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MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC. - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission File No.: 000-51826
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Washington
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  47-0956945
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
Suite 2840, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6B 4N8
(Address of office)
(604) 684-1099
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES o NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer o Accelerated Filer o  Non-Accelerated Filer þ
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller Reporting Company o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO þ
The Registrant had 42,029,660 shares of common stock outstanding as at November 3, 2010.
 
 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
SIGNATURES
Exhibit 31.1
Exhibit 31.2
Exhibit 32.1
Exhibit 32.2


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
(Unaudited)

 

FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 2

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros)
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
ASSETS
               
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  85,126     51,291  
Receivables
    101,920       71,143  
Inventories (Note 4)
    112,385       72,629  
Prepaid expenses and other
    11,986       5,871  
 
           
Total current assets
    311,417       200,934  
 
           
 
               
Long-term assets
               
Property, plant and equipment
    851,736       868,558  
Deferred note issuance and other
    6,941       8,186  
Deferred income tax
    12,990       3,426  
Note receivable
    1,723       2,727  
 
           
 
    873,390       882,897  
 
           
Total assets
  1,184,807     1,083,831  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES
               
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  108,130     85,185  
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations (Note 7)
    608       567  
Debt (Note 5)
    25,928       16,032  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    134,666       101,784  
 
           
Long-term liabilities
               
Debt (Note 5)
    790,750       813,142  
Unrealized interest rate derivative losses (Notes 6 and 9)
    63,396       52,873  
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations (Note 7)
    19,581       17,902  
Capital leases and other
    10,558       12,157  
 
           
 
    884,285       896,074  
 
           
Total liabilities
  1,018,951     997,858  
 
           
 
               
EQUITY
               
Shareholders’ equity
               
Share capital (Note 8)
    216,791       202,844  
Paid-in capital
    (4,929 )     (6,082 )
Retained earnings (deficit)
    (46,245 )     (97,235 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    26,211       23,695  
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    191,828       123,222  
 
           
 
               
Noncontrolling interest (deficit) (Note 10)
    (25,972 )     (37,249 )
 
           
Total equity
    165,856       85,973  
 
           
Total liabilities and equity
  1,184,807     1,083,831  
 
           
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
Subsequent Events (Note 12)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 3

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Revenues
                               
Pulp
  224,697     145,857     624,111     422,412  
Energy
    9,721       10,374       30,783       32,275  
 
                       
 
    234,418       156,231       654,894       454,687  
Costs and expenses
                               
Operating costs
    162,293       136,566       470,977       417,596  
Operating depreciation and amortization
    13,987       13,385       41,817       40,325  
 
                       
 
    58,138       6,280       142,100       (3,234 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    6,894       6,620       24,944       19,797  
Purchase (sale) of emission allowances
    (167 )     153       (167 )     (389 )
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
    51,411       (493 )     117,323       (22,642 )
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense
    (17,820 )     (16,085 )     (51,141 )     (48,953 )
Investment income (loss)
    93       20       304       (3,044 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on debt
    9,927       3,779       (4,675 )     4,533  
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of convertible notes (Note 5)
                (929 )      
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments (Note 6)
    485       (3,327 )     (10,523 )     (10,889 )
 
                       
Total other income (expense)
    (7,315 )     (15,613 )     (66,964 )     (58,353 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes
    44,096       (16,106 )     50,359       (80,995 )
Income tax benefit (provision) — current
    (2,227 )     (13 )     (3,750 )     (127 )
— deferred
    9,382       70       9,382       4,989  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
    51,251       (16,049 )     55,991       (76,133 )
Less: net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (5,116 )     1,937       (5,001 )     11,195  
 
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  46,135     (14,112 )   50,990     (64,938 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (Note 3)
                               
Basic
  1.17     (0.39 )   1.36     (1.79 )
 
                       
Diluted
  0.82     (0.39 )   0.93     (1.79 )
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 4

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS (DEFICIT)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  46,135     (14,112 )   50,990     (64,938 )
Retained earnings (deficit), beginning of period
    (92,380 )     (85,872 )     (97,235 )     (35,046 )
 
                       
 
                               
Retained earnings (deficit), end of period
  (46,245 )   (99,984 )   (46,245 )   (99,984 )
 
                       
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  51,251     (16,049 )   55,991     (76,133 )
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss)
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    (134 )     14,531       2,809       23,758  
Pension income (expense)
    317       (41 )     (282 )     (73 )
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities arising during the period
    (29 )     42       (11 )     377  
 
                       
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    154       14,532       2,516       24,062  
 
                       
 
                               
Total comprehensive income (loss)
    51,405       (1,517 )     58,507       (52,071 )
 
                               
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (5,116 )     1,937       (5,001 )     11,195  
 
                       
 
                               
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  46,289     420     53,506     (40,876 )
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 5

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
                               
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  46,135     (14,112 )   50,990     (64,938 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
                               
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
    (485 )     3,327       10,523       10,889  
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on debt
    (9,927 )     (3,779 )     4,675       (4,533 )
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of convertible notes
                929        
Depreciation and amortization
    14,055       13,447       42,052       40,518  
Accretion expense (income)
    1,111             2,056        
Noncontrolling interest
    5,116       (1,937 )     5,001       (11,195 )
Deferred income taxes
    (9,382 )     (70 )     (9,382 )     (4,989 )
Stock compensation expense
    540       383       1,273       376  
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding
    96       314       428       291  
Inventory provisions
                      4,587  
Other
    989       777       2,836       (1,198 )
Changes in current assets and liabilities
                               
Receivables
    19,591       4,455       (26,351 )     29,163  
Inventories
    (26,005 )     2,398       (36,988 )     29,923  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    1,814       1,695       15,146       9,635  
Other
    (4,883 )     (1,597 )     (5,477 )     (963 )
 
                       
Net cash from (used in) operating activities
    38,765       5,301       57,711       37,566  
 
                       
 
                               
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
                               
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (8,484 )     (3,994 )     (28,876 )     (19,535 )
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
    28       111       577       343  
Cash, restricted
          3,531             13,000  
Notes receivable
    216       333       711       574  
 
                       
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
    (8,240 )     (19 )     (27,588 )     (5,618 )
 
                       
 
                               
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
                               
Repayment of notes payable and debt
    (6,211 )     (18,249 )     (14,477 )     (26,499 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations
    (638 )     (910 )     (2,245 )     (2,128 )
Proceeds from borrowings of notes payable and debt
          1,869       856       11,869  
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net
    (4,057 )           1,493       (5,550 )
Proceeds from government grants
    6,778       546       17,337       546  
Payment of deferred note issuance costs
                      (1,969 )
 
                       
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
    (4,128 )     (16,744 )     2,964       (23,731 )
 
                       
 
                               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (3,416 )     637       748       606  
 
                       
 
                               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    22,981       (10,825 )     33,835       8,823  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    62,145       62,100       51,291       42,452  
 
                       
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  85,126     51,275     85,126     51,275  
 
                       
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 6

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
 
                               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
                               
Cash paid (received) during the period for
                               
Interest
  17,402     15,761     46,435     46,971  
Income taxes
    412       152       441       224  
Schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities
                               
Acquisition of production and other equipment under capital lease obligations
  429     153     959     269  
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable relating to investing activities
    7,000       2,464       1,283       1,323  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 7

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The interim consolidated financial statements contained herein include the accounts of Mercer International Inc. (“Mercer Inc.”) and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries collectively (the “Company”). The Company’s shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on both the NASDAQ Global Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements. The footnote disclosure included herein has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted for interim financial statements in the United States (“GAAP”). The interim consolidated financial statements should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. In the opinion of the Company, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contained herein contain all adjustments necessary to fairly present the results of the interim periods included. The results for the periods included herein may not be indicative of the results for the entire year.
The Company has three pulp mills that are aggregated into one reportable business segment, market pulp. Accordingly, the results presented are those of the reportable business segment.
Certain prior year amounts in the interim consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
In these interim consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in Euros (“€”). The term “U.S. dollars” and the symbol “$” refer to United States dollars. The symbol “C$” refers to Canadian dollars.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant management judgment is required in determining the accounting for, among other things, doubtful accounts and reserves, depreciation and amortization, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for long-lived assets, derivative financial instruments, environmental conservation and legal liabilities, asset retirement obligations, pensions and post-retirement benefit obligations, income taxes, contingencies, and inventory obsolescence and provisions. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 8

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Recently Implemented Accounting Standards
This section highlights recently implemented accounting standards that had an impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In January 2010, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-06, which amends Accounting Standards Codification 820 (“ASC 820”), Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. This new accounting guidance requires expanded fair value measurement disclosures in quarterly and annual financial statements. The new guidance clarifies existing disclosure requirements for the Level 2 and 3 fair value measurement. Additionally, the new guidance also requires details of significant transfers of assets between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurement categories, including the reasons for such transfers, as well as gross presentation of activity within the Level 3 fair value measurement category. This guidance is effective for the Company on January 1, 2010, except for the gross presentation of Level 3 activity, which is effective January 1, 2011. The adoption of this new accounting guidance did not impact the results of operations or the financial position of the Company.
Note 2. Stock-Based Compensation
In June 2010, the Company adopted a new stock incentive plan (the “2010 Plan”) which provides for options, restricted stock rights, restricted stock, performance shares, performance share units and stock appreciation rights to be awarded to employees, consultants and non-employee directors. The 2010 Plan replaced the Company’s 2004 stock incentive plan (the “2004 Plan”). However, the terms of the 2004 Plan will govern prior awards until all awards granted under the 2004 Plan have been exercised, forfeited, cancelled, expired, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms thereof. The Company may grant up to a maximum of 2,000,000 common shares under the 2010 plan, plus the number of common shares remaining available for grant pursuant to the 2004 Plan.
Performance Stock
Grants of performance stock comprise rights to receive stock at a future date that are contingent on the Company and the grantee achieving certain performance objectives.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, potential stock based performance awards totaled 578,165, which potentially vest on December 31, 2010 (2009 — 565,165). Expense (income) recognized for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 was €483 and €1,190, respectively (2009 — €388 and €327).
The fair value of performance stock is determined based upon the number of shares awarded and the quoted price of the Company’s stock at the reporting date. Performance stock generally cliff vest three years from the award date.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 9

