

 

 

 

 

34.0% 

 

  

    31.8%         34.6%         31.6%    

Operating margin %

    17.7%         30.5%         27.6%         31.2%         27.7%    

Effective tax rate

 

 

 

 

28.6% 

 

  

 

 

 

 

8.4% 

 

  

    23.9%         29.3%         24.5%    

 

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Results of Operations, Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 versus March 31, 2013

 

Sales (in millions)

          Changes Attributable to:         
Three Months Ended March 31,    2013      Price      Volume/
Mix
     2014  

Cellulose specialties

     $     247             $ (6)             $ (35)             $ 206       

Commodity viscose/other

     1             —             26              27       

Absorbent materials

     37             —             (27)             10       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total sales

     $     285             $     (6)             $     (36)             $     243       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total sales declined $42 million or approximately 15 percent, as the planned extended annual outage for the Jesup mill and production issues in the first quarter of 2014 reduced customer shipments. Cellulose specialties prices decreased 3 percent partially reflecting the result of the annual price negotiations, as previously announced. Absorbent material sales decreased $27 million or approximately 73 percent reflecting the transition from producing absorbent materials to producing viscose and other commodity grades.

 

Operating Income (in millions)

        Changes Attributable to:        
          Cellulose Specialties              
Three Months Ended March 31,   2013         Price         Volume     Cost/Mix     Cost/Mix/
Other
    2014  

Total Operating Income

    $     87          $     (6)           $   (14)           $      (6)           $     (18)           $     43     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income margin %

    30.5%        (1.5)%        (1.6)%        (2.5)%        (7.2)%        17.7%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income and margin percentages declined $44 million and 12.8%, respectively, from the prior year period. Lower cellulose specialties volumes and prices, as well as higher wood and energy costs due to weather conditions contributed to the declines. Other changes reflect production issues during the first quarter of 2014 and higher manufacturing costs as a result of the shift from absorbent materials to cellulose specialties and viscose.

Generally, explanations for changes in operating income would be consistent with explanations for changes in gross margin.

Income tax provision — SpinCo’s first quarter 2014 effective tax rate before discrete items was 31.8 percent, compared to 31.6 percent for 2013. Including discrete items, the first quarter 2014 effective tax rate was 28.6 percent compared to 8.4 percent in 2013. The lower effective rate in 2013 was due to the exchange of the alternative fuel mixture credit (“AFMC”) for the cellulosic biofuel producer credit (“CBPC”). See Note 7 — Income Taxes to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information regarding the reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax rate and AFMC for CBPC exchange.

Results of Operations, Year Ended December 31, 2013 versus December 31, 2012

 

Sales (in millions)

            Changes Attributable to:           
     2012          Price          Volume/
Mix
     2013  

Cellulose specialties

     $         935           $         26           $ (31)          $ 930     

Commodity viscose/other

     1           —                   43           44     

Absorbent materials

     159           (8)          (78)          73     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total sales

     $ 1,095           $ 18           $ (66)          $         1,047     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Total sales decreased $48 million, or four percent, reflecting lower production as a result of the extended shutdown associated with the CSE project and the timing of customer orders which impacted revenue recognition. This was partially offset by cellulose specialties sales prices which rose three percent after the annual price negotiations, driven by continued strong customer demand. Absorbent materials prices declined 11 percent reflecting weakness in the market. Absorbent materials volumes decreased 51 percent, reflecting reduced production of absorbent materials and the change to production of viscose and other commodity grades as SpinCo begins its multi-year transition to producing only cellulose specialties. For information on the impact of the timing of customers’ order on revenue recognition, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates.”

 

Operating Income (in millions)

        Changes Attributable to:        
          Cellulose Specialties              
    2012     Price     Volume     Cost/Mix     Cost/Mix
Other
    2013  

Total operating income

    $     342           $     26           $     (12)           $     (16)           $     (51)           $     289      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income margin %

    31.2%        1.6%        (0.2)%        (1.5)%        (3.5)%        27.6%   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income and margin percentage declined $53 million and 3.6%, respectively, from the prior year. The increase in cellulose specialties pricing was offset by lower cellulose specialties volumes and higher wood cost due to wet weather. Other changes include higher per unit production costs due to lower fixed cost absorption associated with lower production as a result of the extended shutdown associated with the CSE project and the product mix shift away from lower cost absorbent materials to higher cost commodity viscose as a result of the CSE project transition.

Generally, explanations for changes in operating income would be consistent with explanations for changes in gross margin.

Income tax provision —SpinCo’s effective tax rate for 2013 was 23.9 percent, compared to 29.3 percent for 2012. The effective tax rate declined as the tax benefit from the AFMC for CBPC exchange was higher in 2013 than 2012 and the law provided a research credit for 2012 (retroactive) and 2013 which reduced SpinCo’s 2013 tax provision. SpinCo expects the effective tax rate subsequent to the separation to be consistent with prior effective tax rates excluding the impact of the AFMC for CBPC exchange. See Note 7—  Income Taxes  to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information regarding the reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax rate and AFMC for CBPC exchange.

Results of Operations, Year Ended December 31, 2012 versus December 31, 2011

 

Sales (in millions)

   2011      Changes Attributable to:         
      Price      Volume/
Mix
     2012  

Cellulose specialties

     $         824           $         112           $ (1)          $ 935     

Absorbent materials

     196           (26)                  (11)          159   

Other

     1           —           —           1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total sales

     $ 1,021           $ 86           $ (12)          $         1,095   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Total sales increased $74 million, or seven percent, as the annual price negotiations resulted in a 14 percent increase in cellulose specialties sales prices driven by continued strong customer demand. However, absorbent materials prices declined 15 percent due to market weakness, while volumes were six percent lower due to a production shift to cellulose specialties.

 

Operating Income (in millions)

   2011      Changes Attributable to:         
        Price        

 

Volume/

Mix

  

  

     Cost/Other         2012   

Total operating income

     $         283           $         86            $         (3)           $       (24)            $       342       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income margin %

     27.7%         5.6%         0.1%         (2.2)%         31.2%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income and margin percentage increased $59 million and 3.5%, respectively, from the prior year. Higher cellulose specialties prices more than offset increased wood, chemical and labor (due to higher pension and postretirement plan costs), and depreciation costs. In addition, 2011 operating income was negatively impacted by a $6 million write-off related to process equipment changes needed for the cellulose specialties expansion project.

Generally, explanations for changes in operating income would be consistent with explanations for changes in gross margin.

Income tax provision —SpinCo’s income tax provision increased $30 million, or 44 percent, in 2012 compared to 2011 due to higher operating income. The effective tax rates were 29.3 percent and 24.5 percent for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The 2012 rate was higher as a reserve reversal related to the taxability of the AFMC benefited the 2011 rate by $16 million or 5.7 percent. Additionally, in 2011, Rayonier received a final examination report from the IRS regarding its Rayonier TRS Holding Inc.’s 2009 tax return. As a result, SpinCo reversed the uncertain tax liability recorded in 2009 relating to the taxability of the AFMC and recognized a $16 million tax benefit. SpinCo expects the effective tax rate subsequent to the separation to be consistent with prior effective tax rates excluding the impact of the AFMC for CBPC exchange. See Note 7—  Income Taxes  to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information regarding the reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax rate and AFMC for CBPC exchange.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

SpinCo’s operations have generally produced consistent cash flows, which is its primary source of liquidity and capital resources. In addition, SpinCo receives proceeds from and makes distributions to Rayonier. Spinco anticipates it will have $250 million of borrowing capacity under its new revolving credit facility for working capital and general corporate purposes. Prior to the distribution, it is anticipated that Spinco will borrow $75 million under such revolving credit facility and transfer the proceeds of such borrowing, together with SpinCo common stock and the assumption of certain liabilities, in exchange for the contribution by Rayonier of Rayonier A.M. Product Inc.’s common stock and certain other assets to SpinCo. Such borrowing under the revolving credit facility is anticipated to be repaid with the proceeds of a delayed draw term loan expected to be made available under the new term loan facilities promptly after the distribution.

 

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Cash Flows

The following table summarizes SpinCo’s cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for each of the periods presented (in millions of dollars):

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2013      2012      2011  

Total cash provided by (used for):

              

Operating activities

     $     55           $     30           $         258           $         305           $         258     

Investing activities

     (21)          (55)          (251)          (305)          (131)    

Financing activities

     (34)          25         (7)          —           (127)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ —         $ —           $ —           $ —           $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities of $55 million increased in the first three months of 2014 primarily due to lower tax payments, partially offset by lower operating results. The 2013 first quarter included a $70 million tax payment to exchange AFMC for CBPC.

Cash provided by operating activities of $258 million in 2013 decreased 16 percent from $305 million in 2012. The decrease was due to lower earnings as a result of the timing of cellulose specialties orders and a decrease in absorbent material volumes as SpinCo transitions from this business in conjunction with the cellulose specialties expansion project. During 2012, cash provided by operating activities of $305 million increased 18 percent from $258 million in 2011. For information on the impact of the timing of customers’ order on revenue recognition, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates.”

Cash Used for Investing Activities

Cash used for investing activities decreased for the first three months of 2014 primarily due to the completion of the CSE project in 2013.

Cash used for investing activities decreased in 2013 over the prior year primarily due to lower spending on the Jesup Mill CSE project, which was completed in June. Cash used for investing activities increased in 2012 due to an additional $158 million in spending on the Jesup Mill cellulose specialties expansion project and a $9 million increase in other capital expenditures.

Cash (Used for) Provided by Financing Activities

Cash used for financing activities increased $59 million primarily due to the $22 million decrease in accounts receivable collected by Rayonier on behalf of SpinCo and a $37 million increase in payables processed by Rayonier on behalf of SpinCo.

Cash used for financing activities in 2013 increased $7 million from 2012 as cash costs allocated from Rayonier increased by approximately $3 million. The $49 million decrease in accounts receivable collected by Rayonier on behalf of SpinCo was offset by a $43 million decrease in payables processed by Rayonier on behalf of SpinCo.

Cash used for financing activities in 2012 decreased $127 million from 2011 as cash costs allocated from Rayonier increased by approximately $6 million, primarily due to higher pension and postretirement plan costs

 

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associated with the participation in Rayonier Inc.’s plans and higher medical costs. Accounts receivable collected by Rayonier on behalf of SpinCo increased $92 million due to higher sales and payables processed by Rayonier on behalf of SpinCo decreased $42 million.

Expected 2014 Expenditures

Capital expenditures in 2014 are expected to range between $75 million and $80 million. Income tax payments and environmental costs related to disposed operations are expected to be approximately $40 million and $4 million, respectively. SpinCo has no mandatory pension contributions in 2014 but may make discretionary contributions during the balance of the year.

Performance Indicators

SpinCo uses the following non-GAAP measures: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow. These measures are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the discussion of these measures is not intended to conflict with or change any of the GAAP disclosures described above. SpinCo’s management considers these measures in addition to operating income and return on capital employed to be important to estimate the enterprise and shareholder values of SpinCo, and for making strategic and operating decisions. In addition, analysts, investors and creditors use these measures when analyzing SpinCo’s operating performance and financial condition.

EBITDA is defined by the SEC. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, excluding the $205.2 million related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit in 2009. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities adjusted for capital expenditures excluding strategic capital, the net cash receipt of $205.2 million related to the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit in 2010 and subsequent tax benefits to exchange the AFMC for the CBPC. Adjusted Free Cash Flow, as defined, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Below is a reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (in millions of dollars):

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2013      2012      2011      2010      2009  
Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation                     

Net Income

    $   31          $     80        $   220          $   242          $   214          $   159          $   305     

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     21           15        74           61           56           58           58     

Interest, net

     —                   —           (1)          —           —           —     

Income tax expense

     12           7         69           100           69           41           68     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

    $ 64          $ 102        $ 363          $ 402          $ 339          $ 258          $ 431     

Alternative fuel mixture credit

     —          

 

—  

 

  

 

     —           —           —           —           (205)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

    $ 64          $ 102        $ 363          $ 402          $ 339          $ 258          $ 226     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Below is a reconciliation of Cash Flow from Operations to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (in millions of dollars):

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2013      2012      2011      2010      2009  
Cash Flow from Operations to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation                     

Cash flow from operations

    $   55          $     30          $   258          $   305          $   258          $   408          $   128     

Income tax expense

     12           7           69           100           69           41           68     

Interest, net

     —           —           —           (1)          —           —           —     

Change due to AFMC

     —           —           —           —           —           (205)          205     

Other balance sheet changes

  

 

 

 

(3) 

 

  

  

 

 

 

65  

 

  

     36           (2)          12           14           30     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

  

 

 $

 

64  

 

  

  

 

 $

 

102  

 

  

    $ 363          $ 402          $ 339          $ 258          $ 431     

Alternative fuel mixture credit

  

 

 

 

—  

 

  

  

 

 

 

—  

 

  

     —           —           —           —           (205)    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  

 

 $

 

64  

 

  

  

 

 $

 

102  

 

  

    $ 363          $ 402          $ 339          $ 258          $ 226     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Below is a reconciliation of Cash Flow from Operations to Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the periods presented (in millions of dollars):

 

     Three  Months
Ended
March 31,
     Years Ended December 31,  
     2014      2013      2013      2012      2011      2010      2009  
Cash Flow from Operations to Adjusted Free Cash Flow Reconciliation                     

Cash flow from operations (a)

    $   55          $     30          $   258          $   305          $   258          $   408          $   128     

Capital expenditures

     (22)          (21)          (96)          (105)          (97)          (98)          (59)    

Alternative fuel mixture credit

     —           —           —           —           —           (205)          —     

Tax (benefit)/deficit due to AFMC

     —           (19)          (19)          (12)          (21)          (24)          12     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted Free Cash Flow

    $ 33          $ (10)          $ 143          $ 188          $ 140          $ 81          $ 81     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a) Cash flow from operations for 2010 includes $205.2 million, net of expenses, related to the AFMC offset by a $27.5 million pension contribution. See Note 7— Income Taxes and Note 16— Employee Benefit Plans to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information. Cash flow from operations for the first quarter of 2013 included a $70 million tax payment to exchange AFMC for CBPC.

Liquidity Facilities

To provide additional liquidity following the separation from Rayonier, SpinCo anticipates arranging a revolving credit facility with a borrowing capacity of approximately $250 million. The credit facility is expected to contain customary covenants and events of default.

Indebtedness under the revolving credit facility will likely bear interest at LIBOR plus an agreed margin. Entering into the revolving credit facility would also result in SpinCo paying customary fees, including administrative agent fees, upfront fees and other fees. The revolving credit facility will be subject to closing requirements and certain other conditions. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the revolving credit facility will be executed on the terms described above (including the amount available to be borrowed) or at all.

 

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Other Indebtedness

On March 22, 2014, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. issued $550 million in aggregate principal amount of corporate bonds. In accordance with the separation and distribution agreement, SpinCo expects to incur approximately $400 million of additional new debt. On the distribution date, SpinCo anticipates that its debt will consist of $325 million of term loans under Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s term loan facilities, borrowings of $75 million under SpinCo’s revolving credit facility and $550 million of corporate bonds previously issued by Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of SpinCo. Prior to the distribution, SpinCo plans to make cash transfers totaling $950 million, less certain fees and expenses, to Rayonier as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Separation Agreement—Cash Transfers.” Promptly following the distribution, it is anticipated that the $75 million of revolving borrowings by SpinCo will be repaid with the proceeds of a delayed draw term loan expected to be made available to Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. under the term loan facilities described above. Following the distribution, SpinCo believes its internally generated cash flow and ability to access capital markets and its revolving credit facility will be adequate to fund its operations and anticipated long-term funding requirements, including capital expenditures, dividend payments, defined benefit plan contributions and repayment of debt maturities.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

SpinCo has no material off-balance sheet arrangements other than the contractual obligations that are discussed below.

Contractual Financial Obligations

There has been no material changes to SpinCo’s. contractual financial obligations as of December 31, 2013 as aggregated in the following table. Amounts in the table do not reflect the $950 million of debt SpinCo expects to incur in connection with the separation described in the section entitled “Description of Material Indebtedness” and certain liabilities as described under “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.”

 

Contractual Financial Obligations (in millions)

   Total      Payments Due by Period  
      2014      2015-2016      2017-2018     Thereafter  

Environmental obligations (a)

   $ 2         $ 2         $ —         $ —        $ —     

Postretirement obligations (b)

     11           1           2           2          6     

Operating leases (c)

     23           1           2           5          15     

Purchase obligations (d)

     50           13           23           14          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total contractual cash obligations

   $       86         $       17         $       27         $       21        $       21     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) These obligations relate to the Jesup mill 2008 consent order which was amended in 2011 for the cellulose specialties expansion project. See “Environmental Regulation” for additional information on the Jesup mill consent order.

 

(b) The amounts represent an estimate of SpinCo’s projected payments related to SpinCo’s postretirement medical and life insurance plans for the next ten years. See Note 16 — Employee Benefit Plans to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

(c) Includes operating leases related to property, plant and equipment, office and the Jesup mill natural gas transportation contract.

 

(d)

On March 1, 2013, Rayonier completed the sale of its Wood Products business (consisting of three lumber mills in Baxley, Swainsboro and Eatonton, Georgia) to International Forest Products Limited (“Interfor”), an unrelated lumber company with operations in the United States and Canada. Interfor is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “IFP.” Pursuant to the purchase and sale agreement, Rayonier

 

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  contracted with Interfor to purchase wood chips produced at the lumber mills for use at SpinCo’s Jesup mill. SpinCo will purchase 100 percent of the Baxley mill chips for five years and purchased a minimum of 25 percent of the Swainsboro mill chips in 2013. The purchase price of these chips will be based on the average price paid by SpinCo to other third parties.

Environmental Regulation

SpinCo is subject to stringent environmental laws and regulations concerning air emissions, wastewater discharges, waste handling and disposal, and assessment and remediation of environmental contamination. Such environmental laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and similar state laws and regulations. Management closely monitors its environmental responsibilities and believes SpinCo is in substantial compliance with current environmental requirements. In addition to ongoing compliance with laws and regulations, SpinCo’s facilities operate in accordance with various permits, which are issued by state and federal environmental agencies. Many of these permits impose operating conditions on SpinCo which require significant expenditures to ensure compliance. Upon renewal and renegotiation of these permits, the issuing agencies often seek to impose new or additional conditions in response to new environmental laws and regulations, or more stringent interpretations of existing laws and regulations. In addition, under many federal environmental laws, private citizens and organizations, such as environmental advocacy groups, have the right to legally challenge permitting and other decisions made by regulatory agencies.

During 2013, 2012 and 2011, SpinCo spent the following for capital projects related to environmental compliance for ongoing operations:

 

(in millions)

   2013      2012      2011  

Jesup mill consent order (a)

     $       18           $       25           $       3     

Cellulose specialties expansion project (b)

     19           16           5     

Other (c)

     8           12           10     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     $ 45           $ 53           $ 18     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes spending related to a 2008 Jesup mill consent order in which SpinCo agreed to implement certain capital improvements relating to the mill’s wastewater treatment. This consent order was amended in 2011 in connection with the cellulose specialties expansion project. Capital spending related to the consent order is expected to approximate $2 million in 2014.

 

(b) Environmental compliance expenditures related to the CSE project, which was completed in June 2013.

 

(c) Includes spending for improvements to SpinCo’s manufacturing process and pollution control systems that will comply with the requirements of new or renewed air emission and waste water discharge permits, and other required improvements for SpinCo’s Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida mills. Other capital spending related to environmental compliance is expected to approximate $15 million in 2014, which includes $14 million for industrial boiler air emissions compliance.

SpinCo’s operations are subject to constantly changing environmental requirements which are often the result of legislation, regulation, litigation and negotiation. For additional information, see “Risk Factors for a discussion of the potential impact of environmental laws and regulations, including climate-related initiatives, on SpinCo’s business.

It is the opinion of management that substantial expenditures will be required over the next 10 years in the area of environmental compliance. In particular, SpinCo expects significant expenditures will be required as a result of an Environmental Protection Agency regulation issued in 2012, which tightens emissions limits of certain air pollutants from industrial boilers. SpinCo estimates the cost of compliance may range from $40 million to $60 million.

 

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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

SpinCo is exposed to various market risks, primarily commodity prices. SpinCo’s objective is to minimize the economic impact of these risks and uses derivatives in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the audit committee of the board of directors. Derivatives are managed by a senior executive committee whose responsibilities include initiating, managing and monitoring resulting exposures. SpinCo does not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Cyclical pricing of commodity market paper pulp was one of the factors that influenced performance fibers’ prices in the absorbent materials product line. However, as a non-integrated producer of absorbent materials, primarily fluff pulp, for non-papermaking end uses, SpinCo’s absorbent material pricing tended to lag (on both the upturn and downturn) commodity paper pulp prices with pricing adjustments that are less severe. In 2013, SpinCo started up its cellulose specialties expansion project and plans to exit the absorbent materials business. SpinCo’s chemical cellulose specialty fibers’ prices are based on market supply and demand and are not correlated to commodity paper pulp prices. In addition, a significant majority of SpinCo’s cellulose specialty fibers are under long-term volume contracts that extend through 2014 to 2017. The pricing provisions of these contracts are set in the fourth quarter in the year prior to the shipment.

SpinCo periodically enters into commodity forward contracts to fix some of its fuel oil and natural gas costs. The forward contracts partially mitigate the risk of a change in performance fibers margins resulting from an increase or decrease in these energy costs. At March 31, 2014, SpinCo had no fuel oil or natural gas contracts outstanding.

Post-Separation

With the expected incurrence of debt at separation, SpinCo expects its market risk from interest rates to increase.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers Following the Distribution

The following table sets forth information as of May 27, 2014 regarding the individuals who are expected to serve as executive officers of SpinCo following the distribution. A Chief Financial Officer is expected to be appointed at or prior to the distribution, and, in such case, Spinco will include information concerning the Chief Financial Officer in the final information statement provided to Rayonier shareholders. If SpinCo appoints a Chief Financial Officer after the date of the information statement, SpinCo will include information concerning the Chief Financial Officer in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. While some of SpinCo’s executive officers are currently officers and employees of Rayonier, after the distribution, none of these individuals will be employees or executive officers of Rayonier.

 

Name

          Age            

Position

  Paul G. Boynton

    49      Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

  Michael R. Herman

    52      Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

  Charles H. Hood

    63      Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications

  Jack M. Kriesel

    59      Senior Vice President, Advanced Materials

  James L. Posze, Jr.

    49      Senior Vice President, Human Resources

  Frank A. Ruperto

    48      Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning

Mr. Boynton will be the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of SpinCo. He is currently the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2012 and as Chairman since May 2012. Previously, he held a number of positions of increasing responsibility with Rayonier, including Senior Vice President, Performance Fibers from 2002 to 2008, Senior Vice President, Performance Fibers and Wood Products from 2008 to 2009, Executive Vice President, Forest Resources and Real Estate from 2009 to 2010, President and Chief Operating Officer from 2010 to 2011 and President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2012 to May 2012. Mr. Boynton joined Rayonier as Director, Specialty Pulp Marketing and Sales in 1999. Prior to joining Rayonier, he held positions with 3M Corporation from 1990 to 1999, including as Global Brand Manager, 3M Home Care Division. Mr. Boynton serves on the Board of Directors of The Brink’s Company, is a director of the National Alliance of Forest Owners and sits on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the National Council for Air & Stream Improvement. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Iowa, and graduated from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Advanced Management Program.

Michael R. Herman will be Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of SpinCo. Mr. Herman joined Rayonier in 2003 as Vice President and General Counsel and was elected to his current position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary in March 2013. Prior to joining Rayonier, he served as Vice President and General Counsel of GenTek Inc. (a publicly-traded global manufacturing conglomerate) and in other positions in GenTek’s legal department from 1992 to August 2003. Mr. Herman was previously counsel to IBM’s Integrated Systems Solutions Corporation and an attorney with the law firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP. He holds a B.A. in Economics and English from Binghamton University and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.

Charles H. Hood will be Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications of SpinCo. Mr. Hood joined Rayonier in July 2007 as Vice President, Public Affairs and was promoted to his current position of Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications in March 2013. Prior to joining Rayonier, Mr. Hood was with Georgia-Pacific for 23 years, most recently as Vice President of Government Affairs. From 1991 to 2003, he was Georgia-Pacific’s Southeast Regional Manager of Government Affairs, and prior to that, their Manager of Government Affairs for Florida. Mr. Hood also served as Clerk of the Courts for Putnam County, Florida, for eight years, and was a legislative assistant for the Florida State Senate from 1972 to 1976. He currently serves on

 

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the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Florida Rural Education Foundation, and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Mr. Hood serves on the operating committee for National Alliance of Forest Owners, the public policy committee for the Northeast Florida United Way, and the Georgia Southern University, Mathematics and Science Advisory Board. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Jack M. Kriesel will be Senior Vice President, Advanced Materials of SpinCo. Mr. Kriesel joined Rayonier in 1978, was named Vice President & General Manager, Jesup Mill in November 2001, Vice President, Marketing & Strategic Sourcing in May 2004, Vice President, Marketing & Research in November 2006, Vice President, Marketing, Research and Strategic Sourcing in November 2008 and was elected to his current position of Vice President, Performance Fibers effective November 2009. Mr. Kriesel graduated from Washington State University and from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Advanced Management Program.

James L. Posze, Jr. will be Senior Vice President, Human Resources of SpinCo. Mr. Posze joined Rayonier in October 2010 as Vice President, Human Resources and was promoted to his current position of Senior Vice President, Human Resources in March 2013. Prior to joining Rayonier, Mr. Posze was with Albemarle Corporation (a manufacturer of polymers and fine chemicals), where he served as Global Director, Human Resources from January 2008 to October 2010 and as Director, Human Resources from 2002 to March 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Posze served for 11 years at Koch Industries in positions of increasing responsibility from January 1991 to March 2002 and as Manager, Human Resources for Jostens from August 1988 to December 1991. Mr. Posze holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Western Kentucky University.

Frank A. Ruperto will be Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning of SpinCo. Mr. Ruperto joined Rayonier on March 31, 2014 as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategic Planning. Prior to joining Rayonier, he served as Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions for Bank of America Merrill Lynch (a consumer banking and financial services provider) from 2008 to 2012, and Head of Global Industrial M&A for Banc of America Securities from 2003-2008. Prior to that, Mr. Ruperto served as Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisition for Merrill Lynch & Co. from 1996 to 2003, was an Associate with Kidder Peabody & Co./Painewebber Inc. from 1993 to 1995, and with Smith Barney Inc. from 1995 to 1996. From 1988 to 1991 he was a Corporate Finance Analyst with Alex, Brown & Sons Inc. Mr. Ruperto holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Harvard College and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania.

 

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DIRECTORS

Board of Directors Following the Distribution

The following table sets forth information as of May 27, 2014 regarding those persons who are expected to serve on SpinCo’s board of directors following the distribution. After the distribution, none of these individuals will be directors or employees of Rayonier.

 

Name

   Age    

Position

  Paul G. Boynton

     49      Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

  C. David Brown, II

     62      Lead Director

  Mark E. Gaumond . . . . . . . . . . .

     63      Director

  James H. Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . .

     65      Director

  Thomas I. Morgan . . . . . . . . . . .

     60      Director

  Ronald Townsend . . . . . . . . . . .

     72      Director

  DeLyle W. Bloomquist . . . . . . .

     55      Director

  James F. Kirsch . . . . . . . . . . . . .

     56      Director

  Lisa M. Palumbo . . . . . . . . . . . .

     56      Director

Upon completion of the distribution, SpinCo’s board of directors will be divided into three classes, each comprised of three directors. The directors designated as Class I directors will have terms expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the distribution, which SpinCo expects to hold in 2015. The directors designated as Class II directors will have terms expiring at the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which SpinCo expects to hold in 2016, and the directors designated as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which SpinCo expects to hold in 2017. SpinCo expects that Class I directors will be comprised of Messrs. Miller, Townsend and Kirsch; Class II directors will be comprised of Messrs. Brown and Morgan and Ms. Palumbo; and Class III directors will be comprised of Messrs. Boynton, Gaumond and Bloomquist. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the separation, directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will serve for a term of three years. At any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the election will be determined by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote in the election, with directors not receiving a majority of the votes cast required to tender their resignations for consideration by the board, except that in the case of a contested election, the election will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote in the election.

As a result of Mr. Boynton’s service as Rayonier’s President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2012 and as Rayonier’s Chairman since May 2012, his previous service as Senior Vice President, Performance Fibers and Senior Vice President, Performance Fibers and Wood Products, Mr. Boynton has developed valuable business, management and leadership experience, as well as extensive knowledge of SpinCo and long-standing relationships with its major customers. SpinCo believes this experience at Rayonier, together with his marketing and engineering background, make Mr. Boynton uniquely well suited to contribute to SpinCo’s board of director considerations of operational and strategic decisions and to manage SpinCo’s core business.

Mr. Brown has served on Rayonier’s Board of Directors since 2006. He is Chairman of Broad and Cassel (a law firm based in Orlando, Florida), a position he has held since 2000. Previously, he served as Managing Partner of the firm’s Orlando office from 1990. He joined the firm in 1980. Prior to joining Broad and Cassel, Mr. Brown was an associate with Rowland, Bowen and Thomas, P.A. and served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Mr. Brown serves on the Board of Directors of CVS Caremark Corporation, as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Florida, and on the Boards of Directors of Orlando

 

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Health, a not-for-profit healthcare network, and Old Florida National Bank, N.A. He holds bachelor’s and juris doctorate degrees from the University of Florida. Over a 34-year legal career, Mr. Brown has developed and demonstrated expertise in finance, environmental and land use issues, particularly in complex jurisdictions, as well as extensive experience in structuring real estate and corporate transactions. SpinCo believes his experience and expertise will facilitate its board of director discussions regarding SpinCo’s core business.

Mr. Gaumond has served on Rayonier’s board of directors since 2010. He is the former Americas Senior Vice Chair – Markets of Ernst & Young (a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services), a position he held from 2006 to 2010. Previously he served as Ernst & Young’s Managing Partner, San Francisco from 2003 to 2006 and as an audit partner on several major clients. Prior to joining Ernst & Young, Mr. Gaumond was a Managing Partner with Arthur Andersen from 1994 to 2002 and a partner in the firm’s audit practice from 1986 to 1994. Mr. Gaumond serves on the Boards of Directors of Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation, Cliffs Natural Resources, Inc., the Fishers Island Development Corporation and the Walsh Park Benevolent Corporation. He is a former trustee of the California Academy of Sciences. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, College of Arts and Sciences and an MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York University. In addition, Mr. Gaumond is a member of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Gaumond has 35 years of managerial, financial and accounting experience working extensively with senior management, audit committees and boards of directors of public companies, including several in the forest products industry. SpinCo believes Mr. Gaumond’s experience and financial expertise will allow him to contribute strongly to the oversight of overall financial performance, reporting and controls by SpinCo’s board of directors.

Mr. Miller has served on Rayonier’s board of directors since 2011. He served as Chairman of PPL Corporation (an energy and utility holding company) from 2006 until his retirement in March 2012. He also served as Chief Executive Officer of PPL from 2006 to 2011, President from 2005 to 2011 and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Miller joined PPL in 2001 as President of PPL Generation, LLC, a subsidiary that operates power plants in the United States. Previously, Mr. Miller was Executive Vice President of USEC Inc., and President of two ABB Group subsidiaries: ABB Environmental Systems and ABB Resource Recovery Systems. He also served as President of the former UC Operating Services. He began his career in the electric utility industry at the former Delmarva Power & Light Co. Mr. Miller serves on the Boards of Crown Holdings, Inc., Lehigh Gas Partners LP and AES Corporation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Delaware after serving in the U.S. Navy nuclear submarine program. Mr. Miller brings both domestic and international senior management experience to SpinCo’s board of directors. SpinCo believes his experience leading a highly regulated public utility company, and his resulting expertise with regard to safety, environmental regulation and governmental and regulatory agency relations, will be particularly relevant to the oversight of manufacturing operations by SpinCo’s board of directors.

