MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

 

 

 

Commission File No.: 000-51826

 

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.

Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter

 

 

Suite 2840, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6B 4N8

Address of Office

 

Registrant’s telephone number including area code: (604) 684-1099

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes     þ No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Act.  o Yes     þ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  o Yes     þ No

 

The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 30, 2008, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based on the closing price of the voting stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on such date, was approximately $136,769,915.

 

As of February 27, 2009, the Registrant had 36,422,487 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value, outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Certain information that will be contained in the definitive proxy statement for the Registrant’s annual meeting to be held in 2009 is incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

EXCHANGE RATES

 

Our reporting currency and financial statements included in this report are in Euros, as a significant majority of our business transactions are originally denominated in Euros. We translate non-Euro denominated assets and liabilities at the rate of exchange on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the period.

 

The following table sets out exchange rates, based on the noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”) for the conversion of Euros and Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars in effect at the end of the following periods, the average exchange rates during these periods (based on daily Noon Buying Rates) and the range of high and low exchange rates for these periods:

 

 

Effective January 2009, the Noon Buying Rate is now published on a weekly basis by the Federal Reserve Board. On February 20, 2009, the date of the most recent weekly publication of the Daily Noon Buying Rate before the filing of this annual report on Form 10-K, the Noon Buying Rate for the conversion of Euros and Canadian dollars to U.S. dollars was €0.7880 per U.S. dollar and C$1.2543 per U.S. dollar.

 

In addition, certain financial information relating to our Celgar mill included in this annual report on Form 10-K is stated in Canadian dollars while we report our financial results in Euros. The following table sets out exchange rates, based on the noon rate provided by the Bank of Canada (the “Daily Noon Rate”), for the conversion of Canadian dollars to Euros in effect at the end of the following periods, the average exchange rates during these periods (based on daily noon rates) and the range of high and low exchange rates for these periods:

 

 

On February 27, 2009, the Daily Noon Rate for the conversion of Canadian dollars to Euros was C$1.6088 per Euro.

 

In this document, please note the following:

 

 

General

 

Mercer Inc. is a Washington corporation and our shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market (MERC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (MRI.U).

 

We operate in the pulp business and are the second largest producer of market northern bleached softwood kraft, or “NBSK”, pulp in the world. We are the sole kraft pulp producer, and the only producer of pulp for resale, known as “market pulp”, in Germany, which is the largest pulp import market in Europe. Our operations are located in Eastern Germany and Western Canada. We currently employ approximately 1,094 people at our German operations, 403 people at our Celgar mill in Western Canada and 18 people at our office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We operate three NBSK pulp mills with a consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 million ADMTs:

 

 

History and Development of Business

 

We originally invested in various real estate assets with the intention of becoming a real estate investment trust, but in 1985 changed our operational direction to acquiring controlling interests in operating companies. We acquired our initial pulp and paper operations in 1993.

 

In late 1999, we completed a major capital project which, among other things, converted the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp from sulphite pulp, increased its annual production capacity, reduced costs and improved efficiencies. The aggregate cost of this project was approximately €361.0 million, of which approximately €102.0 million was financed through government grants. Subsequent minor capital investments and

efficiency improvements have reduced emissions and energy costs and increased the Rosenthal mill’s annual production capacity to approximately 325,000 ADMTs.

 

In September 2004, we completed construction of the Stendal mill at an aggregate cost of approximately €1.0 billion. The Stendal mill is one of the largest NBSK pulp mills in Europe. The Stendal mill was financed through a combination of government grants totaling approximately €275.0 million, low-cost, long-term project debt which is largely severally guaranteed by the federal government and a state government in Germany, and equity contributions.

 

We initially had a 63.6% ownership interest in Stendal and, in October 2006, increased our interest to 70.6% by acquiring a 7% minority interest therein for €8.1 million.

 

The Stendal mill was constructed under a €716.0 million fixed-price turn-key engineering, procurement and construction, or “EPC”, contract between Stendal and the EPC contractor. Pursuant to the EPC contract, construction of the Stendal mill was completed substantially on its planned schedule and budget in September 2004. The mill then underwent extensive testing and evaluation to determine whether certain performance requirements had been met. Although the tests were generally successful, in the first quarter of 2005, the EPC contractor implemented remedial measures at the mill, including the installation of two additional digesters and related equipment, improvements to the non-condensable gas, or “NCG”, boiler and water treatment plant. These digesters enhanced the reliability and overall operating performance of the Stendal mill and, along with other measures, increased its annual production capacity to approximately 635,000 ADMTs.

 

Subsequently, each department of the mill was tested on a stand-alone basis for compliance with its design specifications and, in September 2007, Stendal settled substantially all outstanding matters with its contractors under the EPC contract in consideration of, among other things, a payment of approximately €11.0 million.

 

We, Stendal and its minority shareholder are parties to a shareholders’ agreement dated August 26, 2002, as amended, to govern our respective interests in Stendal. The agreement contains terms and conditions customary for these types of agreements, including restrictions on transfers of share capital and shareholder loans other than to affiliates, rights of first refusal on share and shareholder loan transfers, pre-emptive rights and piggyback rights on dispositions of our interest. The shareholders are not obligated to fund any further equity capital contributions to the project. The shareholders’ agreement provides that Stendal’s managing directors are appointed by holders of a simple majority of its share capital. Further, shareholder decisions, other than those mandated by law or for the provision of financial assistance to a shareholder, are determined by a simple majority of Stendal’s share capital.

 

A significant portion of the capital investments at our German mills, including the construction of the Stendal mill, were financed through government grants. Since 1999, our German mills have benefited from an aggregate €383.1 million in government grants. These grants are not reported in our income. These grants reduce the cost basis of the assets purchased when the grants are received. See “— Capital Expenditures”.

 

In February 2005, we acquired the Celgar mill for $210.0 million, of which $170.0 million was paid in cash and $40.0 million was paid in our shares, plus $16.0 million for the defined working capital at the mill on closing. The Celgar mill was completely rebuilt in the early 1990s through a C$850.0 million modernization and expansion project, which transformed it into a modern and competitive producer.

 

In 2007, we completed a C$28.0 million capital project commenced in 2005 which improved efficiencies and reliability and, with other measures, increased the Celgar mill’s annual production capacity to 495,000 ADMTs. In 2008, we commenced a new “green” energy project at our Celgar mill to increase the mill’s production of “green” energy and optimize its power generation capacity. For more information, see “— Capital Expenditures”.

 

In 2006, we divested two paper mills in Germany which were non-core operations and account for this business as discontinued operations. As a result, certain previously reported amounts and the financial statements and related notes herein have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. In 2006, we also divested our equity interest in a non-consolidated Swiss specialty paper mill. These divestitures were effected so that we could focus on our core pulp business.

 

Organizational Chart

 

The following chart sets out our directly and indirectly owned principal operating subsidiaries, their jurisdictions of organization and their principal activities:

 

 

Our competitive strengths include the following:

 

 

 

Our corporate strategy is to create shareholder value by focusing on the expansion of our asset and earnings base. Key features of our strategy include:

 

 

General

 

Pulp is used in the production of paper, tissues and paper related products. Pulp is generally classified according to fiber type, the process used in its production and the degree to which it is bleached. Kraft pulp is produced through a sulphate chemical process in which lignin, the component of wood which binds individual fibers, is dissolved in a chemical reaction. Chemically prepared pulp allows the wood’s fiber to retain its length and flexibility, resulting in stronger paper products. Kraft pulp can be bleached to increase its brightness. Kraft pulp is noted for its strength, brightness and absorption properties and is used to produce a variety of products, including lightweight publication grades of paper, tissues and paper related products.

 

The selling price of kraft pulp depends in part on the fiber used in the production process. There are two primary species of wood used as fiber: softwood and hardwood. Softwood species generally have long, flexible fibers which add strength to paper while fibers from species of hardwood contain shorter fibers which lend bulk and opacity. Generally, prices for softwood pulp are higher than for hardwood pulp. Currently, the kraft pulp market is roughly evenly split between softwood and hardwood grades. Most uses of market kraft pulp, including fine printing papers, coated and uncoated magazine papers and various tissue products, utilize a mix of softwood and hardwood grades to optimize production and product qualities. In recent years, production of hardwood pulp, based on fast growing plantation fiber primarily from Asia and South America, has increased much more rapidly than that of softwood grades that have longer growth cycles. As a result of the growth in supply and lower costs, kraft pulp customers have substituted some of the pulp content in their products to hardwood pulp. Counteracting customers’

increased proportionate usage of hardwood pulp has been the requirement for strength characteristics in finished goods. Paper and tissue makers focus on higher machine speeds and lower basis weights for publishing papers which also require the strength characteristics of softwood pulp. We believe that the ability of kraft pulp users to continue to further substitute hardwood for softwood pulp is limited by such requirements.

 

NBSK pulp, which is a bleached kraft pulp manufactured using species of northern softwood, is considered a premium grade because of its strength. It generally obtains the highest price relative to other kraft pulps. Southern bleached softwood kraft pulp is kraft pulp manufactured using southern softwood species and does not possess the strength found in NBSK pulp. NBSK pulp is the sole product of our mills.

 

Kraft pulp can be made in different grades, with varying technical specifications, for different end uses. High-quality kraft pulp is valued for its reinforcing role in mechanical printing papers, while other grades of kraft pulp are used to produce lower priced grades of paper, including tissues and paper related products.

 

Markets

 

We believe that over 125 million ADMTs of kraft pulp are converted annually into printing and writing papers, tissues, cartonboards and other white grades of paper and paperboard around the world. Approximately 70% of this pulp is produced for internal purposes by integrated paper and paperboard manufacturers and approximately 30% is market pulp produced for sale on the open market.

 

Demand for our product is cyclical in nature and demand for kraft pulp is related to global and regional levels of economic activity. In 2008, overall global demand for all kraft pulp types, including softwood, was negatively impacted by the weak global economic conditions and global financial and credit turmoil the world began to experience in the second half of the year and which has continued into 2009.

 

Between 1997 and 2007 worldwide demand for softwood market pulp grew at an average rate of approximately 3.3% annually. Since 2007, demand for softwood market pulp has grown in the emerging markets of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. China in particular has experienced substantial growth and its demand for softwood market pulp grew by approximately 12.2% between 2002 and 2008. China now accounts for approximately 16% of global softwood market pulp demand compared to only 9.0% in 2002. Western Europe currently accounts for approximately 30% of global softwood market pulp demand. Within Europe, Eastern Europe has experienced significant demand growth with the region’s demand for softwood market pulp increasing by approximately 12% between 2007 and 2008.

 

A measure of demand for kraft pulp is the ratio obtained by dividing the worldwide demand of kraft pulp by the worldwide capacity for the production of kraft pulp, or the “demand/capacity ratio”. An increase in this ratio generally occurs when there is an increase in global and regional levels of economic activity. An increase in this ratio generally indicates greater demand as consumption increases, which often results in rising kraft pulp prices, and a reduction of inventories by producers and buyers. As prices continue to rise, producers continue to run at higher operating rates. However, an adverse change in global and regional levels of economic activity generally negatively affects demand for kraft pulp, often leading buyers to reduce their purchases and relying on existing pulp inventories. As a result, producers run at lower operating rates by taking downtime to limit the build-up of their own inventories. The demand/capacity ratio for softwood kraft pulp was approximately 90% in 2008, approximately 95% in 2007 and approximately 96% in 2006.

 

We do not believe there are any significant new NBSK pulp production capacity increases coming online in the next several years due in part to fiber supply constraints and high capital costs.

 

Competition

 

Pulp markets are large and highly competitive. Producers ranging from small independent manufacturers to large integrated companies produce pulp worldwide. Our pulp and customer services compete with similar products manufactured and distributed by others. While many factors influence our competitive position, particularly in slowing economic times, a key factor is price. Other factors include service, quality and convenience of location. Some of our competitors are larger than we are in certain markets and have substantially greater financial resources. These resources may afford those competitors more purchasing power, increased financial flexibility, more capital

resources for expansion and improvement and enable them to compete more effectively. Our key NBSK pulp competitors are principally located in Northern Europe and Canada.

 

NBSK Pulp Pricing

 

Pulp prices are highly cyclical. Global economic conditions, changes in production capacity, inventory levels, and currency exchange rates are the primary factors affecting NBSK pulp list prices. The average annual European list prices for NBSK pulp since 2000 have ranged from a low of approximately $447 per ADMT in 2002 to a high of approximately $900 per ADMT in 2008.

 

Starting in 2006, pulp prices increased steadily from approximately $600 per ADMT in Europe to $870 per ADMT at the end of 2007. These price increases resulted from the closure of several pulp mills, particularly in North America, which reduced NBSK capacity by approximately 1.3 million ADMTs, better demand and the general weakness of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and the Canadian dollar.

 

In 2008, list prices for NBSK pulp in Europe continued to improve in the first half of the year but decreased markedly in the second half due to weak global economic conditions. As a result, list prices for NBSK pulp in Europe decreased from $900 per ADMT in mid-2008 to $635 per ADMT at the end of the year. Such price weakness has continued into early 2009.

 

A producer’s sales realizations will reflect customer discounts, commissions and other selling concessions. While there are differences between NBSK list prices in Europe, North America and Asia, European prices are generally regarded as the global benchmark and pricing in other regions tends to follow European trends. The nature of the pricing structure in Asia is different in that, while quoted list prices tend to be lower than Europe, customer discounts and commissions tend to be lower resulting in net sales realizations that are generally similar to other markets.

 

The majority of market NBSK pulp is produced and sold by North American and Scandinavian, or “Norscan”, producers, while the price of NBSK pulp is generally quoted in U.S. dollars. As a result, NBSK pricing is affected by fluctuations in the currency exchange rates for the U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar and the Euro. NBSK pulp price increases during 2006, 2007 and the first half of 2008 were in large part offset by the weakening of the U.S. dollar. Similarly, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar and the Euro towards the end of 2008 helped slightly offset pulp price decreases caused by the deterioration in global economic conditions.

 

The following chart sets out the changes in list prices for NBSK pulp in Europe, as stated in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros for the periods indicated.

 

The Manufacturing Process

 

The following diagram provides a simplified description of the kraft pulp manufacturing process at our pulp mills:

 

 

In order to transform wood chips into kraft pulp, wood chips undergo a multi-step process involving the following principal stages: chip screening, digesting, pulp washing, screening, bleaching and drying.

 

In the initial processing stage, wood chips are screened to remove oversized chips and sawdust and are conveyed to a pressurized digester where they are heated and cooked with chemicals. This occurs in a continuous process at the Celgar and Rosenthal mills and in a batch process at the Stendal mill. This process softens and eventually dissolves the phenolic material called lignin that binds the fibers to each other in the wood.

 

Cooked pulp flows out of the digester and is washed and screened to remove most of the residual spent chemicals, called black liquor, and partially cooked wood chips. The pulp then undergoes a series of bleaching stages where the brightness of the pulp is gradually increased. Finally, the bleached pulp is sent to the pulp machine where it is dried to achieve a dryness level of more than 90%. The pulp is then ready to be baled for shipment to customers.

 

A significant feature of kraft pulping technology is the recovery system, whereby chemicals used in the cooking process are captured and extracted for re-use, which reduces chemical costs and improves environmental performance. During the cooking stage, dissolved organic wood materials and black liquor are extracted from the digester. After undergoing an evaporation process, black liquor is burned in a recovery boiler. The chemical compounds of the black liquor are collected from the recovery boiler and are reconstituted into cooking chemicals used in the digesting stage through additional processing in the recausticizing plant.

 

The heat produced by the recovery boiler is used to generate high-pressure steam. Additional steam is generated by a power boiler through the combustion of biomass consisting of bark and other wood residues from sawmills and our woodrooms and residue generated by the effluent treatment system. Additionally, during times of

upset, we may use natural gas to generate steam. The steam produced by the recovery and power boilers is used to power a turbogenerator to generate electricity, as well as to provide heat for the digesting and pulp drying processes.

 

We manufacture and sell NBSK pulp produced from wood chips and pulp logs.