 

 


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MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 2. Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
On February 11, 2010, the Company awarded a total of 13,000 performance stock to two employees. As of September 30, 2010, no performance stock had vested (2009 — nil). During the three and nine month period ended September 30, 2010, no performance stock were cancelled (2009 — nil and 39,991).
Restricted Stock
The fair value of restricted stock is determined based upon the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Restricted stock generally vests over one year. Expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Expense recognized for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 was €60 and €83, respectively (2009 — €2 and €49).
In the second quarter, 56,000 restricted stock awards were granted to Directors of the Company (2009 — nil) and 21,000 restricted stock awards vested in the three month period ended September 30, 2010. No restricted stock awards were granted in the third quarter of 2010 (2009 — 21,000) and there were no restricted stock awards cancelled during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 (2009 — nil and nil). As at September 30, 2010, 56,000 restricted stock awards remain unvested.
As at September 30, 2010, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock amounted to approximately €148 (2009 — €9), which will be amortized over their remaining vesting periods.
Stock Options
During the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, no options were exercised, cancelled or granted and 738,334 options expired during the first quarter of 2010 (2009 — nil).
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 10

 

 


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MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 3. Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders — basic
  46,135     (14,112 )   50,990     (64,938 )
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax
    571             2,011        
 
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders — diluted
  46,706     (14,112 )   53,001     (64,938 )
 
                       
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders
                               
Basic
  1.17     (0.39 )   1.36     (1.79 )
 
                       
Diluted
  0.82     (0.39 )   0.93     (1.79 )
 
                       
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
                               
Basic(1)
    39,446,447       36,306,027       37,383,444       36,293,489  
Effect of dilutive instruments
                               
Performance rights
    455,609             453,780        
Restricted stock
    7,220             15,232        
Stock options and awards
                       
Convertible notes
    17,113,010             19,167,690        
 
                       
Diluted
    57,022,286       36,306,027       57,020,146       36,293,489  
 
                       
 
     
(1)  
The basic weighted average number of shares excludes performance and restricted stock which have been issued, but have not vested as at September 30, 2010 and 2009.
The calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders does not assume the exercise of any instruments that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share.
Stock options and awards excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they are anti-dilutive represented 190,000 shares for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 (2009 — 928,334).
Restricted stock excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they were anti-dilutive represented 21,000 shares for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009.
Shares associated with the convertible notes excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they were anti-dilutive represented 8,678,065 shares for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009.
Performance stock excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they were anti-dilutive represented 369,924 shares for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 11

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 4. Inventories
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
               
Raw materials
  48,313     24,888  
Finished goods
    37,629       24,198  
Work in process and other
    26,443       23,543  
 
           
 
  112,385     72,629  
 
           
Note 5. Debt
Debt consists of the following:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
 
Note payable to bank, included in a total loan credit facility of €827,950 to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill (a)
  500,657     514,574  
Senior notes due February 2013, interest at 9.25% accrued and payable semi-annually, unsecured (b)
    227,924       216,299  
Subordinated convertible notes due October 2010, interest at 8.5% accrued and payable semi-annually (c)
    1,673       16,749  
Subordinated convertible notes due January 2012, interest at 8.5% accrued and payable semi-annually (d)
    33,129       26,160  
Credit agreement with a lender with respect to a revolving credit facility of C$40 million (e)
    18,563       16,000  
Loan payable to the noncontrolling shareholder of the Stendal mill (f)
    30,925       35,881  
Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility of €25,000 (g)
           
Investment loan agreement with a lender with respect to the wash press project at the Rosenthal mill of €4,351 (h)
    3,807       3,511  
Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility of €3,500 (i)
           
 
           
 
    816,678       829,174  
Less: current portion
    (25,928 )     (16,032 )
 
           
Debt, less current portion
  790,750     813,142  
 
           
The Company made scheduled principal repayments under these facilities of €14,461 during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 (2009 — €26,500). As of September 30, 2010, the principal maturities of debt are as follows:
         
Matures   Amount  
 
       
2010
  1,673  
2011
    24,255  
2012
    58,800  
2013(1)
    287,575  
2014
    40,543  
Thereafter
    403,832  
 
     
 
  816,678  
 
     
 
     
(1)  
Includes revolving credit facility principal amounts totalling €18,563.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 12

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 5. Debt (continued)
Certain of the Company’s debt agreements were issued under an indenture which, among other things, restricts its ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to make certain payments. These limitations are subject to other important qualifications and exceptions. As at September 30, 2010, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the indenture.
(a)  
Note payable to bank, included in a total loan facility of €827,950 to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill (“Stendal Loan Facility”), interest at rates varying from Euribor plus 0.90% to Euribor plus 1.50% (rates on amounts of borrowing at September 30, 2010 range from 2.04% to 2.72%), principal due in required installments beginning September 30, 2006 until September 30, 2017, collateralized by the assets of the Stendal mill, with 48% and 32% guaranteed by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony-Anhalt, respectively, of up to €455,657 of outstanding principal, subject to a debt service reserve account required to pay amounts due in the following twelve months under the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility; payment of dividends is only permitted if certain cash flow requirements are met.
 
   
On March 13, 2009, the Company finalized an agreement with its lenders to amend its Stendal Loan Facility. The amendment deferred approximately €164,000 of scheduled principal payments until the maturity date, September 30, 2017, including approximately €20,000, €26,000, €21,000 of scheduled principal payments that were originally due in 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively. The amendment also provided for a 100% cash sweep, referred to as the “Cash Sweep”, of any cash, in excess of a €15,000 working capital reserve, held by Stendal which will be used first to fund the debt service reserve account to a level sufficient to service the amounts due and payable under the Stendal Loan Facility during the then following 12 months, or “Fully Funded”, and second to prepay the deferred principal amounts. As at September 30, 2010, the debt service reserve balance was approximately €6,968.
(b)  
In February 2005, the Company issued $310 million of senior notes due February 2013, which bear interest at 9.25% accrued and payable semi-annually, and are unsecured. The Company may redeem all or a part of the notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) equal to 102.31% for the twelve month period beginning on February 15, 2010, and 100.00% beginning on February 15, 2011 and at any time thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 13

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 5. Debt (continued)
(c)  
As at September 30, 2010, the Subordinated Convertible Notes due October 2010 had approximately $2.3 million of principal outstanding. The Subordinated Convertible Notes due October 2010, bear interest at 8.50% accrued and payable semi-annually, are convertible at any time by the holder into common shares of the Company at $7.75 per share and are unsecured. The Company may redeem for cash all or a portion of these notes at any time at 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest up to the redemption date. See Note 5(d) and Note 12 — Subsequent Events.
(d)  
On December 10, 2009, the Company exchanged approximately $43.3 million of Subordinated Convertible Notes due October 2010 through private exchange agreements with the holders thereof for approximately $43.8 million of Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012. On January 22, 2010, through an exchange offer, the Company exchanged a further $21.7 million of Subordinated Convertible Notes due October 2010 for approximately $22.0 million of the Company’s Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012. The Company recognized both exchange transactions of the Subordinated Convertible Notes as extinguishments of debt in accordance with ASC Topic 470, Debt, because the fair value of the embedded conversion option changed by more than 10% in both transactions. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company accounted for the December 10, 2009 exchange as a debt extinguishment and recognized a gain of €4,447 in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recognized a loss of €929 as a result of the January 22, 2010 exchange. The gain and loss, which were determined using fair market values prevailing at the time of the transactions, will both be accreted to income through to January 2012 through interest expense yielding an effective interest rate of approximately 13% on the December 10, 2009 exchange and 3% on the January 22, 2010 exchange.
 