Mr. Morgan has served on Rayonier’s board of directors since 2012. He is a Partner and Lead Director of the Advisory Board of BPV Capital Management LLC, an investment manager of mutual funds firm. Mr. Morgan formerly served as the Chairman of Baker & Taylor, Inc. (a leading distributor of books, videos, and music products to libraries, institutions and retailers) from July 2008 to January 2014, and served as the Chief Executive Officer from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Morgan also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Hughes Supply Inc. (a diversified wholesale distributor of construction, repair and maintenance-related products) from 2003 to 2006, as President from 2001 to 2006, and as Chief Operating Officer from 2001 to 2003. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of EnfoTrust Network, Value America and US Office Products. He served for 22 years at Genuine Parts Company in positions of increasing responsibility from 1975 to 1997. Mr. Morgan is a director of Tech Data Corporation and ITT Educational Services, Inc. He formerly served as a director of Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Waste Management, Inc. Mr. Morgan holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Morgan brings both public and private company CEO experience and a deep understanding of distribution and global supply chain management. As a result, SpinCo believes he will be particularly well suited to contribute to discussions regarding overall management and governance issues by SpinCo’s board of directors and SpinCo’s increasingly global performance fibers business.

 

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Mr. Townsend has served on Rayonier’s board of directors since 2001. He is an independent communications consultant, based in Jacksonville, Florida since 1997. He retired from Gannett Company (a diversified news and information company) in 1996 after serving 22 years in positions of increasing responsibility, including as President of Gannett Television Group. Mr. Townsend serves on the Board of the Jacksonville Electric Authority and as a trustee of the University of North Florida. He attended The City University of New York, Bernard Baruch. Mr. Townsend brings significant experience in media and public relations issues to SpinCo’s board of directors and is familiar with public company board processes. SpinCo believes his background and expertise, including his political and civic activities in the Jacksonville, Florida area, will provide SpinCo’s board of directors with a unique perspective on high-profile issues facing SpinCo’s core businesses.

Mr. Bloomquist is the President, Global Chemical Business of Tata Chemicals Limited (an inorganic chemical and fertilizer manufacturing company), a position he has held since 2008. Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of General Chemical Industrial Products (which was acquired by Tata Chemicals in 2008) from 2004 to 2008. Prior to that, Mr. Bloomquist served at General Chemical Group Inc. in positions of increasing responsibility from 1991 to 2004, including Division Vice President and General Manager, Industrial Chemicals and Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Bloomquist serves on the Board of Directors of Huber Engineered Materials and Emerald Peak Minerals. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Bloomquist has over 20 years of experience in the chemicals industry, including in the areas of finance, sales, logistics, operations, IT, strategy and business development. SpinCo believes Mr. Bloomquist’s breadth of experience and expertise in the chemicals industry makes him particularly well suited to assist SpinCo’s board of directors with operational and strategic decisions about SpinCo’s core business.

Mr. Kirsch served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferro Corporation (a leading producer of specialty materials and chemicals) from 2006 to 2012. He joined Ferro in October 2004 as its President and Chief Operating Officer, was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Director in November 2005 and was elected Chairman in December 2006. Prior to that, from 2002 through 2004, he served as President of Quantum Composites, Inc. (a manufacturer of thermoset molding compounds, parts and sub-assemblies for the automotive, aerospace, electrical and HVAC industries). From 2000 through 2002, he served as President and director of Ballard Generation Systems and Vice President for Ballard Power Systems in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Kirsch started his career with The Dow Chemical Company, where he spent 19 years and held various positions of increasing responsibility, including global business director of Propylene Oxide and Derivatives and Global Vice President of Electrochemicals. Mr. Kirsch serves on the Board of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. He is a graduate of Ohio State University. Mr. Kirsch brings a wealth of senior management experience with major organizations with international operations, and has substantial experience in the areas of specialty materials and chemicals. As a former chairman, president and CEO of a NYSE-listed company, SpinCo believes that he will bring additional CEO experience to SpinCo’s board of directors and the committees thereof on which he will serve.

Ms. Palumbo is the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Parsons Brinckerhoff Group Inc. (a global consulting firm providing planning, design, construction and program management services for critical infrastructure projects), a position she has held since 2008. Prior to that, Ms. Palumbo served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of EDO Corporation (a defense technology company) from 2002 to 2008. In 2001, Ms. Palumbo served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Moore Corporation, from 1997 to 2001 she served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Rayonier Inc., and from 1987 to 1997 she served in positions of increasing responsibility, including Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for Avnet, Inc. Ms. Palumbo holds bachelor’s and juris doctorate degrees from Rutgers University. With over 27 years of legal experience with international and public companies, Ms. Palumbo brings substantial expertise in the areas of law, corporate governance, enterprise risk management, health and safety, and compliance. SpinCo believes that this experience and expertise, together with her prior experience as the General Counsel of Rayonier Inc., uniquely qualify her to contribute to discussions by SpinCo’s board of directors regarding SpinCo’s business and to assist with the board’s oversight of SpinCo’s risk management, legal and compliance functions.

 

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Director Independence

A majority of SpinCo’s board of directors will be comprised of directors who are “independent” as defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and the Corporate Governance Principles to be adopted by the board. SpinCo will seek to have all of its non-management directors qualify as “independent” under these standards. SpinCo’s board of directors is expected to establish categorical standards to assist it in making its determination of director independence. SpinCo expects these standards will provide that no director qualifies as “independent” unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with SpinCo or its subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with SpinCo or any of its subsidiaries). In making this determination, the board of directors will consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including the following standards:

 

    a director is not independent if the director is, or has been within the last three years, an employee of SpinCo or its subsidiaries, or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, an executive officer of SpinCo or its subsidiaries;

 

    a director is not independent if the director has received, or has an immediate family member who has received, during any 12-month period within the last three years, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from SpinCo or its subsidiaries, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), and other than amounts received by an immediate family member for service as an employee (other than an executive officer);

 

    a director is not independent if (A) the director or an immediate family member is a current partner of a firm that is SpinCo’s internal or external auditor; (B) the director is a current employee of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on SpinCo’s or its subsidiaries’ audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on SpinCo or its subsidiaries’ audit within that time;

 

    a director is not independent if the director or an immediate family member is, or has been within the last three years, employed as an executive officer of another company where any of the present executive officers of SpinCo or its subsidiaries at the same time serves or served on that company’s compensation committee;

 

    a director is not independent if the director is a current employee, or an immediate family member is a current executive officer, of a company that has made payments to, or received payments from, SpinCo or its subsidiaries for property or services in an amount that, in any of the last three fiscal years, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or two percent of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues; and

 

    a director is not independent if the director is an executive officer of a charitable organization that received charitable contributions (other than matching contributions) from SpinCo and its subsidiaries in the preceding fiscal year that are in excess of the greater of $1 million or 2 percent of such charitable organization’s consolidated gross revenues.

SpinCo’s board of directors will assess on a regular basis, and at least annually, the independence of directors and, based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, will make a determination as to which members are independent. References to “SpinCo” above include any subsidiary in a consolidated group with SpinCo. The terms “immediate family member” and “executive officer” above are expected to have the same meanings specified for such terms in the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.

 

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Committees of the Board of Directors

Effective upon the completion of the distribution, SpinCo’s board of directors will have the following standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation and Management Development Committee (“Compensation Committee”) and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Audit Committee. Ronald Townsend, Mark E. Gaumond, James H. Miller, DeLyle W. Bloomquist, James Kirsch and Lisa Palumbo are expected to be the members of the board’s Audit Committee. Mark E. Gaumond is expected to be the Audit Committee Chairman. The board of directors is expected to determine that at least one member of the Audit Committee is an “audit committee financial expert” for purposes of the rules of the SEC. In addition, the board is expected to determine that at least one member of the Audit Committee has accounting or related financial management expertise and that each member is financially literate as required by NYSE rules. In addition, SpinCo expects that the board of directors will determine that each of the members of the Audit Committee will be independent, as defined by the rules of the NYSE, Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act, and in accordance with the company’s Corporate Governance Principles. The Audit Committee will meet at least quarterly and will assist the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing and reporting to the board of directors on SpinCo accounting and financial reporting practices and the audit process, the quality and integrity of the company’s financial statements, the independent auditors’ qualifications, independence, and performance, the performance of the company’s internal audit function and internal auditors, and certain areas of legal and regulatory compliance.

Compensation Committee. C. David Brown, II, Thomas I. Morgan, Ronald Townsend, DeLyle W. Bloomquist and James Kirsch are expected to be the members of the board’s Compensation Committee. Thomas I. Morgan is expected to be the Compensation Committee Chairman. The board of directors is expected to determine that each member of the Compensation Committee will be independent, as defined by the rules of the NYSE and in accordance with the company’s Corporate Governance Principles. In addition, SpinCo expects that the members of the Compensation Committee will qualify as “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and as “outside directors” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Compensation Committee will assist the board of directors in carrying out the board’s responsibilities relating to the election and compensation of SpinCo’s executive officers. This committee will also review, approve, and administer the incentive compensation plans in which any executive officer of SpinCo participates and all of SpinCo’s equity-based plans. It may delegate the responsibility to administer and make grants under these plans to management, except to the extent that such delegation would be inconsistent with applicable law or regulation or with the listing rules of the NYSE. The Compensation Committee will have the sole authority, under its charter, to select, retain, and/or terminate independent compensation advisors.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. C. David Brown, II, Mark E. Gaumond, James H. Miller, Thomas I. Morgan and Lisa Palumbo are expected to be the members of the board’s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. James H. Miller is expected to be the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman. The board of directors is expected to determine that each of the members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will be independent, as defined by the rules of the NYSE and in accordance with the company’s Corporate Governance Principles. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will assist the board of directors in identifying individuals qualified to become members of the board of directors (consistent with the criteria approved by SpinCo’s board of directors), recommending director candidates for SpinCo’s board of directors and its committees, developing and recommending Corporate Governance Principles to SpinCo’s board of directors, serving as a point of contact for shareholders, and performing a leadership role in shaping SpinCo’s corporate governance. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also annually review the compensation paid to the members of the board and give its recommendations to the full board regarding both the amount of director compensation that should be paid and the allocation of that compensation between equity-based awards and cash. In recommending director compensation, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will take comparable director fees into account and review any arrangement that could be viewed as indirect director compensation.

 

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The board of directors is expected to adopt a written charter for each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. These charters will be posted on SpinCo’s website in connection with the separation.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the company’s year ended December 31, 2013, SpinCo was not an independent company, and did not have a compensation committee or any other committee serving a similar function. Decisions as to the compensation of those who currently serve as SpinCo’s executive officers were made by Rayonier, as described in the section of this information statement captioned “Compensation Discussion and Analysis.”

Corporate Governance

Stockholder Recommendations for Director Nominees

SpinCo’s amended and restated bylaws will contain provisions that address the process by which a stockholder may nominate an individual to stand for election to the board of directors. SpinCo expects that the board of directors will adopt a policy concerning the evaluation of stockholder recommendations of board candidates by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Corporate Governance Principles

The board of directors is expected to adopt a set of Corporate Governance Principles in connection with the separation to assist it in guiding SpinCo’s governance practices. These practices will be regularly re-evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in light of changing circumstances in order to continue serving the company’s best interests and the best interests of its stockholders.

Communicating with the Board of Directors

SpinCo’s Corporate Governance Principles will include procedures by which stockholders and other interested parties who would like to communicate their concerns to one or more members of SpinCo’s board of directors, a board committee, the lead director or the independent non-management directors as a group may do so by writing to any such party at SpinCo, c/o Corporate Secretary, 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300 Jacksonville, FL 32207. All concerns received will be appropriately forwarded and, if deemed appropriate by the Corporate Secretary, may be accompanied by a report summarizing such concerns.

Director Qualification Standards

SpinCo’s Corporate Governance Principles will provide that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing with SpinCo’s board of directors the appropriate skills and characteristics required of board members in the context of the makeup of the board of directors and developing criteria for identifying and evaluating board candidates.

The process that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will use to identify a nominee to serve as a member of the board of directors will depend on the qualities being sought. From time to time, SpinCo may engage an executive search firm to assist the committee in identifying individuals qualified to be board members. The committee will consider the knowledge, experience, diversity, and personal and professional integrity of potential directors, as well as their willingness to devote the time necessary to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of membership on the board. The committee may reevaluate the relevant criteria for board membership from time to time in response to changing business factors or regulatory requirements. The full board of directors will be responsible for selecting candidates for election as directors based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

 

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Lead Director

The lead director will facilitate communication with the board of directors and will preside over regularly conducted executive sessions of the independent directors or sessions where the chairman of the board is not present. It will be the role of the lead director to review and approve matters, such as agenda items, schedule sufficiency, and, where appropriate, information provided to other board members. The lead director will be chosen by and from the independent members of the board of directors, and will serve as the liaison between the chairman and the independent directors; however, all directors will be encouraged to consult with the chairman on each of the above topics as well. Mr. Brown is expected to be named SpinCo’s lead director. The lead director, and each of the other directors, will be expected to communicate regularly with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer regarding appropriate agenda topics and other board related matters. The lead director also has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors and, if requested by major stockholders, will ensure that he or she is available for consultation and direct communication.

Oversight of Risk

SpinCo will oversee risk management by annually appointing the members of an Enterprise Risk Management Committee, which will consist of senior executives chaired by the Chief Executive Officer, who will also serve as SpinCo’s Chief Risk Officer. The Enterprise Risk Management Committee in turn will appoint the members of business unit and staff function-level risk assessment and mitigation teams, which will continually identify and assess the material risks facing their respective business or function and submit semi-annual reports to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee. These reports will form the basis for the Enterprise Risk Management’s annual risk assessment, which will be reported to the Audit Committee for review and evaluation of mitigation strategies.

Policies on Business Ethics

In connection with the separation, SpinCo will adopt a Standard of Ethics and Code of Corporate Conduct (“Code of Conduct”) that requires all its business activities to be conducted in compliance with laws, regulations, and ethical principles and values. All directors, officers, and employees of SpinCo will be required to read, understand, and abide by the requirements of the Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct will be accessible on the company’s website. Any waiver of the Code of Conduct for directors or executive officers may be made only by the SpinCo’s board of directors. SpinCo will disclose any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of the Code of Conduct for the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, on the company’s website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver. In addition, SpinCo will disclose any waiver from the Code of Conduct for the other executive officers and for directors on the website.

Procedures for Treatment of Complaints Regarding Accounting, Internal Accounting Controls, and Auditing Matters

In accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, SpinCo expects that its Audit Committee will adopt procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, and auditing matters and to allow for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees and others of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Introduction

As discussed above, SpinCo is currently part of Rayonier and not an independent company, and its compensation committee has not yet been formed. This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the historical compensation practices of Rayonier and attempts to outline certain aspects of SpinCo’s anticipated compensation structure for its senior executive officers following the separation. While SpinCo has discussed its anticipated programs and policies with the Compensation and Management Development Committee of Rayonier’s board of directors (the “Rayonier Compensation Committee”), they remain subject to the review and approval of SpinCo’s own compensation committee (the “SpinCo Compensation Committee”).

The employees who are expected to be appointed to serve as SpinCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Advanced Materials, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications are identified below, and each of such individuals is currently an executive officer of Rayonier. The historical decisions relating to their compensation as executive officers of Rayonier in 2013 and prior years have been made by the Rayonier Compensation Committee. Following the separation, the compensation of SpinCo’s executive officers will be determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee consistent with the compensation and benefit plans, programs and policies adopted by SpinCo.

For purposes of the following Compensation Discussion and Analysis and executive compensation disclosures, the individuals listed below are collectively referred to as SpinCo’s or our “named executive officers.” They are SpinCo’s Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President, Advanced Materials, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications. Their compensation is disclosed in the tables following this discussion and analysis.

 

    Paul G. Boynton, SpinCo Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to the separation, Mr. Boynton served as Rayonier’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

    Jack M Kriesel, SpinCo Senior Vice President, Advanced Materials. Prior to the separation, Mr. Kriesel served as Rayonier’s Senior Vice President, Performance Fibers.

 

    Michael R. Herman, SpinCo Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to the separation, Mr. Herman served as Rayonier’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary.

 

    Charles H. Hood, SpinCo Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications. Prior to the separation, Mr. Hood served as Rayonier’s Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications.

Additional information about SpinCo’s expected senior executive team following the separation is set forth in the section of this information statement captioned “Management-Executive Officers Following the Separation.”

In connection with the separation, SpinCo (or Rayonier on SpinCo’s behalf) will need to identify additional SpinCo executive officers, including a chief financial officer, and the compensation arrangements for the SpinCo chief financial officer and any other SpinCo executive officers will either have been approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee for historic executive officers of Rayonier or will be approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee prior to the separation. While the focus of the following disclosure is on the compensation for the four SpinCo named executive officers identified above who are historic executive officers of Rayonier, the types of compensation and benefits provided to them are generally similar to those that will likely be provided to any other individuals who are identified to serve as executive officers of SpinCo upon the separation. In subsequent filings with the SEC, SpinCo will describe the material terms of any compensation arrangements with the expected chief financial officer of SpinCo and any other individual expected to serve as an executive officer of SpinCo.

 

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Initially, SpinCo’s compensation policies will be substantially the same as those employed by Rayonier. The SpinCo Compensation Committee will review these policies and practices, and, it is expected, will make adjustments to support SpinCo’s strategies and to remain market competitive. The following sections of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis describe Rayonier’s compensation philosophy, policies and practices as they applied to the four SpinCo named executive officers identified above during 2013.

Roles of the Rayonier Compensation Committee, Management and Advisors

Historically

The Rayonier Compensation Committee has responsibility for establishing Rayonier’s compensation philosophy and for monitoring adherence to it. The Rayonier Compensation Committee reviews and approves compensation levels for all Rayonier executive officers, including our named executive officers, as well as all compensation, retirement, perquisite and benefit programs applicable to such officers.

The Rayonier Compensation Committee establishes annual performance objectives for the Chief Executive Officer, evaluates his accomplishments and performance against those objectives, and, based on such evaluation, makes recommendations regarding his compensation for approval by the independent members of Rayonier’s board of directors. All of these functions are set forth in the Rayonier Compensation Committee Charter, which appears on Rayonier’s website (www.rayonier.com) and is reviewed annually by the Rayonier Compensation Committee.

The Rayonier Compensation Committee’s work is accomplished through a series of meetings, following a regular calendar schedule to ensure that all major elements of compensation are appropriately considered and that compensation and benefit programs are properly designed, implemented and monitored. Special meetings are held as needed to address matters outside the regular compensation cycle.

Working with the Rayonier Compensation Committee Chair, Rayonier’s Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Director, Compensation, Benefits and Employee Services and Corporate Secretary prepare an agenda and supporting materials for each meeting. These employees, along with Mr. Boynton, generally attend the Rayonier Compensation Committee meetings by invitation, but are excused for executive sessions. The Rayonier Compensation Committee invites other members of management to attend meetings as it deems necessary to cover issues within their specific areas of expertise or responsibility.

The Rayonier Compensation Committee also seeks advice and assistance from compensation consultants and outside counsel. The Rayonier Compensation Committee has engaged Exequity, LLP (“Exequity”) to provide advice, relevant market data and best practices to consider when making compensation decisions, including decisions involving the Chief Executive Officer and the programs applicable to senior executives generally. Exequity also provides the Rayonier Compensation Committee meaningful input on program design features and the balance of pay among the various components of executive compensation. Exequity provides no additional services to the Rayonier Compensation Committee. The Rayonier Compensation Committee has assessed the independence of Exequity against the specific criteria under applicable SEC and NYSE rules and determined that no conflict of interest is raised by Exequity’s work for the Rayonier Compensation Committee. Total fees paid to Exequity by Rayonier for services in 2013 were $60,545.

Going Forward

As noted above, following the separation, the SpinCo Compensation Committee that will be responsible for establishing the programs and policies applicable to the SpinCo executive officers, including the applicable performance goals, and making the compensation decisions thereunder. Immediately following the separation, it is expected that the SpinCo Compensation Committee Charter will be substantially similar to the Rayonier Compensation Committee Charter. Following the separation, the SpinCo Compensation Committee will need to select compensation consultants and other advisors and may initially choose to use the same consultants and advisors as those used by the Rayonier Compensation Committee.

 

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Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

Historically

The cornerstone of Rayonier’s compensation philosophy is to provide a substantial majority of senior executive compensation in the form of “at risk” performance-based incentives. For 2013, the portion of total target compensation (which is comprised of base salary and targeted annual and long-term incentive award levels) for our named executive officers allocated to such incentives ranged between 63% and 83%. Rayonier has no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation.

Rayonier’s compensation philosophy emphasizes “pay for performance” programs designed to reward superior financial performance and sustained increases in the value of Rayonier’s shareholders’ investment in Rayonier, while recognizing the need to maintain competitive base pay, retirement, healthcare, severance and other fixed compensation programs. Rayonier strives to use long-term incentive compensation, rather than base salary or annual cash bonuses, to provide executives with an above-median compensation opportunity if they can, over time, drive increases in shareholder value and outperform Rayonier’s peers on a relative total shareholder return basis.

The primary components of Rayonier’s “at risk” performance-based incentives are long-term stock-based awards, specifically stock options and performance shares. The ultimate value of these awards to the executive is dependent upon Rayonier’s performance in delivering value to Rayonier’s shareholders both in absolute terms (through stock options) and relative to Rayonier’s peers (through performance shares). Rayonier believes that tying a majority of the senior executives’ compensation directly to its ability to deliver shareholder value over a meaningful period of time is a powerful tool to (1) properly align management interests with those of Rayonier’s investors, (2) promote an “ownership” mentality among Rayonier’s executives that fosters the long-term perspective necessary for sustained success, and (3) minimize the possibility that its incentive programs could promote excessive risk taking.

Annual stock-based award grants are made, and the exercise price for options is set, on the first trading day of the year to remove discretion and avoid any concern that awards are “timed” to take advantage of market fluctuations or Rayonier’s announcements, and Rayonier’s plans do not allow “repricing” of stock options. All of Rayonier’s corporate officers, including our named executive officers, are subject to minimum share ownership requirements and share retention mandates relating to Rayonier common stock until such requirements are fully met. The Rayonier Compensation Committee receives a report at each regular meeting showing the current number and value of all Rayonier shares owned by each senior executive, as well as vested and unvested equity awards.

Short-term incentives for our named executive officers consist of an annual cash bonus based on Rayonier’s performance against budgeted earnings and cash flow metrics and the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s assessment of management’s performance in obtaining identified strategic objectives. Rayonier also provides a competitive base salary and benefit package.

Our named executive officers do not have employment agreements with Rayonier and, with the exception of accrued pension benefits, all of their compensation and benefits are subject to modification or cancellation by the Rayonier Compensation Committee. Perquisites provided to our named executive officers by Rayonier are limited to annual physical examinations and reimbursement of tax and financial planning expenses, subject to an annual dollar cap.

Going Forward

As noted above, since the SpinCo Compensation Committee has not yet been formed, the policies and executive compensation philosophy at SpinCo will be developed and established by the SpinCo Compensation

 

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Committee after the separation. It is, however, currently expected that after the separation, the framework of SpinCo’s executive compensation program will be similar to Rayonier’s, and will be comprised of base salaries, an annual performance-based bonuses and long-term incentive awards in the form of stock options and performance shares in respect of SpinCo common stock. In connection with the separation, SpinCo expects to adopt compensation and benefit plans, including the SpinCo 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (subject to the approval of Rayonier prior to the separation, in its capacity as SpinCo’s sole stockholder) and the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan, which plans will initially be substantially similar to those in effect at Rayonier before the separation. Following the separation, the SpinCo Compensation Committee will administer and make determinations under the SpinCo compensation plans consistent with SpinCo’s business needs and goals. Additional information about the SpinCo 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan is set forth in the sections of this information statement captioned “SpinCo 2014 Equity Incentive Plan” and “SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan,” respectively.

How Executive Compensation Is Set

Historically

The Rayonier Compensation Committee evaluates and balances each of the primary components of Rayonier’s executive compensation program. The role of each such component is discussed separately below, together with factors considered in the setting of executive compensation.

Setting Base Salary . Rayonier provides cash base salaries to meet competitive market demands based on each executive’s position, skills and experience. Each year, the Rayonier Compensation Committee reviews the base salary of Mr. Boynton and the other named executive officers. In making adjustments (or, in the case of Mr. Boynton, recommendations to Rayonier’s non-management directors for adjustment) to base salary levels, the Rayonier Compensation Committee considers:

 

    budgeted levels for annual salary merit and equity adjustments;

 

    the executive’s level of responsibilities;

 

    the executive’s experience and breadth of knowledge;

 

    the executive’s individual performance as assessed through annual performance reviews;

 

    the executive’s role in management continuity and development plans;

 

    the perceived retention risk; and

 

    internal pay equity factors.

Setting Annual Bonus Opportunities . Rayonier also provides cash compensation in the form of annual bonus incentives, which are designed to reward executives based on Rayonier’s financial performance against key budgeted financial metrics, and the attainment of identified strategic objectives. This is accomplished each year by the Rayonier Compensation Committee adopting an Annual Corporate Bonus Program, which provides for a target bonus award for each Rayonier executive, including our named executive officers, based on salary grade, under the Rayonier Non-Equity Incentive Plan (the “Bonus Plan”).

Setting Long-Term Incentive Compensation . The Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan (the “Stock Plan”), allows the Rayonier Compensation Committee the flexibility to award long-term compensation incentives through a variety of equity-based awards. The Rayonier Compensation Committee has historically chosen to award primarily stock options and performance shares. The Rayonier Compensation Committee’s objective in granting such awards is to provide a strong incentive to Rayonier’s executives, including our named executive officers, to focus on the ongoing creation of shareholder value by offering above-median compensation opportunities for

 

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sustained increases in Rayonier’s market valuation and out-performance of Rayonier’s peers on a total shareholder return basis. These award opportunities allow Rayonier to offer a competitive overall compensation package, and also further opportunities for share ownership by Rayonier’s executives in order to increase their proprietary interest in Rayonier and, as a result, their interest in Rayonier’s long-term success and commitment to creating shareholder value. The three-year vesting and payment periods for Rayonier’s stock-based awards also provide a retention incentive for executives. Each year the Rayonier Compensation Committee approves a dollar award value for each participating executive, which is converted into a specific number of stock options and performance shares on the grant date as discussed under “Long-Term Incentive Compensation.”

Internal Pay Equity Factors . By “internal pay equity” Rayonier means that relative pay differences among the executives are consistent with different job levels and responsibilities. Mr. Boynton, for example, holds the roles and responsibilities of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. As a result, the Rayonier Compensation Committee believes that he had substantially more responsibility and impact on shareholder value than any other named executive officer over the last year. Therefore, the Rayonier Compensation Committee set his total 2013 compensation level appreciably higher in relation to that of other named executive officers, but at a level the Rayonier Compensation Committee believes was appropriate and reflective of market practice.

Tax Considerations-Section 162(m) . Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Tax Code”) precludes a public corporation from taking a deduction for compensation in excess of $1 million for Rayonier’s named executive officers (other than person serving as the chief financial officer) unless certain criteria are satisfied. The Rayonier Compensation Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to Rayonier in its review and establishment of compensation programs and payments. However, deductibility of compensation is only one factor that the Rayonier Compensation Committee takes into account in setting executive compensation terms and levels and, in an appropriate case, would not preclude an award that is not deductible.

Use of Peer Group and Other Compensation Data . Given the diversity of Rayonier’s businesses and its REIT structure, Rayonier competes with companies across multiple industries for top executive-level talent. As such, the Rayonier Compensation Committee studies market norms among both forest products industry peers and among comparably-sized general industry companies, and manages executive compensation within the ranges defined by these two groups. However, the Rayonier Compensation Committee does not benchmark any individual executive’s compensation level to the median of any range or to certain amounts or percentages of compensation, but consistent with Rayonier’s emphasis on providing “pay for performance,” generally expect Rayonier’s base salary and annual bonus opportunities to be lower in the ranges and Rayonier’s long-term incentive award opportunities to be higher in the ranges. Of course, variations from these general expectations may occur based on the expertise and experience level of a given executive as well as individual, company and market factors.

Consistent with past practice, in setting 2013 compensation levels for senior executives, including each of the named executive officers, the Rayonier Compensation Committee reviewed salary, annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation levels at both comparably-sized general industry companies and industry peers. Specifically, Exequity, using Equilar’s database, performed a custom survey covering the 20 companies immediately above and the 20 companies immediately below Rayonier in the Standard & Poor’s 400 based on market capitalization (referred to in this discussion as the “Equilar Survey”). Given the heavy asset management component of Rayonier’s businesses and the inherent variations in margins and revenues, Rayonier believes market capitalization is currently a better measure of overall management responsibility than revenues. The companies included in the Equilar Survey are:

Airgas, Inc., Autoliv, Inc., Ball Corp., Bell Aliant Inc., Canadian Tire Corp, Ltd, CBRE Group, Inc, Cliffs Natural Resources, Core Laboratories N.V., Coventry Health Care, Equifax, Inc., Expedia, Inc., Flowserve Corp., Hospira, Inc., Huntington Bancshares Inc., IAMGOLD Corp., Iron Mountain Inc., J.B. Hunt Transport Svcs, Inc., J.C. Penney Company, Inc., Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., Masco Corp., MGM Resorts Int’l, Micron Technology, Inc., New Gold, Newell Rubbermaid Inc., OGE Energy Corp., PulteGroup, Inc., ResMed Inc.,

 

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., Tesoro Corp., Tractor Supply Company, TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc., United Continental Holdings, Unum Group, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Whirlpool Corp., Whiting Petroleum Corp., Willis Group Holdings Public Ltd Co. and Windstream Corp.

Rayonier also had Exequity perform a proxy review of compensation levels for named executive officers at each of the peer group companies under the 2012 Performance Share Award Program (the “2012 Industry Peers”) 1 . 2013 aggregate named executive officer target cash compensation fell between the medians for the 2013 Industry Peers and the Equilar Survey, and aggregate targeted long-term incentives fell below the 75 th percentiles for the two groups.

For 2013, any payouts under Rayonier’s Performance Share Award Program will be calculated based on the relative performance of Rayonier against a custom peer group of 13 forest products, real estate and REIT companies (the “2013 Performance Share Peer Group”), chosen by the Rayonier Compensation Committee as those most likely to be considered “operational competitors” of one or more of Rayonier’s core businesses, along with 2 relevant market indices, (the S&P Midcap 400 Index and the NAREIT All Equity REIT Index). The 2013 Performance Share Peer Group consists of the following companies: Buckeye Technologies, Mead-Westvaco, St. Joe Company, Deltic Timber, Neenah Paper, Tembec, Domtar, Plum Creek, Weyerhaeuser, Forestar, Potlatch Corporation, International Paper and Sappi.

Going Forward

After the separation, the SpinCo Compensation Committee will adopt and develop practices and procedures with respect to compensation decisions relating to base salary, annual bonus opportunities and long-term incentives within the framework of the compensation plans adopted by SpinCo, which at least initially will be substantially similar to Rayonier’s compensation plans. In addition, the SpinCo Compensation Committee will need to evaluate the relevance of peer data and determine the appropriate peer group, if any, for SpinCo following the separation.