 

The kraft pulp produced at the Rosenthal mill is a long-fibered softwood pulp produced by a sulphate cooking process and manufactured primarily from wood chips and pulp logs. A number of factors beyond economic supply and demand have an impact on the market for chemical pulp, including requirements for pulp bleached without any chlorine compounds or without the use of chlorine gas. The Rosenthal mill has the capability of producing both “totally chlorine free” and “elemental chlorine free” pulp. Totally chlorine free pulp is bleached to a high brightness using oxygen, ozone and hydrogen peroxide as bleaching agents, whereas elemental chlorine free pulp is produced by substituting chlorine dioxide for chlorine gas in the bleaching process. This substitution virtually eliminates complex chloro-organic compounds from mill effluent.

 

Kraft pulp is valued for its reinforcing role in mechanical printing papers and is sought after by producers of paper for the publishing industry, primarily for magazines and advertising materials. Kraft pulp produced for reinforcement fibers is considered the highest grade of kraft pulp and generally obtains the highest price. The Rosenthal mill produces pulp for reinforcement fibers to the specifications of certain of our customers. We believe that a number of our customers consider us their supplier of choice. For more information about the facilities at the Rosenthal mill, see “Item 2 — Properties”.

 

The kraft pulp produced at the Stendal mill is of a slightly different grade than the pulp produced at the Rosenthal mill as the mix of softwood fiber used is slightly different. This results in a complementary product more suitable for different end uses. The Stendal mill is capable of producing both totally chlorine free and elemental chlorine free pulp. For more information about the facilities at the Stendal mill, see “Item 2 — Properties”.

 

The Celgar mill produces high-quality kraft pulp that is made from a unique blend of slow growing/long-fiber Western Canadian tree species. It is used in the manufacture of high-quality paper and tissue products. We believe the Celgar mill’s pulp is known for its excellent product characteristics, including tensile strength, wet strength and brightness. The Celgar mill is a long-established supplier to paper producers in Asia. For more information about the facilities at the Celgar mill, see “Item 2 — Properties”.

 

Climate change concerns have caused a proliferation in renewable or “green” energy legislation, incentives and commercialization in both Europe and increasingly also in North America. As part of the pulp production process our mills generate “green” energy using carbon-neutral biofuels such as black liquor and wood waste.

 

Through the incineration of black liquor in recovery boilers, our mills produce sufficient steam to cover all of our steam requirements and generally produce excess energy which we sell to third party utilities. In 2008, we sold 456,059 MWh of excess energy and recorded revenues of €31.0 million from such energy sales. We no longer consider the sale of surplus electricity to be a by-product and, commencing in 2008, report revenue from the sale of surplus energy as “Energy revenue” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. In previous years, these revenues were reported within “Operating costs”.

 

German Mills

 

Beginning January 2009, our Rosenthal and Stendal mills now participate in a program established pursuant to Germany’s Renewable Energy Resources Act, or “Renewable Energy Act”. The Renewable Energy Act, in existence since 2000, requires that public electric utilities give priority to electricity produced from renewable energy resources by independent power producers and pay a fixed tariff for a period of 20 years. Previously, this legislation was only applicable to installments with a capacity of 20MW or less, effectively excluding our Rosenthal and Stendal mills. Recent amendments to the Renewable Energy Act have removed this restriction. Under the program, our German mills now sell their surplus energy to the local electricity grid at the rates stipulated by the Renewable Energy Act for biomass energy.

 

Since 2005 our German mills have benefited from the sale of emission allowances under the European Union carbon emissions trading scheme, referred to as “EU ETS”. As a result of our participation under the Renewable Energy Act, the amount of emissions allowances granted to our German mills under the EU ETS may be reduced.

 

Celgar

 

In April 2008 we commenced a new “green” energy project at our Celgar mill, referred to as the Celgar Energy Project, to increase the mill’s production of “green” energy and optimize its power generation capacity. The project includes the installation of a 48 MW condensing turbine which is expected to bring the mill’s installed generating capacity up to 100 MW, as well as upgrades to the mill’s bark boiler and steam consuming facilities. Completion of the Celgar Energy Project is currently estimated for early 2010.

 

In January 2009 the Celgar mill finalized an electricity purchase agreement with British Columbia’s primary public utility provider, for the sale of power generated from the Celgar Energy Project. Under the agreement, the Celgar mill will supply a minimum of approximately 238,000 MWh of electrical energy annually to the utility over a ten-year term, with deliveries to commence in the first quarter of 2010.

 

In February 2009 the Celgar mill signed a contribution agreement, referred to as the “Contribution Agreement”, with the Canadian federal government pursuant to Canada’s ecoEnergy for Renewable Power Program. The program’s purpose is to increase Canada’s supply of clean electricity from renewable sources, such as biomass, by providing funding for renewable energy projects such as the Celgar Energy Project. Under the Contribution Agreement, the Celgar mill is eligible to receive incentive payments of up to a maximum of C$29.9 million over a period of ten years based on the delivery of a certain level of energy production by the Celgar Energy Project. The incentive payments are payable quarterly and are formula based. Receipt of the incentive payments is also subject to the Celgar Energy Project meeting certain environmental requirements.

 

The following table sets out our electricity generation and surplus energy sales for the last three years:

 

 

Our major costs of production are labor, fiber, energy and chemicals. Fiber comprised of wood chips and pulp logs is our most significant operating expense. Given the significance of fiber to our total operating expenses and our limited ability to control its costs, compared with our other operating costs, volatility in fiber costs can materially affect our margins and results of operations.

 

Labor

 

Our labor costs tend to be generally steady, with small overall increases due to inflation in wages and health care costs. Over the last three years, we have been able to generally offset such increases by increasing our efficiencies and production and streamlining operations.

 

Fiber

 

Our mills are situated in regions which generally provide a relatively stable supply of fiber. The fiber consumed by our mills consists of wood chips produced by sawmills as a by-product of the sawmilling process and pulp logs. Wood chips are small pieces of wood used to make pulp and are a by-product of either wood residuals from sawmills or logs or pulp logs chipped especially for this purpose. Pulp logs consist of lower quality logs not used in the production of lumber. Wood chips and pulp logs are cyclical in both price and supply.

 

Generally, the cost of wood chips and pulp logs are primarily affected by the supply and demand for lumber. Additionally, regional factors can also have a material effect on both the supply, demand and price for fiber.

 

In Germany, since 2006, the price and supply of wood chips has been affected by increasing demand from alternative or renewable energy producers, changes in supply resulting from weather conditions and government initiatives and a move to increase harvesting levels. High energy prices, along with initiatives by European governments to promote the use of wood as a carbon neutral energy, generally increased demand for wood usage for energy production and for wood fiber. Declining energy prices and weakening economies in the latter part of 2008 tempered such demand. Over the long-term, this non-traditional demand for fiber is expected to increase.

 

In 2008, prolonged and wide-spread production curtailments in the European board industry caused by weak market conditions resulted in decreased fiber demand and moderated prices. In the early part of 2008, weather patterns also affected short-term fiber supply and pricing as wood from damaged forests caused by storms in Germany and Austria increased availability of fiber.

 

In April 2008, the Russian government raised tariffs on the export of sawmill and pulp wood to 25% from the 20% effective since July 2007. A further increase to 80%, initially scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2009, has been deferred until late 2009. If and when implemented, the additional tariff increase is expected to reduce the export of Russian wood to Europe, in particular to Scandinavian producers who import a significant amount of their wood from Russia. This may put upward pressure on pricing as such producers try to replace these volumes from other regions.

 

Offsetting some of the increases in demand for wood fiber have been initiatives in which we and other producers are participating to increase harvest levels in Germany, particularly from small private forest owners. We believe that Germany has the highest availability of softwood forests suitable for harvesting and manufacturing. Private ownership of such forests is approximately 50%. Many of these forest ownership stakes are very small and have been harvested at rates much lower than their rate of growth. In the latter part of 2008, in response to slowing economies in Germany and elsewhere and the related weaker demand for pulp logs, forest owners reduced their harvesting rates slightly. At the same time, the price of pulp logs has continued to decrease. It is expected that prices for pulp logs in Germany will remain low in the first half of 2009 but that further reductions in harvesting rates could lead to an undersupply and upward pressure on fiber prices later in the year.

 

We believe we are the largest consumer of wood chips and pulp logs in Germany and often provide the best, long-term economic outlet for the sale of wood chips in Eastern Germany. We coordinate the wood procurement activities for our German mills to reduce overall personnel and administrative costs, provide greater purchasing power and coordinate buying and trading activities. This coordination and integration of fiber flows also allows us to optimize transportation costs, and the species and fiber mix for both mills.

 

In 2008, the Rosenthal mill consumed approximately 1.8 million cubic meters of fiber. Approximately 65% of such consumption was in the form of sawmill wood chips and approximately 35% was in the form of pulp logs. The wood chips for the Rosenthal mill are sourced from approximately 21 sawmills located primarily in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Thüringia and are within a 150 kilometer radius of the Rosenthal mill. Within this radius, the Rosenthal mill is the largest consumer of wood chips. Given its location and size, the Rosenthal mill is

often the best economic outlet for the sale of wood chips in the area. Approximately 91% of the fiber consumed by the Rosenthal mill is spruce and the remainder is pine. While fiber costs and supply are subject to cyclical changes largely in the sawmill industry, we expect that we will be able to continue to obtain an adequate supply of fiber on reasonably satisfactory terms for the Rosenthal mill due to its location and our long-term relationships with suppliers. We have not historically experienced any significant fiber supply interruptions at the Rosenthal mill.

 

Wood chips for the Rosenthal mill are normally sourced from sawmills under one year or quarterly supply contracts with fixed volumes, which provide for price adjustments. More than 99% of our chip supply is sourced from suppliers with which we have a long-standing relationship. We generally enter into annual contracts with such suppliers. Pulp logs are sourced from the state forest agencies in Thüringia, Saxony and Bavaria on a contract basis and partly from private holders on the same basis as wood chips. Like the wood chip supply arrangements, these contracts tend to be of less than one-year terms with quarterly adjustments for market pricing. We organize the harvesting of pulp logs sourced from the state agencies in Thüringia, Saxony and Bavaria after discussions with the agencies regarding the quantities of pulp logs that we require.

 

In 2008, the Stendal mill consumed approximately 3.0 million cubic meters of fiber. Approximately 34% of such fiber was in the form of sawmill wood chips and approximately 66% in the form of pulp logs. The core wood supply region for the Stendal mill includes most of the Northern part of Germany within an approximate 300 kilometer radius of the mill. We also purchase wood chips from Southwestern and Southern Germany. The fiber base in the wood supply area for the Stendal mill consisted of approximately 41% pine and 59% spruce and other species in 2008. The Stendal mill has sufficient chipping capacity to fully operate solely using pulp logs, if required. We source wood chips from sawmills within an approximate 300 kilometer radius of the Stendal mill. We source pulp logs partly from private forest holders and partly from state forest agencies in Thüringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Brandenburg.

 

Stendal has its own wood procurement division to handle its fiber requirements. This division focuses on three principal activities, being wood procurement and sales, harvesting and transportation. The procurement and sales main activity is to procure the required wood chip and pulp log assortments for the mill’s annual production. In conjunction with this activity, it may also procure higher quality sawlogs, either through harvesting or through purchases that it can sell or trade with others for wood chips in order to optimize the mill’s fiber mix.

 

In British Columbia, in 2008, the supply of wood fiber was materially affected by the severe continued weakness in the U.S. housing and construction markets. This has resulted in a significant reduction in lumber production, reduced availability and higher prices for fiber. As a result, our Celgar mill is currently working with the provincial government and forest tenure licensees to develop alternate supplies of fiber. The weak lumber market has highlighted weaknesses in the provincial government’s regulations with respect to pulp manufacturers’ access to pulp logs. The Celgar mill has focused on enabling the supply of low-cost and low-grade logs. These are often destroyed by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation and left to decay in the forest. Discussions with the provincial government are ongoing to find solutions to extract value from a source of fiber that may otherwise be wasted. On the fiber demand side, although not nearly as advanced as Europe, there is growing interest in British Columbia for renewable or “green” energy. Such initiatives are expected to create additional competition for fiber.

 

In 2008, the Celgar mill consumed approximately 2.7 million cubic meters of fiber. Approximately 69% of such fiber was in the form of sawmill wood chips and the remaining 31% came from pulp logs processed through its woodroom or chipped by a third party. The source of fiber at the mill is characterized by a mixture of species (whitewoods and cedar) and the mill sources fiber from a number of Canadian and U.S. suppliers.

 

The Celgar mill has long and short-term chip supply agreements with over 30 different suppliers from Canada and the U.S., representing approximately 90% of its total annual fiber requirements. The woodroom supplies the remaining chips to meet the Celgar mill’s fiber requirements. Chips are purchased in Canada and the U.S. in accordance with chip purchase agreements. Generally, pricing is reviewed and adjusted periodically to reflect market prices. The majority of the agreements are for periods ranging between two and five years. Several of the longer-term contracts are so-called “evergreen” agreements, where the contract remains in effect until one of the parties elects to terminate. Termination requires a minimum of two, and in some cases, five years’ written notice. Certain non-evergreen long-term agreements provide for renewal negotiations prior to expiry.

 

As a result of the cyclical decline in sawmill chip availability resulting from lower lumber production in British Columbia and the weakness in the U.S. dollar throughout most of 2008, the Celgar mill has increased its U.S. purchases of fiber, diversified its suppliers and, where possible, increased chip production through third party field chipping contracts and existing sawmill suppliers. In 2008, the Celgar mill also increased its production of chips from pulp logs processed through its woodroom by 20% compared to 2007. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2008, the Celgar mill began a project to upgrade its woodroom and enable it to process up to 36% of the mill’s fiber needs. Previously, the woodroom’s configuration permitted for the processing of approximately only 10% of the mill’s needs. The woodroom upgrades are designed to increase the ability to process small diameter logs and facilitate the efficient flow of fiber, thereby increasing the overall volume of fiber being processed and ultimately reducing fiber costs. The project is complete and the woodroom is expected to ramp up operations in the first half of 2009. As a result of the upgrade, we expect to significantly increase the amount of pulp log chipping at our Celgar mill in 2009.

 

To secure the volume of pulp logs required by the woodroom, the Celgar mill has entered into annual pulp log supply agreements with a number of different suppliers, many of whom are also contract chip suppliers to the mill. All of the pulp log agreements can be terminated by either party for any reason, upon seven days’ written notice.

 

In 2008, as part of a creditor protection settlement agreement, a regional forest products company sold the two sawmills with which our Celgar mill had contracts for the supply of approximately 20% of its annual fiber requirements. Subsequent to the sale, these sawmills were curtailed. In late 2008, one of the sawmills was restarted and we have negotiated a new chip contract with the mill. The other sawmill has remained curtailed and is not expected to start up in the foreseeable future. If it does restart the Celgar mill intends to negotiate a new fiber agreement. There is no guarantee that the Celgar mill will be able to negotiate a fiber contract on acceptable terms or at all. However, given the proximity of the Celgar mill to this sawmill, there is a logistical advantage to the sawmill in supplying its chips to the Celgar mill.

 

Energy

 

Our energy is primarily generated from renewable carbon neutral sources, such as black liquor and wood waste. Our mills produce all of our steam requirements and generally generate excess energy which we sell to third party utilities. In 2008, we generated 1,456,630 MWh and we sold 456,059 MWh of surplus energy. See also “— Energy and Recent Energy Initiatives”. We utilize fossil fuels, such as natural gas, in limited circumstances including in our kiln and for start-up and shutdown operations. Additionally, from time to time, mill process disruptions occur and we consume small quantities of purchased electricity and fossil fuels to maintain operations. As a result, all of our mills are subject to fluctuations in the prices for fossil fuels.

 

Chemicals

 

Our mills use certain chemicals which are generally available from several suppliers and sourcing is primarily based upon pricing and location. Although chemical prices have risen slightly over the last three years, we have been able to reduce our costs through improved efficiencies and capital expenditures. However, the current global economic slowdown may reduce the supply of certain chemicals which are manufactured as a by-product of other manufacturing processes and as a result place upward pressure on pricing for such chemicals. We are working with our suppliers to minimize these price pressures.