   
The Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012 bear interest at 8.50%, accrued and payable semi-annually, are convertible at anytime by the holder into common shares of the Company at $3.30 per share and are unsecured. The Company may redeem for cash all or a portion of the notes on or after July 15, 2011 at 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued interest up to the redemption date. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, approximately $18.1 million and $18.2 million of Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012 were converted into 5,478,335 and 5,529,553 shares, respectively. The Company recorded a debt conversion expense of approximately $0.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010 as a result of the conversions, which is included within interest expense in the Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 14

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 5. Debt (continued)
(e)  
Credit agreement with respect to a revolving credit facility of C$40.0 million for the Celgar mill. The credit agreement matures May 2013. Borrowings under the credit agreement are collateralized by the mill’s inventory and receivables and are restricted by a borrowing base calculated on the mill’s inventory and receivables. Canadian dollar denominated amounts bear interest at bankers acceptance plus 3.75% or Canadian prime plus 2.00%. U.S. dollar denominated amounts bear interest at LIBOR plus 3.75% or U.S. base plus 2.00%. As at September 30, 2010, this facility was accruing interest at a rate of approximately 4.95% and the undrawn amount was approximately C$10.0 million.
(f)  
Loans payable to the noncontrolling shareholder of the Stendal mill bear interest at 7.00%, which is accrued semi-annually. The loan payable is unsecured, subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill, and is due in 2017. The balance includes principal and accrued interest. See Note 10 — Noncontrolling Interest.
(g)  
A €25,000 working capital facility at the Rosenthal mill that matures in December 2012. Borrowings under the facility are collateralized by the mill’s inventory and receivables and bear interest at approximately Euribor plus 3.50%. As at September 30, 2010, approximately €2,100 of this facility was supporting bank guarantees leaving approximately €22,900 undrawn.
(h)  
On August 19, 2009 the Company finalized an investment loan agreement with a lender relating to the new wash press at the Rosenthal mill. The four-year amortizing investment loan was completed with a total facility of €4,351 bearing interest at the rate of Euribor plus 2.75%. Borrowings under this agreement are secured by the new wash press equipment. As at September 30, 2010, this facility was drawn by €3,807 and was accruing interest at a rate of 3.90%.
(i)  
On February 8, 2010 the Rosenthal mill finalized a credit agreement with a lender for a €3,500 facility maturing in December 2012. Borrowings under the facility will bear interest at the rate of the 3-month Euribor plus 3.50% and are secured by certain land at our Rosenthal mill. As at September 30, 2010, this facility was undrawn.
Note 6. Derivative Transactions
The Company is exposed to certain market risks relating to its ongoing business. The Company seeks to manage these risks through internal risk management policies as well as, from time to time, the use of derivatives. Currently, the primary risk managed using derivative instruments is interest rate risk.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 15

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 6. Derivative Transactions (continued)
During 2004, the Company entered into certain variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps in connection with the Stendal Loan Facility with respect to an aggregate maximum principal amount of approximately €612,600 of the total indebtedness under the Stendal Loan Facility. Under the interest rate swaps, the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate with the interest payments being calculated on a notional amount. Currently, the contracts have an aggregate notional amount of €467,926 at a fixed interest rate of 5.28% and they mature October 2017 (generally matching the maturity of the Stendal Loan Facility). The Company substantially converted the Stendal Loan Facility from a variable interest rate loan into a fixed interest rate loan, thereby reducing interest rate uncertainty.
The Company recognized an unrealized gain of €485 and an unrealized loss of €10,523, respectively, with respect to these interest rate swaps for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 (2009 — losses of €3,327 and €10,889), in the “Gain (loss) on derivative instruments” line in the Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations and Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Derivative instruments are required to be measured at their fair value. Accordingly, the fair value of the interest rate swap is presented in “Unrealized interest rate derivative losses” within the long-term liabilities section in the Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets, which currently amounts to a cumulative unrealized loss of €63,396 (2009 — €52,873).
The interest rate derivative contracts are with the same banks that hold the Stendal Loan Facility and the Company does not anticipate non-performance by the banks.
Note 7. Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations
Included in pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations are amounts related to the Company’s Celgar and German mills. The largest component of this obligation is with respect to the Celgar mill which maintains defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans for certain employees (“Celgar Plans”).
Pension benefits are based on employees’ earnings and years of service. The Celgar Plans are funded by contributions from the Company based on actuarial estimates and statutory requirements. Pension contributions for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2010 totaled €280 and €677, respectively (2009 — €107 and €693).
The Company anticipates based on actuarial estimates that it will make contributions to the defined benefit pension plan of approximately €297 in 2010.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 16

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 7. Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)
Effective December 31, 2008, the defined benefit plan was closed to new members. In addition, the defined benefit service accrual ceased on December 31, 2008, and members began to receive pension benefits, at a fixed contractual rate, under a new defined contribution plan effective January 1, 2009.
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
            Post-             Post-  
    Pension     Retirement     Pension     Retirement  
    Benefits     Benefits     Benefits     Benefits  
 
                               
Service cost
  21     100     14     86  
Interest cost
    425       196       382       205  
Expected return on plan assets
    (398 )           (321 )      
Recognized net loss (gain)
    111       (79 )     36       (60 )
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  159     217     111     231  
 
                       
                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2010     2009  
            Post-             Post-  
    Pension     Retirement     Pension     Retirement  
    Benefits     Benefits     Benefits     Benefits  
 
                               
Service cost
  61     294     42     253  
Interest cost
    1,257       580       1,129       606  
Expected return on plan assets
    (1,175 )           (949 )      
Recognized net loss (gain)
    329       (233 )     105       (176 )
 
                       
Net periodic benefit cost
  472     641     327     683  
 
                       
Note 8. Share Capital
Common shares
The Company has authorized 200,000,000 common shares (2009 — 200,000,000) with a par value of $1 per share.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, 5,529,553 shares were issued as a result of certain holders of the Company’s Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012 exercising their conversion option. See Note 5(d) — Debt.
As at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the Company had 42,029,660 and 36,443,487 common shares issued and outstanding, respectively.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 17

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 8. Share Capital (continued)
Preferred shares
The Company has authorized 50,000,000 preferred shares (2009 — 50,000,000) with $1 par value issuable in series, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated as Series A. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series and with such designations and preferences for each series as shall be stated in the resolutions providing for the designation and issue of each such series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors is authorized by the Company’s articles of incorporation to determine the voting, dividend, redemption and liquidation preferences pertaining to each such series. As at September 30, 2010, no preferred shares had been issued by the Company.
Note 9. Financial Instruments
The fair value of financial instruments at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 is summarized as follows:
                                 
    September 30, 2010     December 31, 2009  
    Carrying     Fair     Carrying     Fair  
    Amount     Value     Amount     Value  
 
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  85,126     85,126     51,291     51,291  
Investments
    123       123       135       135  
Receivables
    101,920       101,920       71,143       71,143  
Notes receivable
    3,332       3,332       3,819       3,819  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    108,130       108,130       85,185       85,185  
Debt
    816,678       820,294       829,174       769,207  
Interest rate derivative contracts — liability
    63,396       63,396       52,873       52,873  
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates the fair value due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying value of receivables approximates the fair value due to their short-term nature and historical collectability. The fair value of notes receivable was estimated using discounted cash flows at prevailing market rates. The fair value of debt reflects recent market transactions and discounted cash flow estimates. The fair value of the interest rate derivatives is based on observable inputs including applicable yield curves.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 18

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 9. Financial Instruments (continued)
The fair value methodologies and, as a result, the fair value of the Company’s investments and derivative instruments are determined based on the fair value hierarchy provided in ASC 820. The fair value hierarchy per ASC 820 is as follows:
Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted interest or currency exchange rates.
Level 3 — Valuations based on significant unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity, such as discounted cash flow methodologies based on internal cash flow forecasts.
The Company classified its investments within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy where quoted prices are available in an active market. Level 1 investments include exchange-traded equities.
The Company’s derivatives are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy, as they are traded on the over-the-counter market and are valued using internal models that use as their basis readily observable market inputs, such as forward interest rates.
The valuation techniques used by the Company are based upon observable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources. In addition, the Company considered the risk of non-performance of the obligor, which in some cases reflects the Company’s own credit risk, in determining the fair value of the derivative instruments. The counterparty to our interest rate swap derivative is a multi-national financial institution.
The following table presents a summary of the Company’s outstanding financial instruments and their estimated fair values under the hierarchy defined in ASC 820:
                                 
    Fair value measurements at September 30, 2010 using:  
    Quoted prices in                    
    active markets for     Significant other     Significant        
    identical assets     observable inputs     unobservable inputs        
Description   (Level 1)     (Level 2)     (Level 3)     Total  
 
                               
Assets
                               
Investments (a)
  123             123  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities
                               
Derivatives (b)
                               
- Interest rate swaps
      63,396         63,396  
 
                       
(a)  
Based on observable market data.
 