Components of Executive Compensation for 2013

Historically

Looking at the four identified historic Rayonier named executive officers as a group, 73% of their 2013 target total compensation was allocated to “at risk,” performance-based components consisting of annual bonus, performance shares and stock options, with the remaining 27% allocated to base salary. Target non-cash compensation awarded to the Rayonier named executive officers in 2013 ranged from 47% to 65% of their target total compensation. Rayonier believes this mix is both competitive within the marketplace and consistent with Rayonier’s executive compensation philosophy.

Base Salary . Base salary is the component of compensation that is fixed and intended to compensate Rayonier’s executives, based on their experience, expertise and job responsibilities, for work performed during the fiscal year. Rayonier’s Annual Executive Salary Administration Plan, which sets budget levels for annual salary merit and equity adjustments, is structured to be generally consistent with market trends based on published salary survey data.

On April 1, 2013, Mr. Boynton received an 18% increase, bringing his salary to $825,000. This increase was in recognition of his responsibilities as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier as he began his second year in this role and to align his base salary with competitive market pay for his position. The other three Rayonier named executive officer received salary increases averaging 4.6% for 2013. All salary adjustments were effective April 1, 2013.

 

1   Buckeye Technologies, Deltic Timber, Domtar, Forestar, International Paper, Mead-Westvaco, Neenah Paper, Plum Creek, Potlatch Corporation, Sappi, St. Joe Company, Tembec and Weyerhaeuser.

 

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Annual Bonus Awards . Payments under the Bonus Plan are based on Rayonier’s performance for the year with regard to: (1) key corporate financial metrics measured against budgeted levels, and (2) identified strategic objectives.

Setting 2013 Target Bonus Awards . The Rayonier Compensation Committee established a target bonus for each named executive officer as a percentage of base salary, with the applicable percentage set uniformly by salary grade. For 2013 the target bonus percentages of base salary for our named executive officers were as follows: Mr. Boynton, 100%; Messrs. Herman and Kriesel, 61%; and Mr. Hood, 43%.

Under the Bonus Plan, the awards for named executive officers are funded at the maximum allowable award level, equal to 200% of target awards, once threshold financial levels of performance are met. The funded award levels are then subject to adjustment by the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s exercise of negative discretion based on performance against the financial and strategic performance metrics set at the beginning of the year, and a subjective evaluation of the executive’s performance against individual performance objectives, also set at the beginning of the year. Individual objectives for 2013, which consist of personal performance goals outside of the executive’s normal job responsibilities, were approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee for Mr. Boynton and by Mr. Boynton for the other named executive officers. This funding mechanism for named executive officers is a result of the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s desire to have maximum flexibility in setting award levels for these executives within the limitations on discretionary adjustments of performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Code.

Setting 2013 Performance Factors . The Rayonier Compensation Committee established performance factors for the 2013 Annual Corporate Bonus Program (the “2013 Bonus Program”) prior to the beginning of the year. The performance factors were designed to focus management on the two financial metrics considered most critical to Rayonier in measuring annual performance: Net Income and Cash Available for Distribution, or “CAD.” The Rayonier Compensation Committee selected these financial metrics due to the importance of earnings and cash generation given Rayonier’s REIT structure and the importance investors continue to place on Rayonier’s ability to pay, and grow, Rayonier’s dividend.

CAD measures Rayonier’s ability to generate cash that can be distributed to shareholders as dividends or used for strategic acquisitions, debt reduction or share repurchases. Rayonier defines CAD as Cash Provided by Operating Activities 2 adjusted for capital spending, the tax benefits associated with certain strategic acquisitions, the change in committed cash, and other items which include cash provided by discontinued operations, proceeds from matured energy forward contracts, excess tax benefits on stock based compensation and the change in capital expenditures purchased on account.

In exercising its discretion in determining the bonus award for each named executive officer, the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s initial consideration is the level of the officer’s “formula award,” calculated based on actual performance against the financial metrics and strategic objectives, weighted 80% and 20% respectively. Accordingly, such formula award is determined based 80% on Rayonier’s performance for the year with regard to Net Income and CAD as measured against budgeted levels and weighted equally, and 20% based on Rayonier’s performance against identified strategic objectives. The payout percentages calculated based on performance against the financial metrics and the strategic objectives are added together to create a single measurement of performance that Rayonier calls its Corporate Performance Factor, or “CPF.”

Measuring 2013 Results-Accounting Adjustments . Before the Rayonier Compensation Committee approved the CPF and resulting bonus pool for 2013 bonus awards for named executive officers, Rayonier’s chief financial officer presented an analysis of all material unusual, nonrecurring and non-budgeted items impacting the bonus calculation for review by the Rayonier Compensation Committee to determine whether, based on factors such as frequency, foreseeability, manageability and past treatment, any particular item should be included or excluded

 

2   GAAP measure included in Rayonier’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow in Rayonier’s 2013 Financial Statements.

 

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from the calculation. For 2013, the adjustments resulted in a decrease in Net Income of $22.3 million and an increase in CAD of $28.5 million, with a corresponding increase of financial performance versus budget from 106.8% to 110.2%.

Payout at target award levels for 2013 required achievement of Net Income of $276.8 million and CAD of $322.6 million, the annual budgeted amounts approved by the Rayonier board of directors in December 2012, and the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s determination that performance against the 2013 strategic objectives (as identified by the Rayonier Compensation Committee in December 2012) were sufficient to warrant payout at target. The payout scale for the financial metrics provides for a payout of 20% of target awards (16% weighted) at a threshold level of performance of 85% of budget, and a maximum payout of 200% (160% weighted) at 120% of budget. Performance against the 2013 financial metrics, taking into account the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s adjustments, was above target (112.7% of budgeted Net Income and 112.3% of budgeted CAD).

After assessing performance for 2013 against the identified strategic objectives, the Rayonier Compensation Committee approved a payout level of 24.4%, reflecting performance slightly exceeding expectations. The Rayonier Compensation Committee intends that the identified strategic objectives be ambitious but achievable, with specific objective measures of success, consistent with the financial metrics component of the CPF calculation. Taking into account both financial (weighted 80%) and strategic performance (weighted 20%), CPF for 2013 was 145%.

At the December 2013 meeting, the Rayonier Compensation Committee reviewed the projected available bonus pool and resulting “formula award” levels. The Rayonier Compensation Committee also reviewed the overall “quality” of 2013 financial results, with management reporting on the primary drivers of variances, both positive and negative, to key budget metrics. Following such analysis, the Rayonier Compensation Committee approved the projected CPF and resulting bonus pool under the 2013 Bonus Program.

Final 2013 Bonus Awards . The final annual bonuses earned by our named executive officers for 2013 were approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee and, for Mr. Boynton, the non-management directors in February 2014, taking into account the level of each executive’s formula award and attainment of his individual performance objectives. The final awards appear in the Summary Compensation Table, under the heading “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.” Aggregate 2013 bonus awards for our named executive officers as a group were within 2% of the corresponding aggregate formula awards, and individual named executive officer awards for 2013 reflected adjustments to formula awards ranging from 0% to plus 17%.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation . Long-term incentive awards for 2013 were approved at the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s December 2012 meeting for our named executive officers except Mr. Boynton, whose award was approved by the non-management directors at the Rayonier board of directors December 2012 meeting. The awards are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table and the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table.

For senior executives, 2013 stock option and performance share award levels were based on three factors:

 

  (1) the aggregate dollar value of the total long-term incentive award opportunity for the executive approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee, or, for Mr. Boynton, the non-management directors;

 

  (2) the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s allocation of that total value between stock options and performance share awards; and

 

  (3) the value of a stock option and performance share award calculated at the grant date of January 2, 2013.

For award purposes, the value of a stock option was based on the Black-Scholes valuation model, which is the same method that is used in Rayonier’s financial statements. The value of a performance share was

 

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determined based on the closing price of Rayonier stock on the grant date. Consistent with applicable accounting rules, Rayonier uses a different performance share valuation model for financial statement purposes, which is derived from a simulation model run after the awards are made.

For 2013, the Rayonier Compensation Committee approved an increase in long-term incentive award values for Mr. Boynton to align his long-term incentive award with competitive market pay for his position at Rayonier. When compared to the 2012 long-term incentive award values, Mr. Boynton’s award increased by $500,000. Long-term incentive award values for Messrs. Kriesel and Herman were held at 2012 levels and the award value for Mr. Hood increased by $80,000.

For 2013, the Rayonier Compensation Committee maintained the allocation of long-term incentive grant date value at 80% to performance share awards and 20% to stock options, consistent with the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s belief that Rayonier’s relative total shareholder return versus its operational peers and key market indices, over a meaningful period of time, is the single best measure of overall management performance.

The long-term incentive award values approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee for each participant, including each of the named executive officers, were converted into a specified number of stock options and performance shares on January 2, 2013 using the Black-Scholes value and closing Rayonier share price as discussed above.

Stock Options . Stock option awards to our named executive officers in 2013 are shown on the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table. Rayonier’s stock option award program helps us:

 

    motivate and reward superior performance on the part of executives and key employees;

 

    directly link the creation of shareholder value and long-term executive incentive compensation;

 

    encourage increased stock ownership in Rayonier by executives; and

 

    maintain competitive levels of total compensation.

Each December, the Rayonier Compensation Committee approves the grant date dollar value of the annual stock option award for the upcoming year for selected executives and key employees (other than Mr. Boynton, whose award value is approved by the non-management directors), as well as the award date, on which the exercise price for the award is set. For annual grants the award date has historically been the first trading day in January. Accordingly, Rayonier does not backdate stock options, grant options retroactively or coordinate grants so that they are made before the announcement of favorable information, or after the announcement of unfavorable information. For 2013, options to purchase 68,990 shares of Rayonier stock were awarded to our named executive officers as a group.

Performance Shares . Grants of performance share awards for our named executive officers in 2013 are shown on the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table. Rayonier’s Performance Share Award Program helps Rayonier to:

 

    focus executives on the long-term creation of shareholder value;

 

    provide a retention incentive for our named executives officers;

 

    provide an opportunity for our named executive officers to increase their stock ownership in Rayonier; and

 

    maintain competitive levels of total compensation.

As discussed above, 80% of the aggregate grant date dollar value of the annual long-term incentive award for each executive, as approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee (or, for Mr. Boynton, by

 

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non-management directors), is allocated to a performance share award. This target award level, expressed as a number of shares of Rayonier stock, is determined at the beginning of a 36-month performance period. Awards are approved by the Rayonier Compensation Committee (or, for Mr. Boynton, the non-management directors) in December and the performance period begins on the following January 1. Awards granted for the performance period beginning January 1, 2013 (and ending December 31, 2015) are referred to as the “2013 Class” of performance share awards. 2013 Class target awards totaling 73,420 shares were awarded to our named executive officers as a group.

The payout, if any, will be based on the level of economic return Rayonier produces for its shareholders (referred to as “Total Shareholder Return”, or “TSR”) as compared to that produced by the 2013 Performance Share Peer Group companies listed in the “Use of Peer Group and Other Compensation Data” section of this discussion and analysis, and the two selected market indices (the S&P Midcap 400 Index and the NAREIT All Equity REIT Index) during the same period. TSR is calculated for the performance period based upon the return on a hypothetical investment in Rayonier shares versus the return on an equal hypothetical investment in each of the peer companies and indices, in all cases assuming reinvestment of dividends. The 2013 Class awards will be paid out, if at all, in January 2016 after the end of the performance period on December 31, 2015, based on Rayonier’s percentile TSR performance against the 2013 Performance Share Peer Group, as follows:

 

    Percentile Rank    

  

Payout Level (Expressed As Percent of Target Award)

80 th and Above

   200%

61 st - 79 th

   100%, plus 5% for each incremental percentile position over the 60 th Percentile

60 th

   100%

31 st - 59 th

   30%, plus 2.33% for each incremental percentile position over the 30 th Percentile

30 th

   30%

Below 30 th

   0%

The Rayonier Compensation Committee annually considers the terms of Rayonier’s Performance Share Program and seeks to ensure that awards provide appropriate and competitive incentives and that the peer group is representative of Rayonier’s businesses.

Going Forward

After the separation, the SpinCo Compensation Committee will adopt and develop practices and procedures with respect to compensation decisions relating to base salary, annual bonus opportunities and long-term incentives within the framework of the compensation plans adopted by SpinCo, which initially will be substantially similar to Rayonier’s compensation plans. Additional information about the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan and SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan is set forth in the sections of this information statement captioned “SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan” and “SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan,” respectively. The SpinCo Compensation Committee will develop a process for establishing financial and non-financial performance goals that will be structured around the business goals of SpinCo and will provide appropriate incentives to the SpinCo executive officers following the separation. SpinCo expects that the target levels for the annual incentive and long-term incentive compensation opportunities of SpinCo’s named executive officers following the separation will be set based on each named executive officer’s post-separation level of responsibility and competitive market rates.

In addition, in connection with the separation, outstanding Rayonier equity awards held by SpinCo employees generally, including our named executive officers, will be treated as follows:

 

    Rayonier stock options will be converted into both adjusted Rayonier stock options and SpinCo stock options, with adjustments made to preserve the aggregate intrinsic value of the Rayonier stock options as measured immediately before and immediately after the separation, subject to rounding.

 

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    Rayonier restricted stock awards will be retained and will also receive the distribution of SpinCo shares that applies to Rayonier shareholders generally.

 

    Rayonier performance share awards granted in 2012 (with a 2012-2014 performance period) will be split into both Rayonier performance share awards and SpinCo performance share awards and will continue to be subject to the same performance criteria as applied immediately prior to the separation, except that total shareholder return at the end of the performance period will be based on the combined stock prices of Rayonier and SpinCo and any payment earned will be made to the applicable award holder in shares of Rayonier common stock and shares of SpinCo common stock.

 

    Rayonier performance share awards granted in 2013 (with a 2013-2015 performance period) will be cancelled as of the distribution date and, following the effective time of the distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo, as applicable, will replace the cancelled awards held by their respective employees with SpinCo time-vested equity awards that will vest 24 months after the distribution date, generally subject to the SpinCo employee’s continued employment. The value of each time-vested equity award will be equivalent to the grant date value of the performance share award that it replaces, subject to rounding.

 

    Rayonier performance share awards granted in 2014 (with a 2014-2016 performance period) will be cancelled as of the distribution date and, following the effective time of the distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo, as applicable, will replace the cancelled awards held by their respective employees with SpinCo performance share awards, which will be subject to the achievement of performance criteria that relate to the performance fibers business during a performance period ending December 31, 2016. The value of each replacement performance share award will be equivalent to the grant date value of the performance share award that it replaces, subject to rounding.

Retirement Plans and Programs

Historically

Rayonier maintains the following plans and programs to provide retirement benefits to salaried employees, including the named executive officers:

 

    the Rayonier Investment and Savings Plan for Salaried Employees;

 

    the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of Rayonier;

 

    the Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan;

 

    the Rayonier Salaried Retiree Medical Plan; and

 

    the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan.

The Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of Rayonier and the Rayonier Salaried Retiree Medical Plan were closed to new employees on January 1, 2006. All of our named executive officers participate in the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees.

The benefits available under these plans are intended to provide income replacement after retirement, either through a defined pension benefit, withdrawals from a 401(k) plan or deferred compensation, as well as access to quality healthcare. Rayonier places great value on the long-term commitment that many of Rayonier’s employees and named executive officers have made to Rayonier and wish to incentivize them to remain with Rayonier with a focus on building sustainable value over the long-term. Therefore, Rayonier has determined that it is appropriate to provide employees with competitive retirement benefits as part of their overall compensation package.

Rayonier’s retirement plans are designed to encourage employees to take an active role in planning, saving and investing for retirement. For a detailed description of Rayonier’s retirement plans, see the discussion

 

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following the “Pension Benefits” table. The Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan is designed to provide eligible executives with a convenient and efficient opportunity to save for retirement or other future events, such as college expenses, while deferring applicable income taxes until withdrawal. For a detailed description of the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan, see the discussion following the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation” table.

The Rayonier Salaried Retiree Medical Program provides salaried employees eligible for retirement with access to an employer-sponsored healthcare plan funded entirely by the plan participants. This benefit is extended on an equivalent basis to all eligible retirees.

The Rayonier Compensation Committee reviews these retirement benefit programs periodically to evaluate their continued competitiveness. However, these programs are generally not considered in setting the level of key elements of compensation for the named executive officers.

Going Forward

After the separation, the retirement benefit programs in effect for the named executive officers of at SpinCo will initially have substantially the same terms as the retirement benefit programs in effect for the executive officers at Rayonier prior to the separation. As described in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transaction—Employee Matters Agreement” of this registration statement, SpinCo has agreed to maintain (1) welfare benefit arrangements that are substantially similar in the aggregate to those provided by Rayonier to the employees who will become SpinCo employees immediately prior to the separation, through at least December 31, 2014 and (2) retirement benefit arrangements that provide benefits that are no less favorable than those provided by Rayonier to the employees who will become SpinCo employees immediately prior to the separation through at least December 31, 2015.

Severance and Change in Control Plans

Historically

Severance Pay Plan . The Severance Pay Plan for Salaried Employees provides severance benefits to all salaried employees of Rayonier, including the named executive officers, in the event their employment is terminated (other than “for cause” and other non-qualifying terminations defined in the plan). Upon execution of a satisfactory separation agreement, the severance benefit available to a named executive officer may range from 17 weeks to 26 weeks of base salary, plus an additional week of base salary for each year of service over one year.

Executive Severance Pay Plan . The Rayonier Compensation Committee recognizes that, as with all publicly-traded corporations, there exists the possibility of a change in control of Rayonier and that the uncertainty created by that possibility could result in the loss or distraction of senior executives, to the detriment of Rayonier and Rayonier’s shareholders. The Executive Severance Pay Plan, referred to in this discussion as the “Executive Plan,” reflects the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s view that it is critical for executive retention to be encouraged and that the continued attention and dedication to duty of Rayonier’s senior executives be fostered, notwithstanding the possibility, threat, rumor or occurrence of a change in control of Rayonier. In addition, the Executive Plan is intended to align executive and shareholder interests by enabling executives to consider corporate transactions that may be in the best interests of Rayonier’s shareholders and other constituents without undue concern over whether the transaction would jeopardize the executives’ own employment or significantly disrupt or change the culture or environment of their employment.

The Executive Plan achieves these objectives by providing benefits to eligible executives designated by the Rayonier Compensation Committee, which currently includes our named executive officers, in the event of a

 

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change in control of Rayonier. The benefits include the vesting of outstanding stock option, performance share and restricted stock awards, without regard to whether or not the executive continues to be employed by Rayonier. In addition, if the executive is involuntarily terminated (other than “for cause”) within 24 months of the change in control, he or she will be entitled to enhanced severance benefits, which depend on the executive’s status as a Tier I or Tier II executive of Rayonier. The Executive Plan also provides that in the event of the imposition of an excise tax on the benefits paid, such benefits are to be “grossed-up” through the payment of an additional amount so that the executive would receive the same amount after tax as he or she would have received had there been no excise tax imposed.

The Rayonier Compensation Committee reviews the Executive Plan annually and retains the discretion to terminate the Executive Plan, or to include or exclude any executive, including any named executive officer, at any time prior to a change in control. At the present time, Messrs. Boynton, Kriesel and Herman are included as Tier I executives in the Rayonier Executive Plan, and Mr. Hood is included as a Tier II executive.

The potential payments under the Executive Plan are calculated in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change In Control” table. Such potential payments do not affect the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s decisions regarding executive compensation, including base salary, annual bonus and long-term incentive award levels.

Going Forward

After the separation, the severance benefit programs in effect for the named executive officers of SpinCo will initially have substantially the same terms as the severance benefit programs in effect for the executive officers at Rayonier prior to the separation. As described below in the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Employee Matters Agreement,” SpinCo has agreed to maintain executive severance arrangements that provide benefits that are no less favorable than those provided by Rayonier to the eligible employees who will become SpinCo employees as in effect immediately prior to the separation through at least December 31, 2015.

Perquisites and Personal Benefits

Historically

Rayonier provides our named executive officers with limited perquisites that the Rayonier Compensation Committee reviews annually. Under Rayonier’s perquisites program, in addition to personal benefits that are available broadly to Rayonier’s employees, our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the following two programs:

 

    Executive Physical Program – Each executive-level employee of Rayonier is required to have a physical examination every other year until age 50, and every year after 50.

 

    Senior Executive Tax and Financial Planning Program – This program provides reimbursement to nine senior executives of Rayonier (including our named executive officers) for expenses incurred for financial and estate planning and for preparation of annual income tax returns. Reimbursements are taxable to the recipient, and are not grossed-up for tax purposes. The annual reimbursement limit for 2013 was $25,000 for Mr. Boynton and $10,000 for all other participants.

The total cost of these programs to Rayonier with regard to our named executive officers for 2013 was $62,576. Rayonier does not pay car allowances (or provide company cars), personal club membership dues, home security expenses or allow personal use of chartered aircraft.

Going Forward

After the separation, the perquisite and personal benefit programs in place at SpinCo will initially be substantially similar to those in place at Rayonier prior to the separation.

 

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Share Ownership and Retention Requirements; Prohibition on Hedging or Pledging Share Ownership

Historically

Rayonier believes that share ownership requirements help to further focus the senior management team on the long-term success of Rayonier’s businesses and the interests of Rayonier’s shareholders. All Rayonier executives at the Vice President level and higher are required to acquire and hold, within five years after taking such position, Rayonier shares with a value equal to a designated multiple of their base salary. There are four tiers within Rayonier’s senior management covered by ownership requirements. For the Chief Executive Officer, the requirement is six times base salary; for Executive Vice Presidents, three; for Senior Vice Presidents, two; and for Vice Presidents, one. Rayonier also requires that each director, within four years of joining Rayonier’s board of directors, maintain a minimum ownership interest in Rayonier at a level equal to four times the director’s annual equity retainer. Prior to satisfying his or her ownership requirement, a director or executive is prohibited from selling any Rayonier shares other than shares withheld or sold to satisfy taxes in connection with a performance share payout or stock option exercise.

As of March 1, 2014, all Rayonier directors and officers were in compliance with Rayonier’s share ownership and retention requirements.

In addition, Rayonier’s executive officers and directors are not permitted to hedge their economic exposure to Rayonier’s common shares, to hold their ownership interests in Rayonier’s common shares in a margin account or to otherwise pledge their common shares as collateral for a loan.

Going Forward

After the separation, the SpinCo board of directors will adopt share ownership and retention requirements and similar policies to be applicable to the SpinCo executive officers with respect to their SpinCo common stock that will be driven by the considerations described above with respect to Rayonier’s policies.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Historical Compensation of Executive Officers Prior to the Separation

The four currently identified SpinCo named executive officers listed above were employed by Rayonier prior to the separation; therefore, the information provided for the fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 below reflects compensation earned at Rayonier and the design and objectives of the Rayonier executive compensation programs in place prior to the separation. Each of these four named executive officers is currently, and was as of December 31, 2013, an executive officer of Rayonier. Accordingly, the compensation decisions regarding our named executive officers were made by the Rayonier Compensation Committee or by the Rayonier Chief Executive Officer. Executive compensation decisions following the separation will be made by the SpinCo Compensation Committee. All references in the following tables to stock options and performance shares relate to awards granted by Rayonier in respect of shares of Rayonier common stock.

The amounts and forms of compensation reported below are not necessarily indicative of the compensation that SpinCo executive officers will receive following the separation, which could be higher or lower, because historical compensation was determined by Rayonier’s Compensation Committee based on Rayonier’s performance and because future compensation levels at SpinCo will be determined based on the compensation policies, programs and procedures to be established by the SpinCo Compensation Committee for those individuals who will be employed by SpinCo following the separation.

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal
Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards

($)(1)(2)
    Option
Awards

($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)(3)
    Change in
Pension Value
and Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)(4)
    All Other
Compensation

($)(5)
    Total
($)
 

  Paul G. Boynton

    2013        793,750               2,689,839        600,040        1,200,000        321,028        59,900        5,664,557   

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

    2012        700,000               2,537,132        500,189        1,075,000        828,088        62,963        5,703,372   
    2011        518,750               1,281,082        230,206        840,000        621,225        39,937        3,531,200   
                 

  Jack M. Kriesel

    2013        353,075               717,290        160,020        319,000        310,120        31,087        1,894,126   

Senior Vice President,

Performance Fibers

    2012        328,725               812,085        159,857        310,000        1,092,079        26,794        2,729,540   
    2011        314,750               891,197        160,111        375,000        1,017,295        167,107        2,925,450   
                 

  Michael R. Herman

    2013        368,600               627,629        140,000        328,693        34,657        25,161        1,524,740   

Senior Vice President

and General Counsel

    2012        358,550               710,645        139,830        340,000        289,351        30,705        1,869,081   
    2011        346,250               779,750        140,191        390,000        269,579        26,060        1,951,830   
                 

  Charley H. Hood

    2013        258,400               296,118        65,800        190,000               37,087        847,405   

Senior Vice President, Public

Affairs and Communications

    2012        251,450               253,600        50,126        165,000               35,461        755,637   
    2011        242,499               278,482        50,025        195,000               28,358        794,364   
                 

 

(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value for performance share and stock option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Values for awards subject to performance conditions are computed based on probable outcome of the performance condition as of the grant date for the award. A discussion of the assumptions used in calculating these values may be found in the “Incentive Stock Plans” sections included in the notes to Rayonier’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

 

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(2) The following amounts reflect the grant date award value assuming that the highest level of performance is achieved under the relevant Performance Share Award Program: For 2013, Mr. Boynton, $4,799,856; Mr. Kriesel $1,279,962; Mr. Herman, $1,119,966; and Mr. Hood, $528,405. For 2012, Mr. Boynton, $3,999,577; Mr. Kriesel $1,280,184; Mr. Herman, $1,120,272; and Mr. Hood, $399,780. For 2011, Mr. Boynton, $1,839,485; Mr. Kriesel, $1,279,642; Mr. Herman, $1,119,686; and Mr. Hood, $399,924.

 

(3) Represents awards under the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Annual Corporate Bonus Programs discussed in the “Setting Annual Bonus Opportunities” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

 

(4) Represents the annual change in actuarial present value of the participant’s pension benefit under Rayonier’s retirement plans and the above market interest on non-qualified deferred compensation. Excess Base Salary and Annual Bonus Deferral account balances earn a rate of return equal to 10-Year Treasury Notes (adjusted monthly) plus 1.5 percent. Under SEC regulations, any returns on non-qualified deferred compensation in excess of 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate are considered above market interest and must be reported. Accordingly, above market interest paid for Mr. Kriesel in 2013 was $3,534.

 

(5) For each year presented, these amounts include company contributions to the Rayonier Investment and Savings Plan for Salaried Employees, a 401(k) Plan; company contributions to the Rayonier Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan; premiums for group life insurance; reimbursement of expenses incurred under the Senior Executive Tax and Financial Planning Program; restricted stock dividends and accrued interest; wellness reimbursements; and the costs of mandatory executive physical examinations. For 2013, Mr. Boynton received $10,312 in 401(k) company matching contributions and Messrs. Kriesel and Herman received $10,455. For 2013, Mr. Hood received $16,432 in 401(k) matching contributions and retirement contributions. Mr. Boynton received $22,531 in tax and financial planning reimbursements for 2013. All amounts reflect actual expenses incurred and paid by Rayonier in providing these benefits.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

This table discloses 2013 stock option and performance share awards along with potential payouts under the 2013 Annual Corporate Bonus Program for the named executive officers.

 

                Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity
Incentive

Plan Awards(2)
    Estimated Future
Payouts Under
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(3)
                       

Name

  Grant
Date
    Approval
Date (1)
    Thres-
hold

($)
    Target
($)
    Maxi-mum
($)
    Thres-
hold

(#)
    Target
(#)
    Maxi-
mum
(#)
    All
Other
Stock
Awards:
Number
of
Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)
  All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options

(#)(4)
    Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
    Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
and Option
Awards
($)(5)
 

Paul G. Boynton

           12/13/12        165,000        825,000        1,650,000                 
    1/2/13        12/13/12              13,680        45,600        91,200              2,689,839   
    1/2/13        12/13/12                      42,860        52.63        600,040   

Jack M. Kriesel

           12/13/12        43,290        219,600        439,200                 
    1/2/13        12/13/12              3,648        12,160        24,320              717,290   
    1/2/13        12/13/12                      11,430        52.63        160,020   

Michael R. Herman

           12/13/12        45,262        226,310        452,620                 
    1/2/13        12/13/12              3,192        10,640        21,280              627,629   
    1/2/13        12/13/12                      10,000        52.63        140,000   

Charles H. Hood

           12/13/12        22,360        111,800        223,600                 
    1/2/13        12/13/12              1,506        5,020        10,040              296,118   
    1/2/13        12/13/12                      4,700        52.63        65,800   

 

(1) 2013 annual equity grants were approved in December 2012 and effective the first trading day of January 2013. For the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards, the approval date reflects the date on which the Rayonier Compensation Committee approved the 2013 Annual Corporate Bonus Program.

 

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(2) Reflects potential awards under the 2013 Annual Corporate Bonus Program. Awards can range from 0% to 200% of the target award. See the “Annual Bonus Awards” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The actual amount earned by each named executive officer for 2013 is reflected in the Summary Compensation Table under the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column.

 

(3) Reflects potential awards, in number of shares, under the 2013 Class Performance Share Award Program. Awards can range from 0% to 200% of the target award. Please refer to the “Performance Shares” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

 

(4) Reflects annual stock option awards for 2013. The exercise price of all awarded stock options is equal to the closing price of Rayonier shares on the NYSE on the grant date. The awards vest and become exercisable in one-third increments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, and expire on the tenth anniversary of the grant date or earlier upon certain terminations of employment.

 

(5) Reflects the grant date fair value of each equity award computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.

As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table reflect that, consistent with the Rayonier Compensation Committee’s stated philosophy, the majority of total targeted compensation for named executive officers for 2013 was allocated to performance-based incentives. Performance- based incentive awards are discussed in further detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis beginning in the “Compensation Philosophy and Objectives” section.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

This table discloses outstanding stock option, performance share and restricted stock awards for the named executive officers as of December 31, 2013.