 

Cash production costs per tonne for our pulp mills are set out in the following table for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

The distribution of our pulp sales revenues by geographic area are set out in the following table for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

The following charts illustrate the geographic distribution of our revenues for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

Our global sales and marketing group is responsible for conducting all sales and marketing of the pulp produced at our mills and currently has approximately 17 employees engaged full time in such activities. The global sales and marketing group handles sales to over 230 customers. We coordinate and integrate the sales and marketing activities of our German mills to realize on a number of synergies between them. These include reduced overall administrative and personnel costs and coordinated selling, marketing and transportation activities. We also coordinate sales from the Celgar mill with our German mills on a global basis, thereby providing our larger customers with seamless service across all major geographies. In marketing our pulp, we seek to establish long-term relationships by providing a competitively priced, high-quality, consistent product and excellent service. In accordance with customary practice, we maintain long-standing relationships with our customers pursuant to which we periodically reach agreements on specific volumes and prices.

 

Our pulp sales are on customary industry terms. At December 31, 2008, we had no material payment delinquencies. In 2008, 2007 and 2006, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our pulp sales. Our pulp sales are not dependent upon the activities of any single customer.

 

Our German mills are currently the only market kraft pulp producers in Germany, which is the largest import market for kraft pulp in Europe. We therefore have a competitive transportation cost advantage compared to Norscan pulp producers when shipping to customers in Europe. Due to the location of our German mills, we are able to deliver pulp to many of our customers primarily by truck. Most trucks that deliver goods into Eastern Germany generally do not also haul goods out of the region as Eastern Germany is primarily an importer of goods. We are therefore able to obtain relatively low back haul freight rates for the delivery of our products to many of our customers. Since many of our customers are located within a 500 kilometer radius of our German mills, we can generally supply pulp to customers of these mills faster than our competitors because of the short distances between the mills and our customers.

 

The Celgar mill’s pulp is transported to customers by rail, truck and ocean carrier using strategically located third party warehouses to ensure timely delivery. The majority of Celgar’s pulp for overseas markets is initially delivered primarily by rail to the Port of Vancouver for shipment overseas by ocean carrier. Based in Western Canada, the Celgar mill is well positioned to service Asian customers. The majority of the Celgar mill’s pulp for domestic markets is shipped by rail to third party warehouses in the U.S. or directly to the customer.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, approximately 47% of our consolidated sales were to tissue and specialty paper product manufacturers and approximately 53% to other paper product manufacturers. In 2007 and 2006 sales to tissue and specialty paper product manufacturers were approximately 44% and 38%, respectively, and sales to other paper product manufacturers represented approximately 56% and 62% of consolidated sales, respectively. Tissue and specialty paper product manufacturers generally are not as sensitive to declines in demand caused by downturns in economic activity.

 

In 2008, we continued with our capital investment programs designed to increase production capacity, improve efficiency and reduce effluent discharges and emissions at our manufacturing facilities. The improvements made at our mills over the past five years have reduced operating costs and increased the competitive position of our facilities.

 

Total capital expenditures at the Rosenthal mill in 2008, 2007 and 2006 were €8.7 million, €5.2 million and €13.4 million, respectively. Capital investments at the Rosenthal mill in 2008 related mainly to the renewal of a bleaching line. In addition, we initiated a washer project at a total cost of approximately €2.5 million which will help offset three years of wastewater fees that would otherwise be payable.

 

Our Stendal mill’s total capital expenditures in 2008, 2007 and 2006 were €4.9 million, €4.9 million and €2.5 million, respectively. Capital investments at the Stendal mill in 2008 related mainly to fiber handling optimization projects and equipment to increase the efficiency and capacity of the mill’s black liquor production.

 

Certain of our capital investment programs in Germany were partially financed through government grants made available by German federal and state governments. Under legislation adopted by the federal and certain state governments of Germany, government grants are provided to qualifying businesses operating in Eastern Germany to finance capital investments. The grants are made to encourage investment and job creation. Currently, grants are

available for up to 15% of the cost of qualified investments. Previously, government grants were available for up to 35% of the cost of qualified investments, such as for the construction of our Stendal mill. These grants at the 35% of cost level required that at least one permanent job be created for each €500,000 of capital investment eligible for such grants and that such jobs be maintained for a period of five years from the completion of the capital investment project. Generally, government grants are not repayable by a recipient unless it fails to complete the proposed capital investment or, if applicable, fails to create or maintain the requisite amount of jobs. In the case of such failure, the government is entitled to revoke the grants and seek repayment unless such failure resulted from material unforeseen market developments beyond the control of the recipient, wherein the government may refrain from reclaiming previous grants. Pursuant to such legislation in effect at the time, the Stendal mill received approximately €275.0 million of government grants. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with all of the terms and conditions governing the government grants we have received in Germany.

 

The following table sets out for the periods indicated the effect of these government grants on the recorded value of such assets in our consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

Qualifying capital investments at industrial facilities in Germany that reduce effluent discharges offset wastewater fees that would otherwise be required to be paid. For more information about our environmental capital expenditures, see “— Environmental”.

 

Total capital expenditures at the Celgar mill in 2008, 2007 and 2006 were €12.1 million, €7.9 million and €16.0 million, respectively. In 2008, capital expenditures related primarily to the Celgar Energy Project and upgrades to the mill’s woodroom. We commenced the Celgar Energy Project as part of our continued focus on energy production and sales and to increase the mill’s production of “green” energy and optimize its power generation capacity. The project is designed to be a high return capital project with an estimated cost of approximately €35.0 million. It includes the installation of a second turbo generator with a design capacity of 48 MW. The project is expected to bring the mill’s installed generating capacity up to 100 MW, and upgrade the mill’s bark boiler and steam facilities. In January 2009 the Celgar mill finalized an electricity purchase agreement under which it will sell electrical energy generated by the Celgar Energy Project to the principal provincial power authority. See ‘‘— Energy and Recent Energy Initiatives”.

 

In 2009, we intend to reduce discretionary capital expenditures at all of our mills to help conserve our cash resources in response to the current economic environment. Overall, capital expenditures in 2009 are expected to be approximately €42.0 million and primarily relate to the Celgar Energy Project.

 

Our operations are subject to a wide range of environmental laws and regulations, dealing primarily with water, air and land pollution control. We devote significant management and financial resources to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. Our total capital expenditures on environmental projects at our mills were approximately €4.9 million in 2008 (2007 — €0.2 million). In 2009, we expect environmental project related capital expenditures to be approximately €8.8 million in 2009, primarily relating to a washer project at the Rosenthal mill.

 

We believe we have obtained all required environmental permits, authorizations and approvals for our operations. We believe our operations are currently in substantial compliance with the requirements of all applicable environmental laws and regulations and our respective operating permits.

 

Under German state environmental rules relating to effluent discharges, industrial users are required to pay wastewater fees based upon the amount of their effluent discharge. These rules also provide that an industrial user which undertakes environmental capital expenditures and lowers certain effluent discharges to prescribed levels may offset the amount of these expenditures against the wastewater fees that they would otherwise be required to pay. We estimate that the aggregate wastewater fees we saved in 2008 as a result of environmental capital expenditures and initiatives to reduce allowable emissions and discharges at our Stendal and Rosenthal mills were approximately €6.4 million. In 2007, we saved approximately €4.1 million and, in 2006, the Stendal and Rosenthal mills saved aggregate wastewater fees of approximately €7.7 million. We expect that capital investment programs and other environmental initiatives at our German mills will mostly offset the wastewater fees that may be payable for 2009 and 2010 and will ensure that our operations continue in substantial compliance with prescribed standards.

 

Environmental compliance is a priority for our operations. To ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, we regularly monitor emissions at our mills and periodically perform environmental audits of operational sites and procedures both with our internal personnel and outside consultants. These audits identify opportunities for improvement and allow us to take proactive measures at the mills as considered appropriate.

 

The Rosenthal mill has a relatively modern biological wastewater treatment and oxygen bleaching facility. We have significantly reduced our levels of adsorbable organic halogen discharge at the Rosenthal mill and we believe the Rosenthal mill’s adsorbable organic halogen and chemical oxygen demand discharges are in compliance with the standards currently mandated by the German government.

 

The Stendal mill, which commenced operations in September 2004, has been in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits. Management believes that, as the Stendal mill is a state-of-the-art facility, it will operate in compliance with the applicable environmental requirements.

 

The Celgar mill has been in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits. In 2008 dredging of the mill’s spill pond was completed to remove a stockpile of solids responsible for generating the odor which has at times caused compliance issues with the mill’s air permit.

 

In November 2008, the Celgar mill suffered a spill of diluted weak black liquor into the nearby Columbia River. The spill was promptly reported by the mill to authorities and remediated. An environmental impact report prepared by independent consultants engaged by the mill concluded that the environmental impact of the spill was minimal. The spill was also investigated by federal and provincial environmental authorities and a report of the matter is expected some time in 2009. Although we cannot predict what action, if any, the authorities may take, we do not currently expect the spill to result in any material charges.

 

The Celgar mill operates two landfills, a newly commissioned site and an older site. The Celgar mill intends to decommission the old landfill and is developing a closure plan and reviewing such plan with the Ministry of Environment, or “MOE”. However, the MOE, in conjunction with the provincial pulp and paper industry, is in the process of developing a standard for landfill closures. In addition, the portion of the landfill owned by an adjacent sawmill continues to be active. Accordingly, the mill has not been able to move forward with the closure. We currently believe we may receive regulatory approval for such closure plan in 2009 and commence closure activities thereafter. We currently estimate the cost of closing the landfill at approximately €1.6 million but since the closure program for the old landfill has not been finalized or approved, there can be no assurance that the decommissioning of the old landfill will not exceed such cost estimate.

 

Future regulations or permits may place lower limits on allowable types of emissions, including air, water, waste and hazardous materials, and may increase the financial consequences of maintaining compliance with environmental laws and regulations or conducting remediation. Our ongoing monitoring and policies have enabled us to develop and implement effective measures to maintain emissions in substantial compliance with environmental laws and regulations to date in a cost-effective manner. However, there can be no assurances that this will be the case in the future.

 

We currently employ approximately 1,515 people. We have approximately 1,094 employees working in our German operations, including our transportation subsidiaries. In addition, there are approximately 18 people working at the office we maintain in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Celgar currently employs approximately 403 people in its operations, the vast majority of which are unionized.

 

Rosenthal is bound by collective agreements negotiated with Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau Chemie, Energie, or “IGBCE”, a national union that represents pulp and paper workers. We are currently negotiating a new agreement with IGBCE to replace the labor contract which expired at the end of 2008. We expect that this agreement will be concluded on similar terms as the prior agreement and will provide for a wage increase in 2009. Although we consider our relationship with our Rosenthal employees to be good, we can provide no assurance that a new collective agreement will be settled for the Rosenthal mill without significant work stoppages or disruptions.

 

Stendal and its subsidiaries employ approximately 632 people. Pursuant to the government grants and financing arranged in connection with the Stendal mill, we have agreed with German state authorities to maintain this number of jobs until September 2010. Stendal has not yet entered into any collective agreements with IGBCE, although it may do so in the future.

 

We consider the relationships with our employees to be good. We have implemented profit sharing plans, training programs and early retirement schemes for the benefit of our German employees. Although no assurances can be provided, we have not had any significant work stoppages at any of our German operations and we would therefore expect to enter into labor agreements with our pulp workers in Germany without any significant work stoppages at our German mills.

 

We have negotiated a new four-year collective agreement, effective May 1, 2008, with our hourly workers at the Celgar mill to replace the collective agreement which expired on April 30, 2008. The agreement provides for a retroactive wage increase of 2.0% for 2008, a wage increase of 2.5% in each of 2009 and 2010 and a wage increase of 3.0% in 2011.

 

The following summaries of certain material provisions of: (i) our senior notes; (ii) our convertible notes; (iii) the Stendal Loan Facility, including the recent amendment thereto; (iv) the Rosenthal Loan Facility; and (v) the Celgar Working Capital Facility, (as such terms are referred to below), are not complete and these provisions, including definitions of certain terms, are qualified by reference to the applicable documents and the applicable amendments to such documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or “SEC”.

 

Senior Notes

 

In conjunction with the acquisition of the Celgar mill and the repayment of Rosenthal’s then project loan facility, in February 2005, we issued $310.0 million in principal amount of senior notes, referred to as the “Senior Notes”. The Senior Notes bear interest at the rate of 9.25% per annum, payable in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year the notes are outstanding. The Senior Notes mature on February 15, 2013. The Senior Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and, accordingly, will rank junior in right of payment to all existing and future secured indebtedness and all indebtedness and liabilities of our subsidiaries, equal in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to the 8.5% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2010 and any future subordinated indebtedness. We may redeem the Senior Notes on or after February 15, 2009, in whole or in part, at the applicable redemption prices plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. In certain circumstances, we may also redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption price of 109.35% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings. The notes were issued under an indenture which, among other things, restricts our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries under the indenture to: (i) incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; (ii) pay dividends or make other distributions to our stockholders; (iii) purchase or redeem capital stock or subordinated indebtedness (unless there is no default and such purchase or redemption involves our convertible notes and the daily closing sale price per share of our common

stock on the NASDAQ Global Market for a period of at least ten consecutive trading days exceeds 120% of the then applicable conversion price of such convertible notes); (iv) make investments; (v) create liens and enter into sale and lease back transactions; (vi) incur restrictions on the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments to us; (vii) sell assets; (viii) consolidate or merge with or into other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and (ix) engage in transactions with affiliates. These limitations are subject to other important qualifications and exceptions.

 

In order to take into account the nature of the non-recourse “project financing” of the loan facility for our Stendal mill and to enhance our financing flexibility, the indenture governing our senior notes provides for a “restricted group” and an “unrestricted group”. The terms of the indenture are applicable to the restricted group and are generally not applicable to the unrestricted group. Currently, the restricted group is comprised of Mercer Inc., the Rosenthal and Celgar mills and certain holding subsidiaries. The restricted group excludes our Stendal mill. The working capital facilities at our Rosenthal and Celgar mills and our Convertible Notes and Senior Notes are obligations of the restricted group. The Stendal Loan Facility is an obligation of our unrestricted group.

 

Convertible Notes

 

In October 2003, we issued $82.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.5% convertible senior subordinated notes due 2010, referred to as the “Convertible Notes”. In December 2006, we purchased and cancelled an aggregate of approximately $15.2 million principal amount of such notes in exchange for approximately 2.2 million shares of our common stock.

 

We pay interest semi-annually on the Convertible Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on April 15, 2004. The Convertible Notes mature on October 15, 2010. The Convertible Notes are redeemable on and after October 15, 2008, at any time in whole or in part, at our option on not less than 20 and not more than 60 days’ prior notice at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption, subject to the restrictions in the indenture governing the notes.

 

The Convertible Notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, unless previously redeemed, at any time on or prior to maturity into our common shares at a conversion price of $7.75 per share, which is equal to a conversion rate of approximately 129 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes, subject to adjustment.

 

Holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to require us to purchase all or any part of the Convertible Notes 30 business days after the occurrence of a change of control with respect to us at a purchase price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.

 

The Convertible Notes are unsecured obligations of Mercer Inc. and are subordinated in right of payment to existing and future senior indebtedness (including our Senior Notes described above) and are effectively subordinated to all of the indebtedness and liabilities of our subsidiaries. The indenture governing the Convertible Notes limits the incurrence by us, but not our subsidiaries, of senior indebtedness.

 

Stendal Loan Facility

 

In August 2002, Stendal entered into a senior €828.0 million project finance facility, referred to as the “Stendal Loan Facility”. The Stendal Loan Facility is divided into tranches which cover, among other things, project construction and development costs, financing and start-up costs and working capital, as well as the financing of a debt service reserve account, or “DSRA”, approved cost overruns and a revolving loan facility that covered time lags for receipt of grant funding and value-added tax refunds in the amount of €160.0 million, which has been repaid. The DSRA is an account maintained to hold and, if needed, pay up to one year’s principal and interest due under the facility as partial security for the lenders. Other than the revolving working capital tranche, no further advances are currently available under the Stendal Loan Facility.