(b)  
Based on observable inputs for the liability (yield curves observable at specific intervals).
FORM 10-Q
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Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 10. Noncontrolling Interest
During the first quarter of 2010, the noncontrolling interest holder agreed to convert certain interest claims totaling €6,275 borne from shareholder loans into a capital contribution. As a result of this conversion, the Company reduced the amount owing to the noncontrolling shareholder and decreased the noncontrolling shareholder’s share of losses.
Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies
As part of the Company’s Green Energy project (the “Green Energy Project”) for the Celgar mill, during 2009 and 2010 the Company entered into a number of contracts for the purchase of a new 48 megawatt condensing turbine-generator set, as well as other related equipment commitments. As at September 30, 2010, the value of the project remaining to be completed is approximately €1,100 (C$1.5 million), a majority of which is due to be paid within the next year. Pursuant to a contribution agreement finalized in November 2009, the Canadian Federal Government’s Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (the “Program”) will provide approximately C$40.7 million to complete the Green Energy Project, of which approximately €3,300 (C$4.7 million) was receivable as at September 30, 2010. The Company is also eligible for an additional C$17.0 million under the Program for future qualifying projects.
The Company is involved in a property transfer tax dispute with respect to the Celgar mill and certain other legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these legal actions and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that the outcome of any such claim which is pending or threatened, either individually or on a combined basis, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.
Note 12. Subsequent Events
On October 15, 2010, the Company repaid approximately $2.3 million of the principal outstanding balance for the Subordinated Convertibles Notes due October 2010, and any unpaid interest up to the redemption date.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 20

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure
The terms of the indenture governing our 9.25% senior unsecured notes require that we provide the results of operations and financial condition of Mercer International Inc. and our restricted subsidiaries under the indenture, collectively referred to as the “Restricted Group”. As at and during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Restricted Group was comprised of Mercer International Inc., certain holding subsidiaries and our Rosenthal and Celgar mills. The Restricted Group excludes the Stendal mill.
Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
                                 
    September 30, 2010  
    Restricted     Unrestricted             Consolidated  
    Group     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
ASSETS
                               
Current assets
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  48,411     36,715         85,126  
Receivables
    51,792       50,128             101,920  
Inventories
    68,257       44,128             112,385  
Prepaid expenses and other
    6,479       5,507             11,986  
 
                       
Total current assets
    174,939       136,478             311,417  
 
                               
Property, plant and equipment
    363,758       487,978             851,736  
Deferred note issuance and other
    2,608       4,333             6,941  
Deferred income tax
    12,990                   12,990  
Due from unrestricted group
    78,177             (78,177 )      
Note receivable
    1,723                   1,723  
 
                       
Total assets
  634,195     628,789     (78,177 )   1,184,807  
 
                       
 
                               
LIABILITIES
                               
Current liabilities
                               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  64,669     43,461         108,130  
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations
    608                   608  
Debt
    2,761       23,167             25,928  
 
                       
Total current liabilities
    68,038       66,628             134,666  
 
                               
Debt
    282,335       508,415             790,750  
Due to restricted group
          78,177       (78,177 )      
Unrealized interest rate derivative losses
          63,396             63,396  
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations
    19,581                   19,581  
Capital leases and other
    6,616       3,942             10,558  
 
                       
Total liabilities
    376,570       720,558       (78,177 )     1,018,951  
 
                       
 
                               
EQUITY
                               
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)
    257,625       (65,797 )           191,828  
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)
          (25,972 )           (25,972 )
 
                       
Total liabilities and equity
  634,195     628,789     (78,177 )   1,184,807  
 
                       
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 21

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
                                 
    December 31, 2009  
    Restricted     Unrestricted             Consolidated  
    Group     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
ASSETS
                               
Current assets
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  20,635     30,656         51,291  
Receivables
    34,588       36,555             71,143  
Inventories
    52,897       19,732             72,629  
Prepaid expenses and other
    3,452       2,419             5,871  
 
                       
Total current assets
    111,572       89,362             200,934  
 
                               
Property, plant and equipment
    362,311       506,247             868,558  
Deferred note issuance and other
    3,388       4,798             8,186  
Deferred income tax
    3,426                   3,426  
Due from unrestricted group
    72,553             (72,553 )      
Note receivable
    2,727                   2,727  
 
                       
Total assets
  555,977     600,407     (72,553 )   1,083,831  
 
                       
 
                               
LIABILITIES
                               
Current liabilities
                               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  51,875     33,310         85,185  
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations
    567                   567  
Debt
    2,115       13,917             16,032  
 
                       
Total current liabilities
    54,557       47,227             101,784  
 
                               
Debt
    276,604       536,538             813,142  
Due to restricted group
          72,553       (72,553 )      
Unrealized interest rate derivative losses
          52,873             52,873  
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations
    17,902                   17,902  
Capital leases and other
    6,667       5,490             12,157  
 
                       
Total liabilities
    355,730       714,681       (72,553 )     997,858  
 
                       
 
                               
EQUITY
                               
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)
    200,247       (77,025 )           123,222  
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)
          (37,249 )           (37,249 )
 
                       
Total liabilities and equity
  555,977     600,407     (72,553 )   1,083,831  
 
                       
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 22

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2010  
    Restricted     Unrestricted             Consolidated  
    Group     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
Revenues
                               
Pulp
  123,518     101,179         224,697  
Energy
    1,535       8,186             9,721  
 
                       
 
    125,053       109,365             234,418  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating costs
    91,528       70,765             162,293  
Operating depreciation and amortization
    7,514       6,473             13,987  
Selling, general and administrative expenses and other
    3,221       3,506             6,727  
 
                       
 
    102,263       80,744             183,007  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
    22,790       28,621             51,411  
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense
    (8,796 )     (10,213 )     1,189       (17,820 )
Investment income (loss)
    1,246       36       (1,189 )     93  
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on debt
    9,927                   9,927  
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments
          485             485  
 
                       
Total other income (expense)
    2,377       (9,692 )           (7,315 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes
    25,167       18,929             44,096  
Income tax benefit (provision)
    8,849       (1,694 )           7,155  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
    34,016       17,235             51,251  
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
          (5,116 )           (5,116 )
 
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  34,016     12,119         46,135  
 
                       
                                 
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2009  
    Restricted     Unrestricted             Consolidated  
    Group     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
Revenues
                               
Pulp
  79,213     66,644         145,857  
Energy
    3,201       7,173             10,374  
 
                       
 
    82,414       73,817             156,231  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating costs
    78,136       58,430             136,566  
Operating depreciation and amortization
    6,816       6,569             13,385  
Selling, general and administrative expenses and other
    4,048       2,725             6,773  
 
                       
 
    89,000       67,724             156,724  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
    (6,586 )     6,093             (493 )
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense
    (6,546 )     (10,674 )     1,135       (16,085 )
Investment income (loss)
    1,112       43       (1,135 )     20  
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on debt
    3,779                   3,779  
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments
          (3,327 )           (3,327 )
 
                       
Total other income (expense)
    (1,655 )     (13,958 )           (15,613 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (8,241 )     (7,865 )           (16,106 )
Income tax benefit (provision)
    108       (51 )           57  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
    (8,133 )     (7,916 )           (16,049 )
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
          1,937             1,937  
 
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  (8,133 )   (5,979 )       (14,112 )
 
                       
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 23

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010  
    Restricted     Unrestricted             Consolidated  
    Group     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
Revenues
                               
Pulp
  354,775     269,336         624,111  
Energy
    8,750       22,033             30,783  
 
                       
 
    363,525       291,369             654,894  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating costs
    269,063       201,914             470,977  
Operating depreciation and amortization
    22,355       19,462             41,817  
Selling, general and administrative expenses and other
    14,792       9,985             24,777  
 
                       
 
    306,210       231,361             537,571  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
    57,315       60,008             117,323  
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense
    (24,073 )     (30,593 )     3,525       (51,141 )
Investment income (loss)
    3,770       59       (3,525 )     304  
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on debt
    (4,675 )                 (4,675 )
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of convertible notes
    (929 )                 (929 )
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments
          (10,523 )           (10,523 )
 
                       
Total other income (expense)
    (25,907 )     (41,057 )           (66,964 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes
    31,408       18,951             50,359  
Income tax benefit (provision)
    8,354       (2,722 )           5,632  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
    39,762       16,229             55,991  
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
          (5,001 )           (5,001 )
 
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders.
  39,762     11,228         50,990  
 
                       
                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009  
    Restricted     Unrestricted             Consolidated  
    Group     Subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
Revenues
                               
Pulp
  230,672     191,740         422,412  
Energy
    11,162       21,113             32,275  
 
                       
 
    241,834       212,853             454,687  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating costs
    232,364       185,232             417,596  
Operating depreciation and amortization
    20,408       19,917             40,325  
Selling, general and administrative expenses and other
    10,665       8,743             19,408  
 
                       
 
    263,437       213,892             477,329  
 
                       
Operating income (loss)
    (21,603 )     (1,039 )           (22,642 )
 
                       
 
                               
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense
    (20,775 )     (31,543 )     3,365       (48,953 )
Investment income (loss)
    3,262       (2,941 )     (3,365 )     (3,044 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss) on debt
    4,533                   4,533  
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments
          (10,889 )           (10,889 )
 
                       
Total other income (expense)
    (12,980 )     (45,373 )           (58,353 )
 
                       
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (34,583 )     (46,412 )           (80,995 )
Income tax benefit (provision)
    (833 )     5,695             4,862  
 
                       
Net income (loss)
    (35,416 )     (40,717 )           (76,133 )
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
          11,195             11,195  
 
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders.
  (35,416 )   (29,522 )       (64,938 )
 
                       
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 24

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                         
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2010  
    Restricted     Unrestricted     Consolidated  
    Group     Group     Group  
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  34,016     12,119     46,135  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
                       
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
          (485 )     (485 )
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on debt
    (9,927 )           (9,927 )
Depreciation and amortization
    7,582       6,473       14,055  
Accretion expense (income)
    1,111             1,111  
Noncontrolling interest
          5,116       5,116  
Deferred income taxes
    (9,382 )           (9,382 )
Stock compensation expense
    540             540  
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding
    96             96  
Other
    286       703       989  
Changes in current assets and liabilities
                       
Receivables
    13,790       5,801       19,591  
Inventories
    (13,209 )     (12,796 )     (26,005 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (2,127 )     3,941       1,814  
Other(1)
    (4,242 )     (641 )     (4,883 )
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) operating activities
    18,534       20,231       38,765  
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
                       