 

Option Awards (4)

    Stock Awards (4)  
                                          Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
 

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexer-
cisable(1)
    Option
Exercise
Price

($)
    Option
Grant
Date
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

(#)
  Market
Value
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)
  Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested

(#)(2)
    Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested

($)(3)
 

Paul G. Boynton

    0        42,860        52.63        01/02/13        01/02/23           
    14,070        28,140        44.42        01/03/12        01/03/22           
    15,370        7,685        37.03        01/03/11        01/03/21           
    27,450        0        28.22        01/04/10        01/03/20           
    45,255        0        20.18        01/02/09        01/01/19           
    30,030        0        31.06        01/02/08        01/02/18           
                  13,680        575,928   
                  13,506        568,603   
                  24,840        1,045,764   

 

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Option Awards (4)

    Stock Awards (4)  
                                          Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
 

Name

  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexer-
cisable(1)
    Option
Exercise
Price

($)
    Option
Grant
Date
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested

(#)
  Market
Value
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($)
  Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other Rights
That Have
Not Vested

(#)(2)
    Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested

($)(3)
 

Jack M. Kriesel

    0        11,430        52.63        01/02/13        01/02/23           
    4,497        8,993        44.42        01/03/12        01/03/22           
    10,690        5,345        37.03        01/03/11        01/03/21           
    18,330        0        28.22        01/04/10        01/03/20           
    5,715        0        20.18        01/02/09        01/01/19           
                  3,648        153,581   
                  4,323        181,998   
                  17,280        727,488   

Michael R. Herman

    0        10,000        52.63        01/02/13        01/02/23           
    3,934        7,866        44.42        01/03/12        01/03/22           
    9,360        4,680        37.03        01/03/11        01/03/21           
    18,330        0        28.22        01/04/10        01/03/20           
    33,945        0        20.18        01/02/09        01/01/19           
    22,515        0        31.06        01/02/08        01/02/18           
                  3,192        134,383   
                  3,783        159,264   
                  15,120        636,552   

Charles H. Hood

    0        4,700        52.63        01/02/13        01/02/23           
    1,410        2,820        44.42        01/03/12        01/03/22           
    3,340        1,670        37.03        01/03/11        01/03/21           
    5,190        0        28.22        01/04/10        01/03/20           
    9,615        0        20.18        01/02/09        01/01/19           
    6,390        0        31.06        01/02/08        01/02/18           
                  1,506        63,403   
                  1,350        56,835   
                  5,400        227,340   

 

(1) Option awards vest and become exercisable in one-third increments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date.

 

(2) Represents awards under the Performance Share Award Program for 2011, 2012 and 2013, each with a 36-month performance period. Awards for the relevant performance share program period are immediately vested upon determination of the amount earned. As required, this disclosure reflects the target award for the 2011 program and a threshold award level for the 2012 and 2013 programs. Under the Performance Share Award Program, the actual award value can range from zero to 200% of target. See the “Performance Shares” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

 

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(3) Value based on the December 31, 2013 closing share price of $42.10. The 2011 Class Performance Share Award Program that ended on December 31, 2013, paid out in January 2014 at only 60% of target.

 

(4) Shares amounts and option exercise prices shown have been adjusted to reflect the August 2011 3-for-2 stock split.

Options Exercised and Stock Vested

 

     Option Awards      Stock Awards  

Name

   Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise

(#)
     Value Realized on
Exercise ($)
     Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting

(#)(1)
     Value Realized on
Vesting ($)
 

Paul G. Boynton

     25,800         718,401         53,015         2,841,074   

Jack M. Kriesel

     3,555         83,329         35,343         1,894,031   

Michael R. Herman

                     35,343         1,894,031   

Charles H. Hood

                     10,020         536,972   

 

(1) Represents payouts under the 2010 Class Performance Share Award Program.

Pension Benefits

The following table illustrates the present value of accumulated benefits payable under the Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of Rayonier Inc., a tax qualified retirement plan (the “Retirement Plan”), and the Rayonier Inc. Excess Benefit Plan, a non-qualified retirement plan (the “Excess Plan”), at the earliest eligible retirement age.

 

Name

  

Plan Name

   Number of
Years Credited
Service

(#)
     Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit

($)(1)
     Payments
During Last
Fiscal Year

($)
 

Paul G. Boynton

   Rayonier Salaried Employees Retirement Plan      14.7         493,521           
   Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan      14.7         2,110,378           

Jack M. Kriesel

   Rayonier Salaried Employees Retirement Plan      35.5         1,177,098           
   Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan      35.5         3,186,644           

Michael R. Herman

   Rayonier Salaried Employees Retirement Plan      10.3         345,591           
   Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan      10.3         656,464           

Charles H. Hood

   Rayonier Salaried Employees Retirement Plan                        
   Rayonier Excess Benefit Plan                        
(1) Determined using the assumptions that applied for FASB ASC Topic 715-30 disclosure as of December 31, 2013. These assumptions include the RP-2000 mortality table and an interest rate of 4.60%. Employees are assumed to retire at the earliest age that they will be eligible for an unreduced pension (i.e., age 60 and 15 years of service or age 65). None of our named executive officers are currently eligible for an unreduced pension. Mortality is assumed from that date only. Benefits are assumed to be paid in the normal form of payment which is a life annuity for single employees and the 90/50 survivor form for married employees.

The Retirement Plan is a tax-qualified retirement plan covering substantially all eligible salaried employees hired prior to January 1, 2006. This Plan provides income replacement following retirement through the payment

 

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of monthly pension benefits based upon the employee’s average final compensation and years of service. The costs of benefits under the Retirement Plan are borne entirely by Rayonier. Consistent with Rayonier’s desire that salaried employees take a more active role in saving for retirement, this benefit was replaced by an increased retirement contribution under the Rayonier Investment Savings Plan for Salaried Employees for new salaried employees effective January 1, 2006.

For the period through December 31, 2003, the annual pension amounts to two percent of a member’s average final compensation for each of the first 25 years of benefit service, plus one and one-half percent of a member’s average final compensation for each of the next 15 years of benefit service, reduced by one and one-quarter percent of the member’s primary Social Security benefit for each year of benefit service to a maximum of 40 years, provided that no more than one-half of the member’s primary Social Security benefit is used for such reduction. Effective January 1, 2004, the Retirement Plan was amended so that for future service the annual pension amounts to one and one-half percent of a member’s final average compensation for each year of benefit service to a maximum of 40 years.

A member is vested in benefits accrued under the Retirement Plan upon completion of five years of eligibility service. All of Rayonier’s eligible named executive officers are vested in their accrued benefits. Normal retirement is at age 65. The Retirement Plan also provides for unreduced early retirement pensions for participants who retire at or after age 60 following completion of 15 years of eligibility service. Reduced benefits are available at age 55 with at least 10 years of service (“Standard Early Retirement”) or as early as age 50 with age plus eligibility service equal to at least 80 or age 55 with at least 15 years of eligibility service (“Special Early Retirement”). Mr. Kriesel is currently eligible for reduced benefits. The plan benefit for a member eligible for Standard Early Retirement will be reduced by 3% for each year of age under 65 (e.g., age 64 would result in 97% of the benefit payable). The Retirement Plan benefit for a member eligible for Special Early Retirement will receive a 5% reduction for each year of age under 60 (e.g., age 59 would result in 95% of the benefit payable).

A member’s average final compensation includes salary and approved bonus payments calculated under the Retirement Plan as follows: (1) the member’s average annual base salary for the five calendar years during the member’s last 120 calendar months of service which yield the highest such average, plus (2) the member’s average approved bonus payments for the five calendar years during the member’s last 120 calendar months of service which yield the highest such average.

Rayonier has adopted the Excess Plan to meet the retirement needs of a small segment of its salaried employee population affected by limiting federal legislation. Applicable federal legislation limits the amount of benefits that can be paid and the compensation that may be recognized under a tax-qualified retirement plan. Tax-qualified retirement plan participants whose annual benefit at the time of payment exceeds the Code Section 415 limitations or whose benefit is limited on account of the Code Section 401(a)(17) limitation on compensation are participants in the Excess Plan. The practical effect of the Excess Plan is to continue calculation of benefits after retirement to all employees on a uniform basis regardless of compensation levels. All employees covered by the Retirement Plan are eligible under the Excess Plan. Rayonier believes the extension of these benefits to executives is consistent with historic and current market practice for companies offering qualified defined benefit plans.

 

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Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY

($)(1)
     Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY

($)(1)
     Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY

($)
     Aggregate
Withdrawals /
Distributions
in Last FY

($)
     Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE

($)(2)
 

Paul G. Boynton

     32,563         22,231         7,504         202,486         259,973   

Jack M. Kriesel

     5,627         3,866         26,534                 710,825   

Michael R. Herman

     2,338         1,971         2,888                 91,598   

Charles H. Hood

     1,540         6,818         492                 17,162   

 

(1) All executive and Company contributions in the last fiscal year are reflected as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(2) To the extent that a participant was a named executive officer in prior years, executive and Company contributions included in the Aggregate Balance at Last FYE column have been reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year.

The Rayonier Inc. Excess Savings and Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Excess Savings Plan”) is a nonqualified, unfunded plan that consists of two components, an Excess Savings component (a supplement to the Rayonier Investment Savings Plan for Salaried Employees (the “Savings Plan”) and an Excess Base Salary and Bonus Deferral component.

The Savings Plan, a qualified 401(k) plan, is designed to encourage salaried employees to save and invest for retirement. Under this Plan, employees may contribute up to the annual IRS limits on a pre-tax basis. Rayonier will match such contributions at a rate of $.60 for each $1.00 up to 6% of the employee’s base salary. In addition, Rayonier will make an annual retirement contribution to each participant’s account equal to 3% of base salary and annual bonus for employees hired after January 1, 2006, or 0.5% of base salary for employees hired before 2006. The retirement contribution was increased, and automatic enrollment of all new salaried employees in the Savings Plan implemented, coincident with the closing of Rayonier’s defined benefit pension plan to new salaried employees effective January 1, 2006. This change reflects Rayonier’s desire that salaried employees take a more active role in planning, saving and investing for retirement.

Rayonier contributions to the Savings Plan, both matching and retirement contributions, vest at a rate of 20% per year over the participant’s first five years of employment, and are made in the form of Rayonier stock in order to encourage employee share ownership. However, employees are free to transfer Company contributions to other investment options available under the Savings Plan immediately.

The Excess Savings Plan supplements the Savings Plan by providing employees with Rayonier contributions lost due to the federal tax regulations limiting employee contributions to defined contribution plans (401(k)). Participants can contribute up to 6% of total base salary. Rayonier contributes up to 3.6% of total base salary (reduced by the regular matching contributions made under the Savings Plan). Amounts contributed by participants, and the Rayonier match, are unsecured, but earn a return equal to 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate (adjusted monthly). The average interest rate in 2013 was 3.3%. Excess Savings participants may elect to receive a lump sum or annual installments upon termination of employment.

The Excess Base Salary and Bonus Deferral component of the Excess Savings Plan allows employees with a base salary in excess of $170,000 the opportunity to defer up to 100% of their base salary and all or any portion of their annual bonus. Amounts deferred are unsecured, but earn a return equal to the 10-year treasury rate plus 1.50% (adjusted monthly). The average interest rate in 2013 was 3.9%. Excess Base Salary Deferral and Annual Bonus Deferral participants may elect to receive a lump sum or annual installments not to exceed fifteen years upon termination of employment or a specific date.

All named executive officers were eligible and participating in the Excess Savings component of this Plan in 2013. While all named executive officers were eligible, only Messrs. Boynton and Kriesel currently have amounts deferred under the Excess Base Salary and Bonus Deferral component.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The following table reflects potential termination or change in control payments to named executive officers if a triggering event were to have occurred on December 31, 2013. All payments are as provided under the Executive Plan discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

 

Name

  Scheduled
Severance

($)(1)
    Bonus
Severance

($)(2)
    Pension
/ 401(k)
Benefit

($)(3)
    Medical /
Welfare, Tax
and
Outplacement
Benefits

($)(4)
    Acceleration
of Equity
Awards

($)(5)
    Other     Excise Tax
Reimbursements

($)(6)
 

Paul G. Boynton

             

Voluntary termination

                                                

Terminated for cause

                                                

Retirement

                                                

Change in Control

                                4,899,829                 

Involuntary or voluntary for good reason termination after change in control

    2,475,000        3,225,000        855,389        90,554                        

Jack M. Kriesel

             

Voluntary termination

                                                

Terminated for cause

                                                

Retirement

                                                

Change in Control

                                1,873,184                 

Involuntary or voluntary for good reason termination after change in control

    1,080,000        1,125,000        640,927        71,980                      1,678,624   

Michael R. Herman

             

Voluntary termination

                                                

Terminated for cause

                                                

Retirement

                                                

Change in Control

                                1,639,105                 

Involuntary or voluntary for good reason termination after change in control

    1,113,000        1,170,000        419,993        72,104                        

Charles H. Hood

             

Voluntary termination

                                                

Terminated for cause

                                                

Retirement

                                                

Change in Control

                                636,599                 

Involuntary or voluntary for good reason termination after change in control

    520,000        390,000        46,020        61,516                        

 

(1) Represents the executive’s base pay times the applicable tier multiplier under the Executive Plan (3 times for Tier I and 2 times for Tier II).

 

(2) Represents the applicable tier multiplier times the greater of: (i) the highest annual bonus received over the three years preceding the termination of employment; (ii) the target bonus for the year in which the change in control occurred; or (iii) the target bonus in the year of termination.

 

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(3) Represents the actuarial value of an additional two or three years, based on the applicable tier multiplier, of eligibility service and age under Rayonier’s retirement plans and additional years participation in the Savings Plan at the executive’s current contribution levels.

 

(4) Represents: (i) the present value of the annual Company contribution to health and welfare plans times the applicable tier multiplier; (ii) the value of the executives annual tax and financial planning allowance of $25,000 for Mr. Boynton, and $10,000 for Messrs. Kriesel and Herman; and (iii) up to $30,000 in outplacement services.

 

(5) For stock option awards, the value was calculated as the difference between the closing price of Rayonier stock on December 31, 2013 and the option exercise price. Performance share and restricted stock awards were valued using the closing price of Rayonier stock on December 31, 2013.

 

(6) Upon a change in control, executives may be subject to excise tax under Section 280G of the Code. The Excise Tax Reimbursement column represents the excise tax as well as any excise and income taxes payable as a result of the excise tax reimbursement. The amounts in the table are based on a 280G excise tax rate of 20 percent, 35 percent federal income tax and 1.45 percent Medicare tax.

The amounts shown in the table above do not include payments and benefits to the extent they are provided on a non-discriminatory basis to salaried employees generally upon termination of employment, including accrued salary, vacation pay, regular pension benefits, welfare benefits and 401(k) and nonqualified deferred compensation distributions. As a result, payments under the Severance Pay Plan, described in the “Severance and Change in Control Plans” section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which may be payable upon a termination other than in the context of a change in control, are not included in the table. Amounts that would be distributed pursuant to Rayonier’s nonqualified deferred compensation plans are indicated in the Nonqualified Deferred Compensation table. Other than as reflected in the table and footnote (3) above, amounts that would be distributed pursuant to Rayonier’s tax-qualified and non-qualified retirement plans are indicated in the Pension Benefits table.

A termination by an executive within two years after a change in control would generally be for “good reason” if it results from: (i) a significant diminution in the executive’s position or the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent in any respect with his or her position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities immediately before the change in control; (ii) any material reduction in the executive’s salary, bonus opportunities, benefits or other compensation; (iii) the relocation of the executive’s principal place of business by more than 35 miles from his or her previous principal place of business; or (iv) any termination of the Executive Plan other than by its express terms. Regardless of whether a change in control had occurred, an executive would not be entitled to payments under the Executive Plan if he or she was terminated for cause. A termination of an executive generally would be “for cause” if it was due to: (i) the willful and continued refusal of the executive to substantially perform his or her employment duties following written notification by Rayonier’s board of directors; or (ii) engagement by the executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct that is demonstrably injurious to Rayonier, including an indictment or charge by any prosecuting agency with the commission of a felony.

Rayonier may condition payment of a portion of an executive’s severance benefits (generally, up to three times base salary) upon his or her agreement to adhere to confidentiality covenants, as well as to refrain from disparaging Rayonier or its products; competing directly with Rayonier; inducing clients from reducing or terminating their business with Rayonier; or inducing certain employees to terminate employment or service with Rayonier. These covenants would generally remain in effect for the shorter of one year from the executive’s termination or two years following a change in control, except that the confidentiality covenants would remain in effect for the longer of two years from the executive’s termination or three years following a change in control. By accepting the conditioned payments, an executive will be deemed to have consented to the issuance of a temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of any equitable proceeding that may be brought by Rayonier to enforce such covenants.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated, all cash payments would be made by Rayonier in a lump sum, although the timing of some payments and benefits may be delayed for six months after termination in accordance with Code Section 409A, which regulates deferred compensation. Rayonier has established two rabbi trusts related to the Executive Plan. One is designed to defray the legal costs incurred by the executives in enforcing their rights under the Executive Plan were Rayonier not to meet its obligations. Rayonier has transferred $250,000 per participant to this trust. Were there to be a change in control of Rayonier, Rayonier would transfer to the second trust an amount sufficient to satisfy the cash payments that would be required to be paid in the event of a qualifying termination of executives covered under the Executive Plan.

Treatment of Director Compensation in the Separation

Prior to the effective time of the distribution, SpinCo will establish the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program (the “SpinCo Director Compensation Program”) with substantially the same terms as the Rayonier Outside Directors’ Compensation Program (the “Rayonier Director Compensation Program”) as of immediately prior to the effective time of the distribution. Each SpinCo non-employee director who served on the Rayonier board of directors immediately prior to the effective time of the distribution and held a deferred cash balance under the Rayonier Director Compensation Program will be credited, as of the effective time of the distribution, with such deferred cash balance under the SpinCo Director Compensation Program and will cease participation in the Rayonier Director Compensation Program.

Director Compensation Following Separation

Following the separation, SpinCo will use a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the SpinCo board of directors. In setting SpinCo board of director compensation, it is expected that the SpinCo board of directors will consider the significant time commitment and the skills and experience level necessary for directors to fulfill their duties. SpinCo’s directors will also be subject to minimum share ownership and share retention requirements as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis in the “Compensation Philosophy and Objectives” section.

Cash Compensation Paid to Non-Management Directors

Non-management director compensation will be set by the SpinCo board of directors at the recommendation of the Nominating Committee of the SpinCo board of directors. Under the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program, each non-management director will receive the following cash compensation (prorated for partial year service): (i) an annual cash retainer of $55,000, payable in equal quarterly installments; (ii) an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000 for the Audit Committee chair, $15,000 for the Compensation Committee chair, and $10,000 for the Nominating Committee chair, payable in equal quarterly installments; (iii) meeting fees of: (A) $2,000 per board meeting attended, (B) $2,000 per Audit Committee meeting attended, and (C) $1,500 per committee meeting attended, other than the Audit Committee; (iv) $2,000 for each trip taken at the request of management to one of SpinCo’s facilities for a business purpose other than a board or committee meeting; and (v) $2,000 for any other business trip taken at the request of management. The fee for a director participating by telephone in a non-telephonic meeting of the board or any committee is half of the otherwise applicable fee. SpinCo directors who did not serve on the Rayonier board of directors immediately prior to the effective time of the distribution will receive prorated cash compensation for the quarter in which the distribution occurs.

SpinCo directors will be able to defer up to 100% of their cash compensation under the SpinCo Outside Directors’ Compensation Program. Any deferred amounts will be paid to the director in a single lump sum on the later of the date the director becomes 72 or the conclusion of the director’s term, or upon termination as a director, if prior to age 72. Any deferred amounts will earn interest at a rate equal to the Prime Rate as reported in The Wall Street Journal and will be compounded annually (the “Prime Rate”).

 

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Annual Equity Awards

Following the distribution, and commencing with SpinCo’s 2015 fiscal year with respect to SpinCo directors who served on the Rayonier board of directors immediately prior to the effective time of the distribution, each non-management director will receive a restricted stock award equivalent to $95,000 based on grant date value (prorated for partial year service), vesting on the one year anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the director’s continued service through the vesting period. Dividends on restricted stock awards will accrue in a separate account and will be paid upon vesting together with interest equal to the Prime Rate.

SpinCo directors who did not serve on the Rayonier board of directors immediately prior to the effective time of the distribution will receive a restricted stock award in respect of their service to SpinCo on the date of the distribution having a grant date value equal to the prorated portion of the $95,000 annual equity award amount, based on the number of days that such directors will serve on the SpinCo board of directors from the distribution date through the expected annual stockholders meeting date in 2015. The number of shares underlying the restricted stock award will be determined based on the average of the volume weighted average per share price of SpinCo common stock on the NYSE during each of the first ten full trading days immediately after the distribution. The restricted stock award will vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant and the date of the annual stockholders meeting in 2015, subject to the director’s continued service through such date.

Other Fees

Following the separation, the Lead Director will initially receive an annual cash retainer of $25,000, payable in equal quarterly installments.

Transaction Bonus Agreements

On January 23, 2014, the Rayonier Compensation Committee approved transaction bonus agreements (the “Transaction Bonus Agreements”) with each of Messrs. Boynton, Kriesel, Herman and Hood. Assuming all conditions to payment are satisfied, the Transaction Bonus Agreements provide for the lump sum payment of the following bonus amounts in cash: Mr. Boynton, $1,650,000; Mr. Kriesel, $580,000; Mr. Herman, $600,000; and Mr. Hood, $375,000.

To earn the transaction bonus, the executive must remain continuously employed through an “eligibility period,” work diligently and in good faith through such period as determined in the sole discretion of the SpinCo Compensation Committee (or Rayonier Compensation Committee in the event the spin-off is abandoned) and satisfy certain other conditions as specified in the agreement. The “eligibility period” is defined as the period beginning on the effective date of the Transaction Bonus Agreements through the date that is six months after the effective time of the distribution or, if the spin-off is abandoned, through December 31, 2014. The transaction bonus will also be earned if the executive’s employment is terminated without cause by the applicable employer before the end of the eligibility period and the executive otherwise satisfies the conditions specified in the Transaction Bonus Agreement.

SpinCo CEO Agreement

On May 27, 2014, the Rayonier board of directors approved an agreement between SpinCo and Mr. Boynton in his capacity as President and Chief Executive Officer of SpinCo following completion of the distribution (the “SpinCo CEO Agreement”). The SpinCo CEO Agreement will become effective on the closing date of the distribution (the “Effective Date”); however the SpinCo CEO Agreement will be null and void unless the Effective Date occurs on or prior to December 31, 2014. The SpinCo CEO Agreement grants Mr. Boynton a restricted stock unit award under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan (as described below) that will vest and become payable upon Mr. Boynton’s continuous employment with SpinCo through August 31, 2018, or an earlier date upon the occurrence of certain events (the “Vesting Date”). Upon vesting, Mr. Boynton will be issued $4 million in shares of SpinCo common stock, with the number of shares determined by applying the average closing price of a share of SpinCo common stock on the NYSE for the ten trading days preceding the Vesting Date, together

 

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with a cash payment equal to the value of dividends that would have been paid on a notional investment of the number of SpinCo common shares granted to Mr. Boynton together with notional interest on such amount from the Effective Date (the “Award”). Mr. Boynton will forfeit the Award if he voluntarily terminates his employment with SpinCo or if his employment is terminated by SpinCo for cause, as defined in SpinCo’s Executive Severance Pay Plan (the “SpinCo Executive Severance Plan”), prior to the Vesting Date. Mr. Boynton will become immediately entitled to payment of the Award upon the occurrence of a change in control, as defined in the SpinCo Executive Severance Plan, on or prior to the Vesting Date or upon SpinCo’s termination of Mr. Boynton’s employment other than for cause.

SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan

In connection with the separation, pursuant to the employee matters agreement that SpinCo will enter into with Rayonier, certain of the outstanding awards granted under Rayonier’s equity compensation programs (whether held by Rayonier or SpinCo employees or other participants) will be converted into adjusted awards based on both Rayonier common shares and SpinCo common stock. The portion of the adjusted awards that are based on SpinCo common stock, which are referred to as Converted Awards, will count against the shares available under the Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. Incentive Stock Plan (the “SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan”), but as a general matter, will have the same terms and conditions as applied to such awards pursuant to the Rayonier equity compensation programs. For purposes of the vesting of Converted Awards, continued employment or service with Rayonier or SpinCo, as applicable, will be treated as continued employment or service for both Rayonier and SpinCo awards.

On May 27, 2014, SpinCo adopted the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan. The following is a summary of the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan. The full text of the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan is attached as Exhibit 10.13 to the registration statement of which this information statement is a part.

Purpose

The purpose of the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan is to (i) attract and retain highly qualified employees and directors and to motivate and reward performance that will lead to sustained increases in shareholder value and (ii) assume certain awards granted under equity compensation plans of Rayonier. The SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan furthers opportunities for share ownership by SpinCo’s employees in order to increase their proprietary interest in SpinCo and, as a result, their interest in SpinCo’s long-term success and their commitment to creating shareholder value.

Administration of the Plan

The selection of key employees who may participate in the Plan, and the terms and conditions of each award, are determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee, with the exception of awards to the Chief Executive Officer, which require approval of the SpinCo board of directors. Each member of the SpinCo Compensation Committee will be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m). The SpinCo Compensation Committee has full power, discretion, and authority to interpret, construe and administer the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan, and all decisions, determinations or actions of the SpinCo Compensation Committee pursuant to the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan will be final and binding on all persons for all purposes. The SpinCo Compensation Committee may delegate its powers as it deems appropriate, but may not delegate responsibility to make awards to executive officers, make awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code or certify the satisfaction of performance objectives for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The SpinCo board of directors itself serves to administer and interpret the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan with respect to awards made to non-employee directors.

 

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Eligibility

All non-employee directors and salaried employees of SpinCo and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan. In addition, Converted Awards will be awards that are outstanding under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan in accordance with the employee matters agreement. We currently have 8 non-employee directors and approximately 410 salaried employees.

Types of Awards

The SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan permits the grant of:

 

    nonqualified and incentive stock options;

 

    stock appreciation rights granted in tandem with stock options;

 

    restricted stock and restricted stock units; and

 

    performance shares.

Non-employee directors are eligible only for stock options and restricted stock awards.

Shares Covered by the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan; Limit on Awards

The SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan permits the granting of awards covering 4,500,000 shares of SpinCo common stock plus the number of shares reserved for issuance for Awards under the equity compensation plans of Rayonier transferred to SpinCo pursuant to the terms of the employee matters agreement. The SpinCo common stock issued under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan may be either authorized but unissued common stock or common stock purchased on the open market.

Any shares of SpinCo common stock that are reserved for options or performance shares under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan that lapse, expire or are forfeited may be available for subsequent awards. No more than 1,000,000 shares of common stock may be cumulatively available for awards of incentive stock options. No single employee may receive options, performance shares, restricted stock, restricted stock units or stock appreciation rights in any calendar year for more than 4% of the total number of shares of SpinCo common stock authorized under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan, except that limitation is increased to 8% in the first year of the SpinCo Incentive Plan to accommodate transition and retention awards.

Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights

Options granted under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan may be either nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options qualifying for special tax treatment under Section 422 of the Code. The exercise price of any stock option may not be less than the fair market value of the SpinCo common stock on the date of grant. The exercise price is payable in cash, SpinCo common stock previously owned by the option holder, or a combination of cash and SpinCo common stock previously owned by the option holder. Both nonqualified stock options and incentive stock options generally will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant.

Stock appreciation rights may be granted in tandem with stock options to key employees of SpinCo. The option holder receiving a stock appreciation right may elect to exercise a stock appreciation right in lieu of an option. The exercise of a stock appreciation right will entitle the holder to receive SpinCo common stock having a value equal to the excess of the fair market value of the SpinCo common stock underlying the option on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the option.

Performance Shares

Performance shares are rights to receive shares of SpinCo common stock, as determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee, on the achievement of certain performance goals over a specified performance period.

 

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The SpinCo Compensation Committee determines the performance objectives of awards of performance shares. Performance objectives may vary for key employees and groups of key employees and are based on the performance goals that the SpinCo Compensation Committee deems appropriate. The performance period and goals will be determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee prior to or reasonably promptly after the commencement of any performance period, but no later than the earlier of (a) ninety days after the commencement of the performance period or (b) the day prior to the date on which 25% of the performance period has elapsed.

Performance goals may be expressed in terms of the following business criteria:

 

    net income

 

    earnings per share

 

    operating income

 

    operating cash flow

 

    cash available for distribution

 

    earnings before income taxes and depreciation

 

    earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

 

    operating margins

 

    reductions in operating expenses

 

    sales or return on sales

 

    total stockholder return

 

    return on equity

 

    return on total capital

 

    return on invested capital

 

    return on assets

 

    return on total capital

 

    return on invested capital

 

    return on assets

 

    economic value added

 

    cost reductions and savings

 

    increase in surplus

 

    productivity improvements

A performance goal may also be based on an employee’s attainment of personal objectives with respect to the foregoing criteria or other criteria such as growth and profitability, customer satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, business development, negotiating transactions and sales or developing long-term business goals. Performance goals may be measured on a periodic, annual, cumulative or average basis and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or established with respect to one or more operating units.

 

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Following the completion of each performance period, the SpinCo Compensation Committee will certify in writing as to whether the performance goals and other material terms of the performance award have been achieved or met. Unless the SpinCo Compensation Committee determines otherwise, performance awards will not be settled until the SpinCo Compensation Committee has made this certification.

The SpinCo Compensation Committee may reduce or eliminate performance awards for any employee for any reason at any time. To the extent necessary to preserve the intended economic effects of the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan, the SpinCo Compensation Committee may also adjust the performance objectives or awards to take into account: (a) a change in corporate capitalization, (b) a corporate transaction, (c) a partial or complete liquidation of SpinCo or a subsidiary, or (d) a change in accounting or other relevant rules or regulations; however, no such adjustment may be made if it would cause the awards to fail to qualify as performance-based compensation.

The SpinCo Compensation Committee may structure the performance awards as restricted stock units or any substantially similar instrument evidencing the right to receive a common share at some future date upon the lapse of the applicable restrictions established by the SpinCo Compensation Committee or upon the satisfaction of any applicable performance goals established by the SpinCo Compensation Committee under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

An award of restricted stock is the grant of a share of stock that is subject to such restrictions as the SpinCo Compensation Committee deems appropriate or desirable. An award of restricted stock units is a contractual right entitling an employee to receive a shares of stock at a future date subject to time vesting or as a performance share subject to attaining performance objectives, and containing such other terms and conditions as the SpinCo Compensation Committee determines appropriate.

Amendment and Termination of the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan

The SpinCo board of directors may, at any time, amend or terminate the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan and, specifically, may make such modifications to the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan as it deems necessary to qualify payments under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan as deductible performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code. No amendment, however, may, without approval of a majority of SpinCo’s shareholders:

 

    alter the group of persons eligible to participate in the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan;

 

    increase the number of shares of SpinCo common stock available for awards (except for adjustments made on a recapitalization, reclassification, split-up or consolidation of the SpinCo common stock or a stock dividend, merger or consolidation of SpinCo or sale by SpinCo of all or a portion of its assets); or

 

    decrease the exercise price of an outstanding option or stock appreciation right after the date of grant or permit the surrender of any outstanding option or stock appreciation right at a time when its exercise price exceeds the fair market value of the underlying common shares, in exchange for another award, cash or other property or as consideration for the grant of a new option or stock appreciation right with a lower exercise price than the option or stock appreciation right being surrendered (except for adjustments made on a recapitalization, reclassification, split-up or consolidation of SpinCo common stock or a stock dividend, merger or consolidation of SpinCo or sale by SpinCo of all or a portion of its assets).

Special Rights Provided in the Event of a Change in Control

The SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan provides for certain special rights upon the occurrence of a “Change in Control,” as defined in the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan and as the same may be thereafter amended from time to time prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control. A Change in Control as defined in the SpinCo Incentive

 

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Stock Plan includes (a) certain acquisitions of 20 percent or more of SpinCo’s voting securities; (b) the approval by shareholders of SpinCo and subsequent occurrence of (i) a consolidation or merger in which SpinCo is not the surviving corporation or (ii) the sale or other transfer of all or substantially all of SpinCo’s assets; or (c) a change in the composition of the SpinCo board of directors over any period of 24 consecutive months, so that the persons who were members of the SpinCo board of directors at the beginning of such period or who were elected on the nomination or recommendation of such persons fail to constitute at least 70 percent of the SpinCo board of directors at the end of such period.

Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control:

 

    All outstanding options and related stock appreciation rights will become immediately exercisable in full and will remain exercisable for a period of 60 calendar days beginning on the date the Change in Control occurs (but no option or stock appreciation right will be exercisable beyond the expiration date of its original term).

 

    Options and stock appreciation rights will continue to be fully exercisable for a period of seven months following the occurrence of a Change in Control in the case of employees whose employment with SpinCo is terminated by SpinCo for other than just cause or who voluntarily terminate their employment because they believe in good faith that as a result of such Change in Control they will be unable to effectively discharge the duties of the position they occupied immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control.

 

    The restrictions applicable to shares of restricted stock and time vested restricted stock units will lapse upon the occurrence of a Change in Control.

 

    If a Change in Control occurs during the course of a performance period applicable to an award of performance shares, then the employee will be deemed to have satisfied the performance objectives and settlement of the performance shares will be based on the “formula price” described above.

Tax Consequences of Equity Awards

Nonqualified Stock Options . On the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the option holder will recognize ordinary income for federal income tax purposes on the amount by which the fair market value of the stock underlying the option on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price of the option. The option holder will be taxed on this amount in the year of exercise and SpinCo generally will be allowed a deduction in this amount for federal income tax purposes in the same year. When the option holder disposes of shares acquired on the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, any amount received in excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise will be treated as either a long- or short-term capital gain to the option holder, depending on the holding period of the shares. If the amount received is less than the market value of the shares on the date of exercise, the loss will be treated as either a long- or short-term capital loss, depending on the holding period of the shares.

Incentive Stock Options . On the exercise of an incentive stock option, no ordinary income will be recognized by the option holder, although the spread between the fair market value of the stock underlying the option on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the option is an item of tax preference for purposes of the calculation of the option holder’s alternative minimum tax. If the option holder holds the shares for over one year after the date of exercise and for two years from the date of grant, then on the sale of the shares (a) the excess of the sale proceeds over the aggregate exercise price of the option will be long-term capital gain to the option holder, and (b) SpinCo will not be entitled to a tax deduction under such circumstances. Generally if the option holder sells or otherwise disposes of the shares within one year after the date of exercise or within two years from the date of grant, the excess of the fair market value of such shares at the time of exercise over the aggregate exercise price (but generally not more than the amount of gain realized on the disposition) will be ordinary income to the option holder at the time of such disposition. This is sometimes referred to as a “disqualifying disposition.” SpinCo generally will be entitled to a federal tax deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the option holder upon a disqualifying disposition.

 

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Other Equity Based Awards . With respect to other awards granted under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan that result in a transfer to the participant of shares that are restricted as to transferability or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant generally must recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of shares actually received. Except as discussed below, SpinCo generally will be entitled to a deduction for the same amount. With respect to awards involving shares that are restricted as to transferability and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, the participant generally must recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares at the earliest time the shares become transferable or not subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. SpinCo generally will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by the participant.

The value of awards under the SpinCo Incentive Stock Plan that are conditioned upon achievement of performance goals are intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation for SpinCo’s chief executive officer and four other most highly compensated executive officers that is not subject to the $1 million cap on deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code and is intended to be deductible by SpinCo provided the other requirements for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code are satisfied. There can be no assurance, however, that all awards subject to performance goals will ultimately prove to be deductible to SpinCo under the Code. In addition, when warranted due to competitive or other factors, the SpinCo Compensation Committee may decide in certain circumstances to exceed the deductibility limit under Section 162(m) or to otherwise pay nondeductible compensation.

SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan

On May 27, 2014, SpinCo adopted the SpinCo Non-Equity Incentive Plan (the “SpinCo Non-Equity Plan”). The following is a summary of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan. The full text of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan is attached as Exhibit 10.14 to the registration statement of which this information statement is a part.

Purpose

The purpose of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan is to provide a vehicle through which the SpinCo Compensation Committee will make cash incentive awards to key personnel, referred to as “Designated Employees,” that have an impact on achievement by SpinCo or its affiliates of annual or other short-term performance objectives, as determined or established by the SpinCo Compensation Committee. The SpinCo Non-Equity Plan will be implemented through one or more bonus programs adopted periodically by the SpinCo Compensation Committee. Unless the SpinCo Compensation Committee determines otherwise, a performance period corresponds to a calendar year.

Provisions have been included in the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan to meet the requirements for deductibility of executive compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code so as to qualify bonus awards as performance-based compensation in respect of the executives whose compensation is required to be reported in SpinCo’s Proxy Statement. These executives are referred to as “Covered Executives” under the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan.

Administration of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan

The SpinCo Compensation Committee administers the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan, with the exception of awards to the Chief Executive Officer of SpinCo, which require approval by SpinCo’s board of directors. Each member of the SpinCo Compensation Committee will be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of Code. The SpinCo Compensation Committee has the full power, discretion and authority to interpret, construe, and administer the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan. The powers of the SpinCo Compensation Committee include, but are not limited to, the power to: (a) determine the terms and conditions of each bonus program under the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan, including the performance goals and performance objectives thereunder; (b) select those employees of SpinCo or any affiliate of SpinCo who are Designated Employees to

 

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whom bonus awards are granted pursuant to a bonus program under the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan; (c) determine the amount to be paid pursuant to each bonus award; (d) determine whether and the extent to which the conditions to the payment of a bonus award have been satisfied; (e) provide rules and regulations from time to time for the management, operation, and administration of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan and the bonus programs; (f) construe the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan and the bonus programs, which construction is final and conclusive upon all parties; and (g) correct any defect, supply any omission, and reconcile any inconsistency in the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan and any bonus programs in such manner and to such extent as it shall deem expedient.

All decisions, determinations, or actions of the SpinCo Compensation Committee with respect to the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan are final and binding on all persons for all purposes. The SpinCo Compensation Committee may delegate to an officer of SpinCo, or a committee of two or more officers of SpinCo, discretion under the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan or any bonus program, to grant, amend, interpret, and administer bonus awards with respect to any Designated Employee other than a Covered Executive.

Eligibility

Awards may be granted only to employees of SpinCo and its affiliates, as determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee and who are identified as Designated Employees with respect to a bonus program. The SpinCo Compensation Committee will determine the Designated Employees, or the class of Designated Employees, who will participate in the bonus program for a particular performance period. Non-employee directors are not eligible to receive awards under the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan.

Bonus Programs

The bonus program for each performance period is determined by the SpinCo Compensation Committee. The SpinCo Compensation Committee will identify the Designated Employees and the specific performance goals and the parameters of the performance objectives to be applied for a performance period. The SpinCo Compensation Committee will also determine any applicable weightings to be given in respect of the performance goals for each Designated Employee or class of Designated Employees.

In determining specific performance goals and performance objectives, the SpinCo Compensation Committee may: (a) establish the performance objectives as consisting of one or more levels of performance with respect to a given performance goal; (b) cause the performance objectives to differ for bonus awards among different Designated Employees; (c) provide that more than one performance goal is incorporated in a performance objective, in which case achievement with respect to each performance goal may be assessed individually or in combination with each other; and (d) establish a matrix setting forth the relationship between performance on two or more performance goals and allocate the amount of a bonus award among performance goals.

The SpinCo Compensation Committee will set target awards for Designated Employees, including Covered Executives. The SpinCo Compensation Committee will also determine the percentages by which individual bonus awards may be increased or decreased based upon Designated Employees’ performance against established and identified objectives, though the awards for Covered Executives may only be decreased.

Bonus Awards

Bonus awards are in the form of a conditional right of a Designated Employee to receive cash, based upon achievement of one or more pre-established performance objectives during a performance period. Bonus awards may take the form of a percentage of a bonus pool. Bonus awards may not permit a participant to earn in one year more than 200% of the participant’s base salary at the end of the performance period.

 

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Performance Objectives

Performance goals may be expressed in terms of the following business criteria:

 

    net income

 

    free cash flow

 

    earnings per share

 

    operating income

 

    operating cash flow

 

    earnings before income taxes and depreciation

 

    earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

 

    operating margins

 

    reductions in operating expenses

 

    sales or return on sales

 

    total stockholder return

 

    return on equity

 

    return on total capital

 

    return on invested capital

 

    return on assets

 

    economic value added

 

    cost reductions and savings

 

    increase in surplus

 

    productivity improvements

A performance goal also may be based on an employee’s attainment of personal objectives with respect to any of the foregoing criteria or other criteria such as growth and profitability, customer satisfaction, leadership effectiveness, business development, negotiating transactions, and sales or developing long term business goals. Performance goals may be measured on a periodic, annual, cumulative, or average basis and may be established on a corporate-wide basis or established with respect to one or more operating units.

Following the completion of each performance period, the SpinCo Compensation Committee must certify in writing as to whether the performance goals and other material terms of the performance award have been achieved or met before any award is paid to any Covered Executive.

 

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Adjustments and Amendments

The SpinCo Compensation Committee may reduce or eliminate the bonus award of any employee for any reason at any time. To the extent necessary to preserve the intended economic effects of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan, the SpinCo Compensation Committee also may adjust performance objectives, the bonus awards or both to take into account: (a) a change in corporate capitalization, (b) a corporate transaction, (c) a partial or complete liquidation of SpinCo or any subsidiary, or (d) a change in accounting or other relevant rules or regulations; however no such adjustment may be made if it would cause the awards to fail to qualify as performance-based compensation.

Termination of Employment

In general, in the event a Designated Employee terminates employment for any reason during a performance period or prior to the bonus award payment, he or she (or his or her beneficiary, in the case of death) will not be entitled to receive any bonus award for such performance period, though the SpinCo Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, pay a pro rata or other portion of the award.

Amendment or Termination of the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan

The SpinCo Compensation Committee may terminate or amend the SpinCo Non-Equity Plan or a bonus program at any time.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Agreements with Rayonier

Following the separation and distribution, SpinCo and Rayonier will operate separately, each as an independent public company. SpinCo will enter into a separation and distribution agreement with Rayonier, which is referred to in this information statement as the “separation agreement” or the “separation and distribution agreement.” In connection with the separation, SpinCo will also enter into various other agreements to effect the separation and provide a framework for its relationship with Rayonier after the separation, such as a transition services agreement, a tax matters agreement, an employee matters agreement and an intellectual property agreement. These agreements will provide for the allocation between SpinCo and Rayonier of Rayonier’s assets, employees, liabilities and obligations (including its investments, property and employee benefits and tax-related assets and liabilities) attributable to periods prior to, at and after SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier and will govern certain relationships between SpinCo and Rayonier after the separation. The agreements listed above have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement on Form 10 of which this information statement is a part.

The summaries of each of the agreements listed above are qualified in their entireties by reference to the full text of the applicable agreements, which are incorporated by reference into this information statement. When used in this section, “distribution date” refers to the date on which Rayonier distributes SpinCo’s common stock to the holders of Rayonier common shares.

Separation Agreement

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities

The separation agreement identifies the assets to be transferred, the liabilities to be assumed and the contracts to be assigned to each of SpinCo and Rayonier as part of the separation of Rayonier into two companies, and it provides for when and how these transfers, assumptions and assignments will occur. In particular, the separation agreement provides, among other things, that subject to the terms and conditions contained therein:

 

    Certain assets related to the SpinCo business, which are referred to as the “SpinCo Assets,” will be transferred to SpinCo, including:

 

  ¡   equity interests in certain Rayonier subsidiaries that hold assets relating to the SpinCo business;

 

  ¡   manufacturing facilities located in Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida;

 

  ¡   research and development facilities located in Jesup, Georgia;

 

  ¡   contracts (or portions thereof) that relate to the SpinCo business;

 

  ¡   information, technology, software and intellectual property related to the SpinCo Assets, the SpinCo Liabilities, or the SpinCo business;

 

  ¡   rights and assets expressly allocated to SpinCo pursuant to the terms of the separation agreement or certain other agreements entered into in connection with the separation;

 

  ¡   permits that primarily relate to the SpinCo business; and

 

  ¡   other assets that are included in the SpinCo pro forma balance sheet, such as the pension assets included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of SpinCo, which appear in the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements.”

 

   

certain liabilities related to the SpinCo business or the SpinCo Assets, which are referred to as the “SpinCo Liabilities,” will be retained by or transferred to SpinCo, including certain liabilities

 

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associated with a dissolving pulp mill in Port Angeles, Washington that was closed in 1997, Southern Wood Piedmont Company and other former manufacturing operations; and

 

    all of the assets and liabilities (including whether accrued, contingent, or otherwise) other than the SpinCo Assets and SpinCo Liabilities (such assets and liabilities, other that the SpinCo Assets and the SpinCo Liabilities, referred to as the Rayonier Assets and Rayonier Liabilities, respectively) will be retained by or transferred to Rayonier.

Except as expressly set forth in the separation agreement or any ancillary agreement, neither SpinCo nor Rayonier will make any representation or warranty as to the assets, business or liabilities transferred or assumed as part of the separation, as to any approvals or notifications required in connection with the transfers, as to the value of or the freedom from any security interests of any of the assets transferred, as to the absence or presence of any defenses or right of setoff or freedom from counterclaim with respect to any claim or other asset of either SpinCo or Rayonier, or as to the legal sufficiency of any assignment, document or instrument delivered to convey title to any asset or thing of value to be transferred in connection with the separation. All assets will be transferred on an “as is,” “where is” basis and the respective transferees will bear the economic and legal risks that any conveyance will prove to be insufficient to vest in the transferee good and marketable title, free and clear of all security interests, and that any necessary consents or governmental approval are not obtained or that any requirements of laws, agreements, security interests, or judgments are not complied with.

Information in this information statement with respect to the assets and liabilities of the parties following the distribution is presented based on the allocation of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the separation agreement, unless the context otherwise requires. The separation agreement provides that, in the event that the transfer or assignment of certain assets and liabilities to SpinCo or Rayonier, as applicable, does not occur prior to the separation, then until such assets or liabilities are able to be transferred or assigned, SpinCo or Rayonier, as applicable, will hold such assets on behalf and for the benefit of the other party and will pay, perform, and discharge such liabilities, for which the other party will reimburse SpinCo or Rayonier, as applicable, for all commercially reasonable payments made in connection with the performance and discharge of such liabilities.

Cash Transfers

The separation agreement provides that, in connection with the transfer of assets and assumption of liabilities described above, and prior to the distribution, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. will make a cash distribution of $875 million, less certain fees and expenses, to Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier. In addition, it is anticipated that SpinCo will borrow $75 million under the revolving credit facility and transfer the net proceeds of such borrowing to Rayonier, together with SpinCo common stock and the assumption of certain liabilities, in exchange for the contribution by Rayonier of the Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s common stock and certain other assets to SpinCo.

The Distribution

The separation agreement also governs the rights and obligations of the parties regarding the distribution following the completion of the separation. On the distribution date, Rayonier will distribute to its shareholders that hold Rayonier common shares as of the record date for the distribution all of the issued and outstanding shares of SpinCo’s common stock on a pro rata basis. Shareholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares.

Conditions to the Distribution

The separation agreement provides that the distribution is subject to satisfaction (or waiver by Rayonier) of certain conditions. These conditions are described under “The Separation and Distribution—Conditions to the Distribution.” Rayonier has the sole and absolute discretion to determine (and change) the terms of, and to

 

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determine whether to proceed with, the distribution and, to the extent it determines to so proceed, to determine the record date for the distribution, the distribution date and the distribution ratio.

Claims

In general, each party to the separation agreement will assume liability for all pending, threatened and unasserted legal matters related to its own business or its assumed or retained liabilities and will indemnify the other party for any liability to the extent arising out of or resulting from such assumed or retained legal matters.

Releases

The separation agreement provides that SpinCo and its affiliates will release and discharge Rayonier and its affiliates from all liabilities assumed by SpinCo as part of the separation, from all acts and events occurring or failing to occur, and all conditions existing, on or before the distribution date relating to SpinCo’s business, and from all liabilities existing or arising in connection with the implementation of the separation, except as expressly set forth in the separation agreement. Rayonier and its affiliates will release and discharge SpinCo and its affiliates from all liabilities retained by Rayonier and its affiliates as part of the separation and from all liabilities existing or arising in connection with the implementation of the separation, except as expressly set forth in the separation agreement.

These releases will not extend to obligations or liabilities under any agreements between the parties that remain in effect following the separation, which agreements include, but are not limited to, the separation agreement, the transition services agreement, the tax matters agreement, the employee matters agreement, and certain other agreements, including the intellectual property agreement and the transfer documents in connection with the separation.

Indemnification

In the separation agreement, SpinCo agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Rayonier, each of its affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers and employees, from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:

 

    the SpinCo Liabilities;

 

    the failure of SpinCo or any other person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any of the SpinCo Liabilities, in accordance with their respective terms, whether prior to, at or after the distribution;

 

    except to the extent relating to a Rayonier Liability, any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation for the benefit of SpinCo by Rayonier that survives the distribution;

 

    any breach by SpinCo of the separation agreement or any of the ancillary agreements; and

 

    any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of material fact in the registration statement of which this information statement forms a part, or in this information statement (as amended or supplemented).

Rayonier agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless SpinCo, each of its affiliates and each of its respective directors, officers and employees from and against all liabilities relating to, arising out of or resulting from:

 

    the Rayonier Liabilities;

 

    the failure of Rayonier or any other person to pay, perform, or otherwise promptly discharge any of the Rayonier Liabilities, in accordance with their respective terms whether prior to, at, or after the distribution;

 

    except to the extent relating to a SpinCo Liability, any guarantee, indemnification or contribution obligation for the benefit of Rayonier by SpinCo that survives the distribution;

 

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    any breach by Rayonier of the separation agreement or any of the ancillary agreements; and

 

    any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of a material fact made explicitly in Rayonier’s name in the registration statement of which this information statement forms a part, or in this information statement (as amended or supplemented).

The separation agreement also establishes procedures with respect to claims subject to indemnification and related matters.

Intellectual Property

Following the distribution, Rayonier will continue to own the Rayonier name and will license the Rayonier name for use in the SpinCo name pursuant to an intellectual property agreement, which is described below.

Insurance

The separation agreement provides for the allocation between the parties of rights and obligations under existing insurance policies with respect to occurrences prior to the distribution and sets forth procedures for the administration of insured claims.

Further Assurances

In addition to the actions specifically provided for in the separation agreement, except as otherwise set forth therein or in any ancillary agreement, both SpinCo and Rayonier agree in the separation agreement to use reasonable best efforts, prior to, on and after the distribution date, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and agreements to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the separation agreement and the ancillary agreements.

Dispute Resolution

The separation agreement contains provisions that govern, except as otherwise provided in any ancillary agreement, the resolution of disputes, controversies or claims that may arise between SpinCo and Rayonier related to the separation or distribution and that are unable to be resolved by the transition committee. These provisions contemplate that efforts will be made to resolve disputes, controversies and claims by escalation of the matter to executives of SpinCo and Rayonier. If such efforts are not successful, either SpinCo or Rayonier may submit the dispute, controversy or claim to nonbinding mediation or, if such nonbinding mediation is not successful, binding alternative dispute resolution, subject to the provisions of the separation agreement.

Expenses

Except as expressly set forth in the separation agreement or in any ancillary agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the separation and distribution incurred prior to the distribution date, including costs and expenses relating to legal and tax counsel, financial advisors and accounting advisory work related to the separation and distribution, will be paid by the party incurring such cost and expense.

Other Matters

Other matters governed by the separation agreement include access to financial and other information, confidentiality, access to and provision of records and treatment of outstanding guarantees and similar credit support.

Termination

The separation agreement provides that it may be terminated, and the separation and distribution may be modified or abandoned, at any time prior to the distribution date in the sole discretion of Rayonier without the approval of any person, including SpinCo’s or Rayonier’s shareholders. In the event of a termination of the

 

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separation agreement, no party, nor any of its directors, officers, or employees, will have any liability of any kind to the other party or any other person. After the distribution date, the separation agreement may not be terminated except by an agreement in writing signed by both Rayonier and SpinCo.

Transition Services Agreement

SpinCo and Rayonier will enter into a transition services agreement prior to the distribution pursuant to which Rayonier and its subsidiaries and SpinCo and its subsidiaries will provide, on an interim, transitional basis, various services to each other. The services to be provided include information technology, accounts payable, payroll, and other financial functions and administrative services. The agreed upon charges for such services are generally intended to allow the servicing party to recover all out-of-pocket costs and expenses of providing such services.

The transition services agreement will terminate on the expiration of the term of the last service provided under it, which will generally be up to 18 months following the distribution date. The recipient for a particular service generally can terminate that service prior to the scheduled expiration date, subject to a minimum service period equal to 30 days and a minimum notice period equal to 10 days. Due to interdependencies between services, certain services may be extended or terminated early only if other services are likewise extended or terminated.

Subject to certain exceptions, the liability of Rayonier under the transition services agreement for the services it and its subsidiaries provides will generally be limited to gross negligence, willful misconduct and fraud. The transition services agreement also provides that the provider of a service shall not be liable to the recipient of such service for any indirect, exemplary, incidental, consequential, remote, speculative, punitive or similar damages.

Tax Matters Agreement

Prior to the separation, SpinCo and Rayonier will enter into a tax matters agreement that will govern the parties’ respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to taxes, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings and assistance and cooperation in respect of tax matters. In general, liabilities for taxes allocable to a tax period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the distribution date that are related to assets and activities of the performance fibers business will be allocable to SpinCo. If such failure of certain of the transactions described in the private letter ruling request and the opinion of counsel to qualify as tax free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes is attributable to SpinCo’s action or inaction or Rayonier’s action or inaction, as the case may be, or any event (or series of events) involving the assets or stock of SpinCo or the assets or stock of Rayonier, as the case may be, the resulting liability will be borne in full by SpinCo or Rayonier, respectively.

SpinCo’s obligations under the tax matters agreement are not limited in amount or subject to any cap. Further, even if SpinCo is not responsible for tax liabilities of Rayonier and its subsidiaries under the tax matters agreement, SpinCo nonetheless could be liable under applicable tax law for such liabilities if Rayonier were to fail to pay them. If SpinCo is required to pay any liabilities under the circumstances set forth in the tax matters agreement or pursuant to applicable tax law, the amounts may be significant.

The tax matters agreement will also contain restrictions on SpinCo’s ability (and the ability of any member of SpinCo’s group) to take actions that could cause the distribution and related transactions to fail to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including entering into, approving or allowing any transaction that results in a sale or other disposition of a substantial portion of SpinCo’s assets or stock and the liquidation or dissolution of SpinCo and certain of its subsidiaries. These restrictions will apply for the two-year period after the distribution, unless SpinCo obtains a private letter ruling from the IRS or an unqualified opinion of a nationally recognized law firm that such action will not cause the distribution or certain related transactions to fail to qualify as tax-free transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes and such letter ruling or opinion, as

 

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the case may be, is acceptable to Rayonier. Notwithstanding receipt of such ruling or opinion, in the event that such action causes the distribution or certain related transactions to fail to qualify as a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, SpinCo will continue to remain responsible for taxes arising therefrom.

Employee Matters Agreement

SpinCo and Rayonier will enter into an employee matters agreement prior to the separation to allocate liabilities and responsibilities relating to employment matters, employee compensation and benefits plans and programs and other related matters. The employee matters agreement will govern certain compensation and employee benefit obligations with respect to the current and former employees and non-employee directors of each company.

The employee matters agreement will provide that, unless otherwise specified, Rayonier will be responsible for liabilities associated with employees who will be employed by Rayonier following the separation, former employees whose last employment was with the Rayonier businesses and certain specified current and former corporate employees (collectively, the “Rayonier allocated employees”), and SpinCo will be responsible for liabilities associated with employees who will be employed by SpinCo following the separation, former employees whose last employment was with the SpinCo businesses and certain specified current and former corporate employees (collectively, the SpinCo allocated employees”).

Employee Benefits Generally

SpinCo allocated employees will be eligible to participate in SpinCo benefit plans as of the separation in accordance with the terms and conditions of the SpinCo plans as in effect from time to time. Generally, SpinCo has agreed to establish and maintain (i) welfare benefit arrangements that are substantially similar in the aggregate to those provided by Rayonier to SpinCo allocated employees immediately prior to the separation, through at least December 31, 2014 and (ii) retirement benefit and executive severance arrangements with terms that are substantially the same as the corresponding Rayonier arrangements and that provide benefits that are no less favorable than those provided by Rayonier to eligible SpinCo allocated employees immediately prior to the separation through at least December 31, 2015.

In general, SpinCo will credit each SpinCo allocated employee with his or her service with Rayonier prior to the separation for all purposes under the SpinCo benefit plans to the same extent such service was recognized by Rayonier for similar purposes and so long as such crediting does not result in a duplication of benefits.

Equity Compensation Awards

The employee matters agreement will provide for the conversion and/or cancellation of the outstanding awards granted under Rayonier’s equity compensation programs into adjusted awards relating to shares of Rayonier and/or SpinCo common stock. The adjusted awards generally will be subject to the same vesting conditions and other terms that applied to the original Rayonier award immediately before the separation.

Each Rayonier stock option will be converted into an adjusted Rayonier stock option and a SpinCo stock option. The exercise price and number of shares subject to each stock option will be adjusted in order to preserve the aggregate intrinsic value of the original Rayonier stock option as measured immediately before and immediately after the separation, subject to rounding.

Holders of Rayonier restricted stock, including Rayonier non-employee directors, will retain those awards and also will receive restricted stock of SpinCo, in an amount that reflects the distribution to Rayonier stockholders, by applying the distribution ratio to Rayonier restricted stock awards as though they were unrestricted Rayonier common shares.

Performance share awards outstanding as of the distribution date will be treated as follows:

 

   

Performance share awards granted in 2012 (with a 2012-2014 performance period) will continue to be subject to the same performance criteria as applied immediately prior to the separation, except that

 

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total shareholder return at the end of the performance period will be based on the combined stock prices of Rayonier and SpinCo and any payment earned will be made in shares of Rayonier common stock and shares of SpinCo common stock.

 

    Performance share awards granted in 2013 (with a 2013-2015 performance period) will be cancelled as of the distribution date and, following the effective time of the distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo, as applicable, will replace the cancelled awards held by their respective employees with time-vested restricted stock units of the post-separation employer of each holder (Rayonier or SpinCo, as the case may be) that will vest 24 months after the distribution date, generally subject to the holder’s continued employment. The number of time-vested restricted stock units granted will be determined in a manner intended to preserve the intrinsic value of the award immediately before and after the separation, subject to rounding.

 

    Performance share awards granted in 2014 (with a 2014-2016 performance period) will be cancelled as of the distribution date and, following the effective time of the distribution, Rayonier and SpinCo, as applicable, will replace the cancelled awards held by their respective employees with performance share awards of the post-separation employer of each holder (Rayonier or SpinCo, as the case may be), which will be subject to the achievement of performance criteria that relate to the post-separation business of the applicable employer during a performance period ending December 31, 2016. The number of shares underlying each such performance share award will be determined in a manner intended to preserve the intrinsic value of the award immediately before and after the separation, subject to rounding.

Any dividend equivalent payments on restricted stock or performance share awards in respect to dividends declared after the separation will be paid by Rayonier to Rayonier allocated employees and Rayonier non-employee directors, and by SpinCo to SpinCo allocated employees and any former Rayonier non-employee directors serving on the SpinCo board of directors as of the separation. For purposes of vesting for all awards, continued employment with or service to Rayonier or SpinCo, as applicable, will be treated as continued employment with or service to both Rayonier and SpinCo.

Intellectual Property Agreement

SpinCo and Rayonier will enter into an intellectual property agreement prior to the distribution, pursuant to which Rayonier will provide SpinCo with a license to (i) use and display certain specified Rayonier trademarks (for example, corporate names, domain names and marks) that incorporate the name Rayonier in a limited field of use relating to Spinco’s business, (ii) use and make improvements on other intellectual property of Rayonier (for example, copyrights and trade secrets, but not any patents) that was used in the SpinCo business prior to the distribution and (iii) use, reproduce, display and prepare derivative works based upon any and all Rayonier software that was used in the SpinCo business prior to the distribution. Under the intellectual property agreement, SpinCo will provide Rayonier with a license to (i) use and make improvements on certain intellectual property of SpinCo (for example, copyrights and trade secrets, but not any trademarks or patents) that was used in the Rayonier business prior to the distribution and (ii) use, reproduce, display and prepare derivative works based upon any and all SpinCo software that was used in the Rayonier business prior to the distribution. The licenses will be worldwide, fully paid-up and royalty free. Subject to termination, the licenses will also be perpetual and irrevocable.

Under the intellectual property agreement, Rayonier will also provide SpinCo with a six-month transitional trademark license to use and display other Rayonier trademarks in connection with, among other things, inventory for sale, facilities, buildings, signage, documents and other identifiers. The transitional trademark license will be worldwide, fully paid-up and royalty free. Subject to termination, the transitional trademark license will also be irrevocable.

The intellectual property agreement will provide that, if SpinCo does not use a corporate name incorporating the name Rayonier in active commerce for at least 12 consecutive months, the trademark license will

 

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automatically and immediately terminate. A party may terminate the license with respect to any trademark, other intellectual property or software upon an uncured material breach of the other party with respect to such trademark, other intellectual property or software. A licensee under the agreement may also terminate the trademark license, other intellectual property license or software license granted to it upon 30 days’ prior written notice to the other party.

The intellectual property agreement will also provide that (i) if Rayonier determines to permanently cease using the name Rayonier and the related marks in active commerce, Rayonier will irrevocably assign such name and marks to SpinCo for aggregate consideration of $1.00 and (ii) if any licensor of certain intellectual property (for example, copyrights and trade secrets, but not any trademarks or patents) determines to permanently cease using such intellectual property and does not intend to transfer such intellectual property to a third party, such licensor will irrevocably assign such intellectual property to the licensee for aggregate consideration of $1.00 (but only if such licensee is then using such intellectual property in such licensee’s business).

Procedures for Approval of Related Person Transactions

SpinCo’s board of directors is expected to adopt a written policy designed to minimize potential conflicts of interest in connection with SpinCo transactions with related persons. This policy will define a “Related Person” to include any director, executive officer or person owning more than five percent of SpinCo stock, any of their immediate family members and any entity with which any of the foregoing persons are employed or affiliated. The policy will define a “Related Person Transaction” as a transaction, arrangement or relationship in which SpinCo is a participant, the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a Related Person has or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Related Person Transactions requiring review by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee pursuant to this policy will be identified in:

 

    questionnaires annually distributed to SpinCo’s directors and officers;

 

    certifications submitted annually by SpinCo officers related to their compliance with SpinCo’s Standard of Ethics and Code of Corporate Conduct; or

 

    communications made directly by the related person to the chief financial officer or general counsel.

 

    In determining whether to approve or ratify a related person transaction, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider the following items, among others:

 

    the Related Person’s relationship to SpinCo and interest in any transaction with SpinCo;

 

    the material terms of a transaction with SpinCo, including the type and amount;

 

    the benefits to SpinCo of any proposed or actual transaction;

 

    the availability of other sources of comparable products and services that are part of a transaction with SpinCo; and

 

    if applicable, the impact on a director’s independence.

This process will be included in the written charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which charter will be available on the corporate governance section of SpinCo’s investor relations web site ( www.rayonieram.com ). This web site will be operational as of June 27, 2014.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the contribution by Rayonier of the performance fibers business (and other assets) to SpinCo and the distribution by Rayonier of all of SpinCo’s outstanding common stock to its shareholders. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and on judicial and administrative interpretations of the Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations, all as in effect on the date of this information statement, and is subject to changes in these or other governing authorities, any of which may have a retroactive effect.

In 2013, Rayonier filed for a ruling from the IRS to the effect that the pre-separation transactions and the distribution of SpinCo common stock to Rayonier’s stockholders will qualify as tax-free transactions under Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355 of the Code. The Distribution is conditioned upon (i) the receipt of such private letter ruling from the IRS, and (ii) the receipt of an opinion of outside counsel to Rayonier; each to the effect that, subject to the accuracy of and compliance with certain representations, assumptions and covenants, (i) the separation and the distribution will qualify as a reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and (ii) the Distribution will qualify for non-recognition of gain or loss to Rayonier and Rayonier’s shareholders pursuant to Section 355 of the Code, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of fractional shares.

This summary assumes that the separation and the distribution will be consummated in accordance with the separation and distribution agreement and as described in this information statement. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of all U.S. federal income tax consequences of the separation and the distribution nor does it address the effects of any state, local or foreign tax laws or U.S. federal tax laws other than those relating to income taxes on the separation and the distribution. The tax treatment of a Rayonier shareholder may vary depending upon that shareholder’s particular situation, and certain shareholders (including, but not limited to, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, broker-dealers, partners in partnerships that hold common shares in Rayonier, pass-through entities, traders in securities who elect to apply a mark-to-market method of accounting, shareholders who hold their Rayonier common shares as part of a “hedge,” “straddle,” “conversion,” “synthetic security,” “integrated investment” or “constructive sale transaction,” individuals who received Rayonier common shares upon the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, and shareholders who are subject to alternative minimum tax) may be subject to special rules not discussed below. In addition, this summary addresses the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a Rayonier shareholder who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a U.S. person and not to a Rayonier shareholder who is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a foreign partnership, or a foreign trust or estate. Finally, this summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to those Rayonier shareholders who do not hold their Rayonier common shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code nor does it address any tax consequences arising under the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

THIS SUMMARY IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE, AND IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO BE, LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE TO ANY PARTICULAR SHAREHOLDER.

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE DISTRIBUTION, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX LAWS, IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE EFFECT OF POSSIBLE CHANGES IN LAW THAT MIGHT AFFECT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES DESCRIBED IN THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT.

Rayonier has filed a request for a private letter ruling from the IRS to the effect that, among other things, the separation and the distribution will qualify as a reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes under

 

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Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. It is a condition to the distribution that the private letter ruling be issued and not be revoked or modified in any material respect. Such ruling will be based on, among other things, certain assumptions as well as on the accuracy, correctness and completeness of certain representations and statements that Rayonier and SpinCo made to the IRS. Subject to the discussion below regarding Section 355(e) of the Code, neither SpinCo nor Rayonier will recognize any gain or loss upon the separation and the distribution of SpinCo common stock and no amount will be includable in the income of Rayonier or SpinCo as a result of the separation and the distribution other than taxable income or gain possibly arising out of internal reorganizations undertaken in connection with the separation and distribution and with respect to any items required to be taken into account under U.S. Treasury regulations relating to consolidated federal income tax returns;

 

    a Rayonier shareholder will not recognize any gain or loss and no amount will be includable in income as a result of the receipt of SpinCo common stock pursuant to the distribution, except with respect to any cash received in lieu of fractional shares of SpinCo common stock (as described below);

 

    a Rayonier shareholder’s aggregate tax basis in such shareholder’s Rayonier common shares following the distribution and in SpinCo common stock received in the distribution (including any fractional share interest in SpinCo common stock for which cash is received) will equal such shareholder’s tax basis in its Rayonier common shares immediately before the distribution, allocated between the Rayonier common shares and SpinCo common stock (including any fractional share interest in SpinCo common stock for which cash is received) in proportion to their fair market values on the distribution date;

 

    a Rayonier shareholder’s holding period for SpinCo common stock received in the distribution (including any fractional share interest in SpinCo common stock for which cash is received) will include the holding period for that shareholder’s Rayonier common shares; and

 

    a Rayonier shareholder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of SpinCo common stock in the distribution will be treated as having sold such fractional share for cash, and will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the Rayonier shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the fractional share. That gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shareholder’s holding period for its Rayonier common shares exceeds one year at the time of the distribution.

U.S. Treasury regulations provide that if a Rayonier shareholder holds different blocks of Rayonier common shares (generally Rayonier common shares purchased or acquired on different dates or at different prices), the aggregate basis for each block of Rayonier common shares purchased or acquired on the same date and at the same price will be allocated, to the greatest extent possible, between the shares of SpinCo common stock received in the distribution in respect of such block of Rayonier common shares and such block of Rayonier common shares, in proportion to their respective fair market values on the distribution date. The holding period of the shares of SpinCo common stock received in the distribution in respect of such block of Rayonier common shares will include the holding period of such block of Rayonier common shares. If a Rayonier shareholder is not able to identify which particular shares of SpinCo common stock are received in the distribution with respect to a particular block of Rayonier common shares, for purposes of applying the rules described above, the stockholder may designate which shares of SpinCo common stock are received in the distribution in respect of a particular block of Rayonier common shares, provided that such designation is consistent with the terms of the distribution. Rayonier shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules to their particular circumstances.

U.S. Treasury regulations also require certain Rayonier shareholders who receive SpinCo common stock in the distribution to attach to the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax return for the year in which the stock is received a detailed statement setting forth certain information relating to the tax-free nature of the distribution.

 

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Even if the distribution otherwise qualifies as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 355 of the Code, it could be taxable to Rayonier (but not Rayonier’s shareholders) under Section 355(e) of the Code if the distribution were later deemed to be part of a plan (or series of related transactions) pursuant to which one or more persons acquire, directly or indirectly, stock representing a 50% or greater interest by vote or value, in Rayonier or SpinCo. For this purpose, any acquisitions of Rayonier common shares or SpinCo common stock within the period beginning two years before the distribution and ending two years after the distribution are presumed to be part of such a plan, although Rayonier or SpinCo may be able to rebut such presumption.

Payments of cash to holders of Rayonier common shares in lieu of fractional shares may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding at a rate of 28%, unless a shareholder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with the requirements of the backup withholding rules. Backup withholding does not constitute an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be refunded or credited against a shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely supplied to the IRS.

In connection with the distribution, SpinCo and Rayonier will enter into a tax matters agreement pursuant to which SpinCo will agree to be responsible for certain tax liabilities and obligations following the distribution. For a description of the tax matters agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Tax Matters Agreement.”

The foregoing is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the separation and the distribution under current law and particular circumstances. The foregoing does not purport to address all U.S. federal income tax consequences or tax consequences that may arise under the tax laws of other jurisdictions or that may apply to particular categories of shareholders.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS

Credit Facilities

Prior to the distribution, SpinCo anticipates entering into senior secured credit facilities comprised of a $110 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Term A-1 Loan Facility”), a $290 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Term A-2 Loan Facility” and together with the Term A-1 Facility, the “Term Loan Facilities”) and a $250 million senior secured revolving credit facility (which will include letter of credit and swingline loans subfacilities) (the “Revolving Credit Facility” and together with the Term Loan Facilities, the “Credit Facilities”). SpinCo and Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. have engaged Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated and CoBank, ACB as joint lead arrangers in connection with the Credit Facilities. SpinCo anticipates that Bank of America, N.A. will be the administrative agent under the Credit Facilities. SpinCo also anticipates that Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. and SpinCo will each be a borrower under the Revolving Credit Facility and that Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. will be the only borrower under the Term Loan Facilities.

Prior to the distribution, as described in “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions—Separation Agreement—Cash Transfers,” (i) Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. intends to use the proceeds of borrowings under the Credit Facilities, along with proceeds from the notes, to make a cash distribution of $875 million, less certain fees and expenses, to Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier, and (ii) SpinCo anticipates borrowing $75 million under the Revolving Credit Facility and transferring the net proceeds of such borrowing, together with SpinCo common stock and SpinCo’s assumption of certain liabilities, in exchange for the contribution by Rayonier of Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s common stock and certain other assets to SpinCo. Such borrowing by SpinCo under the Revolving Credit Facility is anticipated to be repaid with the proceeds of a delayed draw term loan expected to be made available to Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. under the Term A-1 Facility promptly after the distribution. Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. also anticipates using borrowings under the Credit Facilities (a) to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the separation and distribution and (b) for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Set forth below is a summary of the anticipated terms of the Credit Facilities. As the final terms of the Credit Facilities have not yet been finalized, the final terms may differ from those set forth herein.

Interest Rate and Fees

SpinCo anticipates that loans under the Revolving Credit Facility, Term A-1 Facility and Term A-2 Facility will bear interest at either (a) a base rate or (b) an adjusted LIBOR rate, in each case, plus an applicable margin (the “Applicable Margin”), in the case of base rate loans, ranging between 0.25% and 1.00%, and in the case of adjusted LIBOR rate loans, ranging between 1.25% and 2.00%. SpinCo anticipates that the Applicable Margin for borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Term A-1 Facility and Term A-2 Facility will be based on a consolidated total net leverage based pricing grid.

SpinCo anticipates that SpinCo and Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., as applicable, will also be required to pay commitment fees to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility in respect of unutilized commitments thereunder. SpinCo anticipates that the amount of the commitment fees will be based on a consolidated total net leverage based grid. In addition, SpinCo anticipates that SpinCo and Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., as applicable, will be required to pay customary fees in connection with the issuance of letters of credit under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Guarantees and Security

All obligations under the Credit Facilities are expected to be guaranteed by SpinCo and, subject to certain exclusions and after giving pro forma effect to the separation and distribution, by each of SpinCo’s and Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s existing and future direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (collectively, together with SpinCo, the “Credit Facility Guarantors”). Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. anticipates that the Credit

 

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Facility Guarantors and the guarantors of the notes will be substantially the same. In addition, SpinCo anticipates that Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. will guarantee the obligations of SpinCo under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. and the Credit Facility Guarantors expect to grant the administrative agent and the lenders a valid and perfected lien and security interest in substantially all present and future material assets, including the Jesup, Georgia facility real property (but excluding the Fernandina Beach Facility), owned by Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. or any Credit Facility Guarantor.

Covenants and Events of Default

The Credit Facilities are expected to contain a number of covenants that restrict the ability of SpinCo, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. and their restricted subsidiaries to take certain specified actions, subject to certain significant exceptions, including: (i) creating liens; (ii) incurring indebtedness; (iii) making investments and acquisitions; (iv) engaging in mergers and other fundamental changes; (v) making dispositions; (vi) making restricted payments, including dividends and distributions; and (vii) consummating transactions with affiliates.

Under the Credit Facilities, it is anticipated that SpinCo will be required to maintain a consolidated first lien secured net leverage ratio of no greater than 3.00 to 1.00 and an interest coverage ratio of no less than 3:00 to 1.00, which covenants will be tested quarterly on a pro forma and trailing twelve month basis.

Additionally, the Credit Facilities are expected to contain customary affirmative covenants for credit facilities of this kind and customary events of default (subject, in certain cases, to customary grace or cure periods), including, without limitation, payment defaults, breach of covenant defaults, bankruptcy defaults, judgment defaults, defaults under certain other indebtedness and changes in control.

Senior Notes

The following is a description of the material terms of the senior notes. The Indenture (as defined below) governing the notes is attached as Exhibit 4.1 to the registration statement to which this information statement is attached.

On May 22, 2014, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. issued $550 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% senior notes due 2024. The notes are Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s unsecured, unsubordinated obligations. SpinCo and (giving pro forma effect to the separation and distribution) each of the Rayonier A.M. Products Inc.’s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, other than Rayonier Foreign Sales Corporation, have guaranteed the senior notes on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis.

If (x) the distribution date does not occur on or before September 15, 2014 or (y) the distribution is abandoned at any time prior thereto, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. will be required to redeem all of the notes on the special mandatory redemption date at a redemption price equal to 100.00% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The obligation of Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. to pay accrued and unpaid interest from the date of initial issuance to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date will be guaranteed by Rayonier, which guarantee will terminate automatically upon the earlier of (a) the distribution date and (b) the deposit of funds sufficient to pay the special mandatory redemption price on or before the special mandatory redemption date.

Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. offered and sold the notes in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. On or after June 1, 2019, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. Prior to June 1, 2019, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. may redeem some or all of the notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, to, but excluding, the

 

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redemption date, plus a “make-whole” premium. Prior to June 1, 2017, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. may redeem up to 40% of the notes using proceeds from certain equity offerings in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

The senior notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of May 22, 2014 (the “Indenture”) between SpinCo, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc., the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee. Subject to certain qualifications and exceptions, the Indenture limits the ability of SpinCo, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. and any restricted subsidiary to, among other things, (i) incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness, (ii) pay dividends or make distributions or purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value capital stock, (iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem or repurchase, subordinated debt, (iv) make loans and investments, (v) incur liens, (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries, (vii) consolidate or merge with or into, or sell all or substantially all of its assets to, another person, and (vii) enter into transactions with affiliates.

The Indenture also provides for certain events of default (subject, in certain cases, to receipt of notice of default and/or customary grace or cure periods), including, but not limited to, (i) failure to pay interest when due, (ii) failure to pay principal when due, (iii) failure of SpinCo, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. or any restricted subsidiary to comply with any of its obligations, covenants or agreements in the notes or the Indenture and (iv) certain specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of SpinCo, Rayonier A.M. Products Inc. or certain significant subsidiary of SpinCo.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Before the separation, all of the outstanding shares of SpinCo’s common stock will be owned beneficially and of record by Rayonier. Following the distribution, SpinCo expects to have outstanding an aggregate of approximately 42.2 million shares of common stock based upon approximately 126.5 million Rayonier common shares outstanding on May 27, 2014, excluding treasury shares and assuming no exercise of Rayonier options, and applying the distribution ratio.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table reports the number of shares of SpinCo common stock that SpinCo expects will be beneficially owned, immediately following the completion of the distribution by each person who will beneficially own more than five percent of SpinCo’s common stock. The table is based upon information available as of May 27, 2014 as to those persons who beneficially own more than five percent of Rayonier’s common shares and an assumption that, for every three Rayonier common shares held by such persons, they will receive one share of SpinCo common stock.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

   Amount and Nature of Beneficial
Ownership
     Percent of Class  

BlackRock, Inc

     3,256,192 (1)       7.70

40 East 52 Street

New York, NY 10022

     

The Vanguard Group

     2,277,361 (2)       5.41

100 Vanguard Boulevard

Malvern, PA 19355

     

 

(1) Holdings and percent of class as of December 31, 2013 as reported to the SEC on Schedule 13G/A on January 30, 2014, indicating sole voting power over 8,887,244 Rayonier common shares and sole dispositive power over 9,768,578 Rayonier common shares.
(2) Holdings and percent of class as of December 31, 2013 as reported to the SEC on Schedule 13G on February 12, 2014, indicating sole voting power over 115,068 Rayonier common shares, sole dispositive power over 6,729,817 Rayonier common shares and shared dispositive power over 102,268 Rayonier common shares.

 

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Share Ownership of Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth information, immediately following the completion of the separation calculated as of May 27, 2014, based upon the distribution of one share of SpinCo common stock for every three common shares of Rayonier, regarding (1) each expected director, director nominee and named executive officer of SpinCo and (2) all of SpinCo’s expected directors and executive officers as a group. The address of each director, director nominee and executive officer shown in the table below is c/o Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1301 Riverplace Boulevard, Suite 2300 Jacksonville, Florida 32207.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Shares Beneficially
Owned
    Exercisable
Stock
Options (1)
     Percent
of
Class
 

DeLyle W. Bloomquist.

     0        0         *     

Paul G. Boynton

     106,118  (2)      168,217         *     

C. David Brown, II

     14,229  (3)      0         *     

Mark E. Gaumond

     2,819  (3)      0         *     

James F. Kirsch

     0        0         *     

James H. Miller

     2,265  (3)      0         *     

Thomas I. Morgan

     2,386  (3)      0         *     

Lisa M. Palumbo

     2,927  (2)      0         *     

Ronald Townsend

     3,816  (3)      0         *     

Michael R. Herman

     57,410  (2)      66,086         *     

Charles H. Hood

     14,380  (2)(3)      30,592         *     

Jack M. Kriesel

     15,928  (2)      47,168         *     

James L. Posze Jr.

     2,213  (2)      5,358         *     

Frank A. Ruperto

     1,823  (2)(3)      0         *     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

All directors and officers as a group (14 persons)

     226,314  (2)(3)      317,421         1.29

  *   Indicates that the percentage of beneficial ownership of the director or executive officer does not exceed 1 percent of the class.

(1) Pursuant to SEC regulations, shares receivable through the exercise of employee stock options that are exercisable within 60 days after May 27, 2014 are deemed to be beneficially owned as of May 27, 2014.

(2) Includes the following share amounts allocated under the Savings Plan to the accounts of Mr. Boynton, 11,428; Mr. Herman, 2,051; Mr. Hood, 1,721; Mr. Kriesel, 367; Ms. Palumbo, 1,325 and all directors and executive officers as a group, 17,441.

(3) Includes outstanding unvested restricted stock awards as follows: Messrs. Brown, Gaumond, Miller, Morgan and Townsend, 2,107, Mr. Hood, 4,700 and all directors and executive officers as a group, 20,681.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.’S CAPITAL STOCK

SpinCo’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws will be amended and restated prior to the separation. The following is a summary of the material terms of SpinCo’s capital stock that will be contained in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The summaries and descriptions below do not purport to be complete statements of the relevant provisions of the certificate of incorporation or of the bylaws to be in effect at the time of the distribution, which you must read for complete information on SpinCo’s capital stock as of the time of the distribution. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each in a form expected to be in effect at the time of the distribution, are included as exhibits to SpinCo’s registration statement on Form 10, of which this information statement forms a part. SpinCo will include its amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as in effect at the time of the distribution, in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. The summaries and descriptions below do not purport to be complete statements of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

General

SpinCo’s authorized capital stock consists of 140 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, all of which shares of preferred stock are undesignated. SpinCo’s board of directors may establish the rights and preferences of the preferred stock from time to time. Immediately following the distribution, SpinCo expects that approximately 42.2 million shares of its common stock will be issued and outstanding and that no shares of preferred stock will be issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

Each holder of SpinCo common stock will be entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted upon by the common stockholders, and there will be no cumulative voting rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of SpinCo common stock will be entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by its board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of SpinCo, holders of its common stock would be entitled to ratable distribution of its assets remaining after the payment in full of liabilities and any preferential rights of any then outstanding preferred stock.

Holders of SpinCo common stock will have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. After the distribution, all outstanding shares of SpinCo common stock will be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of SpinCo common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that SpinCo may designate and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Under the terms of SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation, its board of directors will be authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, and by its certificate of incorporation, to issue up to 10 million shares of preferred stock in one or more series without further action by the holders of its common stock. SpinCo’s board of directors will have the discretion, subject to limitations prescribed by the DGCL and by SpinCo’s certificate of incorporation, to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Various Provisions of Delaware Law and SpinCo’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Provisions of the DGCL and SpinCo’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire SpinCo by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover

 

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practices and takeover bids that its board of directors may consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of SpinCo to first negotiate with SpinCo’s board of directors. SpinCo believes that the benefits of increased protection of its ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure it outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute . SpinCo will be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination or the acquisition of shares that resulted in a stockholder becoming an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own) 15 percent or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by SpinCo’s board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by SpinCo’s stockholders.

Classified Board . SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that its board of directors will be divided into three classes. At the time of the separation, SpinCo’s board of directors will be divided into three classes, each comprised of three directors. The three directors designated as Class I directors will have terms expiring at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the distribution, which SpinCo expects to hold in 2015. The three directors designated as Class II directors will have terms expiring at the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which SpinCo expects to hold in 2016, and the three directors designated as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the following year’s annual meeting of stockholders, which SpinCo expects to hold in 2017. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the separation, directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will serve for a term of three years. At any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the election will be determined by a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote in the election, with directors not receiving a majority of the votes cast required to tender their resignations for consideration by the board, except that in the case of a contested election, the election will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote in the election. Under the classified board provisions, it would take at least two elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of SpinCo’s board. Accordingly, these provisions could discourage a third party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of SpinCo.

Removal of Directors . SpinCo’s amended and restated bylaws will provide that its stockholders may only remove its directors for cause.

Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation . SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80 percent of its voting stock then outstanding is required to amend certain provisions relating to the number, term and removal of its directors, the ability of the board to issue preferred stock, the filling of its board vacancies, the calling of special meetings of stockholders, stockholder action by written consent, and director and officer indemnification.

Amendments to Bylaws . SpinCo’s amended and restated bylaws will provide that they may be amended by SpinCo’s board of directors or by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of SpinCo’s voting stock then outstanding, except that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 80 percent of SpinCo’s voting stock then outstanding is required to amend certain provisions relating to the number, term and removal of SpinCo’s directors, the filling of its board vacancies, the calling of special meetings of stockholders, stockholder action by written consent, and director and officer indemnification.

 

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Size of Board and Vacancies . SpinCo’s amended and restated bylaws will provide that the number of directors on its board of directors will be fixed exclusively by its board of directors. Any vacancies created in its board of directors resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause will be filled by a majority of the board of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum is present, or by a sole remaining director. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy on SpinCo’s board of directors will be appointed for a term expiring at the next election of the class for which such director has been appointed, and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified.

Special Stockholder Meetings . SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that only the chairman of its board of directors or its board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors may call special meetings of SpinCo stockholders. Stockholders may not call special stockholder meetings.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent . SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will expressly eliminate the right of its stockholders to act by written consent. Stockholder action must take place at the annual or a special meeting of SpinCo stockholders.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals . SpinCo’s amended and restated bylaws will establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than nominations made by or at the direction of its board of directors or a committee of its board of directors.

No Cumulative Voting . The DGCL provides that stockholders are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless the company’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not provide for cumulative voting.

Undesignated Preferred Stock . The authority that SpinCo’s board of directors will possess to issue preferred stock could potentially be used to discourage attempts by third parties to obtain control of SpinCo’s company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise by making such attempts more difficult or more costly. SpinCo’s board of directors may be able to issue preferred stock with voting rights or conversion rights that, if exercised, could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.

Limitations on Liability, Indemnification of Officers and Directors and Insurance

The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties as directors, and SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will include such an exculpation provision. SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will include provisions that indemnify, to the fullest extent allowable under the DGCL, the personal liability of directors or officers for monetary damages for actions taken as a director or officer of SpinCo, or for serving at SpinCo’s request as a director or officer or another position at another corporation or enterprise, as the case may be. SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws will also provide that SpinCo must indemnify and advance reasonable expenses to its directors and officers, subject to its receipt of an undertaking from the indemnified party as may be required under the DGCL. SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will expressly authorize SpinCo to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance to protect SpinCo, its directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that will be in SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against SpinCo’s directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit SpinCo and its stockholders. However, these provisions will not limit or eliminate SpinCo’s rights, or those of any stockholder, to seek non-monetary relief such as injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a

 

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director’s duty of care. The provisions will not alter the liability of directors under the federal securities laws. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, SpinCo pays the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding against any SpinCo directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Exclusive Forum

SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that unless the board of directors otherwise determines, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of SpinCo, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer of SpinCo to SpinCo or SpinCo’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, any action asserting a claim against SpinCo or any director or officer of SpinCo arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against SpinCo or any director or officer of SpinCo governed by the internal affairs doctrine. However, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the action may be brought in another court sitting in the State of Delaware. Although SpinCo’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation will include this exclusive forum provision, it is possible that a court could rule that this provision is inapplicable or unenforceable.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

SpinCo’s authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without your approval. SpinCo may use additional shares for a variety of purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to fund acquisitions and as employee compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of SpinCo by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Listing

SpinCo has applied to have its shares of common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “RYAM.”

Sale of Unregistered Securities

On January 16, 2014, SpinCo issued 1,000 shares of its common stock to Rayonier pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. SpinCo did not register the issuance of the issued shares under the Securities Act because such issuances did not constitute public offerings.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

After the distribution, the transfer agent and registrar for SpinCo’s common stock will be Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

SpinCo Inc. has filed a registration statement on Form 10 with the SEC with respect to the shares of SpinCo common stock being distributed as contemplated by this information statement. This information statement is a part of, and does not contain all of the information set forth in, the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information with respect to SpinCo and its common stock, please refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules. Statements made in this information statement relating to any contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement include the material terms of such contract or other document. However, such statements are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract or document. You may review a copy of the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, at the SEC’s public reference room, located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 as well as on the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Information contained on any website referenced in this information statement is not incorporated by reference in this information statement.

As a result of the distribution, SpinCo will become subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with the Exchange Act, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.

SpinCo intends to furnish holders of its common stock with annual reports containing consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and audited and reported on, with an opinion expressed, by an independent registered public accounting firm.

You should rely only on the information contained in this information statement or to which this information statement has referred you. SpinCo has not authorized any person to provide you with different information or to make any representation not contained in this information statement.

 

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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-1

Audited Combined Financial Statements of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.

  

Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

   F-2

Combined Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 and 2012

   F-3

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

   F-4

Notes to Combined Financial Statements

   F-5

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Combined)

   F-28

Unaudited Interim Condensed Combined Financial Statements of Rayonier Advance Materials Inc.

  

Condensed Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013

   F-29

Condensed Combined Balance Sheets at March 31, 2014 and December 30, 2013

   F-30

Condensed Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013

   F-31

Notes to Unaudited Interim Condensed Combined Financial Statements

   F-32

All other financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, the required matter is not present, or the required information has been otherwise supplied in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Rayonier Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., (“SpinCo”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related combined statements of income and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a). These combined financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the combined financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., (“SpinCo”) at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Certified Public Accountants

Jacksonville, Florida

March 31, 2014

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the Years Ended December 31,

(Thousands of dollars)

 

     2013      2012      2011  

SALES

    $   1,046,603         $   1,095,376         $   1,021,416    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Costs and Expenses

  

Cost of sales

     714,038          715,707          697,918    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     332,565          379,669          323,498    
        

Selling and general expenses

     35,778          35,684          33,110    

Other operating expense, net

     8,164          2,003          7,434    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

     288,623          341,982          282,954    

Interest and miscellaneous income, net

     292          507          98    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     288,915          342,489          283,052    

Income tax expense

     69,148          100,393          69,234    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET INCOME

     219,767          242,096          213,818    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

  

Gain (loss) from pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax (expense) benefit of ($14,353), ($233) and $10,159

     24,971          406          (17,675)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

    $ 24,971         $ 406         $ (17,675)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

    $ 244,738         $ 242,502         $ 196,143    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

As of December 31,

(Thousands of dollars)

 

    Supplemental
Unaudited
Pro Forma
             
    2013     2013     2012  

ASSETS

  

 

CURRENT ASSETS

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —         $ —         $ —    

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $140 (for all periods presented)

    71,097         71,097         77,476    

Inventory

    128,706         128,706         116,991    

Deferred tax assets

    22,532         22,532         3,648    

Prepaid and other current assets

    23,720         23,720         20,505    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    246,055         246,055         218,620    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

     

Land

    13,456         13,456         15,130    

Buildings

    173,554         173,554         127,946    

Machinery and equipment

    1,749,410         1,749,410         1,375,221    

Construction in progress

    19,533         19,533         263,317    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, gross

    1,955,953         1,955,953         1,781,614    

Less—accumulated depreciation

    (1,109,665)        (1,109,665)        (1,100,868)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

    846,288         846,288         680,746    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS

    27,923         27,923         21,235    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,120,266         $ 1,120,266         $ 920,601    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND NET INVESTMENT

  

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

     

Accounts payable

   $ 54,198         $ 54,198         $ 65,944    

Accrued taxes

    1,867         1,867         8,355    

Accrued payroll and benefits

    10,814         10,814         12,269    

Accrued customer incentives

    7,728         7,728         8,805    

Distribution payable to Rayonier Inc.

    950,000         —         —    

Other current liabilities

    5,239         5,239         346    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    1,029,846         79,846         95,719    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

    21,793         21,793         51,981    

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

    49,224         49,224         47,147    

OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

    1,102         1,102         1,050    

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 12, 13 and 14)

     

NET INVESTMENT

     

Retained earnings

    1,415,894         1,415,894         1,196,127    

Transfers to Parent, net

    (1,357,894)        (407,894)        (406,753)   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (39,699)        (39,699)        (64,670)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL NET INVESTMENT

    18,301         968,301         724,704    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET INVESTMENT

   $ 1,120,266       $ 1,120,266         $ 920,601    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Years Ended December 31,

(Thousands of dollars)

 

    2013     2012     2011  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     

Net income

   $     219,767        $     242,096         $     213,818    

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

    74,386         60,909         56,128    

Stock-based incentive compensation expense

    6,230         8,227         7,954    

Deferred income taxes

    (31,161)        (827)        (2,694)   

Amortization of losses from pension and postretirement plans

    8,398         7,134         4,976    

Loss from sale/disposal of property, plant and equipment

    2,390         2,319         7,498    

Other

    (636)        (1,725)        566    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

     

Receivables

    6,380         5,979         (12,030)   

Inventories

    (11,715)        (12,118)        (6,690)   

Accounts payable

    (2,763)        (9,019)        9,185    

Accrued customer incentives

    (1,077)        736         (1,690)   

Uncertain tax positions

    4,767         —         (16,000)   

All other operating activities

    (16,928)        1,502         (3,289)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    258,038         305,213         257,732    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     

Capital expenditures

    (96,008)        (105,406)        (96,526)   

Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion project

    (141,143)        (201,359)        (42,894)   

Other

    (13,516)        1,513         8,526    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    (250,667)        (305,252)        (130,894)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     

Net payments (to)/from Parent

    (7,371)        39         (126,838)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    (7,371)        39         (126,838)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     

Change in cash and cash equivalents

    —         —         —    

Balance, beginning of year

    —         —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, end of year

    $ —         $ —         $ —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

     

Non-cash investing activity:

     

Capital assets purchased on account

    $ 14,106         $ 23,090         $ 19,574    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See Notes to Combined Financial Statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

1. SEPARATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The Separation

On January 27, 2014, Rayonier Inc. (“Rayonier”) announced that it intended to separate its performance fibers business from its forest resources and real estate businesses. Rayonier announced that it intended to effect the separation through a pro rata distribution of the common stock of a new entity, Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“SpinCo”), which was formed to hold the assets and liabilities associated with the performance fibers business. The separation and distribution is subject to final approval by the Rayonier board of directors.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S generally accepted accounting principles for the purpose of separately presenting the financial position of the Performance Fibers segment of Rayonier and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in equity. Historically, financial statements have not been prepared for the performance fibers business and the accompanying financial statements for SpinCo have been derived from the historical accounting records of Rayonier. The historical operating results and cash flows of SpinCo as presented may not be indicative of what they would have been had SpinCo been a stand-alone entity, nor are they necessarily indicative of what SpinCo’s operating results and cash flows may be in the future.

The statements of operations for SpinCo include allocations of certain costs from Rayonier related to the operations of SpinCo including: medical costs for active salaried and retired employees, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs, equity based compensation and a pro-rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, human resource services and information system maintenance. These corporate administrative costs were charged to SpinCo based on employee headcount and payroll costs. The combined statements of income also include expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments. These allocations are based on revenues and specific identification of time and/or activities associated with SpinCo. Management believes the methodologies employed for the allocation of costs were reasonable in relation to the historical reporting of Rayonier, but may not be indicative of costs had SpinCo operated on a stand-alone basis, nor what the costs may be in the future. Actual costs that would have been incurred if SpinCo had been a stand-alone company would depend on multiple factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, including division of shared services in human resources, payroll, legal, finance, procurement, information technology and infrastructure, among others.

Rayonier uses a centralized approach to the cash management and financing of its operations. SpinCo’s cash is transferred to Rayonier daily and Rayonier funds SpinCo’s operating and investing activities as needed. Accordingly, the cash and cash equivalents held by Rayonier at the corporate level were not allocated to SpinCo for any of the periods presented. SpinCo reflects transfers of cash to and from Rayonier’s cash management system (including cash taxes paid) as a component of “Transfers to Parent, net” on the combined balance sheets. SpinCo has not included any interest expense for intercompany cash advances from Rayonier, since historically Rayonier has not allocated interest expense related to intercompany advances to any of its businesses. In addition, none of Rayonier’s interest income was allocated since excess cash of SpinCo’s operations was assumed to be remitted to Rayonier.

None of Rayonier’s interest expense and short term and long-term debt was allocated to SpinCo, since none of the debt was specific to the performance fibers business. Additionally, Rayonier entities outside of the performance fibers business are the primary obligors of the debt and the cash generated from performance fibers was adequate to fund SpinCo’s operations. Significant changes in the operations or capital structure of SpinCo

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

could have occurred if it operated as an independent stand-alone company, including a change in capital structure involving the addition of debt and/or equity instruments, which could have had a significant impact on its financial position and results of operations.

The financial statements for SpinCo include a provision for income taxes determined on a separate return basis which takes into account the impact of the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”) and subsequent exchanges for the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”). SpinCo was a subsidiary of Rayonier and, for purposes of U.S. federal and state income taxes, was not directly subject to income taxes but was included in the income tax return of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rayonier.

Rayonier assets specifically identified and assigned to SpinCo include all of Rayonier’s performance fiber producing assets and related inventories at its Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida sites and four chip mills located in Georgia and Virginia. Other assets include customer accounts receivable, inventory, spare part inventory and deferred tax assets. Liabilities specifically identified with SpinCo include accounts payable, property taxes, payroll, customer incentives, deferred tax liabilities related to differences in the book and tax basis of the pulp producing assets and the net liabilities of the Jesup and Fernandina pension and post-retirement plans. The pension and OPEB liabilities were estimated using the same actuarial liability assumptions as those used in the consolidated Rayonier financial statements for active and retired hourly and salaried employees of SpinCo.

Unaudited Supplemental Pro Forma Information . Staff Accounting Bulletin 1.B.3 requires that certain distributions to owners prior to or coincident with a separation be considered as distributions in contemplation of the separation. Prior to the completion of SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier, SpinCo intends to distribute approximately $950 million to Rayonier. The supplemental pro forma statement of financial position as of December 31, 2013, gives pro forma effect to the assumed distribution as though it had been declared and was payable as of that date.

Events and transactions subsequent to the balance sheet date have been evaluated through March 31, 2014, the date these combined financial statements were issued, for potential recognition or disclosure in the combined financial statements.

 

2. NATURE OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS

SpinCo is a leading manufacturer of high-value cellulose fibers with two production facilities in Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida, which have a combined annual capacity of approximately 675,000 metric tons. These fiber products are sold throughout the world to companies that produce a wide variety of products, including cigarette filters, foods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics and various industrial applications. Approximately 58 percent of performance fibers sales are to export customers, primarily in Asia and Europe.

In 2011, SpinCo began a capital project, the Cellulose Specialties Expansion (“CSE”), to convert a fiber line at the Jesup, Georgia mill from absorbent materials to cellulose specialties. The CSE was completed in 2013 at a total cost of $385 million and added approximately 190,000 metric tons of cellulose specialties capacity, bringing total cellulose specialties capacity to about 675,000 metric tons. In July 2013, SpinCo restarted the converted production line and began the qualification process for the line’s production with its customers. Production of cellulose specialties is expected to gradually increase to capacity by 2017/2018. SpinCo’s primary products consist of the following:

Cellulose specialties —SpinCo is a producer of cellulose specialties, most of which are used in dissolving chemical applications that require a highly purified form of cellulose fiber. SpinCo concentrates on producing the most high-value, technologically-demanding forms of cellulose specialty products, such as cellulose acetate and high purity cellulose ethers, and is a leading supplier of these products.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Commodity viscose —As a result of the start-up of the CSE project, SpinCo began producing commodity viscose at the Jesup mill. Commodity viscose is primarily sold to producers of viscose staple fibers, which are used in the manufacture of textiles for clothing and other fabrics, and in non-woven applications such as baby wipes, cosmetic and personal wipes, industrial wipes and mattress ticking.

Absorbent materials —SpinCo has historically been a producer of fibers for absorbent hygiene products. These fibers are typically referred to as fluff fibers and are used as an absorbent medium in products such as disposable baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, incontinence pads, convalescent bed pads, industrial towels and wipes and non-woven fabrics.

SpinCo operates in one reportable business segment: Performance Fibers. See Note 4 — Segment and Geographical Information to the Combined Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

3. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Combination

The combined financial statements include the accounts of SpinCo, in which it has a majority ownership or controlling interest. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated.

Net Parent Company Investment

In the Combined Balance Sheets, “Transfers to Parent, net” represents Rayonier’s historical investment in SpinCo and the net effect of transactions with, and allocations from, Rayonier.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and to disclose contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. There are risks inherent in estimating and therefore actual results could differ from those estimates.

Inventory

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. The costs of manufactured performance fibers are determined on the first-in, first-out basis. Other products are valued on an average cost basis. Inventory costs include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. Physical counts of inventories are taken at least annually. The need for a provision for estimated losses from obsolete, excess or slow-moving inventories is reviewed periodically.

Property, Plant, Equipment and Depreciation

Property, plant and equipment additions are recorded at cost, including applicable freight, interest, construction and installation costs. Performance fiber mill assets are depreciated using the units-of-production method. The total units of production used to calculate depreciation expense is determined by factoring annual production days, based on normal production conditions, by the economic useful life of the asset involved. SpinCo

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

depreciates its non-production performance fiber assets, including office, lab and transportation equipment, using the straight-line depreciation method over 3 to 25 years. Buildings and land improvements are depreciated using the straight-line method over 15 to 35 years and 5 to 30 years, respectively. Depreciation expense reflected in cost of sales in the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income was $73.6 million, $59.2 million and $55.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Gains and losses on the retirement of assets are included in operating income. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets that are held and used is measured by net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the assets, which is based on a discounted cash flow model. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Capitalized Interest

Interest from external borrowings of Rayonier is capitalized on major projects with an expected construction period of one year or longer. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the underlying basis of the property, plant and equipment and is amortized over the useful life of the assets. Although Rayonier’s interest expense on general corporate debt is not allocated to SpinCo in the combined financial statements, the property, plant and equipment balance does include previously capitalized interest of $14.3 million and $8.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 respectively, per Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 835-20, Capitalization of Interest .

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value was established as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

Revenue Recognition

SpinCo generally recognizes sales when the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) SpinCo’s price to the buyer is fixed and determinable, and (iv) collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally, title passes upon delivery to the agreed upon location. Based on the time required to reach each location, customer orders are generally received in one period with the corresponding revenue recognized in a subsequent period. As such, there could be substantial variation in orders received and revenue recognized from period to period.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Environmental Costs

SpinCo expenses environmental costs related to current operations. Expenditures that meaningfully extend the life or increase the efficiency of operating assets are capitalized.

Employee Benefit Plans

SpinCo has two qualified benefit plans which cover most of its U.S. workforce. Additionally, certain SpinCo employees participate in defined benefit pension and postretirement health and life insurance plans as well as an unfunded excess pension plan sponsored by Rayonier (shared plans), which include participants of other Rayonier subsidiaries. SpinCo accounts for such shared plans as multiemployer benefit plans. Accordingly, SpinCo did not record an asset or liability to recognize the funded status of the shared plans per ASC 715-80, Multiemployer Plans . The related pension and postretirement expenses are allocated to SpinCo based primarily on pensionable compensation of active participants.

The determination of expense and funding requirements for SpinCo’s two defined benefit pension plans, its participation in Rayonier’s salaried and unfunded excess pension plan and its postretirement health care and life insurance plans are largely based on a number of actuarial assumptions. The key assumptions include discount rate, return on assets, salary increases, health care cost trends, mortality rates, longevity and service lives of employees. See Note 16 — Employee Benefit Plans to the Combined Financial Statements for assumptions used to determine benefit obligations, the net periodic benefit cost and health care cost trend rates.

Periodic pension and other postretirement expense is included in “Cost of sales” and “Selling and general expenses” in the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. At December 31, 2013 and 2012 the pension plans were in a net liability position (underfunded). The estimated amount to be paid in the next 12 months is recorded in “Accrued payroll and benefits” on the Combined Balance Sheets, with the remainder recorded as a long-term liability in “Pension and other postretirement benefits”. Changes in the funded status of SpinCo’s plans are recorded through comprehensive income (loss) in the year in which the changes occur. See Note 16 — Employee Benefit Plans to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

Income Taxes

SpinCo was a subsidiary of Rayonier and, for purposes of U.S. federal and state income taxes, was not directly subject to income taxes but was included in the income tax return of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rayonier. SpinCo’s provision for income taxes has been determined on a separate return basis based on earnings reported in the accompanying Statements of Operations which takes into account the impact of the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”) and subsequent exchanges for the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”).

SpinCo uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, operating loss carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured pursuant to tax laws using rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. SpinCo records a valuation allowance to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.’s income tax returns are subject to audit by U.S. federal and state taxing authorities. In evaluating the tax benefits associated with various tax filing positions, SpinCo records a tax

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

benefit for an uncertain tax position if it is more-likely-than-not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the issue. SpinCo records a liability for an uncertain tax position that does not meet this criterion. SpinCo adjusts its liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which it is determined the issue is settled with the taxing authorities, the statute of limitations expires for the relevant taxing authority to examine the tax position or when new facts or information becomes available. Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits are included in “Other current liabilities” and “Other non-current liabilities” in SpinCo’s Combined Balance Sheets. See Note 7— Income Taxes to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

Reclassifications

Certain 2012 and 2011 amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. See Note 16 — Employee Benefit Plans for information regarding reclassifications.

New or Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income . This standard requires reporting, in one place, information about reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”) by component. An entity is required to present, either on the face of the financial statements or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of AOCI by the respective line items of net income, but only if the amount is reclassified in its entirety in the same reporting period. For amounts that are not required to be reclassified to net income in their entirety, an entity is required to cross-reference to other currently required disclosures that provide additional detail about those amounts. The information required by this standard must be presented in one place, either parenthetically on the face of the financial statements by income statement line item or in a note. This standard had an effective date of January 1, 2013; however, SpinCo early adopted this standard and applied the pronouncement retrospectively. See Note 10 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss to the Combined Financial Statements.

 

4. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

SpinCo operates in one reportable business segment: Performance Fibers. The Performance Fibers segment includes two major product lines, cellulose specialties and absorbent materials. All sales originate out of the United States from the Jesup, Georgia mill, the Fernandina Beach, Florida mill and the four chip mills. All assets are located in the United States, except for three foreign sales offices located in London, Tokyo and Shanghai. The foreign sales offices held assets of $0.6 million and $0.7 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Beginning in the third quarter of 2013 and in conjunction with the completion of the cellulose specialties expansion project, SpinCo’s Jesup mill discontinued producing absorbent material and began producing commodity viscose during the multi-year transition to higher cellulose specialties volume. Commodity viscose is a dissolving wood pulp used primarily in the manufacture of textiles. Commodity viscose/other includes commodity viscose and off-grade.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Four external customers in the Performance Fibers segment represented 21 percent (Eastman Chemical Company), 19 percent (Nantong Cellulose Fibers, Co., Ltd.), 14 percent (Celanese Acetate, LLC) and 13 percent (Daicel Corporation) of SpinCo’s combined sales in 2013, respectively. Four external customers in the Performance Fibers segment represented 21 percent (Eastman Chemical Company), 17 percent (Nantong Cellulose Fibers, Co., Ltd.), 14 percent (Celanese Acetate, LLC) and 14 percent (Daicel Corporation) of SpinCo’s combined sales in 2012, respectively, and three external customers in the Performance Fibers segment represented 21 percent (Eastman Chemical Company), 16 percent (Celanese Acetate, LLC) and 15 percent (Nantong Cellulose Fibers, Co., Ltd.) of SpinCo’s combined sales in 2011.

 

     Sales by Product Line  
     2013      2012      2011  

Performance Fibers

  

Cellulose specialties

    $ 929,931          $ 934,622         $ 824,114    

Absorbent materials

     72,701          158,688          196,153    

Commodity viscose/other (a)

     43,971          2,066          1,149    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Sales

    $     1,046,603         $     1,095,376         $     1,021,416    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Other includes wood chips, bark and shavings.

 

     Sales by Destination (a)  
     2013      %      2012      %      2011      %  

United States

    $ 437,048          42         $ 406,948          38         $ 380,656          38    

China

     281,407          27          235,987          21          223,192          22    

Japan

     150,306          14          169,695          15          158,511          15    

Europe

     79,138                  181,505          16          172,869          17    

Latin America

     60,477                  52,508                  36,100            

Other Asia

     29,097                  27,101                  20,482            

Canada

     971          —          3,735          —          8,594            

All other

     8,159                  17,897                  21,012            
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Sales

    $     1,046,603           100         $     1,095,376           100         $     1,021,416           100    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) All sales to foreign countries are denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

As discussed in Note 1 — Separation and Basis of Presentation , the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income include expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments, including general corporate expenses related to executive oversight, accounting, treasury, tax, legal, human resources and information technology. Net charges from Rayonier for these services, reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income were $16.6 million, $17.4 million and $15.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income also include allocations of certain costs from Rayonier related to the operations of SpinCo including: medical costs for active salaried and retired employees, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs, equity based compensation and a pro-rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, human resource

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

services and information system maintenance. Net charges from Rayonier for these costs, reflected in the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income were $51.1 million, $47.0 million and $42.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

6. OTHER ASSETS

Included in Other Assets are manufacturing and maintenance supplies not expected to be utilized within the next 12 months, and other deferred expenses including capitalized software costs. Software costs are capitalized and amortized over a period not exceeding five years using the straight-line method. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, capitalized software costs were $2.0 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

 

7. INCOME TAXES

Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”) and Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”)

The U.S. Internal Revenue Code allowed two credits for taxpayers that produced and used an alternative fuel in the operation of their business through December 31, 2009. The AFMC was a $0.50 per gallon refundable tax credit (which is not taxable), while the CBPC was a $1.01 per gallon credit that is nonrefundable, taxable and has limitations based on an entity’s tax liability. SpinCo produces and uses an alternative fuel (“black liquor”) at its Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida performance fibers mills, which qualified for both credits. Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. claimed the AFMC on its 2009 income tax return, and accordingly, SpinCo recognized $205.2 million of income, net of associated expenses, for black liquor produced and used in 2009.

In 2013, 2012 and 2011, management approved exchanges of black liquor gallons previously claimed under the AFMC for the CBPC. The net tax benefit from these exchanges was $18.8 million, $12.2 million and $5.8 million, respectively. As described in Note 1 — Separation and Basis of Presentation , Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. claimed these credits. At the date of separation, any CBPC carryforward will not be available to offset future taxes of SpinCo but will remain with Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for/(benefit from) income taxes consisted of the following:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Current

    $     100,309         $ 101,220         $ 71,928    

Deferred

     (31,161)         (827)         (2,694)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

    $ 69,148         $     100,393         $     69,234    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax rate was as follows:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

     35.0%         35.0%         35.0%   

Domestic manufacturing production deduction

     (3.4)         (3.2)         (3.3)   

Other

     —            1.1          1.0    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effective tax rate before discrete items

     31.6%         32.9%         32.7%   

AFMC for CBPC exchange

     (6.5)         (3.6)         (1.9)   

Unrecognized tax benefit adjustment

     —            —            (5.7)   

Other

     (1.2)         —            (0.6)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax rate as reported

      23.9%          29.3%          24.5%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred Taxes

Deferred income taxes result from recording revenues and expenses in different periods for financial reporting versus tax reporting. The nature of the temporary differences and the resulting net deferred tax liability for the two years ended December 31, were as follows:

 

     2013      2012  

Gross deferred tax assets:

     

Pension, postretirement and other employee benefits

    $ 5,364         $ 18,679    

Tax credit carryforwards

     45,429          2,693    

Capitalized costs

     12,773          —      
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax assets

     63,566          21,372    

Less: Valuation allowance (a)

     (24,588)         (1,201)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets after valuation allowance

     38,978          20,171    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross deferred tax liabilities:

     

Accelerated depreciation

     (63,578)         (62,107)   

Other

     (2,092)         (1,563)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

     (65,670)         (63,670)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

    $ (26,692)        $ (43,499)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Current portion of deferred tax asset

    $ 22,532         $ 3,648    

Noncurrent portion of deferred tax liability

     (49,224)         (47,147)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred tax liability

    $   (26,692)        $   (43,499)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) The increase in the valuation allowance during 2013 was primarily related to Georgia investment tax credits earned on the CSE project, the majority of which are fully reserved.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Included above are tax credit carryforwards as of December 31, 2013:

 

Item

   Gross
Amount
     Valuation
Allowance
     Expiration  

State Tax Credits

    $       26,000          $    (24,588)          2014 - 2023    

Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit

     19,429         —          2016    

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, SpinCo recognizes the impact of a tax position if a position is “more likely than not” to prevail. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending unrecognized tax benefits for the three years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Balance at January 1,

    $        $        $      16,000    

Decreases related to prior year tax positions

                     (16,000)  (a) 

Increases related to prior year tax positions

     4,767                 —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31,

   $      4,767        $          —       $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a)    During 2011, Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. received a final examination report from the IRS regarding its 2009 tax return. As a result, SpinCo reversed the uncertain tax liability recorded in 2009 relating to the taxability of the AFMC and recognized a $16 million tax benefit in third quarter 2011.

The $4.8 million unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31, 2013 is related to an increased domestic production deduction on the Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. amended 2009 tax return due to the inclusion of the CBPC income. The IRS is currently examining the position and a resolution is expected in 2014. As such, it is expected that $4.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits will be settled in the next 12 months.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would have affected the effective tax rate at December 31, 2013 is $4.8 million. SpinCo records interest (and penalties, if applicable) related to unrecognized tax benefits in non-operating expenses. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, SpinCo did not record any interest or penalties.

Tax Statutes

The following table provides detail of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.’s tax years that remain open to examination by the IRS and other significant taxing jurisdictions:

 

Taxing Jurisdiction

   Open Tax Years

U.S. Internal Revenue Service

   2008 – 2013

State of Florida

    2005 – 2006, 2008 –2013 

State of Georgia

   2009 – 2013

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

8. INVENTORY

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, SpinCo’s inventory included the following:

 

     2013      2012  

Finished goods

    $ 105,398         $ 96,005    

Work in progress

     3,555          2,718    

Raw materials

     17,420          15,919    

Manufacturing and maintenance supplies

     2,333          2,349    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventory

    $     128,706         $     116,991    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

9. NET INVESTMENT

An analysis of the changes in Net Investment for each of the three years ended December 31, 2013 is shown below.

 

    Retained
Earnings
    Transfers
(to)/from
Parent, net (a)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)
    Net
Investment
 

Balance, December 31, 2010

   $ 740,213        $ (296,135)      $ (47,401)       $ 396,677    

Net income

    213,818         —         —         213,818    

Allocation of costs from parent (b)

    —         (58,139)        —         (58,139)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    —         1,030,930         —         1,030,930    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    —         (1,091,675)        —         (1,091,675)   

Net loss from pension and postretirement plans

    —         —         (17,675)        (17,675)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2011

   $ 954,031        $ (415,019)       $ (65,076)       $ 473,936    

Net income

    242,096         —         —         242,096    

Allocation of costs from parent (b)

    —         (64,382)        —         (64,382)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    —             1,122,697         —         1,122,697    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    —         (1,050,049)        —         (1,050,049)   

Net gain from pension and postretirement plans

    —         —         406         406    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2012

   $ 1,196,127        $ (406,753)       $ (64,670)       $ 724,704    

Net income

    219,767         —         —         219,767    

Allocation of costs from parent (b)

    —         (67,781)        —         (67,781)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    —         1,073,275         —             1,073,275    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    —         (1,006,635)        —         (1,006,635)   

Net gain from pension and postretirement plans

    —         —                 24,971         24,971    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2013

   $ 1,415,894        $ (407,894)       $ (39,699)       $ 968,301    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) The average balance of Transfers to Parent, net amounted to $407 million, $411 million and $356 million during 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
(b) Included in the costs allocated to SpinCo from the parent are expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments. See Note 5— Related Party Transactions to the Combined Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

The following is a reconciliation of the amounts presented as “Transfers (to)/from Parent, net” in the above table and the amounts presented as “Net payments (to)/from parent” on the Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

 

    2013     2012     2011  

Allocation of costs from parent

   $ (67,781)       $ (64,382)       $ (58,139)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    1,073,275         1,122,697         1,030,930    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

    (1,006,635)        (1,050,049)        (1,091,675)   

Non-cash adjustments:

     

Stock-based compensation

    (6,230)        (8,227)        (7,954)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net payments (to)/from parent per the Combined Statements of
Cash Flows

   $ (7,371)       $ 39        $ (126,838)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

10. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss was comprised of the following:

 

     Unrecognized
components of employee
benefit plans, net of tax
 

Balance as of December 31, 2011

    $ (65,076)   
  

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

     (4,125)   

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (a)

                                 4,531    
  

 

 

 

Net other comprehensive income

     406    
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2012

    $ (64,670)   
  

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

     19,702    

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (a)

     5,269    
  

 

 

 

Net other comprehensive income

     24,971    
  

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2013

    $ (39,699)   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 16— Employee Benefit Plans to the Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

11. OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE, NET

The following table provides the composition of Other operating expense for the three years ended December 31:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Loss on sale or disposal of property plant and equipment (a)

    $ 2,390         $ 2,319         $ 7,498    

Legal settlement

     2,825          —          —    

Transaction-related costs (b)

     3,208          —          —    

Miscellaneous income

     (259)         (316)         (64)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

    $     8,164         $     2,003         $     7,434    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

(a) 2011 included a $5.5 million write-off related to process equipment changes needed for the cellulose specialties expansion project.

 

(b) 2013 included certain transaction costs in connection with the planned separation, such as accounting, tax, legal, and investment banking fees.

 

12. CONTINGENCIES

SpinCo is engaged in various legal actions and has been named as a defendant in various other lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business. While SpinCo has procured reasonable and customary insurance covering risks normally occurring in connection with its businesses, it has in certain cases retained some risk through the operation of self-insurance, primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation, property insurance and general liability. These other lawsuits and claims, either individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on SpinCo’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

 

13. GUARANTEES

At December 31, 2013, SpinCo was liable for certain contingent obligations under various contractual arrangements. The fair value of these obligations is de minimus.

 

14. COMMITMENTS

SpinCo leases certain buildings, machinery and equipment under various operating leases. Total rental expense for operating leases amounted to $1.7 million, $1.6 million and $1.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

At December 31, 2013, the future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases were as follows:

 

     Operating
Leases (a)
     Purchase
Obligations (b)
 

2014

    $         1,241         $         12,827     

2015

     711           11,590     

2016

     1,786           11,668     

2017

     2,415           11,845     

2018

     2,156           2,081     

Thereafter

     15,227           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
    $ 23,536         $ 50,011     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) Operating leases include leases on buildings, machinery and equipment under various operating leases and a Jesup mill natural gas transportation lease.

 

(b) On March 1, 2013, Rayonier completed the sale of its Wood Products business (consisting of three lumber mills in Baxley, Swainsboro and Eatonton, Georgia) to International Forest Products Limited (“Interfor”), an unrelated lumber company with operations in the United States and Canada. Interfor is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “IFP.” Pursuant to the purchase and sale agreement, Rayonier contracted with Interfor to purchase wood chips produced at the lumber mills for use at SpinCo’s Jesup mill. SpinCo will purchase 100 percent of the Baxley mill chips for five years and purchased a minimum of 25 percent of the Swainsboro mill chips in 2013. The purchase price of these chips will be based on the average price paid by SpinCo to unrelated third parties.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

15. INCENTIVE STOCK PLANS

The Rayonier Incentive Stock Plan (“the Stock Plan”) provides for up to 15.8 million shares to be granted for incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted stock and restricted stock units, subject to certain limitations. Under the Stock Plan, shares available for issuance are reduced by 1 share for each option or right granted and by 2.27 shares for each performance share, restricted share or restricted stock unit granted. Rayonier issues new shares of stock upon the exercise of stock options, the granting of restricted stock, and the vesting of performance shares. At December 31, 2013, a total of 6.4 million shares were available for future grants under the Stock Plan.

Until completion of the separation of SpinCo from Rayonier, SpinCo employees will continue to participate in the Rayonier share-based compensation plans. Total share-based compensation expense allocated to SpinCo (see Note 1— Separation and Basis of Presentation to the Combined Financial Statements) for the years ended December 31, was as follows:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Selling and general expenses

    $   5,006          $   7,561          $   7,150     

Cost of sales

     1,224           666           804     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expense

    $ 6,230          $ 8,227          $ 7,954     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Rayonier’s employee stock option compensation program generally provides accelerated vesting (i.e., a waiver of the remaining period of service required to earn an award) for awards held by employees at the time of their retirement. Share-based compensation expense for awards is recognized over the shorter of: (1) the service period (i.e., the stated period of time required to earn the award); or (2) the period beginning at the start of the service period and ending when an employee first becomes eligible for retirement.

Some of Rayonier’s share-based awards vest ratably (i.e., portions of the award vest at different times) while some of the awards cliff vest (i.e., all of the award vests at the same time). For both types of awards, SpinCo recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award.

Basis of Presentation —The following sections on Rayonier’s Restricted Stock, Performance Share Units and Non-Qualified Employee Stock Options disclose the activity of these awards granted to direct employees of SpinCo. Awards to indirect employees of SpinCo (e.g., awards to Rayonier’s corporate staff that provide services to SpinCo) are excluded from the following disclosures; however, the expense for those awards is included in expense allocated to SpinCo for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier. See Note 1— Separation and Basis of Presentation to the Combined Financial Statements.

Fair Value Calculations by Award

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock granted under the Stock Plan generally vests upon completion of a one to three year period. The fair value of each share granted is equal to the share price of Rayonier’s stock on the date of grant. As of December 31, 2013, there was $0.4 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to SpinCo’s outstanding restricted stock. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

The following table summarizes the activity of Rayonier’s restricted shares granted to employees of SpinCo for the three years ended December 31:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Restricted shares granted

     10,200           600           5,625     

Weighted average price of restricted shares granted

   $   56.00         $   44.34         $   44.45     

(Amounts in millions)

  

Intrinsic value of restricted stock outstanding (a)

   $ 0.7         $ 0.3         $ 0.3     

Fair value of restricted stock vested

   $ —         $ —         $ 1.2     

Cash used to pay the minimum withholding tax requirements in lieu of receiving common shares

   $ —         $ —         $ 0.4     

(a) Intrinsic value of restricted stock outstanding is based on the market price of Rayonier’s stock at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

The following table summarizes the 2013 activity of Rayonier restricted shares granted to employees of SpinCo:

 

     Number of
Shares
     Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
(per common share)
 

Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 2012

                     6,225          $                           44.44     

Granted

     10,200           56.00     

Vested

     (600)          44.34     
  

 

 

    

Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 2013

     15,825           51.89     
  

 

 

    

Performance Share Units

Rayonier’s performance share units generally vest upon completion of a three-year period. The number of shares, if any, that are ultimately awarded is contingent upon Rayonier’s total shareholder return versus selected peer group companies. The performance share payout is based on a market condition and as such, the awards are valued using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The model generates the fair value of the award at the grant date, which is then amortized over the vesting period.

The Stock Plan allows for the cash settlement of the minimum required withholding tax on performance share unit awards. As of December 31, 2013, there was $1.6 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to SpinCo’s performance share unit awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

The following table summarizes the activity of Rayonier’s performance share units granted to employees of SpinCo for the three years ended December 31:

 

     2013      2012      2011  

Rayonier common shares reserved for performance shares

     52,900           57,000           61,980     

Weighted average fair value of performance share units granted

   $    58.99         $ 56.36         $ 51.71     

(Amounts in millions)

        

Intrinsic value of outstanding performance share units (a)

   $ 3.6         $ 4.8         $ 3.9     

Fair value of performance shares vested

   $ 1.0         $ 2.5         $ 0.5     

Cash used to pay the minimum withholding tax requirements in lieu of receiving common shares

   $ 1.2         $ 0.4         $ 0.3     

 

(a) Intrinsic value of outstanding performance share units is based on the market price of Rayonier’s stock at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

The following table summarizes the 2013 activity of Rayonier performance shares granted to employees of SpinCo:

 

     Number
of Units
     Weighted Average Grant
Date Fair Value
(per common share)
 

Outstanding performance share units at December 31, 2012

                 92,085        $                                 48.72    

Granted

     26,450          58.99    

Units distributed

     (32,595)         39.19    

Cancelled

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

Outstanding performance share units at December 31, 2013

     85,940          55.49    
  

 

 

    

Expected volatility was estimated using daily returns on Rayonier’s common stock for the three-year period ending on the grant date. The risk-free rate was based on the 3-year U.S. treasury rate on the date of the award. The dividend yield was not used to calculate fair value as all awards granted after January 1, 2010 receive dividend equivalents. The following chart provides a tabular overview of the assumptions used in calculating the fair value of the awards granted for the three years ended December 31, 2013:

 

         2013             2012             2011      

Expected volatility

     23.2     36.9     51.3

Risk-free rate

     0.4     0.4     1.0

Non-Qualified Employee Stock Options

The exercise price of each non-qualified stock option granted under both the 1994 Plan and the Stock Plan are equal to the closing market price of Rayonier’s stock on the grant date. Under the 1994 Plan, the maximum term is 10 years and two days from the grant date while under the Stock Plan, the maximum term is 10 years from the grant date. Awards vest ratably over three years. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The expected volatility is based on historical volatility for each grant and is calculated using the historical change in the daily market price of Rayonier’s common stock over the expected life of the award. The expected life is based on prior exercise behavior. SpinCo has elected to value each grant in total and recognize the expense for stock options on a straight-line basis over three years.

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

The following chart provides a tabular overview of the weighted average assumptions and related fair value calculations of options granted for the three years ended December 31:

 

         2013              2012              2011      

Expected volatility

     39.0%         39.3%         38.2%   

Dividend yield

     3.4%         3.6%         3.9%   

Risk-free rate

     1.0%         1.3%         2.6%   

Expected life (in years)

     6.3          6.4          6.5    

Fair value per share of options granted

     $14.00          $11.85          $9.99    

Fair value of options granted (in millions)

     0.7          0.7          0.6    

The following table summarizes the 2013 activity of Rayonier stock options granted to employees of SpinCo:

 

    Number of
Shares
    Weighted Average
Exercise Price
(per common share)
    Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(in years)
    Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

(in millions)
 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2012

          353,574        $                     30.49                                   6.0        $             7.5    

Granted

    52,340         52.63         —         —    

Exercised

    (53,021)        27.64         —         —    

Cancelled

    (2,615)        46.64         —         —    
 

 

 

       

Options outstanding at December 31, 2013

    350,278        $ 34.00         5.7        $ 3.5    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options vested and expected to vest

    350,096        $ 33.99         5.7        $ 3.5    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options exercisable at December 31, 2013

    284,125        $ 31.01         5.2        $ 3.4    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

A summary of additional information pertaining to Rayonier stock options granted to employees of SpinCo is presented below:

 

         2013              2012              2011      

(Amounts in millions)

        

Intrinsic value of options exercised (a)

   $       0.8        $       3.6        $       2.5    

Fair value of options vested

   $ 0.6        $ 0.6        $ 0.5    

(a)         Intrinsic value of stock options exercised is based on the market price of Rayonier’s stock at December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

As of December 31, 2013, there was 0.3 million of unrecognized compensation costs related to SpinCo’s stock options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted period of 1.0 year.

 

16. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

SpinCo has two qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering a significant majority of its employees. Rayonier closed enrollment in these pension plans to Fernandina hourly employees hired after April 30, 2006 and to Jesup hourly employees hired after March 4, 2009. Employee benefit plan liabilities are

 

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Table of Contents

RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

calculated using actuarial estimates and management assumptions. These estimates are based on historical information, along with certain assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions, as well as changes in actual experience, could cause the estimates to change.

During 2013, SpinCo amended its postretirement medical plan for active and retired hourly employees at the Jesup mill by placing a limit on SpinCo’s contributions toward retiree medical coverage. The change was accounted for as a negative plan amendment, which resulted in a reduction to the retiree medical liability. The net impact of the reduction was an unrecognized gain in other comprehensive income of $3.4 million which will be amortized over 13.9 years, the average remaining service period of participants. As a result of the plan change, a gain of $0.1 million was included in SpinCo’s net periodic benefit cost in 2013.

The following tables set forth the change in the projected benefit obligation and plan assets and reconcile the funded status and the amounts recognized in the Combined Balance Sheets for the pension and postretirement benefit plans for the two years ended December 31:

 

    Pension     Postretirement  
        2013             2012             2013             2012      

Change in Projected Benefit Obligation

 

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $     189,869        $     175,605        $     22,001        $     20,177    

Service cost

    2,790         2,651         941         823    

Interest cost

    6,900         7,260         741         757    

Actuarial (gain) loss

    (17,708)        12,670         (2,244)        1,262    

Plan amendments

    —         —         (3,372)        —    

Employee contributions

    —         —         872         1,009    

Benefits paid

    (8,774)        (8,317)        (1,761)        (2,027)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 173,077        $ 189,869        $ 17,178        $ 22,001    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in Plan Assets

     

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 158,773        $ 146,994        $ —        $ —    

Actual return on plan assets

    20,882         20,681         —         —    

Employer contributions

    —         —         889         1,018    

Employee contributions

    —         —         872         1,009    

Benefits paid

    (8,774)        (8,317)        (1,761)        (2,027)   

Other expense

    (663)        (585)        —         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 170,218        $ 158,773        $ —        $ —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Funded Status at End of Year:

       

Net accrued benefit cost

   $ (2,859)       $ (31,096)       $ (17,178)       $ (22,001)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amounts recognized in the Combined

       

Balance Sheets consist of:

       

Noncurrent assets

   $ 2,711        $ —        $ —       $ —    

Current liabilities

    —         —         (954)        (1,116)   

Noncurrent liabilities

    (5,570)        (31,096)        (16,224)        (20,885)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net amount recognized

   $ (2,859)       $ (31,096)       $ (17,178)       $ (22,001)   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Net gains or losses and prior service costs or credits recognized in other comprehensive income for the three years ended December 31 are as follows:

 

     Pension      Postretirement  
         2013              2012              2011              2013              2012              2011      

Net gains (losses)

   $     25,411        $   (5,234)       $     (29,757)       $     2,244        $     (1,262)       $     (3,683)   

Negative plan amendment

     —          —          —          3,372          —          —    

Prior service benefit

     —          —          —          —          —          631    

Net gains or losses and prior service costs or credits reclassified from other comprehensive income and recognized as a component of pension and postretirement expense for the three years ended December 31 are as follows:

 

     Pension      Postretirement  
         2013              2012              2011              2013              2012             2011      

Amortization of losses

   $     6,494       $     5,326       $     3,229       $     549       $     491      $     383   

Amortization of prior service cost

     1,292         1,292         1,339         66         80  (a)      80  (a) 

Amortization of negative plan amendment

                             (105)         (55)  (a)      (55)  (a) 

(a)    Includes a reclassification to adjust for the effect of a negative plan amendment.

Net losses and prior service costs or credits that have not yet been included in pension and postretirement expense for the two years ended December 31, which have been recognized as a component of AOCI are as follows:

 

     Pension      Postretirement  
         2013              2012              2013              2012      

Prior service cost

    $          (5,707)       $         (6,999)       $ (262)        $      (328)  (a) 

Net losses

     (52,751)         (84,657)         (7,585)         (10,379)   

Negative plan amendment

     —          —          3,787          521  (a) 

Deferred income tax benefit

     21,337          33,455          1,482          3,717    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

AOCI

    $ (37,121)       $ (58,201)        $      (2,578)       $ (6,469)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

(a)    Includes a reclassification to adjust for the effect of a negative plan amendment.

For pension and postretirement plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets, the following table sets forth the projected and accumulated benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for the two years ended December 31:

 

         2013              2012      

Projected benefit obligation (a)

   $     129,076        $     189,869    

Accumulated benefit obligation

     129,076          189,869    

Fair value of plan assets

     123,506          158,773    

(a)    Per the Jesup and Fernandina plans, the projected benefit obligation is not calculated based on future compensation levels. Accordingly, the projected benefit obligation equals the accumulated benefit obligation for these plans.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

The following tables set forth the components of net pension and postretirement benefit cost that have been recognized during the three years ended December 31:

 

    Pension     Postretirement  
        2013             2012             2011             2013             2012             2011      

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

           

Service cost

   $     2,790        $     2,651        $     2,296        $     941        $     823        $     604    

Interest cost

    6,900         7,260         7,838         741         757         783    

Expected return on plan assets

    (12,515)        (12,660)        (12,882)        —         —         —    

Amortization of prior service cost

    1,292         1,292         1,339         66         80  (a)      80  (a) 

Amortization of losses

    6,494         5,326         3,229         549         491         383    

Amortization of negative plan amendment

    —         —         —         (105     (55)  (a)      (55 ) (a) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost (b)

   $     4,961        $     3,869        $     1,820        $     2,192        $     2,096        $     1,795    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes a reclassification to adjust for the effect of a negative plan amendment.

 

(b) The net periodic benefit costs for Jesup and Fernandina’s pension and postretirement plans are recorded in cost of goods sold in the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

The estimated pre-tax amounts that will be amortized from AOCI into net periodic benefit cost in 2014 are as follows:

 

     Pension     Postretirement  

Amortization of loss

    $             3,943       $                490    

Amortization of prior service cost

     1,167        17    

Amortization of negative plan amendment

            (535
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amortization of AOCI loss

    $ 5,110       $ (28
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following table sets forth the principal assumptions inherent in the determination of benefit obligations and net periodic benefit cost of the pension and postretirement benefit plans as of December 31:

 

    Pension     Postretirement  
        2013             2012             2011             2013             2012             2011      

Assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31:

           

Discount rate

    4.60%        3.70%        4.20%        4.60%        3.60%        4.10%   

Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for years ended December 31:

           

Discount rate

    3.70%        4.20%        5.25%        3.60%        4.10%        5.10%   

Expected long-term return on plan assets

    8.50%        8.50%        8.50%        n/a        n/a        n/a   

At December 31, 2013, the pension plans’ discount rate was 4.6 percent, which closely approximates interest rates on high-quality, long-term obligations. Effective December 31, 2013, the expected return on plan assets remained at 8.5 percent, which is based on historical and expected long-term rates of return on broad equity and

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

bond indices and consideration of the actual annualized rate of return. SpinCo, with the assistance of external consultants, utilizes this information in developing assumptions for returns, and risks and correlation of asset classes, which are then used to establish the asset allocation ranges.

The following table sets forth the assumed health care cost trend rates at December 31:

 

     Postretirement  
         2013             2012      

Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year

     7.00%        7.50%   

Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)

     5.00%        5.00%   

Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate

     2017         2017    

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the postretirement benefit plans. The following table shows the effect of a one percentage point change in assumed health care cost trends:

 

     1 Percent  

Effect on:

       Increase             Decrease      

Total of service and interest cost components

   $ 1,896       $ (1,506)   

Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation

       18,262           (16,254)   

Investment of Plan Assets

SpinCo’s pension plans’ asset allocation at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and target allocation ranges by asset category are as follows:

 

     Percentage of Plan Assets     Target
Allocation
    Range    
 

Asset Category

       2013             2012        

Domestic equity securities

     42%        41%        40-45%    

International equity securities

     26%        25%        20-30%    

Domestic fixed income securities

     25%        26%        25-30%    

International fixed income securities

     4%        5%        4-6%    

Real estate fund

     3%        3%        2-4%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

                 100%                    100%     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Rayonier’s Pension and Savings Plan Committee and the Audit Committee of the board of directors oversee the pension plans’ investment program which is designed to maximize returns and provide sufficient liquidity to meet plan obligations while maintaining acceptable risk levels. The investment approach emphasizes diversification by allocating the plans’ assets among asset categories and selecting investment managers whose various investment methodologies will be minimally correlative with each other. Investments within the equity categories may include large capitalization, small capitalization and emerging market securities, while the international fixed income portfolio may include emerging markets debt. Pension assets did not include a direct investment in Rayonier common shares at December 31, 2013 or 2012.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Fair Value Measurements

The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy (see Note 3— Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Combined Financial Statements for definition), the assets of the plans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

    Fair Value at December 31, 2013     Fair Value at December 31, 2012  

Asset Category

      Level 1             Level 2             Total             Level 1             Level 2             Total      

Domestic equity securities

   $    14,581        $    54,984        $    69,565        $    25,077        $    37,751        $    62,828    

International equity securities

    27,722         15,603         43,325         25,625         13,452         39,077    

Domestic fixed income
securities

    —         42,421         42,421         —         40,124         40,124    

International fixed income securities

    7,533         —         7,533         7,795         —         7,795    

Real estate fund

    4,817         —         4,817         5,054         —         5,054    

Short-term investments

    437         2,120         2,557         14         3,881         3,895    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 55,090        $ 115,128        $ 170,218        $ 63,565        $ 95,208        $ 158,773    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The valuation methodology used for measuring the fair value of these asset categories was as follows:

Level 1 — Net asset value in an observable market.

Level 2 — Assets classified as level two are held in collective trust funds. The net asset value of a collective trust is calculated by determining the fair value of the fund’s underlying assets, deducting its liabilities, and dividing by the units outstanding as of the valuation date. These funds are not publicly traded; however, the unit price calculation is based on observable market inputs of the funds’ underlying assets.

There have been no changes in the methodology used during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Cash Flows

Expected benefit payments for the next ten years are as follows:

 

     Pension
Benefits
     Postretirement
Benefits
 

2014

    $             9,599         $             954    

2015

     10,005          1,042    

2016

     10,503          1,122    

2017

     10,929          1,132    

2018

     11,268          1,242    

2019 - 2023

     59,545          5,636    

Shared Pension and Postretirement Plans

Certain SpinCo employees participate in defined benefit pension, excess pension and postretirement health and life insurance plans sponsored by Rayonier, which include participants of other Rayonier subsidiaries. SpinCo recorded expense of $9.8 million, $9.1 million, and $5.8 million for 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, for its allocation of costs related to these plans. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, there were no required contributions outstanding.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

Defined Contribution Plans

SpinCo provides defined contribution plans to all of its hourly and salaried employees. SpinCo contributions charged to expense for these plans were $2.1 million, $2.0 million and $1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Rayonier Hourly and Salaried Defined Contribution Plans include Rayonier common shares with a fair market value of $73.2 million and $89.4 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

As discussed above, all pension plans are currently closed to new employees. Employees not eligible for the pension plans are immediately eligible to participate in Rayonier’s 401(k) plan and receive an enhanced contribution. SpinCo’s expense related to this plan enhancement for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 were $0.9 million, $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

 

17. QUARTERLY RESULTS FOR 2013 and 2012 (Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended         
         March 31              June 30              Sept. 30              Dec. 31              Total Year      

2013

  

Sales

   $     285,165        $     254,189        $     225,523        $     281,726        $     1,046,603    

Gross Margin

     97,308          84,351          67,376          83,530          332,565    

Operating Income

     87,357          71,709          59,313          70,244          288,623    

Net Income

     67,501          55,410          46,057          50,799          219,767    

2012

              

Sales

   $ 252,139        $ 253,651        $ 288,632        $ 300,954        $ 1,095,376    

Gross Margin

     86,067          89,366          105,883          98,353          379,669    

Operating Income

     74,895          80,280          97,582          89,225          341,982    

Net Income

     50,684          62,344          68,741          60,327          242,096    

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (COMBINED)

Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011

(In Thousands)

 

Description

  Balance
at
Beginning
of Year
    Charged
to Cost
and
Expenses
    Deductions     Balance
at End
of Year
 

Allowance for doubtful accounts:

   

Year ended December 31, 2013

  $         140       $         —       $             —        $ 140    

Year ended December 31, 2012

  $ 140       $ —       $ —        $ 140    

Year ended December 31, 2011

  $ 140       $ —       $ —        $ 140    

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance:

   

Year ended December 31, 2013

  $ 1,201       $ 23,387  (a)    $ —        $         24,588    

Year ended December 31, 2012

  $ 945       $ 256       $ —        $ 1,201    

Year ended December 31, 2011

  $ 5,650       $ —       $ (4,705)       $ 945    

 

(a) The increase in the valuation allowance during 2013 was primarily related to Georgia investment tax credits earned on the CSE project.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013

(Unaudited)

(Thousands of dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  

SALES

    $   243,499         $   285,165    

Costs and Expenses

     

Cost of sales

     188,719          187,857    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross margin

     54,780          97,308    

Selling and general expenses

     8,226          9,609    

Other operating expense, net

     3,190          342    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

     43,364          87,357    

Interest and miscellaneous income, net

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     43,364          87,357    

Income tax expense

     12,417          7,354    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NET INCOME

     30,947          80,003    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     

Amortization of pension and postretirement plans, net of income tax expense of $477 and $782

     830          1,360    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

    $ 830         $ 1,360    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

    $ 31,777         $ 81,363    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013

(Unaudited)

(Thousands of dollars)

 

 

    

Supplemental

Pro Forma

               
     March 31,
2014
     March 31,
2014
     December 31,
2013
 

ASSETS

  

     

CURRENT ASSETS

        

Cash and cash equivalents

    $ —          $ —          $ —     

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $140 and $140

     80,108          80,108          71,097    

Inventory

     125,686          125,686          128,706    

Deferred tax assets

     15,902          15,902          22,532    

Prepaid and other current assets

     25,809          25,809          23,720    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current assets

     247,505          247,505          246,055    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

        

Land

     13,939          13,939          13,456    

Buildings

     174,113          174,113          173,554    

Machinery and equipment

     1,753,571          1,753,571          1,749,410    

Construction in progress

     32,289          32,289          19,533    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, gross

     1,973,912          1,973,912          1,955,953    

Less—accumulated depreciation

     (1,126,153)         (1,126,153)         (1,109,665)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

     847,759          847,759          846,288    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS

     27,206          27,206          27,923    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

    $ 1,122,470         $ 1,122,470         $ 1,120,266    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND NET INVESTMENT

  

     

CURRENT LIABILITIES

        

Accounts payable

    $ 62,655         $ 62,655         $ 54,198    

Accrued taxes

     1,682          1,682          1,867    

Accrued payroll and benefits

     9,777          9,777          10,814    

Accrued customer incentives

     10,082          10,082          7,728    

Distribution payable to Rayonier Inc.

     950,000          —          —    

Other current liabilities

     1,662          1,662          5,239    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,035,858          85,858          79,846    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

     21,441          21,441          21,793    

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     45,842          45,842          49,224    

OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

     1,111          1,111          1,102    

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)

        

NET INVESTMENT

        

Retained earnings

     1,446,841          1,446,841          1,415,894    

Transfers to Parent, net

     (1,389,754)         (439,754)         (407,894)   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (38,869)         (38,869)         (39,699)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL NET INVESTMENT

     18,218          968,218          968,301    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET INVESTMENT

    $ 1,122,470         $ 1,122,470         $ 1,120,266    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC.

CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

(Unaudited)

(Thousands of dollars)

 

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     

Net income

    $     30,947         $     80,003    

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

     20,649          15,153    

Stock-based incentive compensation expense

     1,686          1,955    

Deferred income taxes

     (804)         (70,439)   

Amortization of losses from pension and postretirement plans

     1,308          2,099    

Loss from sale/disposal of property, plant and equipment

     532          430    

Other

     (161)         (188)   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

     

Receivables

     (9,011)         (9,373)   

Inventories

     3,020          11,888    

Accounts payable

     7,174          5,292    

Accrued customer incentives

     2,354          131    

All other operating activities

     (2,941)         (6,911)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

     54,753          30,040    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     

Capital expenditures

     (21,715)         (21,365)   

Jesup mill cellulose specialties expansion project (gross purchases of $0 and $57,693, net of purchases on account of $0 and $20,959)

     —          (36,734)   

Other

     508          2,946    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES

     (21,207)         (55,153)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     

Net payments from (to) Parent

     (33,546)         25,113    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

     (33,546)         25,113    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     

Change in cash and cash equivalents

     —          —    

Balance, beginning of year

     —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, end of year

    $ —         $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION

     

Non-cash investing activity:

     

Capital assets purchased on account

    $         15,390         $         14,106    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

See Notes to Condensed Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

1. SEPARATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The Separation

On January 27, 2014, Rayonier Inc. (“Rayonier”) announced approval by its board of directors to pursue the separation of its performance fibers segment into a stand-alone, publicly traded corporation. This separation is expected to be completed in accordance with a separation and distribution agreement between Rayonier and the performance fibers segment to be known as Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (“SpinCo”). Rayonier intends to distribute, on a pro-rata basis, all of the shares of SpinCo common stock to the Rayonier shareholders as of the record date of the distribution. SpinCo was incorporated in Delaware as a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier on January 16, 2014. The separation is subject to market conditions, customary regulatory approvals, the receipt of an affirmative Internal Revenue Service ruling and opinion from outside tax counsel with respect to the tax-free nature of the separation, and final approval by Rayonier board of directors.

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited condensed combined financial statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, these financial statements and notes reflect all adjustments (all of which are 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 financial statements and supplementary data included in SpinCo’s Audited Combined Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2013.

This interim financial information was prepared for the purpose of separately presenting the financial position of the Performance Fibers segment of Rayonier and the results of operations, cash flows and changes in equity (See “The Separation” above). Historically, financial statements have not been prepared for the performance fibers business and the accompanying financial statements for SpinCo have been derived from the historical accounting records of Rayonier. The historical operating results and cash flows of SpinCo as presented may not be indicative of what they would have been had SpinCo been a stand-alone entity, nor are they necessarily indicative of what SpinCo’s operating results and cash flows may be in the future. Actual costs that would have been incurred if SpinCo had been a stand-alone company would depend on multiple factors, including organizational structure and strategic decisions made in various areas, including division of shared services in human resources, payroll, legal, finance, procurement, information technology and infrastructure, among others.

The statements of operations for SpinCo include allocations of certain costs from Rayonier related to the operations of SpinCo including: medical costs for active salaried and retired employees, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs, equity based compensation and a pro-rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, human resource services and information systems. These corporate administrative costs were charged to SpinCo based on employee headcount and payroll costs. The combined statements of income also include expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments. These allocations are based on revenues and specific identification of time and/or activities associated with SpinCo. Management believes the methodologies employed for the allocation of costs were reasonable in relation to the historical reporting of Rayonier, but may not be indicative of costs had SpinCo operated on a stand-alone basis, nor what the costs may be in the future.

Rayonier uses a centralized approach to the cash management and financing of its operations. SpinCo’s cash is transferred to Rayonier daily and Rayonier funds SpinCo’s operating and investing activities as needed. Accordingly, the cash and cash equivalents held by Rayonier at the corporate level were not allocated to SpinCo

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

for any of the periods presented. SpinCo reflects transfers of cash to and from Rayonier’s cash management system as a component of “Transfers to Parent, net” on the combined balance sheets. SpinCo has not included any interest expense for intercompany cash advances from Rayonier, since historically Rayonier has not allocated interest expense related to intercompany advances to any of its businesses. In addition, none of Rayonier’s interest income was allocated since excess cash of SpinCo’s operations was assumed to be remitted to Rayonier.

The financial statements for SpinCo include a provision for income taxes determined on a separate return basis which takes into account the impact of the Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”) and subsequent exchanges for the Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”). SpinCo was a subsidiary of Rayonier and, for purposes of U.S. federal and state income taxes, was not directly subject to income taxes but was included in the income tax return of Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rayonier.

None of Rayonier’s interest expense and short term and long-term debt was allocated to SpinCo, since none of the debt was specific to the performance fibers business. Additionally, Rayonier entities outside of the performance fibers business are the primary obligors of the debt and the cash generated from performance fibers was adequate to fund SpinCo’s operations. Significant changes in the operations or capital structure of SpinCo could have occurred if it operated as an independent stand-alone company, including a change in capital structure involving the addition of debt and/or equity instruments, which could have had a significant impact on its financial position and results of operations.

Rayonier assets specifically identified and assigned to SpinCo include all of Rayonier’s performance fibers producing assets and related inventories at its Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida sites and four chip mills located in Georgia and Virginia. Other assets include accounts receivable, inventory, spare part inventory and deferred tax assets. Liabilities specifically identified with SpinCo include accounts payable, property taxes, payroll, customer incentives, deferred tax liabilities related to differences in the book and tax basis of the pulp producing assets and the net liabilities of the Jesup and Fernandina pension and other post-retirement plans. The pension and OPEB liabilities were estimated using the same actuarial assumptions as those used in the consolidated Rayonier financial statements for active and retired hourly and salaried employees of SpinCo.

Unaudited Supplemental Pro Forma Information. Staff Accounting Bulletin 1.B.3 requires that certain distributions to owners prior to or coincident with a separation be considered as distributions in contemplation of the separation. Prior to the completion of SpinCo’s separation from Rayonier, SpinCo intends to distribute approximately $950 million to Rayonier. The supplemental pro forma statement of financial position as of March 31, 2014, gives pro forma effect to the assumed distribution as though it had been declared and was payable as of that date.

New or Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. The standard requires an unrecognized tax benefit to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (“NOL”) or similar carryforward or a tax credit carryforward. If an NOL or tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date or tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability. ASU 2013-11 became effective first quarter. This standard has been applied to income tax balances but it did not have a material impact on SpinCo’s financial position. See Note 5— Income Taxes to the Condensed Combined Financial Statements

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

2. SEGMENT INFORMATION

SpinCo operates in one reportable business segment: Performance Fibers. The Performance Fibers segment includes two major product lines, cellulose specialties and commodity viscose/other. All sales originate out of the United States from the Jesup, Georgia mill, the Fernandina Beach, Florida mill and the four chip mills. All assets are located in the United States, except for three foreign sales offices located in London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

 

       Sales by Product Line  
       For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
       2014        2013  

Performance Fibers

         

Cellulose specialties

      $ 206,470           $ 246,872    

Absorbent materials

       10,173            37,300    

Commodity viscose/other (a)

       26,856            993    
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total Sales

      $ 243,499           $ 285,165    
    

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(a) Other includes wood chips, bark and shavings.

Depreciation expense reflected in cost of sales in the Condensed Combined Statements of Income was $20.5 million and $14.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

As discussed in Note 1 — Separation and Basis of Presentation , the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income include expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments, including general corporate expenses related to executive oversight, accounting, treasury, tax, legal, human resources and information technology. Net charges from Rayonier for these services, reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income were $3.4 million and $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively.

The Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income also include allocations of certain costs from Rayonier related to the operations of SpinCo including: medical costs for active salaried and retired employees, worker’s compensation, general liability and property insurance, salaried payroll costs, equity based compensation and a pro-rata share of direct corporate administration expense for accounting, human resource services and information system maintenance. Net charges from Rayonier for these costs, reflected in the Combined Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income were $14.1 million and $13.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

4. OTHER ASSETS

Included in Other Assets are manufacturing and maintenance supplies not expected to be utilized within the next 12 months, and other deferred expenses including capitalized software costs. Software costs are capitalized and amortized over a period not exceeding five years using the straight-line method. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, capitalized software costs were $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

5. INCOME TAXES

Alternative Fuel Mixture Credit (“AFMC”) and Cellulosic Biofuel Producer Credit (“CBPC”)

The U.S. Internal Revenue Code allowed two credits for taxpayers that produced and used an alternative fuel in the operation of their business through December 31, 2009. The AFMC is a $0.50 per gallon refundable tax credit (which is not taxable), while the CBPC is a $1.01 per gallon credit that is nonrefundable, taxable and has limitations based on an entity’s tax liability. SpinCo produces and uses an alternative fuel (“black liquor”) at its Jesup, Georgia and Fernandina Beach, Florida performance fibers mills, which qualified for both credits. Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. claimed the AFMC on its original 2009 tax return.

In the first quarter of 2013 management approved the exchange of approximately 120 million gallons of black liquor for the CBPC previously claimed for the AFMC, resulting in a $18.8 million tax benefit. As described in Note 1 — Separation and Basis of Presentation , Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc. claimed these credits. At the date of separation, any CBPC carryforward will not be available to offset future taxes of SpinCo but will remain with Rayonier TRS Holdings Inc.

Provision for Income Taxes

SpinCo’s effective tax rate for the first three months of 2014 was 29% percent, compared to 8% percent for the same period of 2013. The effective tax rate in 2014 was higher than 2013 primarily due to the 2013 AFMC for CBPC exchange.

A reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the actual income tax rate was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
       2014          2013    

U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

     35.0%         35.0%   

Domestic manufacturing production deduction

     (3.8)         (3.4)   

Other

     0.6          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Effective tax rate before discrete items

     31.8%         31.6%   

AFMC for CBPC exchange

     —          (21.6)   

Research credit

     —          (1.6)   

State credit

     (2.8)         —    

Other

     (0.4)         —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income tax rate as reported

     28.6%         8.4%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

During the first quarter of 2013, SpinCo implemented ASU 2013-11, which requires, in certain instances, an unrecognized tax benefit (or portion of an unrecognized tax benefit) to be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward. As a result, SpinCo reclassified $3.6 million from an unrecognized tax benefit liability to a reduction to current deferred tax assets at March 31, 2014.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

6. INVENTORY

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, SpinCo’s inventory included the following:

 

     2014      2013  

Finished goods

    $ 108,128         $ 105,398    

Work in progress

     2,533          3,555    

Raw materials

     12,649          17,420    

Manufacturing and maintenance supplies

     2,376          2,333    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total inventory

    $     125,686         $     128,706    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

7. NET INVESTMENT

An analysis of the changes in Net Investment for each of the periods presented is shown below.

 

     Retained
Earnings
     Transfers
(to)/from
Parent, net (a)
     Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)
     Net
Investment
 

Balance, December 31, 2012

    $ 1,196,127         $ (406,753)        $ (64,670)        $ 724,704    

Net income

     219,767          —          —          219,767    

Allocation of costs from parent (b)

     —          (67,781)         —          (67,781)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

     —              1,073,275          —              1,073,275    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

     —          (1,006,635)         —          (1,006,635)   

Net gain from pension and postretirement plans

     —          —                  24,971          24,971    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2013

    $ 1,415,894         $ (407,894)        $ (39,699)        $ 968,301    

Net income

     30,947          —          —          30,947    

Allocation of costs from parent (b)

     —          (17,558)         —          (17,558)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

     —          264,395          —          264,395    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

     —          (278,697)         —          (278,697)   

Net gain from pension and postretirement plans

     —          —          830          830    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance, March 31, 2014

    $ 1,446,841        $ (439,754)        $ (38,869)        $ 968,218    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(a) The average balance of Transfers to Parent, net amounted to $423 million and $407 million during 2014 and 2013, respectively.
(b) Included in the costs allocated to SpinCo from the parent are expense allocations for certain corporate functions historically performed by Rayonier and not allocated to its operating segments. See Note 3— Related Party Transactions to the Combined Financial Statements.

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

The following is a reconciliation of the amounts presented as “Transfers (to)/from Parent, net” in the above table and the amounts presented as “Net payments (to)/from parent” on the Combined Statements of Cash Flows.

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31, 2014
 

Allocation of costs from parent

    $ (17,558)   

Cash receipts received by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

     264,395    

Cash disbursements made by parent on SpinCo’s behalf

     (278,697)   

Non-cash adjustments:

  

Stock-based compensation

     (1,686)   
  

 

 

 

Net payments (to)/from parent per the Combined Statements of Cash Flows

    $ (33,546)   
  

 

 

 

 

8. A CCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss was comprised of the following:

 

     Unrecognized
components of employee
benefit plans, net of tax
 

Balance as of December 31, 2013

     (39,699)   
  

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications

     —    

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (a)

                                     830    
  

 

 

 

Net other comprehensive income

     830    
  

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2014

    $ (38,869)   
  

 

 

 

 

(a) These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 11— Employee Benefit Plans to the Condensed Combined Financial Statements for additional information.

 

9. OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE, NET

The following table provides the composition of Other operating expense, net for the three months ended March 31:

 

     2014      2013  

Loss on sale or disposal of property plant and equipment

    $           532         $           430    

Separation costs

     2,766          —    

Miscellaneous income

     (108)         (88)   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

    $         3,190         $           342    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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RAYONIER ADVANCED MATERIALS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

(Dollar amounts in thousands unless otherwise stated)

 

10. CONTINGENCIES

SpinCo is engaged in various legal actions and has been named as a defendant in various other lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business. While SpinCo has procured reasonable and customary insurance covering risks normally occurring in connection with its businesses, it has in certain cases retained some risk through the operation of self-insurance, primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation, property insurance and general liability. These other lawsuits and claims, either individually or in the aggregate, are not expected to have a material adverse effect on SpinCo’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flow.

 

11. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

SpinCo has two qualified non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering a significant majority of its employees. Rayonier closed enrollment in these pension plans to Fernandina hourly employees hired after April 30, 2006 and to Jesup hourly employees hired after March 4, 2009. Employee benefit plan liabilities are calculated using actuarial estimates and management assumptions. These estimates are based on historical information, along with certain assumptions about future events. Changes in assumptions, as well as changes in actual experience, could cause the estimates to change.

The net pension and postretirement benefit costs that have been recorded are shown in the following tables:

 

     Pension      Postretirement  
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2014      2013          2014              2013      

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

           

Service cost

    $ 553         $ 697         $ 157         $ 227    

Interest cost

     1,949          1,725          153          195    

Expected return on plan assets

     (3,314)         (3,129)         —          —    

Amortization of prior service cost

     292          323                  (10)   

Amortization of losses

     1,023          1,624          122          188    

Amortization of negative plan amendment

     —          —          (134)         17    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

    $ 503         $ 1,240         $ 302         $ 617    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In 2014, SpinCo has no mandatory pension contribution requirements and does not expect to make any discretionary contributions. SpinCo had no mandatory pension contributions and did not make discretionary contributions to its qualified pension plans in 2013.

Shared Pension and Postretirement Plans

Certain SpinCo employees participate in defined benefit pension and postretirement health and life insurance plans sponsored by Rayonier, which include participants of other Rayonier subsidiaries. SpinCo recorded expense of $1.5 million and $2.5 million for the three months ending March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, for its allocation of costs related to these plans. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, there were no required contributions outstanding.

 

F-38