 

Pursuant to the Stendal Loan Facility, interest was to accrue at variable rates between Euribor plus 0.60% and Euribor plus 1.55% per year. The facility provides for Stendal to manage its risk exposure to interest rate risk, currency risk and pulp price risk by way of interest rate swaps, Euro and U.S. dollar swaps and pulp hedging transactions, subject to certain controls, including certain maximum notional and at-risk amounts. Pursuant to the terms of the facility, in 2002 Stendal entered into interest rate swap agreements in respect of borrowings to fix most

of the interest costs under the Stendal Loan Facility at a rate of 5.28% commencing May 2004, plus margin, until final payment in October 2017. For more information, see “Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility, Stendal reduced the aggregate advances outstanding to €531.1 million at the end of 2008 from a maximum original amount of €638.0 million. The tranches are generally repayable in installments and mature between the fifth and 15th anniversary of the first advance under the Stendal Loan Facility for project construction.

 

In February 2009, we completed an agreement with Stendal’s lending syndicate to amend the Stendal Loan Facility, referred to as the “Amendment”. The Amendment is subject to customary conditions precedent, which are expected to be completed on or before March 15, 2009. Pursuant to the Amendment, Stendal’s obligation to repay €164.0 million of scheduled principal payments, referred to as the “Deferred Amount”, is deferred until maturity of the facility in September 2017. Until the Deferred Amount is repaid in full, Stendal may not make distributions, in the form of interest and capital payments on shareholder debt or dividends on equity invested, to its shareholders, including us. The Amendment also provides for a 100% cash sweep, referred to as the “Cash Sweep”, of any excess cash of Stendal which will be used first to fund the DSRA to a level sufficient to service the amounts due and payable under the Project Finance Loan Agreement during the then following 12 months, or “Fully Funded”, and second to prepay the Deferred Amount. Not included in the Cash Sweep is an amount of €15.0 million which Stendal is permitted to retain for working capital purposes.

 

The Amendment implements a permitted leverage ratio of total debt under the Stendal Loan Facility to EBITDA, or “Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio”, which is effective from December 31, 2009 and is set to decline over time from 13.0x on its effective date to 4.5x on June 30, 2017. The Amendment also revises the Stendal Loan Facility’s annual debt service cover ratio, or “Annual Debt Ratio”, requirement to be at least 1.1x for the period from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013 and 1.2x from January 1, 2014 until Maturity.

 

The Amendment includes the following as events of default:

 

 

The Amendment provides that Stendal and its shareholders may, once per fiscal year, cure a deficiency in either the Annual Debt Ratio or the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio by way of a capital contribution or fully subordinated shareholder loan to Stendal in the amount necessary to cure such deficiency and thereby prevent the occurrence of an event of default.

 

Under the terms of the Amendment, if, from December 31, 2011 until the date when all of the loans pursuant to the Stendal Loan Facility are repaid in full, we raise aggregate actual net proceeds of €20.0 million or more from an equity financing and the DSRA is not Fully Funded, it will constitute an event of default if we do not contribute €10.0 million to the capital of Stendal.

 

The tranches under the Stendal Loan Facility are severally guaranteed by German federal and state governments in respect of an aggregate of 80% of the principal amount of these tranches. Under the guarantees, the German federal and state governments that provide the guarantees are responsible for the performance of our payment obligations for the guaranteed amounts. Such governmental guarantees permit the Stendal Loan Facility to benefit from lower interest costs and other credit terms than would otherwise be available.

 

The Stendal Loan Facility is secured by all of the assets of Stendal.

 

In connection with the Stendal Loan Facility, we entered into a shareholders’ undertaking agreement, referred to as the “Undertaking”, dated August 26, 2002, as amended, with Stendal’s then minority shareholders and the lenders in order to finance the shareholders’ contribution to the Stendal mill. Under the terms of the Undertaking,

we have agreed, for as long as Stendal has any liability under the Stendal Loan Facility to HVB, to retain control over at least 51% of the voting shares of Stendal.

 

Rosenthal Loan Facility

 

In February 2005, Rosenthal established a revolving working capital facility, referred to as the “Rosenthal Loan Facility”, to replace its prior project financing facility. The €40.0 million revolving working capital facility for the Rosenthal mill consists of a revolving credit facility which may be utilized by way of cash advances or advances by way of letter of credit or bank guarantees. The facility matures in February 2010. The interest payable on cash advances is LIBOR or EURIBOR plus 1.55%, plus certain other costs incurred by the lenders in connection with the facility. Each cash advance is to be repaid on the last day of the respective interest period and in full on the termination date and each advance by way of a letter of credit or bank guarantee shall be repaid on the applicable expiry date of such letter of credit or bank guarantee. An interest period for cash advances shall be three, six or 12 months or any other period as Rosenthal and the lenders may determine. There is also a 0.35% per annum commitment fee on the unused and uncancelled amount of the revolving facility which is payable quarterly in arrears. This facility is secured by a first fixed charge on the inventories, receivables and accounts of Rosenthal. It also provides Rosenthal with a hedging facility relating to the hedging of the interest, currency and pulp prices as they affect Rosenthal pursuant to a strategy agreed to by Rosenthal and the lender from time to time.

 

Celgar Working Capital Facility

 

In May 2006, Celgar established a C$40.0 million revolving working capital credit facility, referred to as the “Celgar Working Capital Facility”, to replace an existing facility. In January 2009, we extended the maturity date of this facility from May 2009 to May 2010. Availability of drawdowns under the facility is subject to a borrowing base limit that is based upon the Celgar mill’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory levels from time to time. The revolving facility is available by way of: (i) Canadian and U.S. denominated advances which bear interest at a designated prime rate plus 0.50% for Canadian advances and at a designated base rate plus 0.50% per annum for U.S. advances; (ii) banker’s acceptance equivalent loans which bear interest at the applicable Canadian dollar bankers’ acceptance rate plus 2.25% per annum; and/or (iii) LIBOR advances which bear interest at the applicable LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum. The facility incorporates two sub lines, a $2.0 million letter of credit sub line and a $3.0 million foreign exchange contract sub line. Under these sub lines the lender will provide letters of credit guarantees and foreign exchange contract guarantees up to a maximum of $2.0 million and $3.0 million, respectively, subject, in each case, to the facility limit and payment of applicable fees. Celgar is also required to pay a 0.25% per annum standby fee monthly in arrears on any unutilized portion of the revolving facility. The Celgar Working Capital Facility is secured by, among other things, a first fixed charge on the current assets of Celgar.

 

In August 2006, we divested our equity interest in the Heidenau paper mill and Landqart AG for cash proceeds of €5.0 million and a secured note of €5.0 million. In November 2006, we sold substantially all of the assets comprising the Fährbrücke paper mill. We recorded an aggregate net loss of €6.0 million on the disposal of these assets which included an accrual of €1.9 million for net costs expected in connection with funding and other commitments related to the Fährbrücke sale.

 

We make available free of charge on or through our website at www.mercerint.com annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these materials with the SEC. The public may read and copy any material we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may also obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that also contains our current and periodic reports, including our proxy and information statements.

 

The statements in this “Risk Factors” section describe material risks to our business and should be considered carefully. You should review carefully the risk factors listed below, as well as those factors listed in other documents we file with the SEC. In addition, these statements constitute our cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our disclosure and analysis in this annual report on Form 10-K and in our annual report to shareholders contain some forward-looking statements that set forth anticipated results based on management’s current plans and assumptions.

 

These include statements regarding:

 

 

From time to time, we also provide forward-looking statements in other materials we release as well as oral forward-looking statements. Such statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.

 

Statements in the future tense, and all statements accompanied by terms such as “may”, “will”, “believe”, “project”, “expect”, “estimate”, “assume”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “plan”, and variations thereof and similar terms are intended to be forward-looking statements as defined by federal securities law. You can find examples of these statements throughout this annual report on Form 10-K, including in the description of business in “Item 1. Business” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. While these forward-looking statements reflect our best estimates when made, the following risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections.

 

We intend that all forward-looking statements we make will be subject to safe harbor protection of the federal securities laws pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

You should consider the limitations on, and risks associated with, forward-looking statements and not unduly rely on the accuracy of predictions contained in such forward-looking statements. As noted above, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, changes in expectations, or the occurrence of unanticipated events after the date of those statements. Moreover, in the future, we may make forward-looking statements that involve the risk factors and other matters described in this document as well as other risk factors subsequently identified.

 

Our business is highly cyclical in nature.

 

The pulp business is highly cyclical in nature and markets for our principal products are characterized by periods of supply and demand imbalance, which in turn affects product prices. Pulp markets are highly competitive and are sensitive to cyclical changes in the global economy, industry capacity and foreign exchange rates, all of which can have a significant influence on selling prices and our operating results. The length and magnitude of industry cycles have varied over time but generally reflect changes in macro economic conditions and levels of industry capacity.

 

Industry capacity can fluctuate as changing industry conditions can influence producers to idle production or permanently close machines or entire mills. In addition, to avoid substantial cash costs in idling or closing a mill, some producers will choose to operate at a loss, sometimes even a cash loss, which can prolong weak pricing environments due to oversupply. Oversupply of our products can also result from producers introducing new capacity in response to favorable pricing trends.

 

Demand for pulp has historically been determined by the level of economic growth and has been closely tied to overall business activity. From 2006 to mid-2008, pulp prices steadily improved. However, in the latter half of 2008, the current global economic crisis has resulted in a sharp decline of pulp prices from a high of €900 per ADMT to €635 per ADMT at the end of 2008. There may be further price deterioration in the future. We cannot predict the length or severity of the current economic downturn and its continuing impact on lower demand and prices for our product.

 

Prices for pulp are driven by many factors outside our control, and we have little influence over the timing and extent of price changes, which are often volatile. Because market conditions beyond our control determine the price for pulp, such pulp may fall below our cash production costs, requiring us to either incur short-term losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our manufacturing facilities. Therefore, our profitability depends on managing our cost structure, particularly raw materials which represent a significant component of our operating costs and can fluctuate based upon factors beyond our control. If the prices of our products decline, or if prices for our raw materials increase, or both, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

Our level of indebtedness could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.

 

As of December 31, 2008, we had approximately €820.3 million of indebtedness outstanding, of which €531.1 million relates to the Stendal Loan Facility. We may also incur additional indebtedness in the future. Our high debt levels may have important consequences for us, including, but not limited to the following:

 

 

The indenture relating to our Senior Notes and our bank credit facilities contain restrictive covenants which impose operating and other restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. These restrictions will affect, and in many respects will limit or prohibit, our ability to, among other things, incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or enter into sale/leaseback transactions, pay dividends or make distributions on capital stock or redeem or repurchase capital stock, make investments or acquisitions, create liens and enter into mergers, consolidations or transactions with affiliates. The terms of our indebtedness also restrict our ability to sell certain assets, apply the proceeds of such sales and reinvest in our business.

 

Failure to comply with the covenants in the indenture relating to our Senior Notes or in our bank credit facilities could result in events of default and could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Our ability to repay or refinance our indebtedness will depend on our future financial and operating performance. Our performance, in turn, will be subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions, as well as financial, business, legislative, regulatory, industry and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our ability to meet our future debt service and other obligations, in particular the Stendal project debt, may depend in significant part on the extent to which we can implement successfully our business strategy. We cannot assure you that we will be able to implement our strategy fully or that the anticipated results of our strategy will be realized.

 

The global economic crisis could adversely affect our business and financial results and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources.

 

As widely reported, financial markets in the United States, Europe and Asia experienced extreme and unprecedented disruption in the second half of 2008, including, among other things, extreme volatility in security prices, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others. Such crisis has now broadened and is impacting other sectors of the economy, resulting in an extremely difficult market environment for many businesses, including our own. As a result, we are subject to a number of risks associated with these adverse conditions.

 

Principally, as pulp demand has historically been determined by the level of economic growth and business activity and the recent financial market disruptions have led to slowdowns in world economies, demand and prices for our product have decreased substantially and may continue to decrease further. Additionally, restricted credit availability restrains our customers’ ability or willingness to purchase our products resulting in lower revenues. Restricted credit availability also can restrict us in the way we operate our business, our level of inventories and the amount of capital expenditures we may undertake. Depending on their severity and duration, the effects and consequences of the financial market turmoil and wider global economic downturn could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources, including our ability to raise capital, if needed, the ability of banks to honor draws on our credit facilities, or otherwise negatively impact our business and financial results.

 

The timing and nature of any recovery in the financial markets or in the general global economic situation remains uncertain, and there can be no assurance that market conditions will improve in the near future. We are unable to predict the likely duration and severity of the current disruption in financial markets and adverse economic conditions on world economies and pulp markets.

 

Prolonged depressed pulp prices may cause us to take production downtime at our mills.

 

If prolonged depressed pulp prices render operations at any one of our mills uneconomical we may be forced to take production downtime. During such temporary shutdowns we would be required to continue to expend capital to maintain the mill and equipment. In addition, we could incur significant labor costs if we are required to give employees notice prior to any layoff.

 

If one of our mills is shut down, it may experience prolonged startup periods, ranging from several days to several weeks. The shutdown of any one of our mills for a substantial period of time could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

In the current economic conditions and weak pulp price and demand environment, there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows to service, repay or refinance debt.

 

In light of the current state of the world economy and tight credit markets, challenging operating environment and current weakness in pulp demand and prices, there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows to service, repay or refinance our outstanding indebtedness when it matures. In particular, if we are forced to take production downtime at any of our mills as a result of the weak pulp pricing environment, this could have a material adverse effect on cash flows and impair our ability to service and repay debt.

 

Our shares may be delisted from the NASDAQ Global Market if the closing price for our shares is not maintained at $1.00 per share or higher.

 

NASDAQ imposes, among other requirements, listing maintenance standards as well as minimum bid and public float requirements. The price of our shares must trade at or above $1.00 to comply with NASDAQ’s minimum bid requirement for continued listing on the NASDAQ Global Market. In recent months, our shares have traded at below $1.00 per share at closing for an extended period of time.

 

In response to current market conditions, NASDAQ has suspended its enforcement of the rules regarding a minimum closing bid price until April 20, 2009. If the closing bid price of our shares continues to fail to meet NASDAQ’s minimum bid price requirement for 30 consecutive business days on or after April 20, 2009, or such later date to which NASDAQ may extend its suspension of this requirement, of if we otherwise fail to meet all other applicable requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market, NASDAQ may make a determination to delist our common shares. Any such delisting could adversely affect the market liquidity of our shares and the market price of our shares could decrease and could also adversely affect our ability to obtain financing or refinancing for the continuation of our operations and/or result in the loss of confidence by stakeholders.

 

If our shares were threatened with delisting from The NASDAQ Global Market, we may, depending on the circumstances, seek to extend the period for regaining compliance with NASDAQ listing requirements by moving our shares to The NASDAQ Capital Market, or we may pursue other strategic alternatives to meet the continuing listing standards. In addition, we may maintain our listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

 

Cyclical fluctuations in the price and supply of our raw materials could adversely affect our business.

 

Our main raw material is fiber in the form of wood chips and pulp logs. Such fiber is cyclical in terms of both price and supply. The cost of wood chips and pulp logs is primarily affected by the supply and demand for lumber. Demand for these raw materials is generally determined by the volume of pulp and paper products produced globally and regionally. Since 2006 high energy prices, a focus on, and governmental initiatives related to, “green” or renewable energy have led to an increase in renewable energy projects in Europe, including Germany. Demand for wood residuals from such energy producers has generally put upward pressure on prices for wood residuals such as wood chips in Germany and its neighboring countries. This has resulted in higher fiber costs for our German mills and such trend could continue to put further upward pressure on wood chip prices although declining energy prices and weakening economies in the latter part of 2008 have tempered such demand. Similarly, North American energy producers are exploring the viability of renewable energy initiatives and governmental initiatives in this field are increasing, all of which could lead to higher demand for sawmill residual fiber, including chips. The cyclical nature of pricing for these raw materials represents a potential risk to our profit margins if pulp producers are unable to pass along price increases to their customers.