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (8,392 )     (92 )     (8,484 )
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
    27       1       28  
Notes receivable
    216             216  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
    (8,149 )     (91 )     (8,240 )
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
                       
Repayment of notes payable and debt
    (544 )     (5,667 )     (6,211 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations
    (220 )     (418 )     (638 )
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net
    (4,057 )           (4,057 )
Proceeds from government grants
    6,778             6,778  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
    1,957       (6,085 )     (4,128 )
 
                 
 
                       
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (3,416 )           (3,416 )
 
                 
 
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    8,926       14,055       22,981  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    39,485       22,660       62,145  
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  48,411     36,715     85,126  
 
                 
 
(1)  
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 25

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                         
    Three Months Ended September 30, 2009  
    Restricted     Unrestricted     Consolidated  
    Group     Group     Group  
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  (8,133 )   (5,979 )   (14,112 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
                       
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
          3,327       3,327  
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on debt
    (3,779 )           (3,779 )
Depreciation and amortization
    6,878       6,569       13,447  
Noncontrolling interest
          (1,937 )     (1,937 )
Deferred income taxes
    (71 )     1       (70 )
Stock compensation expense
    383             383  
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding
    314             314  
Other
    158       619       777  
Changes in current assets and liabilities
                       
Receivables
    5,229       (774 )     4,455  
Inventories
    (1,630 )     4,028       2,398  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    5,437       (3,742 )     1,695  
Other(1)
    (2,764 )     1,167       (1,597 )
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) operating activities
    2,022       3,279       5,301  
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
                       
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (3,785 )     (209 )     (3,994 )
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
    9       102       111  
Cash, restricted
          3,531       3,531  
Note receivable
    333             333  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
    (3,443 )     3,424       (19 )
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
                       
Repayment of notes payable and debt
    (10,000 )     (8,249 )     (18,249 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations
    (179 )     (731 )     (910 )
Proceeds from borrowing of notes payable and debt
    1,869             1,869  
Proceeds from government grants
    546             546  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
    (7,764 )     (8,980 )     (16,744 )
 
                 
 
                       
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    637             637  
 
                 
 
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (8,548 )     (2,277 )     (10,825 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    33,842       28,258       62,100  
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  25,294     25,981     51,275  
 
                 
 
     
(1)  
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 26

 

 


Table of Contents

MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                         
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010  
    Restricted     Unrestricted     Consolidated  
    Group     Group     Group  
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  39,762     11,228     50,990  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
                       
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
          10,523       10,523  
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on debt
    4,675             4,675  
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of convertible notes
    929             929  
Depreciation and amortization
    22,590       19,462       42,052  
Accretion (income) expense
    2,056             2,056  
Noncontrolling interest
          5,001       5,001  
Deferred income taxes
    (9,382 )           (9,382 )
Stock compensation expense
    1,273             1,273  
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding
    428             428  
Other
    856       1,980       2,836  
Changes in current assets and liabilities
                       
Receivables
    (12,778 )     (13,573 )     (26,351 )
Inventories
    (12,592 )     (24,396 )     (36,988 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    5,595       9,551       15,146  
Other(1)
    (8,040 )     2,563       (5,477 )
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) operating activities
    35,372       22,339       57,711  
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
                       
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (27,467 )     (1,409 )     (28,876 )
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
    90       487       577  
Cash, restricted
                 
Note receivable
    711             711  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
    (26,666 )     (922 )     (27,588 )
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
                       
Repayment of notes payable and debt
    (560 )     (13,917 )     (14,477 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations
    (804 )     (1,441 )     (2,245 )
Proceeds from borrowings of notes payable and debt
    856             856  
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net
    1,493             1,493  
Proceeds from government grants
    17,337             17,337  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
    18,322       (15,358 )     2,964  
 
                 
 
                       
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    748             748  
 
                 
 
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    27,776       6,059       33,835  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    20,635       30,656       51,291  
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  48,411     36,715     85,126  
 
                 
 
     
(1)  
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
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MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
                         
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009  
    Restricted     Unrestricted     Consolidated  
    Group     Group     Group  
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
                       
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  (35,416 )   (29,522 )   (64,938 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
                       
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
          10,889       10,889  
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on debt
    (4,533 )           (4,533 )
Depreciation and amortization
    20,601       19,917       40,518  
Noncontrolling interest
          (11,195 )     (11,195 )
Deferred income taxes
    838       (5,827 )     (4,989 )
Stock compensation expense
    376             376  
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding
    291             291  
Inventory provisions
    3,233       1,354       4,587  
Other
    507       (1,705 )     (1,198 )
Changes in current assets and liabilities
                       
Receivables
    27,444       1,719       29,163  
Inventories
    9,684       20,239       29,923  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    11,960       (2,325 )     9,635  
Other(1)
    (15,227 )     14,264       (963 )
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) operating activities
    19,758       17,808       37,566  
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
                       
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (18,312 )     (1,223 )     (19,535 )
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
    107       236       343  
Cash, restricted
          13,000       13,000  
Note receivable
    574             574  
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) investing activities
    (17,631 )     12,013       (5,618 )
 
                 
 
                       
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
                       
Repayment of notes payable and debt
    (10,000 )     (16,499 )     (26,499 )
Repayment of capital lease obligations
    (480 )     (1,648 )     (2,128 )
Proceeds form borrowings of notes payables and debt
    11,869             11,869  
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net
    (5,550 )           (5,550 )
Proceeds from government grants
    546             546  
Payment of deferred note issuance costs
          (1,969 )     (1,969 )
 
                 
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
    (3,615 )     (20,116 )     (23,731 )
 
                 
 
                       
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    606             606  
 
                 
 
                       
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (882 )     9,705       8,823  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    26,176       16,276       42,452  
 
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  25,294     25,981     51,275  
 
                 
 
     
(1)  
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
In this document: (i) unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” or “Mercer” mean Mercer International Inc. and its subsidiaries; (ii) references to “Mercer Inc.” mean the Company excluding its subsidiaries; (iii) information is provided as of September 30, 2010, unless otherwise stated; (iv) all references to monetary amounts are to “Euros”, the lawful currency adopted by most members of the European Union, unless otherwise stated; (v) “€” refers to Euros, “$” refers to U.S. dollars and “C$” refers to Canadian dollars; and (vi) “ADMTs” refers to air-dried metric tonnes.
Results of Operations
General
We operate three northern bleached softwood kraft (“NBSK”) pulp mills through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Rosenthal and Celgar, and our 74.9% owned subsidiary, Stendal, which have a consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 million ADMTs.
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 should be read in conjunction with our interim consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this quarterly report, as well as our most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Market Environment
Pulp prices were generally stable in the third quarter of 2010 after reaching record levels in the second quarter of 2010. As we move into the fourth quarter of 2010, there has been some softness in NBSK pulp pricing that we believe has resulted from the start up of a previously closed mill and increased hardwood capacity. However, we expect that demand/supply conditions, including prospects for improving Chinese demand and relatively low NBSK pulp inventory levels, should result in a reasonably favorable outlook for our business.
The completion of the Celgar Energy Project at the end of September 2010 should also provide us with a new stable revenue source unrelated to pulp pricing.
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Third Quarter and Nine Months Operational Snapshot
Selected production, sales and exchange rate data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2010     2009     2010     2009  
Pulp Production (‘000 ADMTs)
    380.9       345.8       1,070.0       1,040.6  
Scheduled Production Downtime (‘000 ADMTs)
    8.3       35.4       43.5       38.1  
Pulp Sales (‘000 ADMTs)
    344.8       361.6       1,042.6       1,093.7  
Pulp Revenues (in millions)
  224.7     145.9     624.1     422.4  
NBSK pulp list prices in Europe ($/ADMT)
  $ 980     $ 693     $ 932     $ 627  
NBSK pulp list prices in Europe (€/ADMT)
  758     485     708     459  
Average pulp sales realizations (€/ADMT)(1)
  642     397     590     380  
 
                               
Energy Production (‘000 MWh)
    330.8       354.4       1,051.1       1,086.7  
Energy Sales (‘000 MWh)
    119.1       121.8       370.3       362.6  
Energy Revenue (in millions)
  9.7     10.4     30.8     32.3  
Average energy sales realizations (€/MWh)
  82     85     83     89  
 
                               
Average Spot Currency Exchange Rates
                               
€ / $(2)
    0.7729       0.6989       0.7608       0.7337  
C$ / $(2)
    1.0385       1.0972       1.0358       1.1700  
C$ / €(3)
    1.3438       1.5694       1.3639       1.5934  
 
     
(1)  
Sales realizations after discounts. Incorporates the effect of pulp price variations occurring between the order and shipment dates.
 
(2)  
Average Federal Reserve Bank of New York noon spot rate over the reporting period.
 
