MIDDLE American Tissue Inc.
                                Offer to Exchange
               15% Series B Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2007
 for any and all outstanding 15% Series A Senior Secured Discount Notes due 2007
                Pursuant to Its Prospectus Dated _________, 2000

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EXCHANGE  OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.  NEW YORK CITY TIME,  ON ______ __,
2000 UNLESS  EXTENDED BY THE COMPANY  (THE  "EXPIRATION  DATE").  TENDERS MAY BE
WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Delivery To: The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Exchange Agent

By Mail or Hand/Overnight Delivery:               By Facsimile Transmission:
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Corporate Trust Securities Window              (For Eligible Institutions Only)
Room 234, North Building
55 Water Street                                     (212) 638-7380 or 7381
New York, New York 10041
                                                    Confirm by Telephone:

                                                Carlos Esteves: (212) 638-0828
                                                                (212) 638-0454

     The undersigned  acknowledges  receipt of the Prospectus dated ___________,
2000 (the  "Prospectus")  of Middle American Tissue Inc. (the "Company")  which,
together  with  this  Letter  of  Transmittal  (the  "Letter  of  Transmittal"),
describes the Company's offer (the "Exchange  Offer") to exchange its 15% Series
B Senior Secured Discount Notes due July 15, 2007, (the "Exchange Notes") for an
equal principal amount of the Company's  outstanding 15% Series A Senior Secured
Discount Notes due July 15, 2007 (the "Old Notes").

     The  undersigned  has checked the  appropriate  boxes below and signed this
Letter of  Transmittal  to indicate the action the  undersigned  desires to take
with respect to the Exchange Offer.

     PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL  AND THE PROSPECTUS  CAREFULLY
BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.

     THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED.
QUESTIONS  AND  REQUESTS  FOR  ASSISTANCE  AND  FOR  ADDITIONAL  COPIES  OF  THE
PROSPECTUS AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

     List below the Old Notes to which this Letter of  Transmittal  relates.  If
the space provided below is inadequate,  continue on a separate  signed schedule
affixed hereto.



- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------ --------------------- -------------------
           DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES                      1                   2                    3
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------ --------------------- -------------------
Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)     Certificate     Aggregate Principal    Principal Amount
          (Please fill in, if blank)                Number(s)*      Amount of Old Notes       Tendered**
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------ --------------------- -------------------
                                                                                 

                                                 ------------------ --------------------- -------------------

                                                 ------------------ --------------------- -------------------

                                                 ------------------ --------------------- -------------------

                                                 ------------------ --------------------- -------------------

                                                 ------------------ --------------------- -------------------
                                                       TOTAL
                                                 ------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*    Need  not  be  completed  if  Old  Notes  are  being tendered by book-entry
     transfer.
**   Unless otherwise  indicated in this column, a holder will be deemed to have
     tendered  ALL of the Old Notes  represented  by the Old Notes  indicated in
     column  2.  See  Instruction  2.  Old  Notes  tendered  hereby  must  be in
     denominations  of  principal  amount of $1,000  and any  integral  multiple
     thereof. See Instruction 1.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|_|  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
     MADE TO THE ACCOUNT  MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE  AGENT WITH THE  BOOK-ENTRY
     TRANSFER FACILITY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
     Name of Tendering Institution _____________________________________________
     Account Number ____________________________________________________________
     Transaction Code Number) __________________________________________________
     By  crediting  the  Old  Notes  to  the  Exchange  Agent's  account  at the
     Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility in accordance  with the Book Entry  Transfer
     Facility's  Automated  Tender Offer Program  ("ATOP") and by complying with
     applicable ATOP  procedures  with respect to the Exchange Offer,  including
     transmitting  to the  Exchange  Agent  a  computer  generated  message  (an
     "Agent's  Message") in which the holder of the Old Notes  acknowledges  and
     agrees  to be bound by the terms of,  and  makes  the  representations  and
     warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal, the participant in the
     Book-Entry   Transfer  Facility  confirms  on  behalf  of  itself  and  the
     beneficial  owners  of such Old  Notes  all  provisions  of this  Letter of
     Transmittal (including any representations and warranties) applicable to it
     and such  beneficial  owner as fully as if it had completed the information
     required herein and executed and transmitted  this Letter of Transmittal to
     the Exchange Agent.

|_|  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING  DELIVERED  PURSUANT TO A NOTICE
     OF GUARANTEED  DELIVERY  PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE
     THE FOLLOWING:
     Name(s) of Registered Holder(s) ___________________________________________
     Window Ticket Number (if any) _____________________________________________
     Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery ________________________
     Name of Institution which guaranteed delivery _____________________________
         If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer, Complete the Following:
     Account No. _______________________________________________________________
     Transaction Code No. ______________________________________________________
     Name of Tendering Institution _____________________________________________

|_|  CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO HOLDS OLD NOTES ACQUIRED FOR YOUR
     OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF  MARKET-MAKING  OR OTHER TRADING  ACTIVITIES AND
     WISH TO RECEIVE  COPIES OF THE  PROSPECTUS  AND COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
     SUPPLEMENTS  THERETO FOR USE IN CONNECTION  WITH RESALES OF EXCHANGE  NOTES
     RECEIVED FOR YOUR OWN ACCOUNT IN EXCHANGE FOR SUCH OLD NOTES.
     Name: _____________________________________________________________________
     Address: __________________________________________________________________
     Aggregate Principal Amount of Old Notes so held: $_________________________

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, OR
TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS  VIA FACSIMILE OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE,  WELL
NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.


                                      -2-


     THE  INSTRUCTIONS  CONTAINED  HEREIN SHOULD BE READ  CAREFULLY  BEFORE THIS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

     The Company reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend
the Exchange Offer at its sole  discretion,  in which event the term "Expiration
Date"  shall  mean the  latest  time and date to  which  the  Exchange  Offer is
extended. The Company shall notify the holders of the Old Notes of any extension
by oral or written  notice prior to 9:00 a.m.,  New York City time,  on the next
business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

     This  Letter of  Transmittal  is to be  completed  by a holder of Old Notes
either  if  certificates  are  to  be  forwarded  herewith  or  if a  tender  of
certificates for Old Notes, if available,  is to be made by book-entry  transfer
to the account  maintained by the Exchange Agent at The Depository Trust Company
(the  "Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility")  pursuant to the procedures set forth in
"The  Exchange   Offer-Procedures  for  Tendering  Old  Notes"  section  of  the
Prospectus.  Tenders by  book-entry  transfer may also be made by  delivering an
Agent's  Message  in lieu of this  Letter  of  Transmittal.  The  term  "Agent's
Message" means a message,  transmitted by the Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility to,
and  received  by,  the  Exchange  Agent  and  forming  a part  of a  Book-Entry
Confirmation  (as defined  below),  which  states that the  Book-Entry  Transfer
Facility has received an express  acknowledgement from the tendering participant
in the  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility,  which  acknowledgment  states that such
participant  has  received  and  agrees  to be bound by,  and makes  each of the
representations and warranties contained in, this Letter of Transmittal and that
the Company may enforce this Letter of  Transmittal  against  such  participant.
Holders of Old Notes whose  certificates are not immediately  available,  or who
are unable to deliver  their  certificates  or  confirmation  of the  book-entry
tender of their Old Notes into the Exchange  Agent's  account at the  Book-Entry
Transfer Facility (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") and all other documents required
by  this  Letter  of  Transmittal  to the  Exchange  Agent  on or  prior  to the
Expiration  Date,  must  tender  their Old  Notes  according  to the  guaranteed
delivery  procedures  set  forth  in  "The  Exchange  Offer-Guaranteed  Delivery
Procedures" section of the Prospectus.  See Instruction 1. DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS
TO THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE
AGENT.

     If any tendered Old Notes are not exchanged  pursuant to the Exchange Offer
for any reason, certificates for such nonexchanged or nontendered Old Notes will
be returned (or, in the case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer,  such
Old Notes will be credited to an account  maintained at the Book-Entry  Transfer
Facility),  without  expense to the  tendering  holder,  promptly  following the
expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.


                                      -3-


               PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  of the Exchange  Offer,  the
undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the  above-described  principal amount
of Old Notes. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the
Old Notes tendered hereby, the undersigned  hereby sells,  assigns and transfers
to, or upon the order of, the Company,  all right,  title and interest in and to
such Old Notes as are being tendered hereby and hereby  irrevocably  constitutes
and appoints the Exchange Agent as  attorney-in-fact  of the  undersigned  (with
full knowledge that the Exchange Agent is also acting as agent of the Company in
connection  with the Exchange  Offer) with respect to such Old Notes,  with full
power of substitution (such power of attorney being an irrevocable power coupled
with an interest), to:

          (a)  deliver  such  Old  Notes in  registered  certificated  form,  or
     transfer  ownership of such Old Notes  through  book-entry  transfer at the
     Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility,  to or upon the order of the Company,  upon
     receipt by the Exchange  Agent,  as the  undersigned's  agent,  of the same
     aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes; and

          (b)  receive,  for  the  account  of the  Company,  all  benefits  and
     otherwise  exercise,  for  the  account  of  the  Company,  all  rights  of
     beneficial  ownership of the Old Notes tendered  hereby in accordance  with
     the terms of the Exchange Offer.

     The  undersigned  hereby  represents and warrants that the  undersigned has
full power and  authority  to tender,  sell,  assign and  transfer the Old Notes
tendered hereby and that,  when the same are accepted for exchange,  the Company
will acquire good,  marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of
all security interests, liens, restrictions, charges, encumbrances,  conditional
sale agreements or other obligations relating to their sale or transfer, and not
subject to any  adverse  claim when the same are  accepted by the  Company.  The
undersigned  hereby  further  represents  that any  Exchange  Notes  acquired in
exchange for Old Notes  tendered  hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary
course of business of the person  receiving such Exchange Notes,  whether or not
such person is the  undersigned,  that  neither the holder of such Old Notes nor
any such other person has an  arrangement  or  understanding  with any person to
participate  in the  distribution  of such  Exchange  Notes and that neither the
holder of such Old Notes nor any such other person is an "affiliate," as defined
in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
of the Company.  The  undersigned has read and agrees to all of the terms of the
Exchange Offer.

     The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made in
reliance  on  interpretations  by the  staff  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  (the  "SEC"),  as set  forth in  no-action  letters  issued to third
parties,  that the Exchange  Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant
to  the  Exchange  Offer  may  be  offered  for  resale,  resold  and  otherwise
transferred  by  holders  thereof  (other  than any such  holder  (x) that is an
"affiliate"  of the Company  within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act or (y) who  purchased  such Old Notes  directly  from the  Company to resell
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (or another  exemption  under the
Securities  Act),  without  compliance  with  the  registration  and  prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange Notes are
acquired in the ordinary course of such holders'  business and such holders have
no  arrangement  with any  person to  participate  in the  distribution  of such
Exchange  Notes.  However,  the  Company  does not intend to request  the SEC to
consider, and the SEC has not considered, the Exchange Offer in the context of a
no-action letter,  and there can be no assurance that the staff of the SEC would
make a similar  determination  with  respect to the  Exchange  Offer as in other
circumstances.

     The  undersigned  represents  that:  (i) it is not engaged in, and does not
intend to engage in, a distribution  of Exchange Notes and has no arrangement or
understanding  to participate in a distribution of Exchange Notes and (ii) it is
not an  "affiliate"  of the  Company  within  the  meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities  Act. If any holder is an affiliate of the Company,  is engaged in or
intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the
distribution  of the  Exchange  Notes to be acquired  pursuant  to the  Exchange
Offer, such holder (i) could not rely on the applicable  interpretations  of the
staff of the SEC and (ii)  must  comply  with the  registration  and  prospectus
delivery  requirements  of the  Securities  Act in  connection  with any  resale
transaction.

     If the undersigned is a broker-dealer  that will receive Exchange Notes for
its own account in exchange for Old Notes acquired as a result of  market-making
or other trading  activities (a  "Participating  Broker-Dealer"),  it represents

                                      -4-


that the Old Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were acquired by it as
a result of market-making or other trading  activities and acknowledges  that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection  with any resale of such Exchange Notes,
which contains a plan of distribution with respect to such resale  transactions;
however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus,  such Participating
Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning  of  the  Securities  Act.  The  Prospectus,  as it may  be  amended  or
supplemented  from time to time,  may be used by a  broker-dealer  in connection
with any resale of Exchange  Notes  received  for Old Notes where such Old Notes
were acquired by a broker-dealer  as a result of  market-making or other trading
activities (other than Old Notes acquired directly from the Company).

     The Company has agreed that,  subject to the provisions of the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in connection with resales
of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Old Notes which were acquired by such
Participating  Broker-Dealer for its own account as a result of market-making or
other trading activities, for a period ending one year after the Expiration Date
or,  if  earlier,  when  such  Exchange  Notes  have  been  disposed  of by such
Participating  Broker-Dealer.  In that regard, each Participating Broker-Dealer,
who  acquired  Old Notes for its own  account  as a result of  market-making  or
trading  activities,  by tendering  such Old Notes and executing  this Letter of
Transmittal,  agrees  that,  upon  receipt  of notice  from the  Company  of the
occurrence  of any event or the  discovery of any fact which makes any statement
contained in the Prospectus  untrue in any material  respect or which causes the
Prospectus  to omit to  state a  material  fact  necessary  in order to make the
statements  contained  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they
were made, not misleading,  such  Participating  Broker-Dealer  will suspend the
sale of Exchange Notes pursuant to the Prospectus  until the Company has amended
or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such  misstatement or omission and has
furnished copies of the amended or supplemented  Prospectus to the Participating
Broker-Dealer  or the  Company has given  notice  that the sale of the  Exchange
Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.

     The  undersigned  will,  upon request,  execute and deliver any  additional
documents  deemed by the Company to be  necessary  or  desirable to complete the
sale,  assignment and transfer of the Old Notes tendered  hereby.  All authority
conferred  or agreed to be  conferred  in this Letter of  Transmittal  and every
obligation of the  undersigned  hereunder  shall be binding upon the successors,
assigns,  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  trustees in bankruptcy  and legal
representatives  of the  undersigned  and shall not be  affected  by,  and shall
survive,  the  death  or  incapacity  of the  undersigned.  This  tender  may be
withdrawn  only in  accordance  with the  procedures  set forth in "The Exchange
Offer-Withdrawal of Tenders" section of the Prospectus.

     Unless  otherwise  indicated herein in the box entitled  "Special  Issuance
Instructions"  below,  please  deliver the Exchange  Notes (and, if  applicable,
substitute certificates  representing Old Notes for any Old Notes not exchanged)
in the name of the undersigned  or, in the case of a book-entry  delivery of Old
Notes,  please credit the account  indicated above  maintained at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility.  Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under the box entitled
"Special Delivery  Instructions"  below, please send the Exchange Notes (and, if
applicable, substitute certificates representing Old Notes for any Old Notes not
exchanged)  to the  undersigned  at the address  shown above in the box entitled
"Description of Old Notes."

     The undersigned  understands  that tenders of Old Notes pursuant to any one
of the procedures described in "The Exchange  Offer-Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes" in the Prospectus and in the instructions  attached hereto will, upon the
Company's  acceptance  for  exchange of such  tendered  Old Notes,  constitute a
binding  agreement  between the  undersigned  and the Company upon the terms and
subject to the  conditions of the Exchange  Offer.  The  undersigned  recognizes
that, under certain  circumstances set forth in the Prospectus,  the Company may
not be required to accept for exchange any of the Old Notes tendered thereby.

     THE UNDERSIGNED,  BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED "DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES"
ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL,  WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE  TENDERED
THE OLD NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX ABOVE.


                                      -5-



                                                               
- -----------------------------------------------------------       --------------------------------------------------
              SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS                                  SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
               (See Instructions 3 and 4)                                     (See Instructions 3 and 4)

  To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old Notes not            To be completed ONLY if certificates for Old
exchanged and/or Exchange Notes are to be issued in the           Notes not exchanged and/or Exchange Notes are to
name of and sent to someone other than the person or              be sent to someone other than the person or
persons whose signature(s) appear(s) below on this Letter         persons whose signature(s) appear(s) below on
of Transmittal, or if Old Notes delivered by book-entry           this Letter of Transmittal, or such person or
transfer which are not accepted for exchange are to be            persons at an address other than shown above in
returned by credit to an account maintained at the                the box entitled "Description of Old Notes" on
Book-Entry Transfer Facility other than the account               this Letter of Transmittal.
indicated above.
                                                                  Mail: Exchange Notes and/or Old Notes to:
Issue: Exchange Notes and/or Old Notes to:
                                                                  Name(s) ___________________________________________
Name(s)                                                                         (Please Type or Print)
       ___________________________________________
                 (Please Type or Print)
                                                                  ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________                             (Please Type or Print)
                 (Please Type or Print)

Address ___________________________________________               Address ___________________________________________

___________________________________________________              ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________              ____________________________________________________
                   (Zip Code)                                                        (Zip Code)

Credit unexchanged Old Notes delivered by book-entry
transfer to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility account
set forth below.

___________________________________________________
             (Book-Entry Transfer Facility
             Account Number, if applicable)

- -----------------------------------------------------------       --------------------------------------------------




                                      -6-


     IMPORTANT:  THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE HEREOF (TOGETHER WITH
THE  CERTIFICATES  FOR OLD  NOTES OR A  BOOK-ENTRY  CONFIRMATION  AND ALL  OTHER
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS OR THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE
EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

             PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY
                               BEFORE COMPLETION.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PLEASE SIGN HERE
                   (TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS)
                    (Complete Substitute Form W-9 on Page 12)


____________________________________

____________________________________

____________________________________
        Signature(s) of Owner                    Date  __________________ , 2000

           Area Code and Telephone Number ___________________________

     If a holder is tendering any Old Notes,  this Letter of Transmittal must be
signed  by  the   registered   holder(s)   as  the  name(s)   appear(s)  on  the
certificate(s)  for the Old Notes or on a securities  position listing or by any
person(s)   authorized  to  become  registered  holder(s)  by  endorsements  and
documents  transmitted  herewith.  If  signature  is  by  a  trustee,  executor,
administrator,  guardian,  officer  or other  person  acting in a  fiduciary  or
representative capacity, please set forth full title. See Instruction 3.

Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________

         _______________________________________________________________________
                                (Please Type or Print)

Capacity: ______________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________
                                (Including Zip Code)

                               SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
                         (If required by Instruction 3)

Signature(s) Guaranteed by an Eligible Institution:

                                               _________________________________
                                                   (Authorized Signature)

                                               _________________________________
                                                           (Title)

                                               _________________________________
                                                      (Name and Firm)

Dated: ________________, 2000

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      -7-


                                  INSTRUCTIONS

         Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Exchange Offer

1.   Delivery  of this  Letter of  Transmittal  and Notes;  Guaranteed  Delivery
     Procedures.

     This  Letter of  Transmittal  is to be  completed  by  holders of Old Notes
either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made
pursuant to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in "The
Exchange Offer-Book-Entry Transfer" section of the Prospectus.  Certificates for
all physically tendered Old Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmations,  as the case may
be, as well as a properly  completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or
manually  signed  facsimile  thereof) and any other  documents  required by this
Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set
forth herein on or prior to the  Expiration  Date, or the tendering  holder must
comply  with the  guaranteed  delivery  procedures  set forth  below.  Old Notes
tendered hereby must be in denominations of a principal amount of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof.

     Holders of Old Notes whose  certificates  for Old Notes are not immediately
available  or who  cannot  deliver  their  certificates  and all other  required
documents  to the  Exchange  Agent on or prior to the  Expiration  Date,  or who
cannot  complete the procedure for  book-entry  transfer on a timely basis,  may
tender their Old Notes pursuant to the guaranteed  delivery procedures set forth
in  "The  Exchange   Offer-Guaranteed   Delivery   Procedures"  section  of  the
Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures, (i) such tender must be made through an
Eligible  Institution (as defined below), (ii) prior to the Expiration Date, the
Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible  Institution a properly completed
and duly executed Letter of Transmittal  (or a facsimile  thereof) and Notice of
Guaranteed  Delivery,  substantially  in the form  provided  by the  Company (by
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission,  mail or hand delivery),  setting forth
the name and  address  of the  holder of Old  Notes and the  amount of Old Notes
tendered,  stating that the tender is being made thereby and  guaranteeing  that
within three business days after the Expiration  Date, the  certificates for all
physically  tendered  Old Notes,  or a  Book-Entry  Confirmation,  and any other
documents  required  by this  Letter of  Transmittal  will be  deposited  by the
Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) the certificates for all
physically  tendered  Old Notes,  in proper  form for  transfer,  or  Book-Entry
Confirmation,  as the case may be,  and all  other  documents  required  by this
Letter of Transmittal,  are received by the Exchange Agent within three business
days after the Expiration Date.

     The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, the Old Notes and all
other required  documents is at the election and risk of the tendering  holders,
but the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received or confirmed by
the Exchange Agent.  Instead of delivery by mail, it is recommended that holders
use an overnight  or hand  delivery  service,  properly  insured.  In all cases,
sufficient time should be allowed to assure delivery to the Exchange Agent prior
to 5:00  p.m.,  New York City time,  on the  Expiration  Date.  Do not send this
Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes to the Company.

     The Company  will not accept any  alternative,  conditional  or  contingent
tenders.  Each tendering  holder,  by execution of a Letter of  Transmittal  (or
facsimile thereof),  waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of
such tender. See "The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus.

2.   Partial  Tenders  (not  applicable  to  holders  of Old Notes who tender by
     book-entry transfer); Withdrawal Rights.

     Tender of Old Notes will be accepted  only in a principal  amount of $1,000
and integral multiples thereof. If less than all of the Old Notes evidenced by a
submitted certificate are to be tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in
the  aggregate  principal  amount of Old Notes to be tendered in the boxes above
entitled  "Description  of Old  Notes-Principal  Amount  Tendered".  A  reissued
certificate  representing  the balance of nontendered  Old Notes will be sent to
such tendering holder,  unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this
Letter of Transmittal,  promptly after the Expiration Date. All of the Old Notes
delivered  to the  Exchange  Agent will be deemed to have been  tendered  unless
otherwise indicated.

     Except as otherwise provided herein,  tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn
at any time on or prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Expiration  Date.
In order for a  withdrawal  to be  effective or prior to that time, a written or
facsimile  transmission  of such notice of withdrawal must be timely received by
the Exchange  Agent at one of its  addresses set forth above on or prior to 5:00
p.m. New York City time on the  Expiration  Date.  Any such notice of withdrawal
must specify the name of the person who tendered the Old Notes to be  withdrawn,
the aggregate principal amount of Old Notes to be withdrawn and (if certificates
for such Old Notes have been tendered) the name of the


                                      -8-


registered  holder of the Old Notes as set forth on the  certificate for the Old
Notes,  if  different  from that of the person who tendered  such Old Notes.  If
certificates  for the Old Notes have been  delivered or otherwise  identified to
the Exchange Agent,  then prior to the physical release of such certificates for
the Old Notes,  the tendering holder must submit the serial numbers shown on the
particular  certificates  for the Old Notes to be withdrawn and the signature on
the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible  Institution,  except
in the case of Old Notes tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If
Old Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry  transfer
set forth in "The Exchange  Offer-Procedures for Tendering Old Notes" section of
the Prospectus, the notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the
account at the Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility to be credited with the withdrawal
of Old  Notes,  in which  case a  notice  of  withdrawal  will be  effective  if
delivered  to  the  Exchange   Agent  by  written  or  facsimile   transmission.
Withdrawals  of tenders of Old Notes may not be  rescinded.  Old Notes  properly
withdrawn  will not be deemed to have been validly  tendered for purposes of the
Exchange Offer, and no Exchange Notes will be issued with respect thereto unless
the Old Notes so withdrawn are validly retendered.  Properly withdrawn Old Notes
may be retendered at any subsequent  time on or prior to the Expiration  Date by
following  the  procedures  described  in the  Prospectus  under  "The  Exchange
Offer-Procedures for Tendering Old Notes."

     All questions as to the validity,  form and eligibility  (including time of
receipt) of such  withdrawal  notices will be determined by the Company,  in its
sole discretion,  whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
Neither  the  Company,  any  employees,  agents,  affiliates  or  assigns of the
Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give
any notification of any  irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any
liability for failure to give such  notification.  Any Old Notes which have been
tendered but which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder thereof  without
cost to such holder as promptly as practicable after withdrawal.

3.   Signatures  on this Letter of  Transmittal;  Bond Powers and  Endorsements;
     Guarantee of Signatures.

     If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Old
Notes tendered  hereby,  the signature must correspond  exactly with the name as
written on the face of the  certificates  or on a  securities  position  listing
without any change whatsoever.

     If any tendered Old Notes are owned of record by two or more joint  owners,
all of such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

     If any tendered  Old Notes are  registered  in  different  names on several
certificates or securities positions listings, it will be necessary to complete,
sign and submit as many separate  copies of this Letter of  Transmittal as there
are different registrations.

     When this  Letter of  Transmittal  is  signed by the  registered  holder or
holders of the Old Notes specified herein and tendered  hereby,  no endorsements
of certificates or separate bond powers are required.  If, however, the Exchange
Notes are to be issued,  or any  untendered  Old Notes are to be reissued,  to a
person other than the registered  holder,  then endorsements of any certificates
transmitted  hereby. or separate bond powers,  are required.  Signatures on such
certificate(s) or bond powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible  Institution (as
defined below).

     If this  Letter  of  Transmittal  is  signed  by a  person  other  than the
registered  holder or  holders  of any  certificate(s)  specified  herein,  such
certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond power(s),  in
either case,  signed  exactly as the name or names of the  registered  holder or
holders   appear(s)  on  the   certificate(s),   and  the   signatures  on  such
certificate(s) or bond power(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

     If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or bond powers are signed
by trustees, executors, administrators,  guardians, attorneys-in-fact,  officers
of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such
persons  should so indicate  when  signing,  and,  unless waived by the Company,
proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be
submitted.

     Endorsements  on  certificates  for Old Notes or  signatures on bond powers
required  by this  Instruction  3 must be  guaranteed  by a  participant  in the
Securities  Transfer  Agent  Medallion  Program,  the New  York  Stock  Exchange
Medallion  Signature  Program  or  the  Stock  Exchange  Medallion  Program  (an
"Eligible Institution").

     Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal  must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution,  unless the Old Notes are tendered:  (i) by a registered  holder of
Old Notes  (which  term,  for  purposes  of the  Exchange  Offer,  includes  any
participant in the Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility system whose name appears on a
security  position  listing  as the  holders  of  such  Old  Notes)  who has not
completed the box entitled "Special Issuance  Instructions" or "Special Delivery
Instructions" on this letter or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution.



                                      -9-


4.   Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions.

     Tendering  holders of Old Notes should  indicate in the applicable box, the
name and address to which Exchange  Notes issued  pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and/or  substitute  certificates  evidencing  Old Notes not  exchanged are to be
issued or sent, if different from the name or address of the person signing this
Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the employer
identification  or social  security  number  of the  person  named  must also be
indicated.  A holder of Old Notes tendering Old Notes by book-entry transfer may
request that Old Notes not  exchanged be credited to such account  maintained at
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such holder may designate hereon. If no such
instructions  are given,  such Old Notes not  exchanged  will be returned to the
name or address of the person signing this Letter of Transmittal.

5.   Tax Identification Number.

     Federal income tax law generally requires that a tendering holder whose Old
Notes are accepted  for  exchange  must provide the Company (as payor) with such
holder's correct Taxpayer  Identification  Number ("TIN") on the Substitute Form
W-9 set  forth  below,  which,  in the  case  of a  tendering  holder  who is an
individual, is his or her social security number. If the Company is not provided
with the current or an adequate basis for an exemption,  such  tendering  holder
may be subject to a $50 penalty  imposed by the  Internal  Revenue  Service.  In
addition,  delivery to such tendering holder of Exchange Notes may be subject to
backup  withholding  in an amount equal to 31% of all  reportable  payments made
after the exchange.  If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund
may be obtained.

     Exempt holders of Old Notes (including,  among others, all corporations and
certain  foreign  individuals)  are not subject to these backup  withholding and
reporting  requirements.  See  the  enclosed  Guidelines  for  Certification  of
Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (the "W-9 Guidelines") for
additional instructions.

     To prevent  backup  withholding,  each  tendering  holder of Old Notes must
provide its correct TIN by completing the  Substitute  Form W-9 set forth below,
certifying  that the TIN  provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a
TIN) and that (i) the holder is exempt from backup withholding,  (ii) the holder
has not been  notified  by the  Internal  Revenue  Service  that such  holder is
subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or
dividends  or (iii) the  Internal  Revenue  Service has notified the holder that
such holder is no longer subject to backup withholding.  If the tendering holder
of Old Notes is a  nonresident  alien or foreign  entity  not  subject to backup
withholding, such holder must give the Company a completed Form W-8, Certificate
of Foreign  Status.  These forms may be obtained from the Exchange Agent. If the
Old Notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual  owner,
such holder should consult the W-9  Guidelines  for  information on which TIN to
report.  If such holder does not have a TIN, such holder should  consult the W-9
Guidelines  for  instructions  on applying for a TIN, check the box in Part 2 of
the  Substitute  Form W-9 and  write  "applied  for" in lieu of its  TIN.  Note:
Checking  this box and writing  "applied for" on the form means that such holder
has already  applied  for a TIN or that such holder  intends to apply for one in
the near future.  If such holder does not provide its TIN to the Company  within
60 days, backup  withholding will begin and continue until such holder furnishes
its TIN to the Company.

6.   Transfer Taxes.

     The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer
of Old Notes to it pursuant to the Exchange Offer.  If, however,  Exchange Notes
and/or  substitute  Old Notes not exchanged are to be delivered to, or are to be
registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder
of the Old Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Old Notes are registered in the
name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal,  or
if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the transfer of Old Notes
to the Company  pursuant to the Exchange Offer,  the amount of any such transfer
taxes (whether  imposed on the  registered  holder or any other persons) will be
payable by the tendering  holder.  If  satisfactory  evidence of payment of such
taxes or  exemption  therefrom  is not  submitted  herewith,  the amount of such
transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

     Except as  provided in this  Instruction  6, it will not be  necessary  for
transfer  tax stamps to be affixed to the Old Notes  specified in this Letter of
Transmittal

7.   Determination of Validity.

     The Company will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the
form  of  documents,  validity,  eligibility  (including  time of  receipt)  and
acceptance for exchange of any tender of Old Notes, which determination shall be
final and binding on all parties.  The Company  reserves  the absolute  right to
reject  any and all  tenders  determined  by it not to be in proper  form or the
acceptance of which,  or exchange for which,  may, in the view of counsel to the
Company, be unlawful.  The Company also reserves the absolute right,  subject to
applicable  law, to


                                      -10-


waive any of the  conditions of the Exchange  Offer set forth in the  Prospectus
under the caption "The Exchange  Offer" or any conditions or irregularity in any
tender of Old Notes of any particular  holder whether or not similar  conditions
or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders.

     The Company's  interpretation  of the terms and  conditions of the Exchange
Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto) will be
final and  binding.  No tender of Old Notes will be deemed to have been  validly
made until all  irregularities  with  respect to such  tender have been cured or
waived.   Although  the  Company   intends  to  notify  holders  of  defects  or
irregularities  with respect to tenders of Old Notes,  neither the Company,  any
employees, agents, affiliates or assigns of the Company, the Exchange Agent, nor
any  other  person  shall  be  under  any  duty  to  give  notification  of  any
irregularities  in  tenders  or incur any  liability  for  failure  to give such
notification.

8.   No Conditional Tender

     No  alternative,  conditional,  irregular  or  contingent  tenders  will be
accepted.  All  tendering  holders of Old Notes,  by execution of this Letter of
Transmittal,  shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their
Old Notes for exchange.

9.   Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Old Notes.

     Any holder whose Old Notes have been mutilated,  lost,  stolen or destroyed
must  contact  the  Exchange  Agent at the address  indicated  above for further
instructions.  This  Letter  of  Transmittal  and  related  documents  cannot be
processed  until  the  procedures  for  replacing  mutilated,  lost,  stolen  or
destroyed certificate(s) have been followed.

10.  Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies.

     Questions relating to the procedure for tendering,  as well as requests for
additional  copies of the  Prospectus  and this  Letter of  Transmittal,  may be
directed to the Exchange  Agent, at the address and telephone  number  indicated
above.


                                      -11-


                    TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS
                               (See Instruction 5)
                    PAYER'S NAME: MIDDLE AMERICAN TISSUE INC.


                                                                        
- --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
SUBSTITUTE                              Part I-PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN
Form W-9                                THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY
Department of the                       SIGNING AND DATING BELOW.
Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
                                                                              TIN: ________________________________
Payor's Request for Taxpayer                                                   Social Security Number or Employer
Identification Number ("TIN")                                                        Identification Number

                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Part 2-TIN Applied for:
                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        CERTIFICATION: UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT:

                                        (1) the  number  shown on this form is my correct  Taxpayer  Identification
                                        Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me).

                                        (2) 1 am not subject to backup withholding either because:  (a) I am exempt
                                        from backup  withholding,  or (b) I have not been  notified by the Internal
                                        Revenue  Service (the "IRS") that I am subject to backup  withholding  as a
                                        result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has
                                        notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and

                                        (3) any other information provided on this form is true and correct.

                                        SIGNATURE                             DATE_________________, 2000
                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        You must  cross  out item (2) of the above  certification  if you have been
                                        notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup  withholding  because of
                                        under  reporting  of interest or  dividends on your tax return and you have
                                        not been  notified  by the IRS that you are no  longer  subject  to  backup
                                        withholding.
- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------




       YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE BOX
                        IN PART 2 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer  identification  number has
not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an  application
to receive a taxpayer  identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue
Service Center or Social Security  Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail
or deliver an  application  in the near future.  I  understand  that if I do not
provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of the exchange, 31 percent
(31%) of all reportable  payments made to me thereafter will be withheld until I
provide a number.

SIGNATURE _____________________                     DATE  ________________, 2000

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------






                                      -12-