 

We do not own any timberlands or have any long-term governmental timber concessions nor do we have any long-term fiber contracts at our German operations. Raw materials are available from a number of suppliers and we have not historically experienced material supply interruptions or substantial sustained price increases, however our requirements have increased and may continue to increase as we increase capacity through capital projects or other efficiency measures at our mills. As a result, we may not be able to purchase sufficient quantities of these raw materials to meet our production requirements at prices acceptable to us during times of tight supply. In addition, the quality of fiber we receive could be reduced as a result of industrial disputes, material curtailments or shut-down of operations by suppliers, government orders and legislation, weather conditions, acts of god and other events beyond our control. An insufficient supply of fiber or reduction in the quality of fiber we receive would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition to the supply of wood fiber, we are dependent on the supply of certain chemicals and other inputs used in our production facilities. Any disruption in the supply of these chemicals or other inputs could affect our ability to meet customer demand in a timely manner and could harm our reputation. Any material increase in the cost of these chemicals or other inputs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

 

We operate in highly competitive markets.

 

We sell our pulp globally, with a large percentage sold in Europe, North America and Asia. The markets for pulp are highly competitive. A number of other global companies compete in each of these markets and no company holds a dominant position. Our pulp is considered a commodity because many companies produce similar and largely standardized products. As a result, the primary basis for competition in our markets has been price. Many of our competitors have greater resources and lower leverage than we do and may be able to adapt more quickly to industry or market changes or devote greater resources to the sale of products than we can. There can be no assurance that we will continue to be competitive in the future. The global pulp market has historically been characterized by considerable swings in prices which have and will result in variability in our earnings. Prices are typically denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

We are exposed to currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations.

 

In 2008, the majority of our sales were in products quoted in U.S. dollars while most of our operating costs and expenses, other than those of the Celgar mill, were incurred in Euros. In addition, all of the products sold by the Celgar mill are quoted in U.S. dollars and the Celgar mill costs are primarily incurred in Canadian dollars. Our results of operations and financial condition are reported in Euros. As a result, our revenues are adversely affected by a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Euro and to the Canadian dollar. Such shifts in currencies relative to the Euro and the Canadian dollar reduce our operating margins and the cash flow available to fund our operations and to service our debt. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

In 2002, Stendal entered into variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps to fix interest payments under the Stendal mill financing facility, which has kept Stendal from benefiting from the general decline in interest rates that ensued. These derivatives are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and all unrealized gains and losses are recognized in earnings for the relevant reporting periods.

 

Increases in our capital expenditures or maintenance costs could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and our ability to satisfy our debt obligations.

 

Our business is capital intensive and requires that we regularly incur capital expenditures to maintain our equipment, improve efficiencies and comply with environmental laws. Our annual capital expenditures may vary due to fluctuations in requirements for maintenance, business capital, expansion and as a result of changes to environmental regulations that require capital expenditures to bring our operations into compliance with such regulations. In addition, our senior management and board of directors may approve projects in the future that will require significant capital expenditures. Increased capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and our ability to satisfy our debt obligations. Further, while we regularly perform maintenance on our manufacturing equipment, key pieces of equipment in our various production processes may still need to be repaired or replaced. If we do not have sufficient funds or such repairs or replacements are delayed, the costs of repairing or replacing such equipment and the associated downtime of the affected production line could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We use derivatives to manage certain risk which has caused significant fluctuations in our operating results.

 

We use derivative instruments to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Concurrently with entering into the Stendal financing, Stendal entered into variable-to-fixed rate interest swaps for the full term of the Stendal Loan Facility to manage its interest rate risk exposure with respect to the full principal amount of this facility.

 

We record unrealized gains or losses on our derivative instruments when they are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and realized gains or losses on them when they are settled. These unrealized and realized gains and losses can materially impact our operating results for any reporting period. For example, our operating results for 2008 included unrealized net losses of €25.2 million on our interest rate derivative. For 2007, our operating results included realized and unrealized net gains of €20.4 million on our currency and interest rate

derivatives. Our operating results for 2006 included realized and unrealized net gains of €105.8 million on currency and interest rate derivatives.

 

If any of the variety of instruments and strategies we utilize are not effective, we may incur losses which may have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Further, we may in the future use derivative instruments to manage pulp price risks. The purpose of our derivative activity may also be considered speculative in nature; we do not use these instruments with respect to any pre-set percentage of revenues or other formula, but either to augment our potential gains or reduce our potential losses depending on our perception of future economic events and developments.

 

We are subject to extensive environmental regulation and we could have environmental liabilities at our facilities.

 

Our operations are subject to numerous environmental laws as well as permits, guidelines and policies. These laws, permits, guidelines and policies govern, among other things:

 

 

In addition, as a result of our operations, we may be subject to remediation, clean up or other administrative orders or amendments to our operating permits, and we may be involved from time to time in administrative and judicial proceedings or inquiries. Future orders, proceedings or inquiries could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Environmental laws and land use laws and regulations are constantly changing. New regulations or the increased enforcement of existing laws could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. In addition, compliance with regulatory requirements is expensive, at times requiring the replacement, enhancement or modification of equipment, facilities or operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our profitability by offsetting any increased costs of complying with future regulatory requirements.

 

We are subject to liability for environmental damage at the facilities that we own or operate, including damage to neighboring landowners, residents or employees, particularly as a result of the contamination of soil, groundwater or surface water and especially drinking water. The costs of such liabilities can be substantial. Our potential liability may include damages resulting from conditions existing before we purchased or operated these facilities. We may also be subject to liability for any offsite environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances that we or our predecessors arranged to transport, treat or dispose of at other locations. In addition, we may be held legally responsible for liabilities as a successor owner of businesses that we acquire or have acquired. Except for Stendal, our facilities have been operating for decades and we have not done invasive testing to determine whether or to what extent environmental contamination exists. As a result, these businesses may have liabilities for conditions that we discover or that become apparent, including liabilities arising from non-compliance with environmental laws by prior owners. Because of the limited availability of insurance coverage for environmental liability, any substantial liability for environmental damage could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations might require significant capital expenditures. We may be unable to generate sufficient funds or access other sources of capital to fund unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures.

 

We are subject to risks related to our employees.

 

The majority of our employees are unionized. In the future we may enter into a collective agreement with our pulp workers at the Stendal mill. The collective agreements relating to hourly workers at both our Rosenthal and Celgar mills expired in 2008. We are currently negotiating a new agreement with our Rosenthal employees and have negotiated a new four-year collective agreement, effective May 1, 2008, with the hourly workers at our Celgar mill. Although we have not experienced any work stoppages in the past, there can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate acceptable collective agreements or other satisfactory arrangements with our employees upon the expiration of our collective agreements or in conjunction with the establishment of a new agreement or arrangement with our pulp workers at the Stendal mill. This could result in a strike or work stoppage by the affected workers. The registration or renewal of the collective agreements or the outcome of our wage negotiations could result in higher wages or benefits paid to union members. Accordingly, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations or higher on-going labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

 

The Celgar Energy Project may not generate the results or benefits we expect.

 

The Celgar Energy Project is subject to customary risks and uncertainties inherent for large capital projects which could result in the project not completing on schedule or as budgeted. Delays to Celgar receiving any operating permits or any required amendments to such permits could result in construction delays, operational deficiencies or funding shortfalls. Furthermore, the Celgar mill could experience operating difficulties or delays during the start-up period when production of “green” energy is being ramped up. The Celgar Energy Project may not achieve our planned power generation or the level required under the electricity purchase agreement concluded with British Columbia’s principal power authority.

 

We rely on German federal and state government grants and guarantees.

 

We currently benefit from a subsidized capital expenditure program and lower cost of financing as a result of German federal and state government grants and guarantees at our Stendal mill. Should either the German federal or state governments be prohibited from honoring legislative grants and guarantees at Stendal, or should we be required to repay any such legislative grants, this may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.

 

The EU ETS and Germany’s Renewable Energy Act.

 

Since 2005, our German mills have benefitted from sales of emission allowances under the EU ETS. As a result of our Rosenthal and Stendal mills’ recently commenced participation in the Renewable Energy Act, the amount of emissions allowances granted to our German mills under the EU ETS may be reduced or our German mills may cease to be eligible at all for participation under the EU ETS.

 

Additionally, the Renewable Energy Act is subject to governmental amendments which could adversely affect the eligibility of our Rosenthal and Stendal mills to participate in this statutory program and/or the tariffs paid thereunder. As a result we cannot predict with any certainty the amount of future sales of surplus energy we may be able to generate.

 

We are dependent on key personnel.

 

Our future success depends, to a large extent, on the efforts and abilities of our executive and senior mill operating officers. Such officers are industry professionals many of whom have operated through multiple business cycles. Our officers play an integral role in, among other things:

 

 

 

The loss of one or more of our officers could make us less competitive in these areas which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We do not maintain any key person life insurance for any of our executive or senior mill operating officers.

 

We may experience material disruptions to our production.

 

A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our sales and/or negatively impact our results of operations. Any of our mills could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including:

 

 

Any such downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products and/or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If any of our facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to meet our production capacity targets and satisfy customer requirements would be impaired and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, terrorist attacks or natural disasters.

 

The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic or other widespread health emergency (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency), terrorist attacks or natural disasters, could create economic and financial disruptions, could lead to operational difficulties (including travel limitations) that could impair our ability to manage or operate our business and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Our insurance coverage may not be adequate.

 

We have obtained insurance coverage that we believe would ordinarily be maintained by an operator of facilities similar to our mills. Our insurance is subject to various limits and exclusions. Damage or destruction to our facilities could result in claims that are excluded by, or exceed the limits of, our insurance coverage. Additionally, the current financial crisis is affecting the availability of insurance coverage and, in particular, the availability and extent of credit insurance, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain credit insurance for our planned operations on commercially acceptable terms or at all.

 

We rely on third parties for transportation services.

 

Our business primarily relies upon third parties for the transportation of pulp to our customers, as well as for the delivery of our raw materials to our mills. Our pulp and raw materials are principally transported by truck, barge, rail and sea-going vessels, all of which are highly regulated. Increases in transportation rates can also materially adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Further, if our transportation providers fail to deliver our pulp in a timely manner, it could negatively impact our customer relationships and we may be unable to sell it at full value. If our transportation providers fail to deliver our raw materials in a timely fashion, we may be unable to manufacture pulp in response to customer orders. Also, if any of our transportation providers were to cease operations, we may be unable to replace them at a reasonable cost. The occurrence of any of the foregoing events could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Washington State law and our Articles of Incorporation may have anti-takeover effects which will make an acquisition of our Company by another company more difficult.

 

We are subject to the provisions of the Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 23B.19, which prohibits a Washington corporation, including our Company, from engaging in any business combination with an “acquiring person” for a period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an acquiring person, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A business combination includes mergers, asset sales as well as certain transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the acquiring person. Subject to certain exceptions, an “acquiring person” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within five years did own, 10% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. We may in the future adopt certain measures that may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company. Under Washington State law, we have the ability to adopt certain of these measures, including, without limitation, a shareholder rights plan, without any further vote or action by the holders of our shares. These measures may have anti-takeover effects, which may delay, defer or prevent a takeover attempt that a holder of our shares might consider in its best interest.

 

None.

 

We lease offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle, Washington, and in Berlin, Germany. We own the Rosenthal and Celgar mills and the underlying property. The Stendal mill is situated on property owned by Stendal, our 70.6% owned subsidiary.

 

The Rosenthal mill is situated on a 220 acre site near the town of Blankenstein in the state of Thüringia, approximately 300 kilometers south of the Stendal mill. The Saale river flows through the site of the mill. In late 1999, we completed a major capital project which converted the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp. It is a single line mill with a current annual production capacity of approximately 325,000 ADMTs of kraft pulp. The mill is self-sufficient in steam and electrical power. Some excess electrical power which is constantly generated is sold to the regional power grid. The facilities at the mill include:

 

 

 

The Stendal mill is situated on a 200 acre site owned by Stendal that is part of a larger 1,250 acre industrial park near the town of Stendal in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 300 kilometers north of the Rosenthal mill and 130 kilometers from the city of Berlin. The mill is adjacent to the Elbe river and has access to harbor facilities for water transportation. The mill is a single line mill with a current annual design production capacity of approximately 635,000 ADMTs of kraft pulp. The Stendal mill is self-sufficient in steam and electrical power. Some excess electrical power which is constantly being generated is sold to the regional power grid. The facilities at the mill include:

 

 

The Celgar mill is situated on a 400 acre site near the city of Castlegar, British Columbia. The mill is located on the south bank of the Columbia River, approximately 600 kilometers east of the port city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and approximately 32 kilometers north of the Canada-U.S. border. The city of Seattle, Washington is approximately 650 kilometers southwest of Castlegar. It is a single line mill with a current annual production capacity of approximately 495,000 ADMTs of kraft pulp. Internal power generating capacity could, with certain capital improvements, enable the Celgar mill to be self-sufficient in electrical power and at times to sell surplus electricity. The facilities at the Celgar mill include:

 

 

At the end of 2008, substantially all of the assets relating to the Stendal mill were pledged to secure the Stendal Loan Facility. The working capital loan facilities established for the Rosenthal and Celgar mills are secured by first charges against the inventories and receivables at the respective mills.

 

The following table sets out our pulp production capacity and actual production sales volumes and revenues by mill for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

In October 2005, our wholly owned subsidiary, Zellstoff Celgar Limited, received a re-assessment for real property transfer tax payable in British Columbia, Canada, in the amount of approximately €2.6 million (C$4.5 million) in connection with the acquisition of the Celgar mill. We are currently contesting the re-assessment and, as part of this process, a statutory lien was registered against the assets of the Celgar mill by British Columbia’s revenue authority in 2008. We currently expect a hearing in this matter to occur sometime in 2009. The amount, if any, that may be payable in connection with this matter remains uncertain.

 

In December 2008, the Court of First Instance of the European Communities dismissed the appeal brought by Kronoply GmbH and Kronotex GmbH & Co., two related board manufacturers against the decision of the Commission of the European Communities not to raise objection against the approximately €275 million of government grants received by our Stendal mill.

 

We are subject to routine litigation incidental to our business. We do not believe that the outcome of such litigation will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.

 

Not applicable.

 

 

(a) Market Information.  Our shares are quoted for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “MERC” and listed in U.S. dollars on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “MRI.U”. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of our shares on the NASDAQ Global Market for each quarter in the two year period ended December 31, 2008:

 

 

(b) Shareholder Information.  As at February 27, 2009, there were approximately 453 holders of record of our shares and a total of 36,422,487 shares were outstanding.

 

(c) Dividend Information.  The declaration and payment of dividends is at the discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors has not declared or paid any dividends on our shares in the past two years and does not anticipate declaring or paying dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

(d) Equity Compensation Plans.  The following table sets forth information as at December 31, 2008 regarding our equity compensation plans approved by our shareholders. 1,000,000 of our shares may be issued pursuant to options, stock appreciation rights and restricted shares under our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Our Amended and Restated 1992 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan expired in 2008.

 

 

 

 

The terms of the 2004 Plan permit us to grant awards under other plans, programs or agreements which may be settled in shares under the 2004 Plan. Pursuant to such terms we initiated a long-term performance incentive supplement, or “Performance Supplement”, in February 2008. The function of the Performance Supplement, in accordance with the purposes of the 2004 Plan, is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of shareholder value by aligning the interests of our employees, including senior management, with those of our shareholders. Any grants made under the Performance Supplement are settled in the form of shares issued under the 2004 Plan and any shares issued pursuant to the Performance Supplement reduce the number of shares available under the 2004 Plan.