(3)  
Average Bank of Canada noon spot rates over the reporting period.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
Pulp revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased by approximately 54% to €224.7 million from €145.9 million in the comparative quarter of 2009, due to significantly higher pulp prices and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro. Revenues from the sale of excess energy decreased slightly to €9.7 million in the third quarter from €10.4 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to our Rosenthal mill’s scheduled turbine maintenance. During the current quarter, the Rosenthal mill had nine days of downtime for scheduled maintenance and its turbine was down for an additional 51 days of maintenance. During this 51-day period, the Rosenthal mill produced pulp at capacity but purchased energy instead of selling surplus energy.
Pulp prices in the third quarter of 2010 were significantly higher than in the same period last year due to a strengthening in global pulp markets. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $980 (€758) per ADMT in the current quarter compared to approximately $693 (€485) per ADMT in the third quarter of 2009 and $800 (€558) at the end of 2009. In the third quarter of 2010, average pulp sales realizations increased by approximately 62% to €642 per ADMT from €397 per ADMT in the same period last year, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro.
Pulp sales volume decreased to 344,777 ADMTs in the current quarter from 361,627 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to certain orders slipping into the fourth quarter of 2010.
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Pulp production increased to 380,894 ADMTs in the current quarter from 345,833 ADMTs in the same quarter of 2009, primarily due to record levels of production at our Celgar and Stendal mills, partially offset by nine days (approximately 8,000 ADMTs) of scheduled maintenance downtime at our Rosenthal mill. In the comparative quarter of 2009, we had 30 days (approximately 35,000 ADMTs) of scheduled maintenance downtime at our German mills.
Costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2010 increased to €183.0 million from €156.7 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs and higher energy costs resulting from the turbine maintenance at the Rosenthal mill.
In the third quarter of 2010, operating depreciation and amortization increased slightly to €14.0 million from €13.4 million in the same quarter last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased slightly to €6.9 million from €6.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, primarily as a result of a stronger Euro.
Transportation costs increased to €16.3 million in the third quarter of 2010 from €14.2 million in the third quarter of 2009, primarily due to higher container rates.
On average, our per unit fiber costs in the current quarter increased by approximately 32% from the same period in 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs at our German mills, which increased due to stronger demand for fiber from the European board industry, and continuing weak lumber markets which resulted in low timber harvesting rates and reduced availability of wood residuals in Germany.
For the third quarter of 2010, we recorded operating income of €51.4 million compared to an operating loss of €0.5 million in the comparative quarter of 2009, primarily due to significantly improved pulp prices and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro.
Interest expense in the third quarter of 2010 increased marginally to €17.8 million from €16.1 million in the comparative quarter of 2009, due to the accretion expense related to the exchange of our convertible notes, which was partially offset by reduced levels of debt associated with the Stendal mill.
Our Stendal mill recorded an unrealized gain of €0.5 million on the mark to market of its interest rate derivatives in the current quarter, compared to an unrealized loss of €3.3 million in the same quarter of last year. We recorded a foreign exchange gain of €9.9 million on our foreign currency denominated debt compared to a foreign exchange gain of €3.8 million in the same period of 2009.
During the current quarter, we recorded €7.2 million of net income tax recoveries, compared to a nominal net tax recovery of €0.1 million in the same period last year. The tax recoveries reflect our expectation that certain of our tax assets will be utilized to reduce taxable income in the future.
In the third quarter of 2010, the noncontrolling shareholder’s interest in the Stendal mill’s income was €5.1 million, compared to a loss of €1.9 million in the same quarter last year.
We reported net income attributable to common shareholders for the third quarter of 2010 of €46.1 million, or €1.17 per basic and €0.82 per diluted share, which included aggregate non-cash, unrealized gains of €10.4 million, or €0.26 per basic share, on the Stendal interest rate derivatives and the foreign exchange effect on our debt. In the third quarter of 2009, the net loss attributable to common shareholders was €14.1 million, or €0.39 per basic and diluted share, which included a net non-cash unrealized gain of €0.5 million on the Stendal interest rate derivatives and the foreign exchange effect on our debt.
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Operating EBITDA in the third quarter of 2010 increased to €65.5 million ($84.7 million) from €62.1 million ($79.1 million) in the prior quarter and €13.0 million ($18.6 million) in the third quarter of 2009. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) 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) attributable to common shareholders, including financing costs and the effect of derivative instruments. Operating EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“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) noncontrolling interests on our Stendal mill operations; (v) the impact of realized or marked to market changes in our derivative positions, which can be substantial; and (vi) the impact of impairment charges against our investments or assets. Because of these limitations, Operating EBITDA should only be considered as a supplemental operational 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 interim 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 operational performance and relying primarily on our GAAP financial statements.
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The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to operating income (loss) and Operating EBITDA for the periods indicated:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  46,135     (14,112 )
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
    5,116       (1,937 )
Income taxes (benefits)
    (7,155 )     (57 )
Interest expense
    17,820       16,085  
Investment (income) loss
    (93 )     (20 )
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on debt
    (9,927 )     (3,779 )
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
    (485 )     3,327  
 
           
Operating income (loss)
    51,411       (493 )
Add: Depreciation and amortization
    14,055       13,447  
 
           
Operating EBITDA
  65,466     12,954  
 
           
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
Pulp revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased by approximately 48% to €624.1 million from €422.4 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro. Revenues from the sale of excess energy decreased slightly to €30.8 million from €32.3 million in the comparative period last year, primarily due to scheduled turbine maintenance at our Rosenthal mill.
Pulp prices in the first nine months of 2010 were higher than in the same period last year due to a strengthening in global pulp markets. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $932 (€708) per ADMT in the first nine months of 2010 compared to approximately $627 (€459) per ADMT in the first nine months of 2009. In the first nine months of 2010, average pulp sales realizations increased by approximately 55% to €590 per ADMT from €380 per ADMT in the same period last year, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices.
Pulp sales volume decreased slightly to 1,042,649 ADMTs in the first nine months of 2010 from 1,093,664 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2009.
Pulp production increased to 1,070,043 ADMTs in the first nine months of 2010 from 1,040,582 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to the near record production of all our mills in 2010. We had 31 days of scheduled maintenance downtime and resulting production curtailments of approximately 43,000 ADMTs in the first nine months of 2010, compared to an aggregate of 33 days of maintenance downtime and resulting production curtailments of approximately 38,000 ADMTs in the same period of 2009.
Costs and expenses in the first nine months of 2010 increased to €537.6 million from €477.3 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs in Germany and annual and turbine maintenance costs at our mills.
In the nine months ended September 30, 2010, operating depreciation and amortization increased slightly to €41.8 million from €40.3 million in the same period last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in the first nine months of 2010 to €24.9 million from €19.8 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily as a result of increased selling costs and a stronger Canadian dollar relative to the Euro.
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Transportation costs increased to €47.6 million in the first nine months of 2010 from €43.1 million in the first nine months of 2009, primarily due to higher container rates.
Overall, our per unit fiber costs increased by approximately 23% in the first nine months of 2010 from the same period in 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs at our German mills resulting from increased demand from the European board industry and continuing weak lumber markets which resulted in low timber harvesting rates and reduced availability of wood residuals.
For the first nine months of 2010, we recorded operating income of €117.3 million compared to an operating loss of €22.6 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp price realizations.
Interest expense in the first nine months of 2010 increased marginally to €51.1 million from €49.0 million in the comparative period of 2009, due to accretion expense related to the exchange of our convertible notes in January 2010, being partially offset by lower debt levels at our Stendal mill.
Our Stendal mill recorded an unrealized loss of €10.5 million on the mark to market of its interest rate derivatives at the period ended September 30, 2010, compared to an unrealized loss of €10.9 million in the comparative period.
In the first nine months of 2010, we recorded a foreign exchange loss of €4.7 million on our foreign currency denominated debt compared to a gain of €4.5 million in the same period of 2009.
In the first nine months of 2010, we completed an exchange (the “Exchange”) of approximately €15.4 million ($21.7 million) in aggregate principal amount of our 8.5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 (the “2010 Convertible Notes”) for new 8.5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (the “2012 Convertible Notes”). We recorded a loss of approximately €0.9 million on the extinguishment of the 2010 Convertible Notes.
During the first nine months of 2010, we recorded €5.6 million of net income tax recoveries, compared to €4.9 million in the same period of 2009. The tax recoveries reflect our expectation that certain of our tax assets will be utilized to reduce taxable income in the future.
In the first nine months of 2010, the noncontrolling shareholder’s interest in the Stendal mill’s income was €5.0 million, compared to a loss of €11.2 million in the same period last year.
We reported net income attributable to common shareholders for the first nine months of 2010 of €51.0 million, or €1.36 per basic and €0.93 per diluted share, which included aggregate non-cash, unrealized losses of €15.2 million on the Stendal interest derivatives and the foreign exchange effect on our debt. In the first nine months of 2009, the net loss attributable to common shareholders was €64.9 million, or €1.79 per basic and diluted share, which included a net non-cash unrealized loss of €6.4 million on the Stendal interest rate derivatives and the foreign exchange effect on our debt.
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Operating EBITDA increased significantly to €159.4 million in the first nine months of 2010 compared to Operating EBITDA of €17.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) 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 three months ended September 30, 2010 for additional information relating to such limitations and Operating EBITDA.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to operating income (loss) and Operating EBITDA for the periods indicated:
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
  50,990     (64,938 )
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
    5,001       (11,195 )
Income taxes (benefits)
    (5,632 )     (4,862 )
Interest expense
    51,141       48,953  
Investment (income) loss
    (304 )     3,044  
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on debt
    4,675       (4,533 )
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of convertible notes
    929        
Loss (gain) on derivative instruments
    10,523       10,889  
 
           
Operating income (loss)
    117,323       (22,642 )
Add: Depreciation and amortization
    42,052       40,518  
 
           
Operating EBITDA
  159,375     17,876  
 
           
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table is a summary of selected financial information at the dates indicated:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Financial Position
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  85,126     51,291  
Receivables
    101,920       71,143  
Inventories
    112,385       72,629  
Prepaid expenses and other
    11,986       5,871  
Total current assets
    311,417       200,934  
Total current liabilities
    134,666       101,784  
Working capital
    176,751       99,150  
Property, plant and equipment
    851,736       868,558  
Total assets
    1,184,807       1,083,831  
Long-term liabilities
    884,285       896,074  
Total equity
    165,856       85,973  
As at September 30, 2010, our cash and cash equivalents and working capital had increased to €85.1 million and €176.8 million, respectively, from €51.3 million and €99.2 million, respectively, at the end of 2009.
Sources and Uses of Funds
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 project loan facility relating to our Stendal mill (“Stendal Loan Facility”), capital expenditures and interest payments on our outstanding 9.25% senior notes (“Senior Notes”) and the 2012 Convertible Notes.
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In the last quarter of 2009, our Celgar mill was allocated approximately C$57.7 million under the Government of Canada’s Green Transformation Program or “GTP”, of which approximately C$40.7 million in grants was allocated to costs associated with the Celgar Energy Project. We expect to utilize approximately C$7.0 million of the balance for enhancements and the increased scope we implemented for the Celgar Energy Project and the remainder for other qualifying projects through March 2012. In December 2009, we received an initial grant of C$12.9 million from Natural Resources Canada, or “NRCan”, and additional grants of C$23.1 million (€17.3 million) during the first nine months of 2010. At September 30, 2010, our Celgar mill had approximately C$4.7 million of grant monies related to holdbacks that we expect to receive in early 2011 and approximately C$1.5 million (€1.1 million) of remaining costs to be reimbursed through the GTP.
Capital expenditures related to the Celgar Energy Project totaled approximately €13.1 million in 2009 and €26.3 million in 2010 substantially all of which was financed through grants from the Canadian federal government under the GTP.
Debt Covenants
Our long-term obligations contain various financial tests and covenants customary to these types of arrangements. As at September 30, 2010, we were in compliance with all of the covenants of our indebtedness.
Cash Flow Analysis
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.
Cash provided by operating activities increased to €57.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 from €37.6 million in the same period of 2009, primarily due to improved operating results, offset in significant part by working capital movements. An increase in receivables used cash of €26.4 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to a decrease in receivables providing cash of €29.2 million in the first nine months of 2009. An increase in inventories used cash of €37.0 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to a decrease in inventories before non-cash provisions providing cash of €29.9 million in the first nine months of 2009. An increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses provided cash of €15.1 million in the first nine months of 2010, compared to an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses providing cash of €9.6 million in the first nine months of 2009.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Investing activities in the first nine months of 2010 used cash of €27.6 million, compared to using cash of €5.6 million in the same period of 2009. Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2010 used cash of €28.9 million primarily for the Celgar Energy Project, compared to €19.5 million in the same period of 2009.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. In the first nine months of 2010, financing activities provided cash of €3.0 million, compared to using cash of €23.7 million in the same period last year, primarily as a result of the receipt of government grants of €16.2 million for the Celgar Energy Project in 2010. Repayment of indebtedness used cash of €14.5 million and €26.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Proceeds from credit facilities provided cash of €1.5 million and used cash of €5.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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Capital Resources
Other than commitments totaling approximately €1.1 million relating to the Celgar Energy Project, we have no material commitments to acquire assets or operating businesses.
Future Liquidity
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 will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs in the next 12 months.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
There were no material changes outside the ordinary course to any of our material contractual obligations during the first nine months of 2010.
Foreign Currency
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 nine months ended September 30, 2010, accumulated other comprehensive income increased by €2.5 million to €26.2 million, primarily due to the foreign exchange translation.
Based upon the exchange rate at September 30, 2010, the U.S. dollar strengthened by approximately 8% in value against the Euro since September 30, 2009. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.
Results of Operations of the Restricted Group under our Senior Note Indenture
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.
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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 13 of our interim consolidated financial statements included herein.
Restricted Group Results — Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
Pulp revenues for the Restricted Group for the three months ended September 30, 2010 significantly increased by approximately 56% to €123.5 million from €79.2 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro. Revenues from the sale of excess energy decreased by approximately 53% in the current quarter to €1.5 million from €3.2 million in the same period last year, primarily due to approximately 60 days of scheduled turbine maintenance at our Rosenthal mill in 2010.
Pulp prices were significantly higher in the third quarter of 2010 than in the same period last year due to continued strengthening in global pulp markets. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $980 (€758) per ADMT in the current quarter compared to approximately $693 (€485) per ADMT in the third quarter of 2009. In the third quarter of 2010, average pulp sales realizations for the Restricted Group increased by approximately 60% to €643 per ADMT from €402 per ADMT in the same period last year.
Pulp sales volume of the Restricted Group decreased marginally to 191,860 ADMTs in the third quarter of 2010 from 197,007 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to certain orders slipping into the fourth quarter of 2010.
Pulp production for the Restricted Group increased to 207,720 ADMTs in the third quarter of 2010 from 192,173 ADMTs in the same period of 2009, primarily as a result of improved mill reliability and only nine days (approximately 8,000 tonnes) of scheduled maintenance downtime at our Rosenthal mill in 2010, compared to 21 days (approximately 20,000 tonnes) in 2009.
Costs and expenses for the Restricted Group in the third quarter of 2010 increased to €102.3 million from €89.0 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs and higher energy costs resulting from the turbine maintenance at the Rosenthal mill.
In the third quarter of 2010, operating depreciation and amortization for the Restricted Group increased to €7.5 million from €6.8 million in the same period last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses and other for the Restricted Group decreased to €3.2 million from €4.0 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily as a result of a stronger Euro.
Transportation costs for the Restricted Group increased to €12.3 million in the third quarter of 2010 from €9.7 million in the same period of 2009, primarily due to higher container rates.
Overall, per unit fiber costs of the Restricted Group in the third quarter of 2010 increased by approximately 21% compared to the same period of 2009, primarily due to increased German fiber prices resulting from increased demand from the European board industry and continuing weak lumber markets which resulted in low timber harvesting rates and reduced availability of wood residuals.
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In the third quarter of 2010, the Restricted Group reported operating income of €22.8 million compared to an operating loss of €6.6 million in the third quarter of 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp realizations.
Interest expense for the Restricted Group increased to €8.8 million in the third quarter from €6.5 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to the accretion expense related to the exchange of our convertible notes in January 2010.
In the third quarter of 2010, the Restricted Group recorded a gain on foreign currency denominated debt of €9.9 million, compared to a gain of €3.8 million in the comparative quarter of 2009.
During the third quarter of 2010, the Restricted Group recorded €8.8 million of net income tax recoveries, compared to €0.1 million in the same period last year. The tax recoveries reflect our expectation that certain of our tax assets will be utilized to reduce taxable income in the future.
The Restricted Group reported net income for the third quarter of 2010 of €34.0 million compared to a net loss of €8.1 million in the same period last year.
In the third quarter of 2010, the Restricted Group reported Operating EBITDA of €30.4 million compared to Operating EBITDA of €0.3 million in the comparative quarter of 2009 and Operating EBITDA of €26.2 million in the second quarter of 2010. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) 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 three months ended September 30, 2010 for additional information relating to such limitations and Operating EBITDA.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to operating income (loss) and Operating EBITDA for the Restricted Group for the periods indicated:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Restricted Group(1)
               
Net income (loss)
  34,016     (8,133 )
Income taxes (benefits)
    (8,849 )     (108 )
Interest expense
    8,796       6,546  
Investment (income) loss
    (1,246 )     (1,112 )
Foreign exchange loss (gain) on debt
    (9,927 )     (3,779 )
 
           
Operating income (loss)
    22,790       (6,586 )
Add: Depreciation and amortization.
    7,582       6,878  
 
           
Operating EBITDA
  30,372     292  
 
           
 
     
(1)  
See Note 13 of the interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein for a reconciliation to our consolidated results.
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Restricted Group Results — Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
Pulp revenues for the Restricted Group for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased by approximately 54% to €354.8 million from €230.7 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices. Revenues from the sale of excess energy decreased by approximately 21% in the first nine months of 2010 to €8.8 million from €11.2 million in the same period last year, primarily due to approximately 60 days of scheduled turbine maintenance at our Rosenthal mill in 2010. During the third quarter of 2010, the Rosenthal mill had nine days of downtime for scheduled maintenance and its turbine was down for an additional 51 days for maintenance. During such 51-day period, the Rosenthal mill produced pulp at capacity but purchased energy instead of selling surplus energy.
Pulp prices were significantly higher in the first nine months of 2010 than in the same period last year due to continued strengthening in global pulp markets. Average list prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $932 (€708) per ADMT in the first nine months of 2010 compared to approximately $627 (€459) per ADMT in the first nine months of 2009. In the first nine months of 2010, average pulp sales realizations for the Restricted Group increased by approximately 53% to €591 per ADMT from €387 per ADMT in the same period last year.
Pulp sales volume of the Restricted Group increased to 599,971 ADMTs in the first nine months of 2010 from 594,787 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2009.
Pulp production for the Restricted Group increased to 611,753 ADMTs in the first nine months of 2010 from 579,785 ADMTs in the same period of 2009, primarily as a result of improved mill reliability. In the first nine months of 2010, our Celgar and Rosenthal mills had an aggregate of 21 days (approximately 25,000 ADMTs) of scheduled maintenance downtime, compared to 24 days (approximately 23,000 ADMTs) of maintenance downtime in the first nine months of 2009.
Costs and expenses for the Restricted Group in the first nine months of 2010 increased to €306.2 million from €263.4 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs in Germany and higher energy costs resulting from the turbine maintenance at the Rosenthal mill.
In the first nine months of 2010, operating depreciation and amortization for the Restricted Group increased to €22.4 million from €20.4 million in the same period last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses and other increased to €14.8 million from €10.7 million in the comparative period of 2009, primarily as a result of increased selling costs and a stronger Canadian dollar relative to the Euro.
Transportation costs for the Restricted Group increased to €36.1 million in the first nine months of 2010 from €29.7 million in the first nine months of 2009, primarily due to higher shipments and container rates.
Overall, per unit fiber costs of the Restricted Group increased by approximately 16% in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009, primarily due to increased German fiber prices resulting from increased demand from the European board industry and continuing weak lumber markets which resulted in low harvesting rates and reduced availability of wood residuals.
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In the first nine months of 2010, the Restricted Group reported operating income of €57.3 million compared to an operating loss of €21.6 million in the first nine months of 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp realizations.
Interest expense for the Restricted Group increased to €24.1 million in the first nine months of 2010 from €20.8 million in the first nine months of 2009, primarily due to the accretion expense related to the exchange of our convertible notes.
Most of the long-term debt of the Restricted Group is denominated and repayable in foreign currencies, principally U.S. dollars. In the first nine months of 2010, the Restricted Group recorded a non-cash loss on foreign currency denominated debt of €4.7 million as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar during the first half of 2010, compared to a gain of €4.5 million in the comparative period of 2009.
During the first nine months of 2010, in connection with the exchange of a portion of our convertible notes, the Restricted Group recorded a loss of approximately €0.9 million on the extinguishment of the 2010 Convertible Notes.
During the first nine months of 2010, the Restricted Group recorded €8.3 million of net income tax recoveries, compared to an income tax provision of €0.8 million in the comparative period of 2009. The tax recoveries reflect our expectation that certain of our tax assets will be utilized to reduce taxable income in the future.
The Restricted Group reported net income for the first nine months of 2010 of €39.8 million compared to a net loss of €35.4 million in the first nine months of 2009.
In the first nine months of 2010, the Restricted Group reported Operating EBITDA of €79.9 million compared to an Operating EBITDA loss of €1.0 million in the comparative period of 2009. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) 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 three months ended September 30, 2010 for additional information relating to such limitations and Operating EBITDA.
The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to operating income (loss) and Operating EBITDA for the Restricted Group for the periods indicated:
                 
    Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
 
               
Restricted Group(1)
               
Net income (loss)
  39,762     (35,416 )
Income taxes (benefits)
    (8,354 )     833  
Interest expense
    24,073       20,775  
Investment (income) loss
    (3,770 )     (3,262 )
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on debt
    4,675       (4,533 )
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of convertible notes
    929        
 
           
Operating income (loss)
    57,315       (21,603 )
Add: Depreciation and amortization
    22,590       20,601  
 
           
Operating EBITDA
  79,905     (1,002 )
 
           
 
     
(1)  
See Note 13 of the interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein for a reconciliation to our consolidated results.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources of the Restricted Group
The following table is a summary of selected financial information for the Restricted Group at the dates indicated:
                 
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2010     2009  
    (in thousands)  
Restricted Group Financial Position(1)
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  48,411     20,635  
Receivables
    51,792       34,588  
Inventories
    68,257       52,897  
Prepaid expenses and other
    6,479       3,452  
Total current assets
    174,939       111,572  
Total current liabilities
    68,038       54,557  
Working capital
    106,901       57,015  
Property, plant and equipment
    363,758       362,311  
Total assets
    634,195       555,977  
Long-term liabilities
    308,532       301,173  
Total equity
    257,625       200,247  
 
     
(1)  
See Note 13 of the interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein for a reconciliation to our consolidated results.
At September 30, 2010, cash and cash equivalents and working capital for the Restricted Group had increased to €48.4 million and €106.9 million, respectively, from €20.6 million and €57.0 million, respectively, at the end of 2009.
We currently expect the Restricted Group to meet its interest and debt service obligations and meet the working and maintenance capital requirements for its operations for the next 12 months with cash flow from operations, cash on hand and available borrowings.
Credit Ratings
Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) base their assessment of our credit risk on the business and financial profile of the Restricted Group only. 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.
During the second quarter of 2010, we were subject to improved rating actions by Moody’s and S&P. In May 2010, S&P raised its target credit rating to B from B- with a stable ratings outlook to reflect temporary pulp supply shortages and the strengthening of pulp markets. S&P believes that we should be able to maintain sufficient liquidity to support this new credit rating. The B rating also reflected the expectation that we would continue to benefit from favorable foreign exchange rates resulting from the strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the Euro.
In June 2010, Moody’s upgraded our Corporate Family Rating (“CFR”) to B3 from Caa1, and upgraded its ratings outlook to positive, citing the positive impact of recent pulp price increases on our liquidity, financial structure, and operating results.
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Critical Accounting Policies
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 the recording of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying note disclosure. 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 annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. 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 the 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 results could differ from these estimates.
We have identified certain accounting policies that are the most important to the portrayal of our current financial condition and results of operations.
For information about both our significant and critical accounting policies, see our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
New Accounting Standards
See Note 1 to the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements included in Item 1.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
The statements in this report 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:
   
our markets;
 
   
demand and prices for our products;
 
   
our level of indebtedness;
 
   
raw material costs and supply;
 
   
energy prices, sales and our initiatives to enhance sales of surplus energy;
 
   
capital expenditures;
 
   
the economy;
 
   
foreign exchange rates — particularly the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar; and
 
   
derivatives.
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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, 2009. 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.
Cyclical Nature of Business
Revenues
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 in Europe steadily improved. However, in the latter half of 2008, a global economic crisis resulted in a sharp decline of European pulp prices from a high of $900 per ADMT to $635 per ADMT at the end of 2008. Beginning in the second quarter of 2009 prices began to improve, rising from a low of $575 per ADMT in March 2009 to $980 per ADMT at the end of the second quarter of 2010. European list pulp prices remained generally stable around $980 per ADMT throughout the third quarter of 2010.
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 mills. 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.
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Costs
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. Fiber costs are primarily affected by the supply of, and demand for, lumber which is highly cyclical in nature and can vary significantly by location. The state of lumber markets affects both the amount of wood residuals, such as chips, produced as a by-product of lumber and the level of timber harvesting, which provides us with pulp logs. Production costs also depend on the total volume of production. Lower operating rates and production efficiencies during periods of cyclically low demand result in higher average production costs and lower margins.
Currency
The majority of our sales are in products quoted in U.S. dollars while most of our operating costs and expenses, other than those of the Celgar mill, are 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. 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.
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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are exposed to market risks from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the exchange rate 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, from time to time, 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 are not effective, we may incur significant losses.
All of our derivatives are marked to market at the end of each reporting period, and all unrealized gains and losses are recognized in earnings for a reporting period. We determine market valuations based primarily upon observable inputs including applicable yield curves.
During the first nine months of 2010, we recorded an unrealized loss of €10.5 million on our outstanding interest rate derivatives compared to an unrealized loss of €10.9 million in the comparative period of 2009.
We are also subject to some energy price risk, primarily for the electricity that our operations purchase.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
It should be noted that any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions designed to obtain reasonable (and not absolute) assurance as to its effectiveness, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals.
Changes in Internal Controls. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are subject to routine litigation incidental to our business, including those described in our latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009. We do not believe that the outcome of such litigation will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.
In September of 2010, the Celgar mill received a letter from the Upper Columbia River Natural Resources Trustee Council, an organization consisting of aboriginal groups and US government representatives (the “Council”), alleging that, based on their preliminary assessment (the “Preliminary Assessment”), between 1961 to 1993, the Celgar mill had discharged chlorinated organic compounds into the Columbia River. The Preliminary Assessment was conducted to evaluate the need to conduct a formal natural resource damage assessment under the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”). Although we did not acquire the Celgar mill until 2005, and the Celgar mill’s alleged discharge occurred prior to our acquisition of the mill, the Council determined to proceed with a formal natural resource damage assessment under the CERCLA. Although at this time it is unclear as to whether any harm was caused by these alleged discharges and, in any event, we do not believe we are liable, due to the preliminary nature of the assessment, we cannot at this time quantify the costs, if any, associated with this matter.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
FORM 10-Q
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
     
Exhibit    
No.   Description
 
   
31.1
  Section 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
   
31.2
  Section 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
   
32.1*
  Section 906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
   
32.2*
  Section 906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 
     
*  
In accordance with Release 33-8212 of the Commission, these Certifications: (i) are “furnished” to the Commission and are not “filed” for the purposes of liability under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (ii) are not to be subject to automatic incorporation by reference into any of the Company’s registration statements filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended for the purposes of liability thereunder or any offering memorandum, unless the Company specifically incorporates them by reference therein.
FORM 10-Q
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
         
  MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ David M. Gandossi    
    David M. Gandossi   
    Secretary and Chief Financial Officer   
Date: November 4, 2010
FORM 10-Q
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 50