 

The Performance Supplement provides for the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards comprised of performance shares and performance units to salaried employees of the Company and its

affiliates. The total number of shares reserved and available for delivery for awards granted under the Performance Supplement is 570,614 shares and represents a portion of the shares which can be issued under the 2004 Plan.

 

We do not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by shareholders.

 

(e) Private Placements.  In December 2006, we purchased and cancelled an aggregate of $15,245,000 principal amount of our convertible notes in exchange for 2,201,035 shares of our common stock. The shares were issued pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(f) Performance Graph.  The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total shareholder return, calculated on an assumed dividend reinvested basis, for our common stock, the NASDAQ Stock Market Index (the “NASDAQ Index”) and Standard Industrial Classification, or “SIC”, Code Index (SIC Code 2611 — pulp mills) (the “Industry Index”). The graph assumes $100 was invested in each of our common stock, the NASDAQ Index and the Industry Index on December 31, 2003. Data points on the graph are annual.

 

5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON DEC. 31, 2003
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC 31, 2008

 

 

 

The following table sets forth selected historical financial and operating data as at and for the periods indicated. The following selected financial data is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this annual report and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. The following selected financial data:

 

 

 

 

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our continuing operations as at and for the three years ended December 31, 2008 is based upon and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations reflects the disposition of our paper operations in 2006, the results of which have been classified as discontinued operations and their financial results are reported separately as discontinued operations

 

General

 

We operate in the pulp business and our operations are located in Germany and Western Canada. Our mills have a combined annual production capacity of approximately 1,455,000 ADMTs.

 

We operate in markets that are global, cyclical and commodity based. Our financial performance depends on a number of variables that impact sales and production costs. Sales and production results are influenced largely by the market price for our products and raw materials, the mix of products produced and foreign currency exchange rates. Kraft pulp markets are highly cyclical, with prices determined by supply and demand. Demand for kraft pulp is influenced to a significant degree by global levels of economic activity and supply is driven by industry capacity and utilization rates. Our product mix is important because premium grades of NBSK pulp generally achieve higher prices and profit margins.

 

Global economic conditions, changes in production capacity and inventory levels are the primary factors affecting kraft pulp prices. Historically, kraft pulp prices have been cyclical in nature. The average European list prices for NBSK pulp between 2000 and 2008 ranged from a low of $447 per ADMT in 2002 to a high of $900 per ADMT in mid-2008. In the latter part of 2008, we experienced extremely difficult market conditions characterized by poor demand and rapidly declining prices for our product. At the end of 2008, NBSK list prices in Europe had declined to $635 per ADMT.

 

Our sales realizations are affected by customer discounts, commissions and other items, as well as fluctuations in NBSK pulp prices.

 

Our production costs are influenced by the availability and cost of raw materials, energy and labor, and our plant efficiencies and productivity. Our main raw material is fiber in the form of wood chips and pulp logs. Wood chip and pulp log costs are primarily affected by the supply of, and demand for, lumber and pulp, which are both highly cyclical. Production costs also depend on the total volume of production. High operating rates and production efficiencies permit us to lower our average cost by spreading fixed costs over more units.

 

Our financial performance for any reporting period is also impacted by changes in the U.S. dollar to Euro and Canadian dollar exchange rate and in interest rates. Changes in currency rates affect our operating results because the price for our principal product, NBSK pulp, is generally based on a global industry benchmark that is quoted in U.S. dollars, even though a significant portion of the sales from our German mills is invoiced in Euros. Therefore, a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and the Canadian dollar will generally reduce the amount of our pulp operations’ revenues. Most of our operating costs at our German mills, including our debt obligations under the Stendal Loan Facility and Rosenthal Loan Facility, are incurred in Euros. Most of our operating costs at the Celgar mill, including its working capital facility, are in Canadian dollars. These costs do not fluctuate with the U.S. dollar to Euro or Canadian dollar exchange rates. Thus, a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and the Canadian dollar tends to reduce our sales revenue, gross profit and income from operations. Conversely, an increase in the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and the Canadian dollar positively impacts our revenues by increasing our operating margins and cash flow.

 

Changes in interest rates can impact our operating results because the credit facilities established for our mills use floating rates of interest.

 

From time to time, we also enter into interest rate and foreign currency derivative contracts to partially protect against the effect of such changes. Gains or losses on such derivatives are included in our earnings, either as they are settled or as they are marked to market for each reporting period. See “Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.

 

Stendal, as required under the Stendal Loan Facility, entered into variable-to-fixed rate interest swaps, referred to as the “Stendal Interest Rate Contracts”, in August 2002 to fix the interest rate on approximately €612.6 million of indebtedness for the full term of the Stendal Loan Facility. In 2008 and 2007, we recorded a net unrealized non-cash holding loss of €25.2 million and gain of €19.5 million, respectively, before minority interests on the mark to market valuation of the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts. The 2008 loss was primarily due to the decrease in long-term European interest rates, whereas the 2007 gain resulted primarily from improving world economies and increases in long-term European interest rates. In 2006, we recorded a net unrealized non-cash holding gain of €37.3 million before minority interests on the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts. Slowing world economies and further reductions in interest rates could result in our recording of further non-cash holding losses on the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts in future periods when they are marked to market.

 

2008 Significant Actions

 

In 2008 we took the following significant actions:

 

 

Current Market Environment

 

In 2008 global economies experienced unprecedented volatility and disruption and we are currently operating in a difficult worldwide economic environment. During the fourth quarter of 2008, we experienced significant declines in demand and selling prices for our product. As we enter 2009, pulp industry conditions remain challenging. These conditions are beyond our ability to control and may have a significant impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows, ability to meet our debt service obligations and financial position.

Three-Year Snapshot

 

Selected production, sales and exchange rate data for each of our last three years is as follows:

 

 

 

 

In the year ended December 31, 2008, pulp revenues decreased by approximately 2.1% to €689.3 million from €704.4 million in 2007, primarily due to the challenging market conditions in the second half of the year and the weakness of the U.S. dollar in much of the first three quarters of 2008. In 2008, revenues from the sale of excess energy increased to €31.0 million from €22.9 million in 2007. The increase in energy revenues in 2008 includes the settlement of certain energy forward contracts totaling approximately €4.5 million.

 

Pulp prices increased in the first half of 2008, primarily as a result of stronger demand and the weakening of the U.S. dollar but decreased in the second half due to deteriorating global economic conditions. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $839 (€571) per ADMT in 2008, compared to approximately $800 (€584) per ADMT in 2007. At the end of 2008, list prices decreased to approximately $635 (€456) per ADMT in Europe and $530 (€381) per ADMT in Asia, depending upon the country of delivery. At December 31, 2008, Norscan producers’ inventories for softwood kraft rose to 40 days’ supply, compared to 27 days at the end of 2007 as a result of weak demand and consumer de-stocking.

 

Pulp sales volume increased to 1,423,300 ADMTs in 2008 from 1,352,590 ADMTs in 2007. Average pulp sales realizations decreased by approximately 7.4% to €478 per ADMT in 2008 from €516 per ADMT in 2007 because of weakening conditions in the second half of 2008. The negative market conditions, however, were partially offset by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar late in the year.

 

Pulp production increased to 1,424,987 ADMTs in 2008 from 1,404,673 ADMTs in 2007, as all of our mills generally performed well and our Stendal and Rosenthal mills marked a record production year. In each of 2008 and 2007, we took a total of 33 days scheduled maintenance downtime at our mills and expect to take approximately 27 days in 2009.

 

Costs and expenses increased to €707.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2008 from €657.7 million in 2007.

 

On average, and excluding the effect of the non-cash inventory provisions on our fiber inventories in the fourth quarter of 2008, our fiber costs in 2008 were generally flat from 2007. In Germany, fiber costs decreased slightly as sustained production curtailments by large parts of the European board industry lowered demand for fiber throughout 2008 and decreased prices for roundwood which offset price increases in wood chips caused by decreased sawmilling activity. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill increased in 2008 from the prior year, primarily as a result of increased whole log chipping and higher freight costs incurred in the delivery of wood chips to the mill. Overall, in the short-term, we currently expect fiber prices in Germany to remain generally level with 2008 fourth quarter prices. However, possible reductions in harvesting rates by German forest owners in response to market conditions could lead to an undersupply of roundwood and upward pressure on fiber prices later in the year. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill are expected to decrease as we move further into 2009 as a result of lower wood chip prices and the expected ramp up of the mill’s recently upgraded woodroom.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2008, we were required to record non-cash provisions of €4.2 million and €7.1 million against our finished goods and fiber inventories, respectively, as a result of weakening NBSK markets.

 

In 2008, contribution to income from the sale of emission allowances increased to €5.6 million, compared to €4.6 million in 2007. Operating depreciation and amortization decreased marginally to €55.5 million in 2008 from €56.4 million in 2007.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2008, operating income decreased to €13.3 million from €69.6 million in 2007, primarily due to lower sales realizations resulting from deteriorating market conditions and non-cash inventory provisions totaling €11.3 million.

 

Interest expense in 2008 decreased to €65.8 million from €71.4 million in 2007 primarily due to lower levels of borrowing.

 

In 2008, primarily due to the significant decrease in long-term European interest rates, we recorded an unrealized loss of €25.2 million on the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts, compared to a net gain on derivatives of €20.4 million in 2007 which was primarily the result of higher long-term European interest rates.

 

A portion of our long-term debt is denominated and repayable in foreign currencies, principally U.S. dollars. In 2008, we recorded an unrealized foreign exchange loss on our debt of €4.2 million as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the latter part of the year, compared to a gain of €11.0 million in 2007.

 

In 2008, the minority shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Stendal mill’s loss was €13.1 million, compared to €1.3 million of income in 2007.

 

In 2008, we reported a net loss from continuing operations of €72.5 million, or €2.00 per basic and diluted share which included an unrealized loss of €29.5 million on our Stendal Interest Rate Contracts and a foreign exchange loss on our long-term debt and non-cash inventory provisions totaling €11.3 million. In 2007, we reported net income from continuing operations of €22.4 million, or €0.62 per basic and €0.58 per diluted share, which included an aggregate net gain of €31.3 million on our outstanding derivatives and a foreign exchange gain on our long-term debt, compared to a loss of €29.5 million in 2008.

 

In 2008, “Operating EBITDA” was €69.1 million, compared to €126.2 million in 2007. Operating EBITDA in 2008 includes non-cash inventory provisions totaling €11.3 million. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) from continuing operations plus depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges. Management uses Operating EBITDA as a benchmark measurement of its own operating results, and as a benchmark relative to its competitors. Management considers it to be a meaningful supplement to operating income as a performance measure primarily because depreciation expense and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges are not an actual cash cost, and depreciation expense varies widely from company to company in a manner that management considers largely independent of the underlying cost efficiency of their operating facilities. In addition, we believe Operating EBITDA is commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate our financial performance.

 

Operating EBITDA does not reflect the impact of a number of items that affect our net income (loss), including financing costs and the effect of derivative instruments. Operating EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or income (loss)

from operations as a measure of performance, nor as an alternative to net cash from operating activities as a measure of liquidity.

 

Operating EBITDA has significant limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Operating EBITDA does not reflect: (i) our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; (ii) changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; (iii) the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt; (iv) minority interests on our Stendal NBSK pulp mill operations; (v) the impact of realized or marked to market changes in our derivative positions, which can be substantial; and (vi) Operating EBITDA does not reflect the impact of impairment charges against our investments or assets. Because of these limitations, Operating EBITDA should only be considered as a supplemental performance measure and should not be considered as a measure of liquidity or cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. See the Statement of Cash Flows set out in our consolidated financial statements included herein. Because all companies do not calculate Operating EBITDA in the same manner, Operating EBITDA as calculated by us may differ from Operating EBITDA or EBITDA as calculated by other companies. We compensate for these limitations by using Operating EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance and relying primarily on our GAAP financial statements.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to operating income from continuing operations and Operating EBITDA for the periods indicated:

 

 

In the year ended December 31, 2007, pulp revenues increased by approximately 12.9% to €704.4 million from €624.0 million in 2006, primarily due to higher prices which were partially offset by an 8% and 5% weakening of the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and the Canadian dollar, respectively. In 2007, revenues from the sale of excess energy were €22.9 million compared to €20.9 million in 2006.

 

Pulp prices increased steadily in 2007 primarily as a result of stronger demand and the weakening of the U.S. dollar. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $800 (€584) per ADMT in 2007, compared to approximately $680 (€542) per ADMT in 2006. At the end of 2007, list prices increased to approximately $870 (€596) per ADMT in Europe and $760 (€520) per ADMT in Asia, depending upon the country of delivery. At December 31, 2007, Norscan producers’ inventories for softwood kraft declined to 27 days supply, compared to 25 days at the end of 2006.

 

Average pulp sales realizations increased to €516 per ADMT in 2007 from €465 per ADMT in 2006.

 

Costs and expenses increased to €657.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2007 from €552.4 million in 2006, primarily as a result of increased fiber costs and higher sales volume. In 2006, we benefited from, and costs were reduced by, a reversal of an accrual for wastewater fees of €13.0 million.

 

Weak markets for emission allowances in 2007 resulted in the contribution to income from such sales decreasing to €4.6 million, compared to €15.6 million in 2006. Partially offsetting this was a 9% increase in sales of surplus energy in 2007 compared to 2006.

 

Overall, in 2007, fiber costs increased by approximately 29% compared to 2006 as a result of both a supply imbalance and increased demand. In Germany, the supply imbalance resulted from low harvesting levels in late 2005 and 2006 which were not made up during the course of the year. Increased demand in Germany resulted from higher consumption of wood residuals by renewable energy suppliers. A strong European lumber market at the beginning of 2007 provided some marginal price relief in the middle of the year. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill were also higher in the current period compared to the comparative period of 2006 due to reduced North American sawmill activity as a result of weakness in U.S. housing construction. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill were relatively stable over the last half of 2007, due to supply optimization and the currency impact on the mill’s U.S. sourced fiber. Overall, continued weakness in lumber markets may put upward pressure on prices in the first half of 2008.

 

Operating depreciation and amortization increased marginally to €56.4 million in 2007 from €55.8 million in 2006.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2007, operating income decreased to €69.6 million from €92.5 million in the prior year as higher pulp prices, productivity and energy sales were more than offset by higher fiber costs, the weakening of the U.S. dollar and the reduction in sales of emission allowances.

 

Interest expense in 2007 decreased by 22% to €71.4 million from €91.9 million in 2006 primarily due to a lower level of borrowing by Stendal as it repaid €33.9 million in principal, the settlement of the cross-currency swaps in the first quarter of 2007 and the inclusion in 2006 of €2.1 million of interest expense related to our repurchase of convertible notes.

 

Stendal previously entered into the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts to fix the interest rate on its outstanding bank indebtedness. Due to the increase in long-term European interest rates, we recorded realized and unrealized net gains of €20.4 million before minority interests on our outstanding derivatives in 2007, compared to an unrealized net gain of €105.8 million on our outstanding derivatives in 2006 which included a realized loss of €3.5 million from the settlement of currency forwards.

 

A portion of our long-term debt is denominated and repayable in foreign currencies, principally U.S. dollars. In 2007, we recorded an unrealized gain of €11.0 million on our foreign currency denominated debt as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar during the period, compared to an unrealized gain of €15.2 million thereon in 2006.

 

In 2007 we decreased our provision for deferred income tax by approximately €48.7 million, primarily due to lower unrealized gains on our derivative instruments.

 

In 2007, minority interest, representing the minority shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Stendal mill, was €1.3 million, compared to €1.1 million in 2006.

 

We reported net income from continuing operations for 2007 of €22.4 million, or €0.62 per basic and €0.58 per diluted share, which included an aggregate net gain of €31.3 million on our outstanding derivatives and a foreign exchange gain on our long-term debt. In 2006, we reported net income from continuing operations of €69.2 million, or €2.08 per basic and €1.72 per diluted share, which reflected a net unrealized gain of €121.1 million on our outstanding derivatives and a foreign exchange gain on our debt.

 

In 2007, net income including discontinued operations was €22.2 million, or €0.61 per basic and €0.58 per diluted share. In 2006, net income including discontinued operations was €63.2 million, or €1.90 per basic and €1.58 per diluted share.

 

In 2007, “Operating EBITDA” decreased to €126.2 million from €148.3 million in 2006. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) from continuing operations plus depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges. Management uses Operating EBITDA as a benchmark measurement of its own operating results, and as a benchmark relative to its competitors. Management considers it to be a meaningful supplement to operating income as a performance measure primarily because depreciation expense and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges are not an actual cash cost, and depreciation expense varies widely

from company to company in a manner that management considers largely independent of the underlying cost efficiency of their operating facilities. In addition, we believe Operating EBITDA is commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate our financial performance.

 

Operating EBITDA does not reflect the impact of a number of items that affect our net income (loss), including financing costs and the effect of derivative instruments. Operating EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP, and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or income (loss) from operations as a measure of performance, nor as an alternative to net cash from operating activities as a measure of liquidity.

 

Operating EBITDA has significant limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Operating EBITDA does not reflect: (i) our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; (ii) changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; (iii) the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt; (iv) minority interests on our Stendal NBSK pulp mill operations; (v) the impact of realized or marked to market changes in our derivative positions, which can be substantial; and (vi) Operating EBITDA does not reflect the impact of impairment charges against our investments or assets. Because of these limitations, Operating EBITDA should only be considered as a supplemental performance measure and should not be considered as a measure of liquidity or cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. See the Statement of Cash Flows set out in our consolidated financial statements included herein. Because all companies do not calculate Operating EBITDA in the same manner, Operating EBITDA as calculated by us may differ from Operating EBITDA or EBITDA as calculated by other companies. We compensate for these limitations by using Operating EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance and relying primarily on our GAAP financial statements.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to operating income from continuing operations and Operating EBITDA for the periods indicated:

 

 

Our earnings are sensitive to, among other things, fluctuations in:

 

NBSK Pulp Price.  NBSK pulp is a global commodity that is priced in U.S. dollars, whose markets are highly competitive and cyclical in nature. As a result, our earnings are sensitive to NBSK pulp price changes. Based upon our 2008 sales volume (and assuming all other factors remained constant), each $10.00 per tonne change in NBSK pulp prices yields a change in Operating EBITDA of approximately €9.7 million.

 

Foreign Exchange.  As NBSK pulp is principally quoted in U.S. dollars, the amount of revenues we generate fluctuates with changes in the value of the U.S. dollar to the Euro. Based upon our 2008 revenues, each €0.01 change in the value of the U.S. dollar yields a change in annual gross sales revenue of approximately €10.1 million.

 

The following table is a summary of selected financial information for the periods indicated:

 

 

Our principal sources of funds are cash flows from operations, cash on hand and the revolving working capital loan facilities for our Celgar and Rosenthal mills. Our principal uses of funds consist of operating expenditures, payments of principal and interest on the Stendal Loan Facility, capital expenditures and interest payments on our outstanding senior notes and convertible notes.

 

As at December 31, 2008, our cash and cash equivalents were €42.5 million, compared to €84.8 million at the end of 2007. We also had €13.0 million of cash restricted in the DSRA under the Stendal Loan Facility.

 

In February 2009, to increase its liquidity and financial flexibility in the current difficult market environment, Stendal entered into the Amendment for its Stendal Loan Facility. The Stendal Loan Facility is our only credit facility which currently has scheduled principal payments. The Amendment revises the repayment schedule of principal payments due by deferring approximately €164.0 million of principal payments until maturity on September 30, 2017. The Deferred Amount includes approximately €20.0 million, €26.0 million and €21.0 million of scheduled principal payments in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. Under the revised repayment schedule, we will be required to make principal payments totaling €16.5 million during the next twelve months. The Amendment also provides for a cash sweep of any excess cash of Stendal which will be used first to prepay the Deferred Amount and second to fund the DSRA. Not included in the cash sweep is €15.0 million which Stendal is permitted to retain for working capital purposes. As part of the Amendment, we are required to make a capital contribution of €10.0 million to Stendal. For a description of the Stendal Loan Facility see “Item 1 — Business — Description of Certain Indebtedness”.

 

In January 2009 we extended the maturity of the Celgar Working Capital Facility from May 2009 to May 2010.

 

The Stendal Loan Facility is provided by a syndicate of eleven financial institutions and both our Celgar Working Capital Facility and our Rosenthal Loan Facility are each provided by one financial institution. To date we have not experienced any reductions in credit availability with respect to these credit facilities. However, if any of these financial institutions were to default on their commitment to fund, we could be adversely affected. For a description of the Celgar Working Capital Facility and the Rosenthal Loan Facility, see “Item 1 — Business — Description of Certain Indebtedness”.

 

In 2008, capital expenditures related to the Celgar Energy Project totaled approximately €4.6 million and we expect costs for the project to be approximately €26.0 million in 2009. Although there can be no assurance, we currently intend to finance the balance of the costs of the Celgar Energy Project with additional term indebtedness and have commenced preliminary discussions with a number of potential lenders.

 

As at December 31, 2008, the amount outstanding under Stendal Loan Facility was €531.1 million. We also had approximately C$31.0 million outstanding under the Celgar facility.

 

Additionally, we have $310.0 million (€222.7 million) in principal amount of our Senior Notes outstanding which mature in February 2013 and for which we pay interest at the rate of 9.25% on February 15 and August 15 of each year. There are no scheduled principal payments until maturity. The indenture governing the Senior Notes does not contain any financial maintenance covenants and there are no scheduled principal payments until maturity.

 

We also have $67.3 million (€48.3 million) in principal amount of our Convertible Notes which mature in October 2010. We pay interest on the Convertible Notes semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year at the rate of 8.5%. The Convertible Notes are also not subject to any financial maintenance covenants.

 

For a description of the Senior Notes and the Convertible Notes, see “Item 1 — Business — Description of Certain Indebtedness”.

 

Our long-term obligations contain various financial tests and covenants customary to these types of arrangements.

 

The Stendal Loan Facility contains an annual debt service cover ratio which, pursuant to the terms of the Amendment, must not fall below 1.1x for the period from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013 and 1.2x for the period after January 1, 2014 until maturity on September 30, 2017. The Amendment also implements a permitted leverage ratio of total debt to EBITDA which is effective from December 31, 2009. This ratio is set to decline over time from 13.0x on its effective date to 4.5x on June 30, 2017. Failure to comply with either ratio constitutes an event of default, but may be cured by the shareholders of Stendal with a once-per-fiscal-year ratio deficiency cure through a capital contribution or subordinated loan in the amount necessary to cure such deficiency.

 

Under the Rosenthal Loan Facility, our Rosenthal mill must not exceed a ratio of net debt to EBITDA of 3:1 in any 12-month period and there must be a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense equal to or in excess of 1.4:1 for each six month period. Additionally, current assets to current liabilities must equal or exceed 1.1:1.

 

The Celgar Working Capital Facility includes a covenant that, for so long as the excess amount under the facility is less than C$8.0 million, then until it becomes equal to or greater than such amount, the Celgar mill must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.1:1.0 for each 12-month period.

 

As at December 31, 2008, we were in full compliance with all of the covenants of our indebtedness.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities.  We operate in a cyclical industry and our operating cash flows vary accordingly. Our principal operating cash expenditures are for labor, fiber, chemicals and debt service.

 

Working capital levels fluctuate throughout the year and are affected by maintenance downtime, changing sales patterns, seasonality and the timing of receivables and the payment of payables and expenses. Generally, finished goods inventories are increased prior to scheduled maintenance downtime to maintain sales volume while production is stopped. Our fiber inventories exhibit seasonal swings as we increase pulp log and wood chip inventories to ensure adequate supply of fiber to our mills during the winter months. Changes in sales volume can affect the level of receivables and influence overall working capital levels. We believe our management practices with respect to working capital conform to common business practices.

 

Operating activities in 2008 used cash of €11.9 million, compared to providing cash of €19.1 million in 2007. An increase in receivables due primarily to higher pulp sales used cash of €14.8 million in 2008, compared to €11.9 million in 2007. An increase in inventories before non-cash provisions used cash of €13.3 million in 2008, compared to an increase in inventories using cash of €38.7 million in 2007. An increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses provided cash of €1.2 million in 2008, compared to an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses providing cash of €3.3 million in 2007.

 

As a result of very weak NBSK markets, we were required to record non-cash inventory provisions totaling €11.3 million against our finished goods and fiber inventories in the fourth quarter of 2008.

 

Declines in working capital also provide cash for operations, including declines in receivables from sales, reductions in inventory levels and increases in accounts payable.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities.  Investing activities in 2008 provided cash of €2.0 million, primarily due to the drawdown of €20.0 million from the Stendal Loan Facility’s DSRA. Investing activities in 2007 provided cash of €25.0 million, primarily due to a drawdown of €24.0 million from the DSRA under the Stendal Loan Facility to repay principal. The repayment of notes receivable provided cash of €5.7 million in 2008 and €5.0 million in 2007.

 

In 2008, capital expenditures, including expenditures primarily related to the Celgar Energy Project and the renewal of a bleaching line at our Rosenthal mill, used cash of €25.7 million. In the same period last year, capital expenditures used €4.9 million which included approximately €9.1 million received in the third quarter of 2007 in connection with the settlement of the Stendal engineering, procurement and construction contract, which was recorded as a reduction of property, plant, and equipment.

 

We expect capital expenditures in 2009 to total approximately €42.0 million and primarily relate to the Celgar Energy Project. In response to the current economic environment, we intend to reduce discretionary capital expenditures at all of our mills in 2009.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities.  In 2008, financing activities used cash of €31.2 million primarily due to principal repayments under the Stendal Loan Facility of €34.0 million, of which €20.0 million was funded from the DSRA under the facility, and the repayment of capital lease obligations of €3.3 million. Financing activities used cash of €30.7 million in 2007 primarily due to the principal repayments of the Stendal Loan Facility of €33.9 million, of which €24.0 million was funded from the DSRA, and the repayment of capital lease obligations of €5.6 million.

 

Other than commitments totaling approximately €6.8 million relating to the Celgar Energy Project, we have no material commitments to acquire assets or operating businesses. Although there can be no assurance, we intend to finance the balance of costs of the Celgar Energy Project with term indebtedness and have commenced preliminary discussions with a number of potential lenders.

 

With the recent global financial crisis and broader global economic downturn, our short-term focus is on maintaining the sustainability of our business. In order to meet this objective, we are working to reduce costs, cut discretionary spending, including capital expenditures and are seeking to enhance our liquidity.

 

Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal, or to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, or to fund planned expenditures will depend on our future performance, which is subject to general economic, financial and other factors that are beyond our control. A continued and deteriorating weak economic environment and poor pulp market conditions could have a significant negative effect on our ability to generate cash flows, maintain compliance with our debt covenants and meet our debt service obligations.

 

Based upon the current level of operations and our current expectations for future periods in light of the current economic environment, and in particular, current and expected pulp pricing and foreign exchange rates, we believe that cash flow from operations and available cash, together with available borrowings under our Celgar Working Capital Facility and Rosenthal Loan Facility, will be adequate to meet the future liquidity needs during the next 12 months.

 

Off-Balance-Sheet Activities

 

At December 31, 2008 and 2007, we had no off-balance-sheet arrangements.

 

Our discontinued operations consist of two paper mills in Germany that had an aggregate annual production capacity of approximately 70,000 ADMTs. Since we viewed these paper mills as non-core operations, we successfully divested them in 2006 and now account for them as discontinued operations.

 

The following represents the results of our discontinued operations for the periods indicated:

 

 

The following represents the statement of cash flows of our discontinued operations for the periods indicated:

 

 

See Note 17, Discontinued Operations, of the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this annual report on Form 10-K for additional information relating to the discontinued operations.

 

The following table sets out our contractual obligations and commitments as at December 31, 2008 in connection with our long-term liabilities.

 

 

 

 

Our reporting currency is the Euro as the majority of our business transactions are denominated in Euros. However, we hold certain assets and liabilities in U.S. dollars and Canadian dollars. Accordingly, our consolidated financial results are subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

 

We translate foreign denominated assets and liabilities into Euros at the rate of exchange on the balance sheet date. Unrealized gains or losses from these translations are recorded in our consolidated statement of comprehensive income and impact on shareholders’ equity on the balance sheet but do not affect our net earnings.

 

In the year ended December 31, 2008, we reported a net €41.9 million foreign currency translation loss and, as a result, the cumulative foreign exchange translation loss reported within comprehensive income (loss) decreased to €0.8 million at December 31, 2008. In the year ended December 31, 2007, we reported a cumulative foreign currency translation gain of €29.2 million.

 

Based upon the exchange rate at December 31, 2008, the U.S. dollar has increased by approximately 4.7% in value against the Euro since December 31, 2007. See “Item 7A — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.

 

The indenture governing our Senior Notes requires that we also provide a discussion in annual and quarterly reports we file with the SEC under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the results of operations and financial condition of Mercer Inc. and our restricted subsidiaries under the indenture, referred to as the “Restricted Group”. The Restricted Group is comprised of Mercer Inc., our Rosenthal and Celgar mills and certain holding subsidiaries. The Restricted Group excludes our Stendal mill and, up to December 31, 2006, our discontinued operations.

 

The following is a discussion of the results of operations and financial condition of the Restricted Group. For further information regarding the Restricted Group including, without limitation, a reconciliation to our consolidated results of operations, see Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

Pulp revenues for the Restricted Group in 2008 decreased to €401.0 million from €401.3 million in 2007, primarily due to lower sales realizations. Revenues from the sale of excess energy were €12.1 million in 2008 compared to €9.1 million in 2007. The increase in energy revenues in 2008 includes the settlement of certain energy forward contracts totaling approximately €1.5 million.

 

Pulp prices increased in the first half of 2008, primarily as a result of stronger demand and the weakening of the U.S. dollar but decreased in the second half due to deteriorating global economic conditions. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $839 (€571) per ADMT in 2008, compared to approximately $800 (€584) in 2007.

 

Pulp sales volume of the Restricted Group increased to 833,177 ADMTs in 2008 from 764,531 ADMTs in 2007. Average pulp sales realizations for the Restricted Group decreased by approximately 8.4% to €480 per

ADMT in the year ended December 31, 2008 from €524 per ADMT in 2007 because of weakening conditions in the second half of 2008 which was partially offset by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar late in the quarter.

 

Pulp production for the Restricted Group increased slightly to 814,586 ADMTs in 2008 from 803,081 ADMTs in 2007 as our Celgar and Rosenthal mills performed generally well and our Rosenthal mill marked a record production year. We took an aggregate of 22 days scheduled annual maintenance downtime at our Rosenthal and Celgar mills in 2008 and 21 days scheduled annual maintenance downtime in 2007. We expect to take approximately 27 days in 2009.

 

Pulp inventories for the Restricted Group were lower in 2008, compared to the same time last year.

 

Cost and expenses for the Restricted Group in 2008 increased to €415.5 million from €373.7 million in the comparative period of 2007.

 

Operating depreciation and amortization for the Restricted Group decreased slightly to €28.6 million in 2008 from €28.7 million in 2007.

 

Overall, excluding the effect of the non-cash inventory provisions on our fiber inventories, fiber costs of the Restricted Group increased by approximately 2.9% in 2008 versus the same period of 2007. Fiber costs for our Rosenthal mill decreased slightly as sustained production curtailments by large parts of the European board industry lowered demand for fiber throughout 2008 and decreased prices for roundwood offset price increases in wood chips caused by decreased sawmilling activity. At our Celgar mill fiber costs increased in 2008 from the prior year, primarily as a result of increased whole log chipping and higher freight costs incurred in the delivery of wood chips to the mill. Overall, in the short-term, we currently expect fiber prices in Germany to remain generally level with 2008 fourth quarter prices. However, possible reductions in harvesting rates by German forest owners in response to market conditions could lead to an undersupply of roundwood and upward pressure on fiber prices later in the year. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill are expected to decrease as we move further into 2009 as a result of lower wood chip prices and the expected ramp up of the mill’s recently upgraded woodroom.

 

The markets and prices for emission allowances continue to be weak, and as a result our contribution to income from the sale of such emission allowances by our Rosenthal mill in 2008 was €0.4 million, compared to €1.6 million in 2007.

 

In 2008, operating income of the Restricted Group decreased to €2.4 million from €36.7 million last year, primarily due to lower sales realizations resulting from deteriorating market conditions in the second half of 2008 and non-cash provisions totaling €8.6 million recorded against the fiber and finished goods inventories at our Celgar and Rosenthal mills.

 

Interest expense for the Restricted Group in 2008 decreased slightly to €27.0 million from €28.5 million a year ago, primarily due to lower levels of borrowing.

 

In 2008, the Restricted Group recorded an unrealized loss on foreign currency denominated debt of €4.1 million, compared to a gain of €10.6 million in 2007.

 

The Restricted Group recorded a net loss of €30.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008, compared to net income of €17.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

The Restricted Group generated “Operating EBITDA” of €26.5 million and €65.6 million in the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) from continuing operations plus depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges. Operating EBITDA has significant limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. See the discussion of our results for the year ended December 31, 2008 for additional information relating to such limitations and Operating EBITDA.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to operating income from continuing operations and Operating EBITDA for the Restricted Group for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

Pulp revenues for the Restricted Group in 2007 increased to €401.3 million from €361.0 million in 2006, primarily because of higher prices and sales volumes. Revenues from the sale of excess energy were €9.1 million in 2007, compared to €7.0 million in 2006.

 

The increase in pulp prices was partially offset by the weakening of the U.S. dollar which decreased in value by approximately 8% and 5% against the Euro and the Canadian dollar, respectively, during the period.

 

Average pulp sales realizations for the Restricted Group increased to €524 per ADMT on average in the year ended December 31, 2007 from €472 per ADMT in 2006.

 

Costs and expenses for the Restricted Group in 2007 increased to €373.7 million from €333.6 million in the comparative period of 2006, primarily as a result of increased fiber costs and higher sales volume.

 

Operating depreciation and amortization for the Restricted Group in 2007 increased marginally to €28.7 million from €27.8 million in 2006.

 

During 2007, we took an aggregate of 21 days scheduled annual maintenance downtime at our Rosenthal and Celgar mills. During 2006, our Rosenthal and Celgar mills took approximately 34 days of scheduled maintenance and strategic capital expenditure downtime, during which Rosenthal completed the installation of a new brownstock washer.

 

During the scheduled maintenance downtime at Celgar, we implemented the final phase of our Blue Goose capital project consisting of the dryer capacity expansion. These changes have shown improvements in production capacity and operational efficiencies, as evidenced by Celgar achieving daily, monthly and quarterly production records during the year.

 

The markets and prices for emission allowances continue to be weak, and as a result our contribution to income from the sale of such emission allowances by our Rosenthal pulp mill in 2007 was €1.6 million, compared to €4.9 million in 2006.

 

Overall, fiber costs of the Restricted Group increased by approximately 33% in 2007 versus the same period of 2006 as a result of both a supply imbalance and increased demand. In Germany, the supply imbalance resulted from low harvesting levels in late 2005 and 2006 which were not made up during the course of the year. Increased demand in Germany resulted from higher consumption of wood residuals by renewable energy suppliers. A strong European lumber market at the beginning of 2007 provided some price relief in the middle of the year. Overall, we currently

expect fiber prices to be generally level for the balance of the year but continued weakness in lumber markets may put upward pressure on prices in early 2008.

 

In 2007, income from operations of the Restricted Group increased to €36.7 million from €34.4 million last year, primarily as a result of higher pulp prices, partially offset by higher fiber prices and a weakening U.S. dollar.

 

Interest expense for the Restricted Group in 2007 decreased to €28.5 million from €34.4 million a year ago as a result of lower borrowings and the inclusion in 2006 of €2.1 million of interest expense recorded on the repurchase of convertible notes.

 

The Restricted Group did not have any currency derivatives outstanding during 2006 that materially affected its results. In 2007, the Restricted Group recorded an unrealized gain on its foreign currency denominated debt and distributions of €10.6 million, compared to €15.2 million in 2006.

 

The net income for the Restricted Group for the year ended December 31, 2007 was €17.5 million, which reflected improved markets and an unrealized gain on foreign currency denominated debt of €10.6 million. In 2006, the Restricted Group reported net income of €9.4 million, which reflected improved markets and an unrealized gain on foreign currency denominated debt of €15.2 million.

 

The Restricted Group generated “Operating EBITDA” of €65.6 million and €62.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) from continuing operations plus depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges. Operating EBITDA for the Restricted Group is calculated by adding depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges of €28.9 million and €27.8 million to the income from operations of €36.7 million and €34.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Operating EBITDA has significant limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. See the discussion of our results for the year ended December 31, 2007 for additional information relating to such limitations and Operating EBITDA.

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income from continuing operations to operating income from continuing operations and Operating EBITDA for the Restricted Group for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

The following table is a summary of selected financial information for the Restricted Group for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2008, the Restricted Group had cash and cash equivalents of €26.2 million, compared to €59.4 million at the end of 2007. At December 31, 2008, the Restricted Group had working capital of €101.5 million.

 

As at December 31, 2008, we had drawn none of the €40.0 million Rosenthal Loan Facility and C$31.0 million under the C$40.0 million Celgar Working Capital Facility.

 

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services bases its assessment of our credit risk on the business and financial profile of the Restricted Group only. On February 13, 2009, Standard & Poor’s lowered the Restricted Group’s credit rating to B- and placed all ratings on credit watch with negative implications, citing the pulp market environment and potential liquidity issues. Factors that may affect our credit rating include changes in our operating performance and liquidity. Credit rating downgrades can adversely impact, among other things, future borrowing costs and access to capital markets.

 

We expect the Restricted Group to meet its interest and debt service obligations and meet the working and maintenance capital requirements for its current operations from cash flow from operations, cash on hand and the Rosenthal Loan Facility and the Celgar Working Capital Facility.

 

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect both the amount and the timing of recording of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying note disclosures. Our management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the probable future resolution of the uncertainties increase, these judgments become even more subjective and complex.

 

Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 to our audited annual consolidated financial statements included in Part IV of this annual report. While all of the significant accounting policies are important to the consolidated financial statements, some of these policies may be viewed as having a high degree of judgment. On an ongoing basis using currently available information, management reviews its estimates, including those related to accounting for pensions and post-retirement benefits, provisions for bad debt and doubtful accounts, derivative instruments, impairment of long-lived assets, deferred taxes, inventory provisions and environmental conservation and legal liabilities. Actual estimates could differ from these estimates.

 

The following accounting policies require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments, and are subject to a fair degree of measurement uncertainty.

 

Derivative Instruments.  We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, effective January 1, 2001. Derivative instruments are measured at fair value and reported in the balance sheet as assets or liabilities. Accounting for gains or losses depends on the intended use of the derivative instruments. Gains or losses on derivative instruments which are not designated hedges for accounting purposes are recognized in earnings in the period of the change in fair value. Gains or losses on derivative instruments formally designated as hedges are recognized in either earnings or other comprehensive income.

 

In 2008, we reported a net unrealized non-cash holding loss of €25.2 million before minority interests in respect of the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.  We evaluate long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In performing the review of recoverability, we estimate future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. The estimates of future cash flows, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management to make subjective judgments. In addition, the time periods for estimating future cash flows is often lengthy, which increases the sensitivity of the assumptions made. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the estimated future cash flows projected in the evaluation of long-lived assets can vary within a wide range of outcomes. Our management considers the likelihood of possible outcomes in determining the best estimate of future cash flows. If actual results are not consistent with the assumptions and judgments used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, actual impairment losses could vary materially, either positively or negatively, from estimated impairment losses.

 

As a result of current market conditions, we undertook a long-lived asset impairment review and concluded that no impairment losses were incurred in 2008.

 

Deferred Taxes.  We currently have deferred tax assets which are comprised primarily of tax loss carryforwards and deductible temporary differences, both of which will reduce taxable income in the future. The amounts recorded for deferred tax are based upon various judgments, assumptions and estimates. We assess the realization of these deferred tax assets on a periodic basis to determine whether a valuation allowance is required. We determine whether it is more likely than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets will be realized, based on currently available information, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

 

If we believe that it is more likely than not that some of these deferred tax assets will not be realized, based on currently available information, an income tax valuation allowance is recorded against these deferred tax assets. As at December 31, 2008, we had €31.7 million in deferred tax assets and €34.5 million in deferred tax liabilities, resulting in a net deferred tax liability of €2.8 million. Our tax assets are net of a €78.7 million valuation allowance. For the year ended December 31, 2008, our review concluded that it was appropriate to increase the valuation allowance against loss carryforwards by approximately €5.5 million, after considering expected future earnings and reversals of temporary differences.

 

If market conditions improve or tax planning opportunities arise in the future, we will reduce our valuation allowances, resulting in future tax benefits. If market conditions deteriorate in the future, we will increase our valuation allowances, resulting in future tax expenses. Any change in tax laws, particularly in Germany, will change the valuation allowances in future periods.

 

Inventory Provisions.  Inventories of NBSK pulp and logs and wood chips are valued at the lower of cost, using the weighted-average cost method, or net realizable value. We estimate the net realizable value based on future cash flows expected to result from the sale of our product (NBSK pulp). The cash flows are estimated based on the expected time it will take to exhaust the respective inventory, including estimates of additional costs that will need to be incurred to bring that inventory to a salable state. The future cash flows, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require management to make subjective judgments. Depending on the

assumptions and estimates used, the estimated future cash flows can vary within a wide range of outcomes. We consider the likelihood of possible outcomes in determining the best estimate of future cash flows. If actual results are not consistent with the assumptions and judgments used in estimating future cash flows, actual inventory provisions could vary materially, either positively or negatively, from estimated inventory provisions.

 

In 2008, inventory provisions taken against finished goods inventory and logs and wood chip inventory were €4.2 million and €7.1 million, respectively.

 

See Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 15 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

The statements in this annual report on Form 10-K that are not reported financial results or other historical information are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements appear in a number of different places in this report and can be identified by words such as “estimates”, “projects”, “expects”, “intends”, “believes”, “plans”, or their negatives or other comparable words. Also look for discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the outlook for our future operations, forecasts of future costs and expenditures, the evaluation of market conditions, the outcome of legal proceedings, the adequacy of reserves, or other business plans. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees and may involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to risks facing us or due to actual facts differing from the assumptions underlying our estimates. Some of these risks and assumptions include those set forth in reports and other documents we have filed with or furnished to the SEC, including in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. We advise you that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify in their entirety all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf. Unless required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements based on unanticipated events or changed expectations. However, you should carefully review the reports and other documents we file from time to time with the SEC. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to those set forth under “Item 1A — Risk Factors” in this annual report on Form 10-K.

 

We do not believe that inflation has had a material impact on revenues or income during 2008.

 

We are exposed to market risks from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the exchange rates between the Euro and the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Changes in these rates may affect our results of operations and financial condition and, consequently, our fair value. We seek to manage these risks through internal risk management policies as well as the use of derivatives. We use derivatives to reduce or limit our exposure to interest rate and currency risks. We may in the future use derivatives to reduce or limit our exposure to fluctuations in pulp prices. We also use derivatives to reduce our potential losses or to augment our potential gains, depending on our management’s perception of future economic events and developments. These types of derivatives are generally highly speculative in nature. They are also very volatile as they are highly leveraged given that margin requirements are relatively low in proportion to notional amounts.

 

Many of our strategies, including the use of derivatives, and the types of derivatives selected by us, are based on historical trading patterns and correlations and our management’s expectations of future events. However, these strategies may not be effective in all market environments or against all types of risks. Unexpected market developments may affect our risk management strategies during this time, and unanticipated developments could impact our risk management strategies in the future. If any of the variety of instruments and strategies we utilize is not effective, we may incur significant losses.

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives are contracts between two parties where payments between the parties are dependent upon movements in the price of an underlying asset, index or financial rate. Examples of derivatives include swaps, options and forward rate agreements. The notional amount of the derivatives is the contract amount used as a reference point to calculate the payments to be exchanged between the two parties and the notional amount itself is not generally exchanged by the parties.

 

The principal derivatives we use are foreign exchange derivatives and interest rate derivatives. In 2008, we also used energy derivatives in connection with the sale of surplus electricity generated at our Stendal and Rosenthal mills.

 

Foreign exchange derivatives include currency swaps which involve the exchange of fixed payments in one currency for the receipt of fixed payments in another currency. Such cross currency swaps involve the exchange of both interest and principal amounts in two different currencies. They also include foreign exchange forwards which are contractual obligations in which two counterparties agree to exchange one currency for another at a specified price for settlement at a pre-determined future date. Forward contracts are effectively tailor-made agreements that are transacted between counterparties in the over-the-counter market.

 

Interest rate derivatives include interest rate forwards (forward rate agreements) which are contractual obligations to buy or sell an interest-rate-sensitive financial instrument on a future date at a specified price. They also include interest rate swaps which are over-the-counter contracts in which two counterparties exchange interest payments based upon rates applied to a notional amount.

 

Energy derivatives include fixed electricity forward sales and purchase contracts which are contractual obligations to buy or sell electricity at a future specified date. Our mills produce surplus electricity that we sell to third parties. As a result, we monitor the electricity market closely. Where possible and to the extent we think it is advantageous, we may sell into the forward market through forward contracts.

 

We use foreign exchange derivatives to convert some of our costs (including currency swaps relating to our long-term indebtedness) from Euros to U.S. dollars as our principal product is priced in U.S. dollars. We have also converted some of our costs to U.S. dollars by issuing long-term U.S. dollar denominated debt in the form of our 8.5% convertible subordinated notes and $310.0 million 9.25% senior notes. The proceeds of the 9.25% senior notes were used in part to repay a project loan facility for our Rosenthal mill, referred to as the “Project Facility”. We use interest rate derivatives to fix the rate of interest on indebtedness, including under the Stendal Loan Facility. In 2008 we used energy derivatives to sell electricity forward at opportunistic rates.

 

The interest rate derivatives we entered into were pursuant to the Stendal Loan Facility which provides facilities for foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate derivatives and commodities derivatives, subject to prescribed controls, including maximum notional and at-risk amounts. The Stendal Loan Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Stendal mill and has the benefit of certain German governmental guarantees. This credit facility does not have a separate margin requirement when derivatives are entered into and is subsequently marked to market each period. The revolving working capital credit facility we established in February 2005 for the Rosenthal mill allows us to enter into derivative instruments to manage risks relating to its operations.

 

We record unrealized gains and losses on our outstanding derivatives when they are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and realized gains or losses on them when they are settled. We determine market valuations based primarily upon valuations provided by our counterparties.

 

In August 2002, Stendal entered into the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts in connection with its long-term indebtedness relating to the Stendal mill to fix the interest rate under the Stendal Loan Facility at the then low level, relative to its historical trend and projected variable interest rate. These contracts were entered into under a specific credit line under the Stendal Loan Facility and are subject to prescribed controls, including certain maximum amounts for notional and at-risk amounts. Under the Stendal Interest Rate Contracts, Stendal pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate with the interest payments being calculated on a notional amount. The interest rates payable under the Stendal Loan Facility were swapped into fixed rates based on the Eur-Euribor rate for the repayment periods of the tranches under the Stendal Loan Facility. Stendal effectively converted the Stendal Loan Facility from a variable interest rate loan into a fixed interest rate loan, thereby reducing interest rate uncertainty.

 

We are exposed to very modest credit related risks in the event of non-performance by counterparties to derivative contracts. However, we do not expect that the counterparties, which are major financial institutions and large utilities, will fail to meet their obligations.

 

The following table and the notes thereto sets forth the maturity date, the notional amount, the recognized gain or loss and the strike and swap rates for derivatives that were in effect during 2007 and 2008: