ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
In this document, please note the following:
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references to “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” or “Mercer” mean Mercer International Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise, and references to “Mercer Inc.” mean Mercer International Inc. excluding its subsidiaries;
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references to “ADMTs” mean air-dried metric tonnes;
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references to “MW” mean megawatts and “MWh” mean megawatt hours;
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information is provided as of December 31, 2010, unless otherwise stated or the context clearly suggests otherwise;
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all references to monetary amounts are to “Euros”, the lawful currency adopted by most members of the European Union, unless otherwise stated; and
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“” refers to Euros; “$” refers to U.S. dollars; and “C$” refers to Canadian dollars.
The Company
General
Mercer Inc. is a Washington corporation and our shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market (MERC) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (MRI.U).
We operate in the pulp business and are the largest publicly traded producer of market northern bleached softwood kraft, or “NBSK”, pulp in the world. We are the sole kraft pulp producer, and the only producer of pulp for resale, known as “market pulp”, in Germany, which is the largest pulp import market in Europe. Our operations are located in Eastern Germany and Western Canada. We currently employ approximately 1,052 people at our German operations, 422 people at our Celgar mill in Western Canada and 17 people at our office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We operate three NBSK pulp mills with a consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 million ADMTs:
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Rosenthal mill. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rosenthal, owns and operates a modern, efficient ISO 9001 and 14001 certified NBSK pulp mill that has a current annual pulp production capacity of approximately 330,000 ADMTs. Additionally, the Rosenthal mill is a significant producer of “green” energy and exported 123,309 MWh of electricity in 2010. The Rosenthal mill is located near the town of Blankenstein, Germany approximately 300 kilometers south of Berlin.
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Celgar mill. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Celgar, owns and operates the Celgar mill, a modern, efficient ISO 9001 certified NBSK pulp mill with an annual pulp production capacity of approximately 520,000 ADMTs. The Celgar mill also produces “green” energy and exported 70,923 MWh of electricity in 2010. At the end of September of 2010, Celgar completed a new “green” energy project, referred to as the “Celgar Energy Project”, that is expected to increase surplus energy sales by over 238,000 MWh annually and generate approximately C$20 to C$25 million of additional high-margin revenue per annum. The Celgar mill is located near the city of Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada, approximately 600 kilometers east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Stendal mill. Our 74.9% owned subsidiary, Stendal, owns and operates a state-of-the-art, single-line, ISO 9001 and 14001 certified NBSK pulp mill that has an annual pulp production capacity of approximately 645,000 ADMTs. Additionally, the Stendal mill is a significant producer of “green” energy and exported 325,773 MWh of electricity in 2010. The Stendal mill is located near the town of Stendal, Germany, approximately 130 kilometers west of Berlin.
Organizational Chart
The following chart sets out our directly and indirectly owned principal operating subsidiaries, their jurisdictions of organization and their principal activities:
History and Development of Business
We acquired our initial pulp and paper operations in 1993. Subsequently, we disposed of our paper operations to focus our business on our core pulp operations.
In late 1999, we completed a major capital project which, among other things, converted the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp from sulphite pulp, increased its annual production capacity, reduced costs and improved efficiencies. The aggregate cost of this project was approximately 361.0 million, of which approximately 102.0 million was financed through government grants. Subsequent minor capital investments and efficiency improvements have reduced emissions and energy costs and increased the Rosenthal mill’s annual production capacity to approximately 330,000 ADMTs.
In September 2004, we completed construction of the Stendal mill at an aggregate cost of approximately 1.0 billion. The Stendal mill is one of the largest NBSK pulp mills in Europe. The Stendal mill was financed through a combination of government grants totaling approximately 275.0 million, low-cost, long-term project debt which is largely severally guaranteed by the federal government and a state government in Germany, and equity contributions.
We initially had a 63.6% ownership interest in Stendal and, over time, increased our interest to 74.9%.
We, Stendal and its noncontrolling shareholder are parties to a shareholders’ agreement dated August 26, 2002, as amended, to govern our respective interests in Stendal. The agreement contains terms and conditions customary for these types of agreements, including restrictions on transfers of share capital and shareholder loans other than to affiliates, rights of first refusal on share and shareholder loan transfers, pre-emptive rights and piggyback rights on dispositions of our interest. The shareholders are not obligated to fund any further equity capital contributions to the project. The shareholders’ agreement provides that Stendal’s managing directors are appointed by holders of a simple majority of its share capital. Further, shareholder decisions, other than those mandated by law or for the provision of financial assistance to a shareholder, are determined by a simple majority of Stendal’s share capital.
A significant portion of the capital investments at our German mills, including the construction of the Stendal mill, were financed through government grants. Since 1999, our German mills have benefited from an aggregate 384.7 million in government grants. These grants reduce the cost basis of the assets purchased when the grants are received and are not reported in our income.
In February 2005, we acquired the Celgar mill for $210.0 million, of which $170.0 million was paid in cash and $40.0 million was paid in our shares, plus $16.0 million for the defined working capital of the mill. The Celgar mill was completely rebuilt in the early 1990s through a C$850.0 million modernization and expansion project, which transformed it into a modern and competitive producer.
In 2007, we completed a C$28.0 million capital project which improved efficiencies and reliability and, with other measures, increased the Celgar mill’s annual production capacity to 500,000 ADMTs. In 2008, we commenced the Celgar Energy Project to increase the Celgar mill’s production of “green” energy and optimize its power generation capacity. We completed the project at the end of September 2010 at an aggregate cost of approximately C$64.9 million, of which approximately C$48.0 million was financed by grants from the Canadian federal government. See “- Capital Expenditures”. We have also increased the Celgar mill’s overall annual pulp production capacity to approximately 520,000 ADMTs through increased efficiencies.
Our Competitive Strengths
Our competitive strengths include the following:
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Modern and Competitive Mills. We operate three large, modern, competitive NBSK pulp mills that produce high quality NBSK pulp, which is a premium grade of kraft pulp. We believe the relative age, production capacity and operating features of our mills provide us with certain manufacturing cost and other advantages over many of our competitors including lower maintenance capital expenditures.
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Leading Market Position. Mercer is the largest publicly traded NBSK pulp producer in the world which provides us increased presence and better industry information in the markets in which we operate, and provides for close customer relationships with many large pulp consumers.
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Renewable Surplus Energy. Our modern mills generate electricity and steam in their boilers and are generally energy self-sufficient. Such energy is primarily produced from wood residuals which are a renewable carbon neutral source. All of our mills also generate surplus energy which we sell to third parties. Our Rosenthal and Stendal mills benefit from special tariffs under Germany’s Renewable Energy Resources Act, referred to as the “Renewable Energy Act” which provides for premium pricing and has materially increased their revenues from sales of surplus power. Additionally, our Celgar mill completed the Celgar Energy Project at the end of September 2010 and is party to an electricity purchase agreement, referred to as the “Electricity Purchase Agreement” with the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, or “B.C. Hydro”, British Columbia’s primary public utility provider, for the sale of surplus power for ten years. The Celgar Energy Project is expected to increase our consolidated total sales of surplus power by 238,000 MWh per annum to over 700,000 MWh per annum. We believe our generation and sale of surplus renewable “green” energy provides us with a competitive energy advantage over less efficient mills.
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Strategic Locations and Customer Service. We are the only producer of market pulp in Germany, which is the largest pulp import market in Europe. Due to the proximity of our German mills to most of our European customers, we benefit from lower transportation costs relative to our major competitors. Our Celgar mill, located in Western Canada, is well situated to serve Asian and North American customers. We primarily work directly with customers to capitalize on our geographic diversity, coordinate sales and enhance customer relationships. We believe our ability to deliver high quality pulp on a timely basis and our customer service makes us a preferred supplier for many customers.
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Advantageous Capital Investments and Financing. Our German mills are eligible to receive government grants in respect of qualifying capital investments. Over the last eleven years, our German mills have benefited from approximately 384.7 million of such government grants. In addition, in October 2009, our Celgar mill qualified to receive C$57.7 million of credits under the Canadian government’s Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program, referred to as the “GTP”. These grants reduce the cost basis of the assets purchased when the grants are received and are not reported in our income. Additionally, during the last eleven years, capital investments at our German mills have reduced the amount of overall wastewater fees that would otherwise be payable by over 55.8 million. Further, our Stendal mill benefits from German governmental guarantees of its project financing which permitted it to obtain better credit terms and lower interest costs than would otherwise have been available. The project debt of Stendal which matures in 2017, currently bears interest at a substantially fixed rate of 5.28% per annum plus an applicable margin and is non-recourse to our other operations and Mercer Inc.
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Proximity of Abundant Fiber Supply. Although fiber is cyclical in both price and supply, there is a significant amount of high-quality fiber within a close radius of each of our mills. This fiber supply, combined with our purchasing power and our current ability to meaningfully switch between whole logs chipped at our mills and sawmill residual chips, enables us to enter into contracts and arrangements which have generally provided us with a competitive fiber supply.
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Experienced Management Team. Our directors and senior managers have extensive experience in the pulp and forestry industries. In particular, our Chief Executive Officer has over 16 years experience in the pulp industry and has guided the Company’s operations and development over that time. Our Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer each has over 30 years of industry experience. We also have experienced managers at all of our mills. Our management has a proven track record of implementing new initiatives and programs in order to reduce costs throughout our operations as well as identifying and harnessing new revenue opportunities.
Corporate Strategy
Our corporate strategy is to create shareholder value by focusing on the expansion of our asset and earnings base. Key features of our strategy include:
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Focus on NBSK Market Pulp. We focus on NBSK pulp because it is a premium grade kraft pulp and generally obtains the highest price relative to other kraft pulps. Although demand is cyclical, between 1998 and 2008, worldwide demand for softwood kraft market pulp grew at an average of approximately 2.3% per annum. We focus on servicing customers that produce high quality printing and writing paper grades and tissue producers. This allows us to benefit from our stable relationships with paper and tissue manufacturers in Europe and Asia as well as participate in strong growth markets such as China where we also have strong customer relationships.
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Maximizing Renewable Energy Realizations. In 2010 and 2009, our mills generated 520,005 MWh and 478,674 MWh, respectively, of surplus energy, primarily from a renewable carbon-neutral source. We are developing other initiatives to increase our overall energy generation and the amount of and price for our surplus power sales. We completed the Celgar Energy Project at the end of September 2010. Based upon the current production levels of our mills and after giving effect to the planned generation from the Celgar Energy Project, we expect to generate and sell between 700,000 MWh and 750,000 MWh of surplus renewable energy per annum. We expect energy generation and sales to continue to be a key focus for our mills for the foreseeable future.
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Enhancing Long-Term Sustainability/Growth. In connection with the global slowdown that commenced in 2008, we shifted our short-term focus to enhancing the long-term sustainability of our business. To this end, we have extended the maturity of senior debt and reduced our overall debt levels in order to maximize our long-term liquidity position. Although pulp prices improved significantly in 2010, we intend to continue our focus on cost reduction initiatives while strategically evaluating and pursuing internal, high return capital projects and growth opportunities in order to enhance cash flows and maximize shareholder value.
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Operating and Maximizing Returns from our Modern, World-Class Mills. In order to keep our operating costs as low as possible, with a goal of generating positive cash flow in all market conditions, we operate large, modern pulp mills. We believe these production facilities provide us with the best platform to be an efficient and competitive producer of high-quality NBSK pulp without the need for significant sustaining capital. Our modern mills are also generally net exporters of renewable energy. We are constantly reviewing opportunities to enhance and maximize the usage of the strengths of our mills, including through increased energy generation, production of premium grades of pulp and other improvements, to capture the highest returns available.
The Pulp Industry
General
Pulp is used in the production of paper, tissues and paper-related products. Pulp is generally classified according to fiber type, the process used in its production and the degree to which it is bleached. Kraft pulp is produced through a sulphate chemical process in which lignin, the component of wood which binds individual fibers, is dissolved in a chemical reaction. Chemically prepared pulp allows the wood’s fiber to retain its length and flexibility, resulting in stronger paper products. Kraft pulp can be bleached to increase its brightness. Kraft pulp is noted for its strength, brightness and absorption properties and is used to produce a variety of products, including lightweight publication grades of paper, tissues and paper-related products.
The selling price of kraft pulp depends in part on the fiber used in the production process. There are two primary species of wood used as fiber: softwood and hardwood. Softwood species generally have long, flexible fibers which add strength to paper while fibers from species of hardwood contain shorter fibers which lend bulk and opacity. Generally, prices for softwood pulp are higher than for hardwood pulp. Most uses of market kraft pulp, including fine printing papers, coated and uncoated magazine papers and various tissue products, utilize a mix of softwood and hardwood grades to optimize production and product qualities. In recent years, production of hardwood pulp, based on fast growing plantation fiber primarily from Asia and South America, has increased much more rapidly than that of softwood grades that have longer growth cycles. As a result of the growth in supply and lower costs, kraft pulp customers have substituted some of the pulp content in their products to hardwood pulp. Counteracting customers’ increased proportionate usage of hardwood pulp has been the requirement for strength characteristics in finished goods. Paper and tissue makers focus on higher machine speeds and lower basis weights for publishing papers which also require the strength characteristics of softwood pulp. We believe that the ability of kraft pulp users to continue to further substitute hardwood for softwood pulp is limited by such requirements.
NBSK pulp, which is a bleached kraft pulp manufactured using species of northern softwood, is considered a premium grade because of its strength. It generally obtains the highest price relative to other kraft pulps. Southern bleached softwood kraft pulp is kraft pulp manufactured using southern softwood species and does not possess the strength found in NBSK pulp. NBSK pulp is the sole product of our mills.
Kraft pulp can be made in different grades, with varying technical specifications, for different end uses. High-quality kraft pulp is valued for its reinforcing role in mechanical printing papers, while other grades of kraft pulp are used to produce lower priced grades of paper, including tissues and paper-related products.
Markets
We believe that over 125 million ADMTs of kraft pulp are converted annually into printing and writing papers, tissues, carton boards and other white grades of paper and paperboard around the world. We also believe that approximately one third of this pulp is sold on the open market as market pulp, while the remainder is produced for internal purposes by integrated paper and paperboard manufacturers.
Demand for kraft pulp is cyclical in nature and is generally related to global and regional levels of economic activity. In 2008, overall global demand for all kraft pulp types, including softwood, was negatively impacted by the weak global economic conditions and global financial and credit turmoil the world began to experience in the second half of that year and which continued into the first half of 2009. Significant producer shutdowns and curtailments, along with strong demand from China, resulted in an improved supply-demand balance and improved prices in the second half of 2009 through 2010.
Between 1998 and 2008 worldwide demand for softwood market pulp grew at an average rate of approximately 2.3% annually. Demand for softwood market pulp was negatively impacted by weak global economic conditions in 2009. However, the supply/demand balance for softwood market pulp improved in 2010, primarily due to strong demand in China, the residual effects of the Chilean earthquake that affected mills in that region and the net closure of approximately 3.4 million tonnes of production capacity globally. Since 2007, demand for softwood market pulp has grown in the emerging markets of Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. China in particular has experienced substantial growth and its demand for softwood market pulp grew by approximately 13.6% per annum between 2004 and 2009. China now accounts for approximately 22% of global softwood market
pulp demand compared to only 12% in 2004. Western Europe currently accounts for approximately 28% of global softwood market pulp demand.
A measure of demand for kraft pulp is the ratio obtained by dividing the worldwide demand of kraft pulp by the worldwide capacity for the production of kraft pulp, or the “demand/capacity ratio”. An increase in this ratio generally occurs when there is an increase in global and regional levels of economic activity. An increase in this ratio generally indicates greater demand as consumption increases, which often results in rising kraft pulp prices, and a reduction of inventories by producers and buyers. As prices continue to rise, producers continue to run at higher operating rates. However, an adverse change in global and regional levels of economic activity generally negatively affects demand for kraft pulp, often leading buyers to reduce their purchases and relying on existing pulp inventories. As a result, producers run at lower operating rates by taking downtime to limit the build-up of their own inventories. The demand/capacity ratio for softwood kraft pulp was approximately 93% in 2010, approximately 91% in 2009 and approximately 89% in 2008.
A significant factor affecting our market is the amount of closures of old, high-cost capacity. In the four-year period from 2006 to 2009, we estimate approximately 5.3 million tonnes of predominantly NBSK capacity was indefinitely closed. In connection with the recent recovery of pulp prices, approximately 1.9 million tonnes restarted in late 2009 and 2010. The net effect of these closures and restarts is an estimated 3.4 million tonnes of capacity removed from the market. We are aware of only one planned NBSK plant expansion worldwide in the next few years, which we believe is due in part to fiber supply constraints and high capital costs.
Competition
Pulp markets are large and highly competitive. Producers ranging from small independent manufacturers to large integrated companies produce pulp worldwide. Our pulp and customer services compete with similar products manufactured and distributed by others. While many factors influence our competitive position, particularly in weak economic times, a key factor is price. Other factors include service, quality and convenience of location. Some of our competitors are larger than we are in certain markets and have substantially greater financial resources. These resources may afford those competitors more purchasing power, increased financial flexibility, more capital resources for expansion and improvement and enable them to compete more effectively. Our key NBSK pulp competitors are principally located in Northern Europe and Canada.
NBSK Pulp Pricing
Pulp prices are highly cyclical. Global economic conditions, changes in production capacity, inventory levels, and currency exchange rates are the primary factors affecting NBSK pulp list prices. The average annual European list prices for NBSK pulp since 2000 have ranged from a low of approximately $447 per ADMT to a high of $980 per ADMT.
Starting in 2006, pulp prices increased steadily from approximately $600 per ADMT in Europe to $870 per ADMT at the end of 2007. These price increases resulted from the closure of several pulp mills, particularly in North America, which reduced NBSK capacity by approximately 1.3 million ADMTs, better demand and the general weakness of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and the Canadian dollar.
In the second half of 2008, list prices for NBSK pulp decreased markedly due to weak global economic conditions. As a result, list prices for NBSK pulp in Europe decreased from $900 per ADMT in mid-2008 to $635 per ADMT at the end of the year. Such price weakness continued into early 2009 as list prices in Europe fell to approximately $575 per ADMT. Commencing in mid-2009, pulp markets began to strengthen which led to improved prices. Strong demand from China, capacity closures and historically low global inventories for bleached softwood kraft pulp helped support upward price momentum. During the second half of 2009, several price increases raised European list prices by a total of $170 per ADMT to $800 per ADMT by year end. Such price increases were partially offset by the continued weakening of the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and Canadian dollar during the period. In December 2009, list prices for pulp were approximately $800 per ADMT in Europe, $830 per ADMT in North America and $700 per ADMT in China. In 2010, several increases lifted prices to record levels in the middle of the year and at the end of 2010 list prices were near historic highs of $950, $960 and $840 per ADMT
in Europe, North America and China, respectively. As pulp prices are highly cyclical, there can be no assurance that prices will not decline in the future.
A producer’s net sales realizations are list prices, net of customer discounts, commissions and other selling concessions. While there are differences between NBSK list prices in Europe, North America and Asia, European prices are generally regarded as the global benchmark and pricing in other regions tends to follow European trends. The nature of the pricing structure in Asia is different in that, while quoted list prices tend to be lower than Europe, customer discounts and commissions tend to be lower resulting in net sales realizations that are generally similar to other markets.
The majority of market NBSK pulp is produced and sold by Canadian and Scandinavian producers, while the price of NBSK pulp is generally quoted in U.S. dollars. As a result, NBSK pricing is affected by fluctuations in the currency exchange rates for the U.S. dollar versus the Canadian dollar, the Euro and local currencies. NBSK pulp price increases during 2006, 2007 and the first half of 2008 were in large part offset by the weakening of the U.S. dollar. Similarly, the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar and the Euro towards the end of 2008 helped slightly offset pulp price decreases caused by the deterioration in global economic conditions. The overall strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro in 2010, and in particular in the first half of 2010, improved the operating margins of our German mills.
The following chart sets out the changes in list prices for NBSK pulp in Europe, as stated in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros for the periods indicated.
Price Delivered to N. Europe (C$ and  equivalent indexed to 2000)
The Manufacturing Process
The following diagram provides a simplified description of the kraft pulp manufacturing process at our pulp mills:
In order to transform wood chips into kraft pulp, wood chips undergo a multi-step process involving the following principal stages: chip screening, digesting, pulp washing, screening, bleaching and drying.
In the initial processing stage, wood chips are screened to remove oversized chips and sawdust and are conveyed to a pressurized digester where they are heated and cooked with chemicals. This occurs in a continuous process at the Celgar and Rosenthal mills and in a batch process at the Stendal mill. This process softens and eventually dissolves the phenolic material called lignin that binds the fibers to each other in the wood.
Cooked pulp flows out of the digester and is washed and screened to remove most of the residual spent chemicals, called black liquor, and partially cooked wood chips. The pulp then undergoes a series of bleaching stages where the brightness of the pulp is gradually increased. Finally, the bleached pulp is sent to the pulp machine where it is dried to achieve a dryness level of more than 90%. The pulp is then ready to be baled for shipment to customers.
A significant feature of kraft pulping technology is the recovery system, whereby chemicals used in the cooking process are captured and extracted for re-use, which reduces chemical costs and improves environmental performance. During the cooking stage, dissolved organic wood materials and black liquor are extracted from the digester. After undergoing an evaporation process, black liquor is burned in a recovery boiler. The chemical compounds of the black liquor are collected from the recovery boiler and are reconstituted into cooking chemicals used in the digesting stage through additional processing in the recausticizing plant.
The heat produced by the recovery boiler is used to generate high-pressure steam. Additional steam is generated by a power boiler through the combustion of biomass consisting of bark and other wood residues from sawmills and our woodrooms and residue generated by the effluent treatment system. Additionally, during times of
upset, we may use natural gas to generate steam. The steam produced by the recovery and power boilers is used to power a turbine generator to generate electricity, as well as to provide heat for the digesting and pulp drying processes.
Our Product
We manufacture and sell NBSK pulp produced from wood chips and pulp logs.
The kraft pulp produced at the Rosenthal mill is a long-fibered softwood pulp produced by a sulphate cooking process and manufactured primarily from wood chips and pulp logs. A number of factors beyond economic supply and demand have an impact on the market for chemical pulp, including requirements for pulp bleached without any chlorine compounds or without the use of chlorine gas. The Rosenthal mill has the capability of producing both “totally chlorine free” and “elemental chlorine free” pulp. Totally chlorine free pulp is bleached to a high brightness using oxygen, ozone and hydrogen peroxide as bleaching agents, whereas elemental chlorine free pulp is produced by substituting chlorine dioxide for chlorine gas in the bleaching process. This substitution virtually eliminates complex chloro-organic compounds from mill effluent.
Kraft pulp is valued for its reinforcing role in mechanical printing papers and is sought after by producers of paper for the publishing industry, primarily for magazines and advertising materials. Kraft pulp is also an important ingredient for tissue manufacturing, and tissue demand tends to increase with living standards in developing countries. Kraft pulp produced for reinforcement fibers is considered the highest grade of kraft pulp and generally obtains the highest price. The Rosenthal mill produces pulp for reinforcement fibers to the specifications of certain of our customers. We believe that a number of our customers consider us their supplier of choice.
The kraft pulp produced at the Stendal mill is of a slightly different grade than the pulp produced at the Rosenthal mill as the mix of softwood fiber used is slightly different. This results in a complementary product more suitable for different end uses. The Stendal mill is capable of producing both totally chlorine free and elemental chlorine free pulp.
The Celgar mill produces high-quality kraft pulp that is made from a unique blend of slow growing/long-fiber Western Canadian tree species. It is used in the manufacture of high-quality paper and tissue products. We believe the Celgar mill’s pulp is known for its excellent product characteristics, including tensile strength, wet strength and brightness. The Celgar mill is a long-established supplier to paper producers in Asia.
Generation and Sales of “Green” Energy at our Mills
Climate change concerns have caused a proliferation of renewable or “green” energy legislation, incentives and commercialization in both Europe and, increasingly, in North America. This has generated an increase in demand and legislated requirements for “carbon neutral” sources of energy supply. Our pulp mills are large scale bio-refineries that produce both pulp and surplus “carbon neutral” or “green” energy. As part of the pulp production process our mills generate “green” energy using carbon-neutral biofuels such as black liquor and wood waste. Through the incineration of biofuels in the recovery and power boilers, our mills produce sufficient steam to cover all of our steam requirements and generally produce surplus energy which we sell to third party utilities.
In 2010 and 2009, we sold 520,005 MWh and 478,674 MWh of surplus energy, respectively, and recorded revenues of 44.2 million and 42.5 million, respectively, from such energy sales. Since our energy production is a by-product of our pulp production process, there are minimal incremental costs and our surplus energy sales are
highly profitable. The following table sets out our electricity generation and surplus energy sales for the last three years:
Mercer Electricity Generation and Exports
We completed the Celgar Energy Project at the end of September of 2010 and commenced power sales under the Electricity Purchase Agreement. Based upon the current production levels of our mills and after giving effect to the planned generation from this project, we currently expect to generate and sell from all three mills combined between approximately 700,000 MWh and 750,000 MWh of surplus renewable energy per annum.
German Mills
Since January 2009, our Rosenthal and Stendal mills have participated in a program established pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act. The Renewable Energy Act, in existence since 2000, requires that public electric utilities give priority to electricity produced from renewable energy resources by independent power producers and pay a fixed tariff for a period of 20 years. Previously, this legislation was only applicable to installations with a capacity of 20MW or less, effectively excluding our Rosenthal and Stendal mills. Subsequent amendments to the Renewable Energy Act have removed this restriction. Under the program, our German mills now sell their surplus energy to the local electricity grid at the rates stipulated by the Renewable Energy Act for biomass energy.
Since 2005, our German mills have also benefited from the sale of emission allowances under the European Union Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme, referred to as “EU ETS”. However, our eligibility for special tariffs under the Renewable Energy Act has reduced the amount of emissions allowances granted to our German mills under the EU ETS.
Celgar Mill
In mid-2008 we commenced the Celgar Energy Project at the Celgar mill, to increase the mill’s production of “green” energy and optimize its power generation capacity. The project included the installation of a 48 MW condensing turbine, which brought the mill’s installed generating capacity up to 100 MW, and upgrades to the mill’s bark boiler and steam consuming facilities. In January 2009 the Celgar mill finalized the Electricity Purchase Agreement with B.C. Hydro for the sale of power generated from the Celgar Energy Project. Under the Electricity Purchase Agreement, the Celgar mill is set to supply a minimum of approximately 238,000 MWh of surplus electrical energy annually to the utility over a ten-year term.
We completed the Celgar Energy Project at the end of September 2010, largely with funding from the GTP. In early October 2009, we received notification from Natural Resources Canada, or “NRCan”, of the Celgar mill’s allocation of approximately C$57.7 million in credits under the GTP. Subsequently, in November 2009, we entered into a non-repayable contribution agreement, referred to as the “Contribution Agreement”, with NRCan whereby NRCan agreed to provide approximately C$40.0 million in grants (of our allocated C$57.7 million) towards certain
costs associated with the Celgar Energy Project. Subsequently, NRCan agreed to provide an additional C$8.0 million pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement. As of December 31, 2010, we had received a total of C$36.6 million from NRCan. We are due to receive an additional C$10.2 million in 2011 to cover costs incurred in connection with the completion of the Celgar Energy Project. We intend to use the remaining funds from our initial allocation for additional qualifying capital projects at our Celgar mill.
Based upon our Celgar mill operating at or around current production levels, we expect the Celgar Energy Project to generate between approximately C$20.0 and C$25.0 million in annual revenues from the sale of surplus electricity. Such revenues are expected to be generated without any material incremental costs to our Celgar mill.
The Celgar Energy Project is expected to provide the Celgar mill with a new stable revenue source from power sales unrelated to pulp prices. We believe that this revenue source from power sales will provide our Celgar mill with a competitive advantage over other older North American pulp mills which do not have the equipment or capacity to produce and/or sell surplus power in a meaningful amount.
Operating Costs
Our major costs of production are labor, fiber, energy and chemicals. Fiber comprised of wood chips and pulp logs is our most significant operating expense. Given the significance of fiber to our total operating expenses and our limited ability to control its costs, compared with our other operating costs, volatility in fiber costs can materially affect our margins and results of operations.
Labor
Our labor costs tend to be generally steady, with small overall increases due to inflation in wages and health care costs. Over the last three years, we have been able to generally offset such increases by increasing our efficiencies and production and streamlining operations.
Fiber
Our mills are situated in regions which generally provide a relatively stable supply of fiber. The fiber consumed by our mills consists of wood chips produced by sawmills as a by-product of the sawmilling process and pulp logs. Wood chips are small pieces of wood used to make pulp and are either wood residuals from the sawmilling process or logs or pulp logs chipped especially for this purpose. Pulp logs consist of lower quality logs not used in the production of lumber. Wood chips and pulp logs are cyclical in both price and supply.
Generally, the cost of wood chips and pulp logs are primarily affected by the supply and demand for lumber. Additionally, regional factors such as harvesting levels and weather conditions can also have a material effect on the supply, demand and price for fiber.
In Germany, since 2006, the price and supply of wood chips has been affected by increasing demand from alternative or renewable energy producers and government initiatives for carbon neutral energy. Declining energy prices and weakening economies in the first half of 2009 tempered the increased demand for wood chips that resulted from initiatives by European governments to promote the use of wood as a carbon neutral energy. Over the long-term, this non-traditional demand for fiber is expected to increase.
In April 2008, the Russian government raised tariffs on the export of sawmill and pulp wood to 25% from the 20% in effect since July 2007. A further increase to 80%, initially scheduled for January 1, 2009, has been officially deferred twice and it is generally believed that Russia’s export tariff will remain unchanged at 25% in 2011. Since the additional tariff increase would likely reduce the export of Russian wood to Europe, in particular to Scandinavian producers who import a significant amount of their wood from Russia, the European Union (especially Finland) has been pressuring Russia to roll back its export duty. In connection with these negotiations, Russia signed an agreement with the European Union which we believe will eventually lower Russian log export duties.
Offsetting some of the increases in demand for wood fiber have been initiatives in which we and other producers are participating to increase harvest levels in Germany, particularly from small private forest owners. We
believe that Germany has the highest availability of softwood forests in Europe suitable for harvesting and manufacturing. Private ownership of such forests is approximately 50%. Many of these forest ownership stakes are very small and have been harvested at rates much lower than their rate of growth. In early 2009, in response to slowing economies in Germany and elsewhere and the related weaker demand for pulp logs, forest owners reduced their harvesting rates slightly. While prices for pulp logs in Germany remained relatively low in the first half of 2009, further reductions in harvesting rates led to an undersupply which resulted in increased fiber prices later that year. Fiber prices continued to increase through most of 2010, driven by lower levels of harvesting in central Germany, combined with increased demand for wood from the energy sector for heating and other bio-energy purposes.
We believe we are the largest consumer of wood chips and pulp logs in Germany and often provide the best, long-term economic outlet for the sale of wood chips in Eastern Germany. We coordinate the wood procurement activities for our German mills to reduce overall personnel and administrative costs, provide greater purchasing power and coordinate buying and trading activities. This coordination and integration of fiber flows also allows us to optimize transportation costs, and the species and fiber mix for both mills.
In 2010, the Rosenthal mill consumed approximately 1.7 million cubic meters of fiber. Approximately 65% of such consumption was in the form of sawmill wood chips and approximately 35% was in the form of pulp logs. The wood chips for the Rosenthal mill are sourced from approximately 29 sawmills located primarily in the states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Thüringia and are within a 300 kilometer radius of the Rosenthal mill. Within this radius, the Rosenthal mill is the largest consumer of wood chips. Given its location and size, the Rosenthal mill is often the best economic outlet for the sale of wood chips in the area. Approximately 74% of the fiber consumed by the Rosenthal mill is spruce and the remainder is pine. While fiber costs and supply are subject to cyclical changes largely in the sawmill industry, we expect that we will be able to continue to obtain an adequate supply of fiber on reasonably satisfactory terms for the Rosenthal mill due to its location and our long-term relationships with suppliers. We have not historically experienced any significant fiber supply interruptions at the Rosenthal mill.
Wood chips for the Rosenthal mill are normally sourced from sawmills under one year or quarterly supply contracts with fixed volumes, which provide for price adjustments. Substantially all of our chip supply is sourced from suppliers with which we have a long-standing relationship. We generally enter into annual contracts with such suppliers. Pulp logs are sourced from the state forest agencies in Thüringia, Saxony and Bavaria on a contract basis and partly from private holders on the same basis as wood chips. Like the wood chip supply arrangements, these contracts tend to be of less than one-year terms with quarterly adjustments for market pricing. We organize the harvesting of pulp logs sourced from the state agencies in Thüringia, Saxony and Bavaria after discussions with the agencies regarding the quantities of pulp logs that we require.
In 2010, the Stendal mill consumed approximately 3.1 million cubic meters of fiber. Approximately 19% of such fiber was in the form of sawmill wood chips and approximately 81% in the form of pulp logs. The core wood supply region for the Stendal mill includes most of the Northern part of Germany within an approximate 300 kilometer radius of the mill. We also purchase wood chips from Southwestern and Southern Germany. The fiber base in the wood supply area for the Stendal mill consisted of approximately 66% pine and 34% spruce and other species in 2010. The Stendal mill has sufficient chipping capacity to fully operate solely using pulp logs, if required. We source pulp logs partly from private forest holders and partly from state forest agencies in Thüringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Brandenburg.
In 2010, the Celgar mill consumed approximately 2.7 million cubic meters of fiber. Approximately 61% of such fiber was in the form of sawmill wood chips and the remaining 39% came from pulp logs processed through its woodroom or chipped by a third party. The source of fiber at the mill is characterized by a mixture of species (whitewoods and cedar) and the mill sources fiber from a number of Canadian and U.S. suppliers.
The Celgar mill has access to over 35 different suppliers from Canada and the U.S., representing approximately 73% of its total annual fiber requirements. The woodroom supplies the remaining chips to meet the Celgar mill’s fiber requirements. Chips are purchased in Canada and the U.S. in accordance with chip purchase agreements. Generally, pricing is reviewed and adjusted periodically to reflect market prices. Several of the longer-term contracts are so-called “evergreen” agreements, where the contract remains in effect until one of the parties elects to
terminate. Termination requires a minimum of two, and in some cases, five years’ written notice. Certain non-evergreen long-term agreements provide for renewal negotiations prior to expiry.
Our woodroom upgrades in 2009 improved logistics and the availability of additional fiber sources resulted in improved efficiencies and lower fiber costs in 2009 and 2010 for our Celgar mill. On the fiber demand side, although not nearly as advanced as Europe, there is growing interest in British Columbia for renewable or “green” energy. Such initiatives are expected to create additional competition for fiber over time.
As a result of the cyclical decline in sawmill chip availability resulting from lower lumber production in British Columbia and the weakness in the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, the Celgar mill has increased its U.S. purchases of fiber, diversified its suppliers and, where possible, increased chip production through third party field chipping contracts and existing sawmill suppliers. Additionally, in the early part of 2009, the Celgar mill completed a project to upgrade its woodroom which, along with subsequent improvements during the year, increased its capacity to be able to process up to 50% of the mill’s fiber needs compared to only approximately 10% previously. The woodroom upgrades also increased the mill’s ability to process small diameter logs and facilitate an efficient flow of fiber. This has increased the overall volume of fiber being processed and reduced the Celgar mill’s fiber costs.
To secure the volume of pulp logs required by the woodroom, the Celgar mill has entered into annual pulp log supply agreements with a number of different suppliers, many of whom are also contract chip suppliers to the mill. All of the pulp log agreements can be terminated by either party for any reason, upon seven days’ written notice.
Energy
Our energy is primarily generated from renewable carbon neutral sources, such as black liquor and wood waste. Our mills produce all of our steam requirements and generally generate excess energy which we sell to third party utilities. In 2010, we generated 1,444,065 MWh and we sold 520,005 MWh of surplus energy. See also “- Generation and Sales of ‘Green’ Energy at our Mills”. We utilize fossil fuels, such as natural gas, in limited circumstances including in our lime kilns and for start-up and shutdown operations. Additionally, from time to time, mill process disruptions occur and we consume small quantities of purchased electricity and fossil fuels to maintain operations. As a result, all of our mills are subject to fluctuations in the prices for fossil fuels.
Chemicals
Our mills use certain chemicals which are generally available from several suppliers and sourcing is primarily based upon pricing and location. Although chemical prices have risen slightly over the last three years, we have been able to reduce our costs through improved efficiencies and capital expenditures.
Cash Production Costs
Consolidated cash production costs per tonne for our pulp mills are set out in the following table for the periods indicated:
(1)
Cost of production per ADMT produced excluding depreciation.
Sales, Marketing and Distribution
The distribution of our consolidated pulp sales revenues by geographic area are set out in the following table for the periods indicated:
(1)
Not including Germany or Italy; includes new entrant countries to the European Union from their time of admission.
(2)
Excluding intercompany sales and third party transportation revenues.
The following charts illustrate the geographic distribution of our consolidated pulp revenues for the periods indicated:
(1)
Includes new entrant countries to the European Union from their time of admission.
Our global sales and marketing group is responsible for conducting all sales and marketing of the pulp produced at our mills and currently has approximately 18 employees engaged full time in such activities. The global sales and marketing group handles sales to over 200 customers. We coordinate and integrate the sales and marketing activities of our German mills to realize on a number of synergies between them. These include reduced overall administrative and personnel costs and coordinated selling, marketing and transportation activities. We also coordinate sales from the Celgar mill with our German mills on a global basis, thereby providing our larger customers with seamless service across all major geographies. In marketing our pulp, we seek to establish long-term relationships by providing a competitively priced, high-quality, consistent product and excellent service. In accordance with customary practice, we maintain long-standing relationships with our customers pursuant to which we periodically reach agreements on specific volumes and prices.
Our pulp sales are on customary industry terms. At December 31, 2010, we had no material payment delinquencies. In 2009 and 2008, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of our pulp sales. In 2010, one customer which purchased for several of its mills accounted for 15% of pulp sales. We don’t believe our pulp sales are dependent upon the activities of any single customer.
Our German mills are currently the only market kraft pulp producers in Germany, which is the largest import market for kraft pulp in Europe. We therefore have a competitive transportation cost advantage compared to Canadian and Scandinavian pulp producers when shipping to customers in Europe. Due to the location of our German mills, we are able to deliver pulp to many of our customers primarily by truck. Most trucks that deliver goods into Eastern Germany generally do not have significant backhaul opportunities as the region is primarily an importer of goods. We are therefore frequently able to obtain relatively low backhaul freight rates for the delivery of our products to many of our customers. Since many of our customers are located within a 500 kilometer radius of our German mills, we can generally supply pulp to customers of these mills faster than our competitors because of the short distances between the mills and our customers.
The Celgar mill’s pulp is transported to customers by rail, truck and ocean carrier using third party warehouses to ensure timely delivery. The majority of Celgar’s pulp for overseas markets is initially delivered primarily by rail to the Port of Vancouver for shipment overseas by ocean carrier. Based in Western Canada, the Celgar mill is well positioned to service Asian customers. The majority of the Celgar mill’s pulp for domestic markets is shipped by rail to third party warehouses in the U.S. or directly to the customer.
Approximately 55%, 51% and 47% of our consolidated sales were to tissue and specialty paper product manufacturers for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The balance of our sales for such periods was to other paper product manufacturers. Sales to tissue and specialty paper product manufacturers are a key focus for us, as they generally are not as sensitive to cyclical declines in demand caused by downturns in economic activity.
Capital Expenditures
In 2010, we continued with our capital investment programs designed to increase pulp and green energy production capacity and improve efficiency and environmental performance at our mills. The improvements made at our mills over the past seven years have reduced operating costs and increased the competitive position of our facilities.
Total capital expenditures at the Rosenthal mill in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 4.0 million, 9.1 million and 8.7 million, respectively. Capital investments at the Rosenthal mill in 2010 and 2009 related mainly to the upgrade of a bleaching line and a washer project, which helped offset three years of wastewater fees that would otherwise be payable.
Our Stendal mill’s total capital expenditures in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 3.6 million, 2.0 million and 4.9 million, respectively. Capital investments at the Stendal mill in 2010 related mainly to relatively small projects designed to improve safety and environmental performance as well as improve the overall efficiency of the mill.
Certain of our capital investment programs in Germany were partially financed through government grants made available by German federal and state governments. Under legislation adopted by the federal and certain state governments of Germany, government grants are provided to qualifying businesses operating in Eastern Germany to finance capital investments. The grants are made to encourage investment and job creation. Currently, grants are available for up to 15% of the cost of qualified investments. Previously, government grants were available for up to 35% of the cost of qualified investments, such as for the construction of our Stendal mill. These grants at the 35% of cost level required that at least one permanent job be created for each 0.5 million of capital investment eligible for such grants and that such jobs be maintained for a period of five years from the completion of the capital investment project. Generally, government grants are not repayable by a recipient unless it fails to complete the proposed capital investment or, if applicable, fails to create or maintain the requisite amount of jobs. In the case of such failure, the government is entitled to revoke the grants and seek repayment unless such failure resulted from material unforeseen market developments beyond the control of the recipient, wherein the government may refrain from reclaiming previous grants. Pursuant to such legislation in effect at the time, the Stendal mill received approximately 278.0 million of government grants. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with all of the terms and conditions governing the government grants we have received in Germany.
The following table sets out for the periods indicated the effect of these government grants on the recorded value of such assets in our consolidated balance sheets:
Qualifying capital investments at industrial facilities in Germany that reduce effluent discharges offset wastewater fees that would otherwise be required to be paid. For more information about our environmental capital expenditures, see “- Environmental”.
Total capital expenditures at the Celgar mill in 2010, 2009 and 2008 were 30.6 million, 17.8 million and 12.1 million, respectively. In 2010, capital expenditures related primarily to the Celgar Energy Project. We implemented the Celgar Energy Project as part of our continued focus on energy production and sales and to increase the mill’s production of “green” energy and optimize its power generation capacity. The project was designed as a high return capital project at a cost of approximately C$64.9 million (48.7 million). It included the installation of a second turbine generator with a design capacity of 48 MW.
In October 2009, as part of the GTP, the Canadian government through NRCan agreed to provide approximately C$57.7 million in credits towards the capital costs associated with the Celgar mill, including the Celgar Energy Project. Such credits reduced the cost basis of the assets purchased and were not recorded in our income. The majority of the remaining credits not used for the Celgar Energy Project will be available for use by the Celgar mill on other qualifying projects until March 31, 2012. To be eligible for GTP credits, projects must meet certain energy efficiency or environmental improvement requirements. Specifically, we have applied to NRCan to utilize approximately C$9.7 million of our allocated GTP funding towards improving our fiber line and oxygen delignification process at our Celgar mill. Once completed, we believe that this project, referred to as the “Oxygen Delignification Project”, should generate a high return for the mill while reducing Celgar’s chemical and energy costs through decreased consumption.
The Celgar Energy Project increased the mill’s installed generating capacity to 100 MW, and upgraded the mill’s bark boiler and steam facilities. In January 2009, the Celgar mill finalized the Electricity Purchase Agreement under which it will sell electrical energy generated by the Celgar Energy Project to B.C. Hydro.
Excluding costs for projects financed through government grants under the GTP, capital expenditures for all of our mills in 2011 are expected to be approximately 24.1 million, comprised of an array of small projects.
Environmental
Our operations are subject to a wide range of environmental laws and regulations, dealing primarily with water, air and land pollution control. We devote significant management and financial resources to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. Our total capital expenditures on environmental projects at our mills were approximately 2.5 million in 2010 (9.5 million in 2009). The Oxygen Delignification Project is intended to generate environmental improvements by reducing organic loading on the effluent treatment system.
We believe we have obtained all required environmental permits, authorizations and approvals for our operations. We believe our operations are currently in substantial compliance with the requirements of all applicable environmental laws and regulations and our respective operating permits.
Under German state environmental rules relating to effluent discharges, industrial users are required to pay wastewater fees based upon the amount of their effluent discharge. These rules also provide that an industrial user which undertakes environmental capital expenditures and lowers certain effluent discharges to prescribed levels may offset the amount of these expenditures against the wastewater fees that they would otherwise be required to pay. We estimate that the aggregate wastewater fees we saved in 2010 as a result of environmental capital
expenditures and initiatives to reduce allowable emissions and discharges at our Stendal and Rosenthal mills were approximately 6.4 million. We expect that capital investment programs and other environmental initiatives at our German mills will mostly offset the wastewater fees that may be payable for 2010, 2011 and 2012 and we believe they will ensure that our operations continue in substantial compliance with prescribed standards.
Environmental compliance is a priority for our operations. To ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, we regularly monitor emissions at our mills and periodically perform environmental audits of operational sites and procedures both with our internal personnel and outside consultants. These audits identify opportunities for improvement and allow us to take proactive measures at the mills as considered appropriate.
The Rosenthal mill has a relatively modern biological wastewater treatment and oxygen bleaching facility. We have significantly reduced our levels of absorbable organic halogen discharge at the Rosenthal mill and we believe the Rosenthal mill’s absorbable organic halogen and chemical oxygen demand discharges are in compliance with the standards currently mandated by the German government.
The Stendal mill, which commenced operations in September 2004, has been in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits. Management believes that, as the Stendal mill is a state-of-the-art facility, it will be able to continue to operate in compliance with the applicable environmental requirements.
The Celgar mill has been in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits.
In November 2008, the Celgar mill suffered a spill of diluted weak black liquor into the nearby Columbia River. The spill was promptly reported by the mill to authorities and remediated. An environmental impact report prepared by independent consultants engaged by the mill concluded that the environmental impact of the spill was minimal. The spill was also investigated by federal and provincial environmental authorities and, in January 2009, the Celgar mill received a government directive requiring it to take a number of measures relating to the retention capacity of spill ponds. These measures have now been completed to the satisfaction of the overseeing environmental authorities. However, in September 2009, the Celgar mill received a summons in connection with this spill for charges under the Canadian Fisheries Act and the British Columbia Environmental Management Act, primarily relating to alleged effluent exceedances under the Celgar mill’s discharge permit. See “Legal Proceedings”.
The Celgar mill operates two landfills, a newly commissioned site and an older site. The Celgar mill intends to decommission the old landfill and is developing a closure plan and reviewing such plan with the Canadian Ministry of Environment, or “MOE”. However, the MOE, in conjunction with the provincial pulp and paper industry, is in the process of developing a standard for landfill closures. In addition, the portion of the landfill owned by an adjacent sawmill continues to be active. Accordingly, the mill has not been able to move forward with the closure. We currently believe we may receive regulatory approval for such closure plan in 2011 and commence closure activities based on a timetable agreed to by both Celgar and the MOE. We currently estimate the cost of closing the landfill at approximately 2.1 million but, since the closure program for the old landfill has not been finalized or approved, there can be no assurance that the decommissioning of the old landfill will not exceed such cost estimate.
Future regulations or permits may place lower limits on allowable types of emissions, including air, water, waste and hazardous materials, and may increase the financial consequences of maintaining compliance with environmental laws and regulations or conducting remediation. Our ongoing monitoring and policies have enabled us to develop and implement effective measures to maintain emissions in substantial compliance with environmental laws and regulations to date in a cost-effective manner. However, there can be no assurances that this will be the case in the future.
Climate Change
Currently, there are numerous differing scientific studies and opinions relating to the severity, extent and speed at which climate change is or may be occurring around the world. As a result, we are currently unable to identify and predict all of the specific consequences of climate change on our business and operations.
To date, the potential and/or perceived effects of climate change and social and governmental responses to it have created both business opportunities and the potential for negative consequences for our business.
The focus on climate change has generated a substantial increase in demand and in legislative requirements for “carbon neutral” or “green” energy in both Europe and, increasingly, in North America. Pulp mills consume wood residue, being wood chips and pulp logs, as the base raw material for its production process. Wood chips are residue left over from lumber production and pulp logs are generally lower quality logs left over from logging that are unsuitable for the production of lumber.
As part of their production process, our mills take wood residue and process it through a digester where cellulose is separated from the wood to be used in pulp production and the remaining residue, called “black liquor”, is used for green energy production. As a result of their use of wood residue and because our mills generate combined heat and power, they are efficient producers of energy. This energy is carbon neutral and produced from a renewable source. Our relatively modern mills generate a substantial amount of energy that is surplus to their requirements.
These factors, along with governmental initiatives in respect of renewable or green energy legislation, have provided business opportunities for us to enhance our generation and sales of green energy and to participate in the sale of emission allowances under the EU ETS.
Currently, we are exploring other initiatives to enhance our generation and sales of surplus green energy. Other potential opportunities that may result from climate change include:
•
increased growth rates for northern softwood forests due to greater atmospheric CO2 levels;
•
the expansion of softwood forests into less developed tundra areas;
•
more intensive forestry practices and timber salvaging versus harvesting standing timber;
•
greater demand for sustainable energy and cellulosic biomass fuels; and
•
governmental incentives and/or legislative requirements to enhance biomass energy production and prices.
At this time, we cannot predict which, if any, of these potential opportunities will be available to or realized by us or their economic effect on our business.
While all of the specific consequences to our business from climate control are not yet predictable, the most visible potential negative consequence is that the focus on renewable energy will create greater demand for the wood residuals or fiber that is consumed by our mills as part of their production process.
In Germany since 2006, the price and supply of wood residuals have been affected by an increasing demand from alternative or renewable energy producers and governmental initiatives for carbon neutral energy. Over the long term, this non-traditional demand for fiber is expected to increase in Europe. Additionally, the growing interest and focus in British Columbia for renewable green energy is also expected to create additional competition for such fiber in that region over time. Such additional demand for wood residuals may increase the competition and prices for wood residuals over time. See “- Operating Costs - Fiber”.
Governmental action or legislation may also have an important effect on the demand and prices for wood residuals. As governments pursue green energy initiatives, they risk creating incentives and demand for wood residuals from renewable energy producers that “cannibalizes” or adversely affects existing traditional users, such as lumber and pulp and paper producers. We are actively engaged in continuing dialogue with government to educate and try to ensure potential initiatives recognize the traditional and continuing role of our mills in the overall usage of forestry resources and the economies of local communities.
Other potential consequences from climate change over time that may affect our business include:
•
a greater susceptibility of northern softwood forest to disease, fire and insect infestation;
•
the disruption of transportation systems and power supply lines due to more severe storms;
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the loss of water transportation for logs and our finished goods inventories due to lower water levels;
•
decreases in quantity and quality of processed water for our mill operations;
•
the loss of northern softwood boreal forests in areas in sufficient proximity to our mills to competitively acquire fiber; and
•
lower harvest levels decreasing the supply of harvestable timber and, as a consequence, wood residuals.
Human Resources
We currently employ approximately 1,491 people. We have approximately 1,052 employees working in our German operations, including our transportation and sales subsidiaries. In addition, there are approximately 17 people working at the office we maintain in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Celgar currently employs approximately 422 people in its operations, the vast majority of which are unionized.
Rosenthal, which employs approximately 445 people, is bound by collective agreements negotiated with Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie, or “IGBCE”, a national union that represents pulp and paper workers. In December 2010, we successfully negotiated a new agreement with IGBCE substantially upon the same terms as the previous labor contract. The new collective agreement provides for an approximately 3.5% wage increase in 2011 and expires at the end of November 2011.
Stendal and its subsidiaries employ approximately 601 people. Stendal has not yet entered into any collective agreements with IGBCE, although it may do so in the future.
We consider the relationships with our employees to be good. Although no assurances can be provided, we have not had any significant work stoppages at any of our German operations and we would therefore expect to enter into labor agreements with our pulp workers in Germany without any significant work stoppages at our German mills.
We negotiated a four-year collective agreement, effective May 1, 2008, with our hourly workers at the Celgar mill to replace the collective agreement which expired on April 30, 2008. The agreement provided for a retroactive wage increase of 2.0% for 2008, a wage increase of 2.5% in each of 2009 and 2010 and a wage increase of 3.0% in 2011.
Description of Certain Indebtedness
The following summaries of certain material provisions of: (i) our 2017 Senior Notes; (ii) our 2013 Senior Notes; (iii) our 2012 Convertible Notes; (iv) the Stendal Loan Facility; (v) the working capital facilities and investment loan associated with our Rosenthal mill; and (vi) the Celgar Working Capital Facility, as such terms are referred to below, are not complete and these provisions, including definitions of certain terms, are qualified by reference to the applicable documents and the applicable amendments to such documents on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, referred to as the “SEC”.
Senior Notes
In November 2010, we issued $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Senior Notes due 2017, referred to as the “2017 Senior Notes” to principally refinance our 2013 Senior Notes (as defined below). The 2017 Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 9.5% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on December 1 and June 1, commencing June 1, 2011. The 2017 Senior Notes mature on December 1, 2017. The 2017 Senior Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and, accordingly, rank junior in right of payment to all existing and future secured indebtedness and all indebtedness and liabilities of our subsidiaries, equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured senior indebtedness, including the 2013 Senior Notes, and senior in right of payment to the 2012 Convertible Notes (as defined below) as well as any future subordinated indebtedness. The 2017 Senior Notes were issued under an indenture which, among other things, restricts our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries under the indenture to: (i) incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; (ii) pay dividends or make other distributions to our stockholders; (iii) purchase or redeem capital stock or subordinated indebtedness; (iv) make investments; (v) create liens and enter into sale and lease back transactions; (vi) incur restrictions on the
ability of our restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments to us; (vii) sell assets; (viii) consolidate or merge with or into other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and (ix) engage in transactions with affiliates. These limitations are subject to important qualifications and exceptions.
In order to take into account the nature of the non-recourse “project financing” of the loan facility for our Stendal mill and to enhance our financing flexibility, the indenture governing our 2017 Senior Notes provides for a “Restricted Group” and an “unrestricted group”. The terms of the indenture are applicable to the Restricted Group and are generally not applicable to the unrestricted group. Currently, the Restricted Group is comprised of Mercer Inc., the Rosenthal and Celgar mills and certain holding subsidiaries. The Restricted Group excludes our Stendal mill. The working capital facilities at our Rosenthal and Celgar mills and our convertible notes and, previously, our 2013 Senior Notes are obligations of the Restricted Group. The Stendal Loan Facility is an obligation of our unrestricted group.
Senior Notes
In February 2005, we issued $310.0 million in principal amount of 9.25% Senior Notes due 2013, referred to as the “2013 Senior Notes”. The 2013 Senior Notes bore interest at the rate of 9.25% per annum and were to mature on February 15, 2013. The indenture governing our 2013 Senior Notes provided for a similar “Restricted Group” and an “unrestricted group” as prescribed in the 2017 Senior Note indenture.
In November 2010, we purchased approximately $288.9 million in aggregate principal amount of 2013 Senior Notes in a cash tender offer for any and all of the 2013 Senior Notes with the proceeds from the 2017 Senior Notes and cash on hand. In December 2010, we issued a redemption notice to redeem the remaining outstanding 2013 Senior Notes. On February 15, 2011, we redeemed all outstanding 2013 Senior Notes for 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including the redemption date
Convertible Notes
As at December 31, 2010, we had approximately $42.5 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012, referred to as the “2012 Convertible Notes”, outstanding. Such notes were issued in exchange for our 8.5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010, referred to as the “2010 Convertible Notes”, pursuant to private exchange agreements entered into by us in November 2009 and an exchange offer completed in January 2010. Pursuant to such exchanges, we initially issued an aggregate of $65.8 million in 2012 Convertible Notes. Subsequently, $21.4 million of such notes were converted into shares of our common stock.
We pay interest semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year on the 2012 Convertible Notes. The 2012 Convertible Notes mature on January 15, 2012. The 2012 Convertible Notes are redeemable beginning July 15, 2011, at our option in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 and not more than 60 days’ notice at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the date of redemption, subject to restrictions in the indenture governing the notes.
The 2012 Convertible Notes are convertible at the option of the holders, unless previously redeemed, at any time until the close of business on the last business day prior to maturity or redemption, into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $3.30 per share, which is equal to a conversion rate of approximately 303 shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2012 Convertible Notes, subject to adjustment.
Holders of the 2012 Convertible Notes have the right to require us to purchase all or any part of such convertible notes 30 business days after the occurrence of a change of control with respect to us at a purchase price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase.
The 2012 Convertible Notes are unsecured obligations of Mercer Inc. and are subordinated in right of payment to existing and future senior indebtedness (including our 2017 Senior Notes) and are effectively subordinated to all of the indebtedness and liabilities of our subsidiaries. The indenture governing our convertible notes limits the incurrence by us, but not our subsidiaries, of senior indebtedness.
Stendal Loan Facility
In August 2002, Stendal entered into a senior 828.0 million project finance facility, referred to as the “Stendal Loan Facility”. The Stendal Loan Facility was comprised of several tranches which covered, among other things, project construction and development costs, financing and start-up costs and working capital, as well as the financing of the debt service reserve account, or “DSRA”, approved cost overruns and a revolving loan facility that covered time lags for receipt of grant funding and value-added tax refunds, which has been repaid. The DSRA is an account maintained to hold and, if needed, pay up to one year’s principal and interest due under the facility as partial security for the lenders. Other than the revolving working capital tranche, no further advances are currently available under the Stendal Loan Facility.
Pursuant to the Stendal Loan Facility, interest accrues at variable rates between Euribor plus 0.90% and Euribor plus 1.85% per year. The facility provides for Stendal to manage its risk exposure to interest rate risk, currency risk and pulp price risk by way of interest rate swaps, Euro and U.S. dollar swaps and pulp hedging transactions, subject to certain controls, including certain maximum notional and at-risk amounts. Pursuant to the terms of the facility, in 2002 Stendal entered into interest rate swap agreements in respect of borrowings to fix most of the interest costs under the Stendal Loan Facility at a rate of 5.28% plus an applicable margin, until final payment in October 2017.
Pursuant to the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility, Stendal reduced the aggregate advances outstanding to 531.1 million at the end of 2008 from a maximum original amount of 638.0 million. The tranches are generally repayable in installments and mature between the fifth and 15th anniversary of the first advance under the Stendal Loan Facility.
In February 2009, we completed an agreement with Stendal’s lending syndicate to amend the Stendal Loan Facility, referred to as the “Amendment”. Pursuant to the Amendment, Stendal’s obligation to repay 164.0 million of scheduled principal payments, referred to as the “Deferred Amount”, is deferred until maturity of the facility in September 2017. Until the Deferred Amount is repaid in full, Stendal may not make distributions, in the form of interest and capital payments on shareholder debt or dividends on equity invested, to its shareholders, including us. The Amendment also provides for a 100% cash sweep, referred to as the “Cash Sweep”, of any excess cash of Stendal which will be used first to fund the DSRA to a level sufficient to service the amounts due and payable under the Stendal Loan Facility during the then following 12 months, or “Fully Funded”, and second to prepay the Deferred Amount. Not included in the Cash Sweep is an amount of 15.0 million which Stendal is permitted to retain for working capital purposes. The DSRA balance as at December 31, 2010 was approximately 7.0 million.
The Amendment implemented a permitted leverage ratio of total debt under the Stendal Loan Facility to EBITDA, or “Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio”, to be effective from December 31, 2009 and to decline over time from 13.0x on its effective date to 4.5x on June 30, 2017. Subsequently, Stendal’s lending syndicate waived compliance with the permitted leverage ratio for the year ended December 31, 2009. The Amendment also revises the Stendal Loan Facility’s annual debt service cover ratio, or “Annual Debt Ratio”, requirement to be at least 1.1x for the period from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013 and 1.2x from January 1, 2014 until Maturity.
The Amendment includes the following as events of default:
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if scheduled debt service for two consecutive half-year periods is partially or wholly financed by drawings from the DSRA and as a result the DSRA is less than 331/3% Fully Funded;
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if the DSRA is fully drawn and Stendal exercises its current 6-month principal payment deferral right in respect of the next repayment date; and
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failure to meet the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio or Annual Debt Ratio as set out above.
The Amendment provides that Stendal and its shareholders may, once per fiscal year, cure a deficiency in each of the Annual Debt Ratio or the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio by way of a capital contribution or fully subordinated shareholder loan to Stendal in the amount necessary to cure such deficiency and thereby prevent the occurrence of an event of default. Our ability to fund this cure is substantially limited by the terms of the 2013 Senior Notes and the 2017 Senior Notes.
Under the terms of the Amendment, if, from December 31, 2011 until the date when all of the loans pursuant to the Stendal Loan Facility are repaid in full, we raise proceeds from an equity financing (subject to certain exceptions) and the DSRA is not Fully Funded, an event of default will occur if we fail to contribute 50% of the net proceeds raised by such a sale or issuance to Stendal’s capital (up to an aggregate limit of 10.0 million).
The tranches under the Stendal Loan Facility are severally guaranteed by German federal and state governments in respect of an aggregate of 80% of the principal amount of these tranches. Under the guarantees, the German federal and state governments that provide the guarantees are responsible for the performance of our payment obligations for the guaranteed amounts. Such governmental guarantees permit the Stendal Loan Facility to benefit from lower interest costs and other credit terms than would otherwise be available. The Stendal Loan Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of Stendal.
As at December 31, 2010, the principal amount outstanding under the Stendal Loan Facility was 500.7 million.
In connection with the Stendal Loan Facility, we entered into a shareholders’ undertaking agreement, referred to as the “Undertaking”, dated August 26, 2002, as amended, with Stendal’s then minority shareholders and the lenders in order to finance the shareholders’ contribution to the Stendal mill. Under the terms of the Undertaking, we have agreed, for as long as Stendal has any liability under the Stendal Loan Facility, to retain control over at least 51% of the voting shares of Stendal.
Rosenthal Loan Facilities
In August 2009, Rosenthal refinanced its then current revolving working capital facility with a new 25.0 million facility, referred to as the “Rosenthal Loan Facility”. The Rosenthal Loan Facility consists of a revolving credit facility which may be utilized by way of cash advances or advances by way of letter of credit or bank guarantees. The facility matures in December 2012. The interest payable on cash advances is Euribor plus 3.5%, plus certain other costs incurred by the lenders in connection with the facility. Each cash advance is to be repaid on the last day of the respective interest period and in full on the termination date and each advance by way of a letter of credit or bank guarantee shall be repaid on the applicable expiry date of such letter of credit or bank guarantee. An interest period for cash advances shall be one, three or six months or any other period as Rosenthal and the lenders may determine. There is also a 1.1% per annum commitment fee on the unused and uncancelled amount of the revolving facility which is payable semi-annually in arrears. This facility is secured by a first ranking security interest on the inventories, receivables and accounts of Rosenthal. It also provides Rosenthal with a hedging facility relating to the hedging of the interest, currency and pulp prices as they affect Rosenthal pursuant to a strategy agreed to by Rosenthal and the lender from time to time.
In August 2009, we also finalized a 4.4 million investment loan agreement, referred to as the “Investment Loan Agreement”, with a lender, relating to the new wash press at our Rosenthal mill. The four-year amortizing investment loan bears interest at the rate of Euribor plus 2.75%. Borrowings under this agreement are secured by the new wash press equipment.
In the first quarter of 2010, we entered into an additional 3.5 million revolving credit facility for our Rosenthal mill which bears interest at the rate of Euribor plus 3.5%. As of December 31, 2010, the total amount of funds available under the working capital facilities associated with the Rosenthal mill is 26.4 million.
As of December 31, 2010, we had not drawn any amount under the Rosenthal Loan Facility or any other working capital facility associated with the Rosenthal mill and had drawn 3.8 million under the Investment Loan Agreement.
Celgar Working Capital Facility
In November 2009, Celgar amended its C$40.0 million revolving working capital credit facility, referred to as the “Celgar Working Capital Facility”. The Celgar Working Capital Facility matures in May 2013 and is available by way of: (i) Canadian and U.S. denominated advances which bear interest at a designated prime rate plus 2.0% for Canadian advances and at a designated base rate plus 2.0% per annum for U.S. advances; (ii) banker’s acceptance equivalent loans which bear interest at the applicable Canadian dollar bankers’ acceptance rate plus 3.75% per
annum; and/or (iii) LIBOR advances which bear interest at the applicable LIBOR plus 3.75% per annum. The Celgar Working Capital Facility also incorporates a C$3.0 million letter of credit sub line. Celgar is also required to pay a 0.5% per annum standby fee monthly in arrears on any unutilized portion of the revolving facility. Availability of drawdowns under the facility is subject to a borrowing base limit that is based upon the Celgar mill’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory levels from time to time. The Celgar Working Capital Facility is secured by, among other things, a first fixed charge on the current assets of Celgar.
As at December 31, 2010, C$20.0 million of funds had been drawn and approximately C$17.9 million remained available under the Celgar Working Capital Facility.
Additional Information
We make available free of charge on or through our website at www.mercerint.com annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these materials with the SEC. The public may read and copy any material we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may also obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that also contains our current and periodic reports, including our proxy and information statements.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
The statements in this “Risk Factors” section describe material risks to our business and should be considered carefully. You should review carefully the risk factors listed below, as well as those factors listed in other documents we file with the SEC. In addition, these statements constitute our cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Our disclosure and analysis in this annual report on Form 10-K and in our annual report to shareholders contain some forward-looking statements that set forth anticipated results based on management’s current plans and assumptions.
There are a number of important factors, many of which are beyond our control that could cause actual conditions, events or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
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the highly cyclical nature of our business;
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our level of indebtedness could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations;
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a weak global economy could adversely affect our business and financial results and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources;
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in a weak pulp price and demand environment there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows, to service, repay or refinance debt;
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cyclical fluctuations in the price and supply of our raw materials could adversely affect our business;
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we operate in highly competitive markets;
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we are exposed to currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations;
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increases in our capital expenditures or maintenance costs could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and our ability to satisfy our debt obligations;
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we use derivatives to manage certain risks which has caused significant fluctuations in our operating results;
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we are subject to extensive environmental regulation and we could have environmental liabilities at our facilities;
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our Celgar Energy Project may not generate the results or benefits we expect;
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our business is subject to risks associated with climate change and social government responses thereto;
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we are subject to risks related to our employees;
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we rely on German federal and state government grants and guarantees;
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risks relating to our participation in the EU ETS, and the application of Germany’s Renewable Energy Act;
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we are dependent on key personnel;
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we may experience material disruptions to our production;
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we may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, terrorist attacks or natural disasters;
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our insurance coverage may not be adequate; and
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we rely on third parties for transportation services.
From time to time, we also provide forward-looking statements in other materials we release as well as oral forward-looking statements. Such statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events; they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.
Statements in the future tense, and all statements accompanied by terms such as “may”, “will”, “believe”, “project”, “expect”, “estimate”, “assume”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “plan”, and variations thereof and similar terms are intended to be forward-looking statements as defined by federal securities law. You can find examples of these statements throughout this annual report on Form 10-K, including in the description of business in “Item 1. Business” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. While these forward-looking statements reflect our best estimates when made, the following risk factors could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections.
We intend that all forward-looking statements we make will be subject to safe harbor protection of the federal securities laws pursuant to Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
You should consider the limitations on, and risks associated with, forward-looking statements and not unduly rely on the accuracy of predictions contained in such forward-looking statements. As noted above, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, changes in expectations, or the occurrence of unanticipated events after the date of those statements. Moreover, in the future, we may make forward-looking statements that involve the risk factors and other matters described in this document as well as other risk factors subsequently identified.
Our business is highly cyclical in nature.
The pulp business is highly cyclical in nature and markets for our principal products are characterized by periods of supply and demand imbalance, which in turn affects product prices. Pulp markets are highly competitive and are sensitive to cyclical changes in the global economy, industry capacity and foreign exchange rates, all of which can have a significant influence on selling prices and our operating results. The length and magnitude of industry cycles have varied over time but generally reflect changes in macro-economic conditions and levels of industry capacity.
Industry capacity can fluctuate as changing industry conditions can influence producers to idle production capacity or permanently close 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 primarily by the level of economic growth and has been closely tied to overall business activity. From 2006 to mid-2008, pulp prices steadily improved. However, a global economic crisis in the latter half of 2008 resulted in a sharp decline of pulp prices from a high of 900 per ADMT to 635 per ADMT at the end of 2008. Pulp prices began to increase in the second half of 2009 and continued to increase to record levels through June of 2010, before declining slightly in the fourth quarter of 2010. Although we
expect pulp prices to remain at historically high levels through the first half of 2011, there may be renewed pulp price deterioration in the future. We cannot predict the impact of sustained economic weakness on the demand and prices for our products.
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, prices 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 and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Our level of indebtedness could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately 821.9 million of indebtedness outstanding, of which 500.7 million relates to the Stendal Loan Facility. We may also incur additional indebtedness in the future. Our high debt levels may have important consequences for us, including, but not limited to the following:
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our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, general corporate and other purposes or to fund future operations may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all;
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a significant amount of our operating cash flow is dedicated to the payment of interest and principal on our indebtedness, thereby diminishing funds that would otherwise be available for our operations and for other purposes;
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increasing our vulnerability to current and future adverse economic and industry conditions;
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a substantial decrease in net operating cash flows or increase in our expenses could make it more difficult for us to meet our debt service requirements, which could force us to modify our operations;
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our leveraged capital structure may place us at a competitive disadvantage by hindering our ability to adjust rapidly to changing market conditions or by making us vulnerable to a downturn in our business or the economy in general;
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causing us to offer debt or equity securities on terms that may not be favorable to us or our shareholders;
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limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes and opportunities in our business and our industry; and
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our level of indebtedness increases the possibility that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay the principal or interest due in respect of our indebtedness.
The indenture governing our 2017 Senior Notes and our bank credit facilities contain restrictive covenants which impose operating and other restrictions on us and our subsidiaries. These restrictions will affect, and in many respects will limit or prohibit, our ability to, among other things, incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or enter into sale/leaseback transactions, pay dividends or make distributions on capital stock or redeem or repurchase capital stock, make investments or acquisitions, create liens and enter into mergers, consolidations or transactions with affiliates. The terms of our indebtedness also restrict our ability to sell certain assets, apply the proceeds of such sales and reinvest in our business.
Failure to comply with the covenants in the indentures relating to our 2017 Senior Notes or in our bank credit facilities could result in events of default and could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
Our ability to repay or refinance our indebtedness will depend on our future financial and operating performance. Our performance, in turn, will be subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions, as well as financial, business, legislative, regulatory, industry and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our ability to meet our future debt service and other obligations, in particular the Stendal Loan Facility, may depend
in significant part on the extent to which we can implement successfully our business strategy. We cannot assure you that we will be able to implement our strategy fully or that the anticipated results of our strategy will be realized.
A weakening of the global economy could adversely affect our business and financial results and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources.
Global financial markets experienced extreme and unprecedented disruption in the second half of 2008, including, among other things, extreme volatility in security prices, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, rating downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others. Although financial markets have stabilized and the modest global economic recovery which emerged in the second half of 2009 has continued through 2010, the overall state of the global economy remains generally weak and we remain subject to a number of risks associated with these adverse economic conditions. Price appreciation in 2010 has been due in significant part to demand from China and other Asian countries, and any reduction in demand in these locations could exacerbate the impact of economic weakness elsewhere.
Principally, as pulp demand has historically been determined by the level of economic growth and business activity, demand and prices for our product have historically decreased substantially during economic slowdowns. Additionally, restricted credit availability restrains our customers’ ability or willingness to purchase our products resulting in lower revenues. Restricted credit availability also can restrict us in the way we operate our business, our level of inventories and the amount of capital expenditures we may undertake. Depending on their severity and duration, the effects and consequences of a global economic downturn could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and capital resources, including our ability to raise capital, if needed, and otherwise negatively impact our business and financial results.
The nature of the recovery in the global economy in general remains weak, and there can be no assurance that market conditions will continue to improve in the near future.
In a weak pulp price and demand environment, there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows to service, repay or refinance debt.
Although the global economy began to recover in the latter half of 2009 and 2010, leading to improved pulp demand and prices, the duration and extent of such recovery is not known and there can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flows to service, repay or refinance our outstanding indebtedness when it matures, particularly if the world economy experiences another significant economic downturn.
Cyclical fluctuations in the price and supply of our raw materials could adversely affect our business.
Our main raw material is fiber in the form of wood chips and pulp logs. Such fiber is cyclical in terms of both price and supply. The cost of wood chips and pulp logs is primarily affected by the supply and demand for lumber. Demand for these raw materials is generally determined by the volume of pulp and paper products produced globally and regionally. Since 2006, generally higher energy prices, a focus on, and governmental initiatives related to, “green” or renewable energy have led to an increase in renewable energy projects in Europe, including Germany. Demand for wood residuals from such energy producers, combined with lower harvesting rates, has generally put upward pressure on prices for wood residuals such as wood chips in Germany and its neighboring countries. This has resulted in higher fiber costs for our German mills and such trend could continue to put further upward pressure on wood chip prices.
Similarly, North American sawmill activity declined significantly during the recession, reducing the supply of chips and availability of pulp logs to our Celgar mill. Additionally, North American energy producers are exploring the viability of renewable energy initiatives and governmental initiatives in this field are increasing, all of which could lead to higher demand for sawmill residual fiber, including chips. The cyclical nature of pricing for these raw materials represents a potential risk to our profit margins if pulp producers are unable to pass along price increases to their customers or we cannot offset such costs through higher prices for our surplus energy.
We do not own any timberlands or have any long-term governmental timber concessions nor do we have any long-term fiber contracts at our German operations. Raw materials are available from a number of suppliers and we
have not historically experienced material supply interruptions or substantial sustained price increases, however our requirements have increased and may continue to increase as we increase capacity through capital projects or other efficiency measures at our mills. As a result, we may not be able to purchase sufficient quantities of these raw materials to meet our production requirements at prices acceptable to us during times of tight supply. In addition, the quantity, quality and price of fiber we receive could be affected as a result of industrial disputes, material curtailments or shut-down of operations by suppliers, government orders and legislation (including new taxes or tariffs), weather conditions, acts of god and other events beyond our control. An insufficient supply of fiber or reduction in the quality of fiber we receive would materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. In addition to the supply of wood fiber, we are dependent on the supply of certain chemicals and other inputs used in our production facilities. Any disruption in the supply of these chemicals or other inputs could affect our ability to meet customer demand in a timely manner and could harm our reputation. Any material increase in the cost of these chemicals or other inputs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
We operate in highly competitive markets.
We sell our pulp globally, with a large percentage sold in Europe, North America and Asia. The markets for pulp are highly competitive. A number of other global companies compete in each of these markets and no company holds a dominant position. Our pulp is considered a commodity because many companies produce similar and largely standardized products. As a result, the primary basis for competition in our markets has been price. Many of our competitors have greater resources and lower leverage than we do and may be able to adapt more quickly to industry or market changes or devote greater resources to the sale of products than we can. There can be no assurance that we will continue to be competitive in the future. The global pulp market has historically been characterized by considerable swings in prices which have and will result in variability in our earnings. Prices are typically denominated in U.S. dollars.
We are exposed to currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations.
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. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In 2002, Stendal entered into variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps to fix interest payments under the Stendal mill financing facility, which has kept Stendal from benefiting from the general decline in interest rates that ensued. These derivatives are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and all unrealized gains and losses are recognized as earnings or losses for the relevant reporting periods.
Increases in our capital expenditures or maintenance costs could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and our ability to satisfy our debt obligations.
Our business is capital intensive and requires that we regularly incur capital expenditures to maintain our equipment, improve efficiencies and comply with environmental laws. Our annual capital expenditures may vary due to fluctuations in requirements for maintenance, business capital, expansion and as a result of changes to environmental regulations that require capital expenditures to bring our operations into compliance with such regulations. In addition, our senior management and board of directors may approve projects in the future that will require significant capital expenditures. Increased capital expenditures could have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and our ability to satisfy our debt obligations. Further, while we regularly perform maintenance on our manufacturing equipment, key pieces of equipment in our various production processes may still need to be repaired or replaced. If we do not have sufficient funds or such repairs or replacements are delayed, the costs of
repairing or replacing such equipment and the associated downtime of the affected production line could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We use derivatives to manage certain risk which has caused significant fluctuations in our operating results.
We use derivative instruments to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Concurrently with entering into the Stendal financing, Stendal entered into variable-to-fixed rate interest swaps for the full term of our Stendal Loan Facility to manage its interest rate risk exposure with respect to the full principal amount of this facility. Because we effectively fixed the rate on our Stendal Loan Facility, the value of our derivative position moves inversely to interest rates.
We record unrealized gains or losses on our derivative instruments when they are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and realized gains or losses on them when they are settled. These unrealized and realized gains and losses can materially impact our operating results for any reporting period. For example, our operating results for 2010 included unrealized net gains of 1.9 million on our interest rate derivatives. For 2009 and 2008, our operating results included unrealized net losses of 5.8 million and 25.2 million, respectively, on our interest rate derivatives.
If any of the variety of instruments and strategies we utilize are not effective, we may incur losses which may have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Further, we may in the future use derivative instruments to manage pulp price risks. The purpose of our derivative activity may also be considered speculative in nature; we do not use these instruments with respect to any pre-set percentage of revenues or other formula, but either to augment our potential gains or reduce our potential losses depending on our perception of future economic events and developments.
We are subject to extensive environmental regulation and we could have environmental liabilities at our facilities.
Our operations are subject to numerous environmental laws as well as permits, guidelines and policies. These laws, permits, guidelines and policies govern, among other things:
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unlawful discharges to land, air, water and sewers;
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waste collection, storage, transportation and disposal;
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hazardous waste;
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dangerous goods and hazardous materials and the collection, storage, transportation and disposal of such substances;
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the clean-up of unlawful discharges;
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land use planning;
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municipal zoning; and
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employee health and safety.
In addition, as a result of our operations, we may be subject to remediation, clean up or other administrative orders or amendments to our operating permits, and we may be involved from time to time in administrative and judicial proceedings or inquiries. Future orders, proceedings or inquiries could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Environmental laws and land use laws and regulations are constantly changing. New regulations or the increased enforcement of existing laws could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. In addition, compliance with regulatory requirements is expensive, at times requiring the replacement, enhancement or modification of equipment, facilities or operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our profitability by offsetting any increased costs of complying with future regulatory requirements.
We are subject to liability for environmental damage at the facilities that we own or operate, including damage to neighboring landowners, residents or employees, particularly as a result of the contamination of soil, groundwater or surface water and especially drinking water. The costs of such liabilities can be substantial. Our potential liability may include damages resulting from conditions existing before we purchased or operated these facilities. We may also be subject to liability for any offsite environmental contamination caused by pollutants or hazardous substances that we or our predecessors arranged to transport, treat or dispose of at other locations. In addition, we may be held legally responsible for liabilities as a successor owner of businesses that we acquire or have acquired. Except for Stendal, our facilities have been operating for decades and we have not done invasive testing to determine whether or to what extent environmental contamination exists. As a result, these businesses may have liabilities for conditions that we discover or that become apparent, including liabilities arising from non-compliance with environmental laws by prior owners. Because of the limited availability of insurance coverage for environmental liability, any substantial liability for environmental damage could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Enactment of new environmental laws or regulations or changes in existing laws or regulations might require significant capital expenditures. We may be unable to generate sufficient funds or access other sources of capital to fund unforeseen environmental liabilities or expenditures.
The Celgar Energy Project may not generate the results or benefits we expect.
The Celgar Energy Project is subject to customary risks and uncertainties inherent for large capital projects which could result in the project not generating the benefits we expect. The Celgar Energy Project may not achieve our planned power generation or the level required under the Electricity Purchase Agreement concluded with B.C. Hydro that we are required to deliver. Equipment breakdowns, disruptions to other mill processes or production, failures to perform to design specifications, delays in the generation and sales of surplus energy, including contracted amounts, could have a material adverse effect on our Celgar mill’s results of operations and financial performance.
Our business is subject to risks associated with climate change and social and government responses thereto.
Currently, there are differing scientific studies and opinions relating to the severity, extent and speed at which climate change is or may be occurring around the world. As a result, we are currently unable to identify and predict all of the specific consequences of climate change on our business and operations.
To date, the potential and/or perceived effects of climate change and social and government responses to it have created both opportunities, such as enhanced sales of surplus “green” energy, and risks for our business.
While all of the specific consequences from climate change are not yet predictable, we are subject to risks that government and social focus on and demand for “carbon neutral” or “green” energy will create greater demand for the wood residuals or fiber that is consumed by our pulp mills as part of their production process. In addition, governmental initiatives or legislation may also increase both the demand and prices for wood residuals. As governments pursue green energy initiatives, they may implement financial, tax, pricing or other legislated incentives for renewable energy producers that “cannibalize” or materially adversely affect fiber supplies for existing traditional users, such as lumber and pulp and paper producers.
Such additional demand for wood residuals and/or governmental initiatives may materially increase the competition and prices for wood residuals over time. This could increase our fiber costs and/or restrict our ability to acquire fiber at competitive prices or at all during times of shortages. If our fiber costs increase and we cannot pass on these costs to our customers or offset them through higher prices for our sales of surplus energy, it will negatively affect our operating margins, results of operations and financial position. If we cannot obtain the fiber required to operate our mills, we may have to curtail and/or shut down production. This could have a material adverse effect on operations, financial results and financial position.
Other potential risks to our business from climate change include:
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a greater susceptibility of northern softwood forest to disease, fire and insect infestation, which could diminish fiber availability;
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the disruption of transportation systems and power supply lines due to more severe storms;
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the loss of water transportation for logs and our finished goods inventories due to lower water levels;
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decreases in quantity and quality of processed water for our mill operations;
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the loss of northern softwood boreal forests in areas in sufficient proximity to our mills to competitively acquire fiber; and
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lower harvest levels decreasing the supply of harvestable timber and, as a consequence, wood residuals.
The occurrence of some or all of these events could have a material adverse effect on our operations and/or financial results.
We are subject to risks related to our employees.
The majority of our employees are unionized and we have collective agreements in place with our employees at our Rosenthal and Celgar mills. In September 2008, we negotiated a four-year collective agreement, effective May 1, 2008, with the hourly workers at our Celgar mill and, in December 2010, we entered into our current collective agreement with our Rosenthal employees. In the future we may enter into a collective agreement with our pulp workers at the Stendal mill. Although we have not experienced any work stoppages in the past, there can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate acceptable collective agreements or other satisfactory arrangements with our employees upon the expiration of our collective agreements or in conjunction with the establishment of a new agreement or arrangement with our pulp workers at the Stendal mill. This could result in a strike or work stoppage by the affected workers. The registration or renewal of the collective agreements or the outcome of our wage negotiations could result in higher wages or benefits paid to union members. Accordingly, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations or higher on-going labor costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
We rely on government grants and guarantees and participate in European statutory programs.
We currently benefit from a subsidized capital expenditure program and lower cost of financing as a result of German federal and state government grants and guarantees at our Stendal mill. Should either the German federal or state governments be prohibited from honoring legislative grants and guarantees at Stendal, or should we be required to repay any such legislative grants, this may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow.
Since 2005, our German mills have benefitted from sales of emission allowances under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. As a result of our Rosenthal and Stendal mills’ eligibility for special tariffs under the Renewable Energy Act, the amount of emissions allowances granted to our German mills under the EU ETS has been reduced. Additionally, all such German legislation is subject to amendment or change which could adversely affect the eligibility of our Rosenthal and Stendal mills to participate in this statutory program and/or the tariffs paid thereunder. As a result we cannot predict with any certainty the amount of future sales of surplus energy we may be able to generate.
We are dependent on key personnel.
Our future success depends, to a large extent, on the efforts and abilities of our executive and senior mill operating officers. Such officers are industry professionals many of whom have operated through multiple business cycles. Our officers play an integral role in, among other things:
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sales and marketing;
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reducing operating costs;
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identifying capital projects which provide a high rate of return; and
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prioritizing expenditures and maintaining employee relations.
The loss of one or more of our officers could make us less competitive in these areas which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We do not maintain any key person life insurance for any of our executive or senior mill operating officers.
We may experience material disruptions to our production.
A material disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could prevent us from meeting customer demand, reduce our pulp and energy sales and/or negatively impact our results of operations. Any of our mills could cease operations unexpectedly due to a number of events, including:
•
unscheduled maintenance outages;
•
prolonged power failures;
•
equipment failure;
•
design error or employee or contractor error;
•
chemical spill or release;
•
explosion of a boiler;
•
disruptions in the transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, railway tracks, tunnels, canals and ports;
•
fires, floods, earthquakes or other natural catastrophes;
•
prolonged supply disruption of major inputs;
•
labor difficulties; and
•
other operational problems.
Any such downtime or facility damage could prevent us from meeting customer demand for our products and/or require us to make unplanned capital expenditures. If any of our facilities were to incur significant downtime, our ability to meet our production capacity targets and satisfy customer requirements would be impaired and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic or other widespread health emergency (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency), terrorist attacks or natural disasters, could create economic and financial disruptions, could lead to operational difficulties (including travel limitations) that could impair our ability to manage or operate our business and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our insurance coverage may not be adequate.
We have obtained insurance coverage that we believe would ordinarily be maintained by an operator of facilities similar to our mills. Our insurance is subject to various limits and exclusions. Damage or destruction to our facilities could result in claims that are excluded by, or exceed the limits of, our insurance coverage. Additionally, the weak global and financial markets have also reduced the availability and extent of credit insurance for our customers. If we cannot obtain adequate credit insurance for our customers, we may be forced to amend or curtail our planned operations which could negatively impact our sales revenues, results of operations and financial position.
We rely on third parties for transportation services.
Our business primarily relies upon third parties for the transportation of pulp to our customers, as well as for the delivery of our raw materials to our mills. Our pulp and raw materials are principally transported by truck, barge, rail and sea-going vessels, all of which are highly regulated. Increases in transportation rates can also materially adversely affect our results of operations.
Further, if our transportation providers fail to deliver our pulp in a timely manner, it could negatively impact our customer relationships and we may be unable to sell it at full value. If our transportation providers fail to deliver our raw materials in a timely fashion, we may be unable to manufacture pulp in response to customer orders. Also, if any of our transportation providers were to cease operations, we may be unable to replace them at a reasonable cost. The occurrence of any of the foregoing events could materially adversely affect our results of operations.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
We lease offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle, Washington, and Berlin, Germany. We own the Rosenthal and Celgar mills and the underlying property. The Stendal mill is situated on property owned by Stendal, our 74.9% owned subsidiary.
The Rosenthal mill is situated on a 220 acre site near the town of Blankenstein in the state of Thüringia, approximately 300 kilometers south of Berlin. The Saale river flows through the site of the mill. In late 1999, we completed a major capital project which converted the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp. It is a single line mill with a current annual production capacity of approximately 330,000 ADMTs of kraft pulp. The mill is self-sufficient in steam and electrical power. Some excess electrical power which is constantly generated is sold to the regional power grid. The facilities at the mill include:
•
an approximately 315,000 square feet fiber storage area;
•
barking and chipping facilities for pulp logs;
•
an approximately 300,000 square feet roundwood yard;
•
a fiber line, which includes a Kamyr continuous digester and bleaching facilities;
•
a pulp machine, which includes a dryer, a cutter and a baling line;
•
an approximately 63,000 square feet finished goods storage area;
•
a chemical recovery system, which includes a recovery boiler, evaporation plant and recausticizing plant;
•
a fresh water plant;
•
a wastewater treatment plant; and
•
a power station with a turbine capable of producing 57 MW of electric power from steam produced by the recovery boiler and the power boiler.
The Stendal mill is situated on a 200 acre site owned by Stendal that is part of a larger 1,250 acre industrial park near the town of Stendal in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, approximately 300 kilometers north of the Rosenthal mill and 130 kilometers west of Berlin. The mill is adjacent to the Elbe river and has access to harbor facilities for water transportation. The mill is a single line mill with a current annual design production capacity of approximately 645,000 ADMTs of kraft pulp. The Stendal mill is self-sufficient in steam and electrical power. Some excess electrical power which is constantly being generated is sold to the regional power grid. The facilities at the mill include:
•
an approximately 920,000 square feet fiber storage area;
•
debarking and chipping facilities for pulp logs;
•
a fiber line, which includes ten Superbatch digesters and bleaching facilities;
•
a pulp machine, which includes a dryer, a cutter and a baling line;
•
an approximately 108,000 square feet finished goods storage area;
•
a recovery line, which includes a recovery boiler, evaporation plant, recausticizing plant and lime kiln;
•
a fresh water plant;
•
a wastewater treatment plant; and
•
a power station with a turbine capable of producing approximately 100 MW of electric power from steam produced by the recovery boiler and a power boiler.
The Celgar mill is situated on a 400 acre site near the city of Castlegar, British Columbia. The mill is located on the south bank of the Columbia River, approximately 600 kilometers east of the port city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and approximately 32 kilometers north of the Canada-U.S. border. The city of Seattle, Washington is approximately 650 kilometers southwest of Castlegar. It is a single line mill with a current annual production capacity of approximately 520,000 ADMTs of kraft pulp. Internal power generating capacity will, with certain capital improvements that are currently being constructed, enable the Celgar mill to be self-sufficient in electrical power and to sell surplus electricity. The facilities at the Celgar mill include:
•
chip storage facilities consisting of four vertical silos and an asphalt surfaced yard with a capacity of 200,000 cubic meters of chips;
•
a woodroom containing debarking and chipping equipment for pulp logs;
•
a fiber line, which includes a dual vessel hydraulic digester, pressure knotting and screening, single stage oxygen delignification and a four stage bleach plant;
•
two pulp machines, which each include a dryer, a cutter and a baling line;
•
a chemical recovery system, which includes a recovery boiler, evaporation plant, recausticizing area and effluent treatment system; and
•
two turbines and generators capable of producing approximately 48 MW and 52 MW, respectively, of electric power from steam produced by a recovery boiler and power boiler.
At the end of 2010, substantially all of the assets relating to the Stendal mill were pledged to secure the Stendal Loan Facility. The working capital loan facilities established for the Rosenthal and Celgar mills are secured by first charges against the inventories and receivables at the respective mills.
The following table sets out our pulp production capacity and actual production sales volumes and revenues by mill for the periods indicated:
(1)
Capacity is the rated capacity of the plants for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is based upon production for 365 days a year. Targeted production is generally based upon 355 days per year.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In October 2005, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Zellstoff Celgar Limited, received a re-assessment for real property transfer tax payable in British Columbia, Canada, in the amount of approximately 3.0 million (C$4.5 million) in connection with the acquisition of the Celgar mill. We are currently contesting the re-assessment and we currently expect the Supreme Court of British Columbia to hold a hearing on this matter sometime in 2011. The amount, if any, that may be payable in connection with this matter remains uncertain.
In September 2009, the Celgar mill received a summons for charges under the Canadian Fisheries Act and the British Columbia Environmental Management Act in connection with a November 2008 spill of diluted weak black liquor and diluted weak black liquor foam into the nearby Columbia River. The charges relate primarily to exceedances of allowable limits under the Celgar mill’s effluent discharge permit and spill pond maintenance requirements. We currently anticipate the Provincial Court to hold a hearing on this matter some time in 2011. Although we cannot assess with any certainty the potential liability for damages, if any, that may result from these
charges, we do not currently expect them to have a material adverse effect on our business or operations. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that we will not be required to pay the maximum amount of fines that may be levied pursuant to the application of statutory provisions.
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 discharges 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.
We are also subject to routine litigation incidental to our business. We do not believe that the outcome of such litigation will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4.
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
(a) Market Information. Our shares are quoted for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “MERC” and listed in U.S. dollars on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “MRI.U”. The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices of our shares on the NASDAQ Global Market for each quarter in the two year period ended December 31, 2010:
(b) Shareholder Information. As at February 15, 2011, there were approximately 368 holders of record of our shares and a total of 44,524,806 shares were outstanding.
(c) Dividend Information. The declaration and payment of dividends is at the discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors has not declared or paid any dividends on our shares in the past two years and does not anticipate declaring or paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
(d) Equity Compensation Plans. The following table sets forth information as at December 31, 2010 regarding our equity compensation plans approved by our shareholders. 2,543,854 of our shares may be issued pursuant to options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock rights, performance shares and performance units under our 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, which replaced our 2004 Stock Incentive Plan. Our Amended and Restated 1992 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan expired in 2008.
(1)
The terms of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan will govern all prior awards granted under such plan until such awards have been cancelled, forfeited or exercised in accordance with the terms thereof.
(2)
Pursuant to the terms of the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, we initiated a long-term performance incentive supplement or “Performance Supplement” in February 2008. An aggregate of 309,685 restricted shares have been issued under the plan. Grants for up to 534,783 shares have been made pursuant to the Performance Supplement.
(3)
The plan has expired.
In June 2010, we adopted our 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, referred to as 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, referred to as 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 of such plan. 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.
We do not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by shareholders.
(e) Exchange Offer. In late December 2009, we commenced a tender offer, referred to as the “Exchange Offer”, to exchange up to $23.6 million aggregate principal amount of our then outstanding 2010 Convertible Notes in exchange for an amount of our 2012 Convertible Notes equal to the principal amount of the 2010 Convertible Notes tendered, plus accrued and unpaid interest equaling approximately $12.75 per $1,000 principal amount of 2010 Convertible Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer. As a result of the Exchange Offer, which expired in January 2010, $21.7 million in aggregate principal amount of our 2010 Convertible Notes was tendered in exchange for $22.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our 2012 Convertible Notes. The 2012 Convertible Notes issued in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreements are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $3.30 per share, (equal to a conversion rate of approximately 303 shares per $1,000 principal amount of 2012 Convertible Notes), subject to certain adjustments. Since participation in the Exchange Offer was limited to existing holders of the 2010 Convertible Notes and no commission or other remuneration was paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting the 2010 Convertible Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer, the 2012 Convertible Notes issued as part of the Exchange Offer were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.
(f) Performance Graph. The following graph shows a five-year comparison of cumulative total shareholder return, calculated on an assumed dividend reinvested basis, for our common stock, the NASDAQ Stock Market Index (the “NASDAQ Index”) and Standard Industrial Classification, or “SIC”, Code Index (SIC Code 2611 - pulp mills) (the “Industry Index”). The graph assumes $100 was invested in each of our common stock, the NASDAQ Index and the Industry Index on December 31, 2005. Data points on the graph are annual.
COMPARISON OF CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON JAN. 01, 2006
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 2010
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected historical financial and operating data as at and for the periods indicated. The following selected financial data is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, our consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in this annual report and “Item 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of our operations for the three years ended December 31, 2010 is based upon and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. This annual report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.
Results of Operations
General
We operate in the pulp business and our operations are located in Germany and Western Canada. Our mills have a current combined annual production capacity of approximately 1,500,000 ADMTs of NBSK pulp.
We operate in markets that are global, cyclical and commodity based. Our financial performance depends on a number of variables that impact sales and production costs. Sales and production results are influenced largely by the market price for our products, raw materials and foreign currency exchange rates. Kraft pulp markets are highly cyclical, with prices determined by supply and demand. Demand for kraft pulp is influenced to a significant degree by global levels of economic activity and supply is driven by industry capacity and utilization rates. Our product mix is important because premium grades of NBSK pulp generally achieve higher prices and profit margins.
Global economic conditions, changes in production capacity and inventory levels are the primary factors affecting kraft pulp prices. Historically, kraft pulp prices have been cyclical in nature. The average European list prices for NBSK pulp between 2000 and 2008 ranged from a low of $447 per ADMT in 2002 to $900 per ADMT in mid-2008. In the latter part of 2008, we experienced extremely difficult market conditions characterized by poor demand and rapidly declining prices, all of which impacted our results for 2008. In slowing economic times, a key factor influencing our competitive position is the price of our product. At the end of 2008, NBSK list prices in Europe had declined to $635 per ADMT. As world economies began to stabilize, NBSK list prices rebounded in the latter part of 2009 to finish at $800 per ADMT in Europe at year end. Such price improvement was partially offset by the weakening of the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and the Canadian dollar during the period. In 2010, several increases lifted prices to record levels in the middle of the year. Although pulp list prices decreased slightly in the fourth quarter, they remained at historically high levels. As at December 31, 2010, list prices were $950, $960 and $840 per ADMT in Europe, North America and China, respectively. As pulp prices are highly cyclical, there can be no assurance that prices will not decline in the future.
Our sales realizations are list prices reduced by customer discounts and other items. Our reported average sale price realizations are affected by NBSK price movements between the order and shipment dates.
During the last three years, energy production and sales of surplus energy have become a key source of revenues for us. In 2010 and 2009, our mills generated 520,005 MWh and 478,674 MWh, respectively, of surplus energy, primarily from a renewable carbon-neutral source. At the end of September 2010, we completed the Celgar Energy Project and, based on our Celgar mill operating at or around current levels and our contracted sale prices to B.C. Hydro, we currently estimate that surplus power sales from the Celgar mill will generate approximately C$20.0 million to C$25.0 million in annual revenues. Increasing our generation and sales of surplus renewable energy will continue to be a key focus for us in the near term. We are currently exploring various initiatives to enhance such generation and sales revenues. Such initiatives, if implemented, will require additional capital spending.
Our production costs are influenced by the availability and cost of raw materials, energy and labor, and our plant efficiencies and productivity. Our main raw material is fiber in the form of wood chips and pulp logs. Wood chip and pulp log costs are primarily affected by the supply of, and demand for, lumber and pulp, which are both highly cyclical. Overall weak lumber markets since 2008 have resulted in reduced sawmilling activity and log harvesting in both Germany and British Columbia. This has reduced the supply of both wood residuals such as chips and pulp logs. This cyclical supply reduction has put upward pressure on fiber prices. Additionally, higher energy prices and a focus on “green” or renewable energy, while benefiting our surplus power sales, has also led to an
overall increase in demand for wood residuals from other renewable energy producers such as pellet producers. We currently expect demand from renewable energy producers will likely continue to increase over the long term, thereby putting upward pressure on prices for wood residuals such as wood chips in Germany and its neighboring countries. Similarly, renewable energy initiatives in British Columbia are increasing and could also lead to higher demand for wood residuals there over time. Higher fiber costs could affect producer profit margins if they are unable to pass along price increases to pulp customers or purchasers of surplus energy. Our Celgar mill historically relied primarily upon sawmill chips for the substantial majority of its fiber supply. With the severe economic decline in 2008 and the corresponding adverse effect it had on the U.S. housing and lumber industries, many sawmills shut down or dramatically curtailed their production. This resulted in a significantly reduced supply of sawmill chips and materially higher fiber prices for the Celgar mill. As a result, we implemented a substantial enhancement to the whole log chipping facility at our Celgar mill. The capital cost of the project was approximately C$11.0 million and it was completed in early 2009. During 2009, we started up this new facility and, over the course of the year, substantially enhanced its capability so that it is now capable of supplying up to a potential 50% of the Celgar mill’s total fiber needs. The ability to conduct such whole log chipping has permitted the Celgar mill to materially reduce its dependence on third party field chippers and residual sawmill chips and to better manage its fiber costs. For a more detailed discussion of our fiber needs and resources, see “Business - Operating Costs - Fiber”.
Production costs also depend on the total volume of production. High operating rates and production efficiencies permit us to lower our average cost by spreading fixed costs over more units. Higher operating rates also permit us to increase our generation and sales of surplus renewable energy. Our production levels are also dependent on, among other things, the number of days of scheduled and unscheduled downtime at our mills. Unexpected production downtime, which has not materially affected us during any of the periods described in this discussion, can be particularly disruptive in our industry. Our currently scheduled production downtime for our mills in 2011, compared to prior years, is as follows:
(1)
Projected for 2011.
(2)
In addition to the nine-day scheduled production downtime taken by the Rosenthal mill, we also idled our electricity generation for an additional 51 days for turbine maintenance.
Our financial performance for any reporting period is also impacted by changes in the U.S. dollar to Euro and Canadian dollar exchange rates and in interest rates. Changes in currency rates affect our operating results because the price for our principal product, NBSK pulp, is generally based on a global industry benchmark that is quoted in U.S. dollars, even though a significant portion of the sales from our German mills is invoiced in Euros and we report our results in Euros. Therefore, a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and the Canadian dollar will generally reduce the amount of our pulp operations’ revenues. Most of our operating costs at our German mills, including our debt obligations under the Stendal Loan Facility and our revolving working capital facility related to the Rosenthal mill, are incurred in Euros. Most of our operating costs at the Celgar mill, including the mill’s working capital facility, are in Canadian dollars. These costs do not fluctuate with the U.S. dollar to Euro or Canadian dollar exchange rates. Thus, a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro and the Canadian dollar tends to reduce our sales revenue, gross profit and income from operations. Conversely, an increase in the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and the Canadian dollar positively impacts our revenues and increases our operating margins and cash flow.
Changes in interest rates can impact our operating results because the credit facilities established for our mills use floating rates of interest, to the extent that we have not hedged these rates.
From time to time, we also enter into interest rate, foreign currency and energy derivative contracts to partially protect against the effect of such changes. Gains or losses on such derivatives are included in our earnings, either as
they are settled or as they are marked to market for each reporting period. See “- Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.
Stendal, as required under the Stendal Loan Facility, entered into variable-to-fixed rate interest swaps, referred to as the “Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts”, in August 2002 to fix the interest rate on approximately 612.6 million of indebtedness for the full term of the Stendal Loan Facility. In 2010 and 2009, we recorded a net unrealized non-cash gain of 1.9 million and non-cash loss of 5.8 million, respectively, before noncontrolling interests on the mark to market valuation of the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts. Such unrealized gain resulted primarily from a small increase in long-term European interest rates. In 2008, we recorded a net unrealized non-cash loss of 25.2 million before noncontrolling interests on the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts. Changes in long-term interest rates could result in our recording of further unrealized non-cash losses or gains on the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts in future periods when they are marked to market.
Significant Actions
In 2010, we took the following significant actions:
•
Effectively extended the maturity of our senior unsecured indebtedness by issuing $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 2017 Senior Notes, the proceeds of which, along with cash on hand, were used to acquire approximately $288.9 million, or 93.2% of our outstanding 2013 Senior Notes;
•
Negotiated the conversion of $21.2 million of our 2012 Convertible Notes into equity and repaid the balance of our 2010 Convertible Notes;
•
Completed the Celgar Energy Project, financed primarily through government grants provided by the Canadian government;
•
Continued to focus on cost reductions and working capital management; and
•
Continued to improve operations, which allowed us to achieve record annual pulp production and energy generation.
Current Market Environment
Currently, pulp demand continues to be strong and pulp prices remain at historically high levels. Recent decreases in NBSK pulp inventory levels, along with an increase in NBSK pulp shipments, particularly to China, indicate continued strength in the NBSK pulp market through the first half of 2011.
The completion of the Celgar Energy Project and the commencement of sales of electricity pursuant to the Electricity Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro should provide us with a new stable revenue source unrelated to pulp pricing. As we move into 2011, 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.
Selected Financial Snapshot
Selected production, sales and exchange rate data for the periods indicated:
(1)
Our average realized pulp price for the period indicated reflect customer discounts and price movements between the order and shipment date.
(2)
Average Federal Reserve Bank of New York noon spot rate over the reporting period.
(3)
Average Bank of Canada noon spot rate over the reporting period.
Year Ended December 31, 2010 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2009
In the year ended December 31, 2010, pulp revenues increased by approximately 48% to 856.3 million from 577.3 million in 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro. In 2010, revenues from the sale of excess energy increased by approximately 4% to 44.2 million from 42.5 million in 2009 due to increased energy sales at our Celgar mill, partially offset by reduced energy sales at our Rosenthal mill caused by 60 days of scheduled turbine maintenance.
Pulp prices increased in 2010, primarily as a result of stronger pulp markets. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe averaged approximately $938 (707) per ADMT in 2010, compared to approximately $667 (478) per ADMT in 2009. At the end of 2010, list prices increased to approximately $950 (709) per ADMT in Europe and $960 (717) and $840 (627) per ADMT in North America and China, respectively. Average pulp sales realizations increased by approximately 50% to 591 per ADMT in 2010 from 393 per ADMT in 2009, primarily due to significantly higher pulp prices. At the end of 2010, reported global inventories for softwood kraft were
approximately 25 days’ supply, while at the end of 2009 inventories for softwood kraft reached historically low levels of approximately 19 days, primarily due to exceptionally high demand combined with producer shutdowns.
Pulp sales volume decreased slightly to 1,428,638 ADMTs in 2010 from 1,445,461 ADMTs in 2009.
Pulp production increased to a record level of 1,426,286 ADMTs in 2010 from 1,397,441 ADMTs in 2009, primarily as a result of overall strong operating performance at all of our mills. In 2010 and 2009, we took a total of 31 and 43 days scheduled maintenance downtime, respectively, at our mills and expect to take approximately 39 days in 2011.
Costs and expenses increased to 732.8 million in the year ended December 31, 2010 from 632.6 million in 2009, primarily due to higher fiber costs.
On average, in 2010, our per unit fiber costs increased by approximately 24% compared to 2009. In Germany, fiber costs were higher, primarily as a result of lower levels of harvesting, combined with increased demand for wood from the energy sector for heating and other bio-energy purposes. Extreme winter weather in the fourth quarter of 2010 further reduced the availability of fiber for our German mills. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill increased marginally from the prior year. In the near term, we expect fiber costs to increase slightly at our German mills, while remaining generally flat at our Celgar mill.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 33.4 million in 2010 from 27.4 million in 2009, primarily as a result of increased commission costs.
In 2010, contribution to income from the sale of emission allowances decreased to 0.1 million, compared to 0.5 million in 2009. Operating depreciation and amortization increased marginally to 55.9 million in 2010 from 53.9 million in 2009, primarily due to capital asset additions related to the Celgar Energy Project.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, operating income significantly increased to 167.7 million from a loss of 12.8 million in 2009, primarily due to higher price realizations resulting from higher pulp prices.
Interest expense in 2010 increased to 67.6 million from 64.8 million in 2009, primarily due to accretion expense related to the exchange of our 2010 Convertible Notes, partially offset by reduced levels of debt associated with our Stendal mill.
Transportation costs increased to 66.4 million in 2010 from 57.3 million in 2009, primarily due to higher container rates.
In 2010, we recorded an unrealized gain of 1.9 million on the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts, compared to an unrealized loss of 5.8 million in 2009, which was primarily the result of a small increase in European interest rates.
A portion of our long-term debt is denominated and repayable in foreign currencies, principally U.S. dollars. In 2010, we recorded a foreign exchange loss on our debt of 6.1 million as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the Euro, compared to a gain of 2.7 million in 2009.
During 2010, we recorded losses on the extinguishment of debt of 7.5 million, primarily in connection with the purchase of our 2013 Senior Notes. In 2009, we recorded a gain of 4.4 million on the extinguishment of our 2010 Convertible Notes.
In 2010, the noncontrolling shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Stendal mill’s gain was 8.5 million, compared to a loss of 9.9 million in 2009.
During 2010, income taxes increased to 3.9 million from 0.1 million in 2009, primarily due to improved operating results at our German mills and certain tax deduction limitations with regards to the ability to deduct interest expense and loss carry forwards. Deferred tax recoveries increased in 2010 to 9.8 million from 6.0 million in 2009, primarily due to improved results and forecasted taxable income.
In 2010, we reported net income attributable to common shareholders of 86.3 million, or 2.24 per basic and 1.56 per diluted share. This included unrealized aggregate net non-cash unrealized losses of  0.5 million, comprised of a non-cash gain of 1.9 million on our Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts, a non-cash foreign
exchange loss of 6.1 million on our long-term debt, a non-cash loss of 2.6 million on the extinguishment of our 2013 Senior Notes and a non-cash income tax benefit of 6.3 million. In 2009, we reported net loss attributable to common shareholders of 62.2 million, or 1.71 per basic and diluted share. This included unrealized aggregate non-cash net gains of 7.5 million, comprised of a non-cash loss of 5.8 million on our Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts, a non-cash foreign exchange gain of 2.7 million on our long-term debt, a non-cash gain of 4.4 million on the extinguishment of our convertible notes and a non-cash income tax benefit of 6.2 million.
In 2010, “Operating EBITDA” increased fivefold to 224.0 million from 41.4 million in 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 NBSK pulp mill operations; (v) the impact of realized or marked to market changes in our derivative positions, which can be substantial; and (vi) Operating EBITDA does not reflect the impact of impairment charges against our investments or assets. Because of these limitations, Operating EBITDA should only be considered as a supplemental performance measure and should not be considered as a measure of liquidity or cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. See the Statement of Cash Flows set out in our consolidated financial statements included herein. Because all companies do not calculate Operating EBITDA in the same manner, Operating EBITDA as calculated by us may differ from Operating EBITDA or EBITDA as calculated by other companies. We compensate for these limitations by using Operating EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance and by relying primarily on our GAAP financial statements.
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:
Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008
In the year ended December 31, 2009, pulp revenues decreased by approximately 16% to 577.3 million from 689.3 million in 2008, primarily due to lower average pulp sales prices. In 2009, revenues from the sale of excess energy increased to 42.5 million from 31.0 million in 2008.
Pulp prices decreased in 2009, primarily as a result of significantly weaker demand. List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe averaged approximately $667 (478) per ADMT in 2009, compared to approximately $839 (571) per ADMT in 2008. At the end of 2009, list prices increased to approximately $800 (558) per ADMT in Europe and $700 (488) per ADMT in Asia, depending upon the country of delivery. Average pulp sales realizations decreased by approximately 18% to 393 per ADMT in 2009 from 478 per ADMT in 2008 because of lower pulp prices. The weakened market conditions, however, were partially offset by an overall slightly higher U.S. dollar during the year. At December 31, 2009, inventories for softwood kraft decreased to approximately 19 days’ supply, compared to 40 days at the end of 2008.
Pulp sales volume increased to 1,445,461 ADMTs in 2009 from 1,423,300 ADMTs in 2008.
Pulp production decreased to 1,397,441 ADMTs in 2009 from 1,424,987 ADMTs in 2008, primarily as a result of a heavier scheduled maintenance program. In 2009 and 2008, we took a total of 43 and 33 days scheduled maintenance downtime, respectively, at our mills.
Costs and expenses decreased to 632.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2009 from 707.0 million in 2008, primarily due to lower fiber costs.
On average, in 2009, per unit fiber costs decreased by approximately 16% compared to 2008. In Germany, fiber costs were significantly lower as demand from the European board industry decreased. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill decreased from the prior year primarily as a result of improved woodroom performance and decreased reliance on fiber sourced from third party field chippers.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 27.4 million in 2009 from 30.2 million in 2008.
In 2009, contribution to income from the sale of emission allowances decreased to 0.5 million, compared to 5.6 million in 2008. Operating depreciation and amortization decreased marginally to 53.9 million in 2009 from 55.5 million in 2008.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, operating income (loss) decreased to a loss of 12.8 million from an income of 13.3 million in 2008, primarily due to lower price realizations.
Interest expense in 2009 decreased to 64.8 million from 65.8 million in 2008 primarily due to lower levels of borrowing.
Transportation costs decreased to 57.3 million in 2009 from 66.8 in 2008, primarily due to lower shipments.
In 2009, we recorded an unrealized loss of 5.8 million on the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts, compared to an unrealized loss of 25.2 million in 2008, which was primarily the result of lower long-term European interest rates in 2009.
A portion of our long-term debt is denominated and repayable in foreign currencies, principally U.S. dollars. In 2009, we recorded a foreign exchange gain on our debt of 2.7 million as a result of the weakening of the U.S. dollar in the latter part of the year, compared to a loss of 4.2 million in 2008.
In the fourth quarter of 2009, we completed an exchange of approximately 30.2 million ($43.3 million) in aggregate principal amount of our 2010 Convertible Notes for new 2012 Convertible Notes. We recorded a gain of approximately 4.4 million on the extinguishment of the 2010 Convertible Notes.
In 2009, the noncontrolling shareholder’s proportionate interest in the Stendal mill’s loss was 9.9 million, compared to a loss of 13.1 million in 2008.
During 2009, income taxes decreased slightly to 0.1 million from 0.5 million in 2008. Deferred tax recoveries increased in 2009 to 6.0 million from a 2.0 million deferred tax provision recognized in 2008, primarily due to management’s belief that it is more likely than not that certain tax assets will be recognized based on forecasted taxable income.
In 2009, we reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of 62.2 million, or 1.71 per basic and diluted share which included an unrealized loss of 3.1 million on our Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts and a foreign exchange gain on our long-term debt. In 2008, we reported net loss attributable to common shareholders of 72.5 million, or 2.00 per basic and diluted share, which included an unrealized loss of 29.5 million on our Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts and a foreign exchange loss on our long-term debt and non-cash inventory provisions totaling 11.3 million.
In 2009, “Operating EBITDA” was 41.4 million, compared to 69.1 million in 2008. 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 year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 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:
Sensitivities
Our earnings are sensitive to, among other things, fluctuations in:
NBSK Pulp Price. NBSK pulp is a global commodity that is priced in U.S. dollars, whose markets are highly competitive and cyclical in nature. As a result, our earnings are sensitive to NBSK pulp price changes. Based upon our 2010 sales volume (and assuming all other factors remained constant), each $10.00 per tonne change in NBSK pulp prices yields a change in Operating EBITDA of approximately 10.8 million.
Foreign Exchange. As NBSK pulp is principally quoted in U.S. dollars, the amount of revenues we generate fluctuates with changes in the value of the U.S. dollar to the Euro. Based upon our 2010 revenues, each 0.01 change in the value of the U.S. dollar yields a change in annual gross sales revenue of approximately 11.4 million.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table is a summary of selected financial information for the periods indicated:
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 Stendal Loan Facility, capital expenditures and interest payments on our outstanding 2017 Senior Notes and 2012 Convertible Notes.
As at December 31, 2010, our cash and cash equivalents were 99.0 million, compared to 51.3 million at the end of 2009.
In February 2009, to increase its liquidity and financial flexibility, Stendal entered into the Amendment for its Stendal Loan Facility. The Amendment revised the repayment schedule of principal payments due by deferring approximately 164.0 million of principal payments until maturity on September 30, 2017. The Deferred Amount includes approximately 20.0 million, 26.0 million and 21.0 million of scheduled principal payments in 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively. In accordance with the revised repayment schedule, we made principal payments totaling 13.9 million during 2010 and are required to make principal payments totaling 23.2 million during 2011. The Amendment also provided for a cash sweep of any excess cash of Stendal which will be used first to prepay the Deferred Amount and second to fund the DSRA. Not included in the cash sweep is 15.0 million which Stendal is permitted to retain for working capital purposes. For a description of the Stendal Loan Facility see “Item 1 - Business - Description of Certain Indebtedness”.
The Stendal Loan Facility is provided by a syndicate of eleven financial institutions and both our Celgar Working Capital Facility and our Rosenthal Loan Facility are each provided by one financial institution. To date we have not experienced any reductions in credit availability with respect to these credit facilities. However, if any of these financial institutions were to default on their commitment to fund, we could be adversely affected. For a description of the Celgar Working Capital Facility and the Rosenthal Loan Facility, see “Item 1 - Business - Description of Certain Indebtedness”.
In 2010, capital expenditures related to the Celgar Energy Project totaled approximately 26.2 million, substantially all of which was financed through a C$48.0 million grant from the Canadian federal government under the GTP. See “Item 1 - Business - Generation and Sales of ‘Green’ Energy at our Mills”.
Debt
As at December 31, 2010, the amount outstanding under Stendal Loan Facility was 500.7 million. We also had approximately C$20.0 million outstanding under the Celgar Working Capital Facility and 3.8 million under our Rosenthal investment loan. As at December 31, 2010, we had no amount drawn on the Rosenthal Loan Facility.
Additionally, we have $300 million (224.0 million) in principal amount of our 2017 Senior Notes outstanding which mature in December 2017 and for which we pay interest at the rate of 9.5% on June 1 and December 1 of each year. The indenture governing the 2017 Senior Notes does not contain any financial maintenance covenants and there are no scheduled principal payments until maturity. We also had approximately $20.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 2013 Senior Notes remaining as at December 31, 2010 which were all redeemed on February 15, 2011.
Further, we had approximately $42.5 million (31.7 million) in aggregate principal amount of 2012 Convertible Notes outstanding as of December 31, 2010. The indenture governing the 2012 Convertible Notes does not have any financial maintenance covenants.
For a description of the Senior Notes, the 2010 Convertible Notes and the 2012 Convertible Notes, see “Item 1 - Business - Description of Certain Indebtedness”.
Debt Covenants
Our long-term obligations contain various financial tests and covenants customary to these types of arrangements.
The Stendal Loan Facility contains an annual debt service cover ratio which, pursuant to the terms of the Amendment, must not fall below 1.1x for the period from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2013 and 1.2x for the period after January 1, 2014 until maturity on September 30, 2017. The Amendment also implements a permitted leverage ratio of total debt to EBITDA which is effective from December 31, 2009. This ratio, which the lenders waived for 2009, is set to decline over time from 13.0x on its effective date to 4.5x on June 30, 2017. Failure to comply with either ratio constitutes an event of default, but may be cured by the shareholders of Stendal with a once-per-fiscal-year ratio deficiency cure through a capital contribution or subordinated loan in the amount necessary to cure such deficiency.
Under the Rosenthal Loan Facility, our Rosenthal mill must not exceed a ratio of net debt to EBITDA of 3:1 in any 12-month period and there must be a ratio of EBITDA to interest expense equal to or in excess of 1.2:1.1 for each 12 month period. Additionally, current assets to current liabilities must equal or exceed 1.1:1.0.
The Celgar Working Capital Facility includes a covenant that, for so long as the excess amount under the facility is less than C$2.0 million, then until it becomes equal to or greater than such amount, the Celgar mill must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.1:1.0 for each 12-month period.
As at December 31, 2010, we were in full 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. Generally, finished goods inventories are increased prior to scheduled maintenance downtime to maintain sales volume while production is stopped. Our fiber inventories exhibit seasonal swings as we increase pulp log and wood chip inventories to ensure adequate supply of fiber to our mills during the winter months. Changes in sales volume can
affect the level of receivables and influence overall working capital levels. We believe our management practices with respect to working capital conform to common business practices.
Operating activities in 2010 provided cash of 91.3 million, compared to providing cash of 37.3 million in 2009, primarily due to a significant increase in net income, partially offset by an increase in working capital. An increase in receivables used cash of 40.0 million in 2010, compared to a decrease in receivables providing cash of 31.9 million in 2009. An increase in inventories used cash of 24.5 million in 2010, compared to a decrease in inventories providing cash of 32.2 million in 2009. A decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses used cash of 3.1 million in 2010 and 3.0 million in 2009.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Investing activities in 2010 used cash of 36.0 million, primarily due to capital spending of 38.3 million. Investing activities in 2009 used cash of 15.2 million, primarily due to 28.8 million of capital spending being only partially offset by a drawdown of 13.0 million from the Stendal Loan Facility’s DSRA.
In 2010, capital expenditures primarily related to the Celgar Energy Project used cash of 25.6 million. In the same period last year, capital expenditures related to the Celgar Energy Project used cash of 13.4 million.
Excluding costs for projects being financed through government grants under the GTP, we expect our consolidated capital expenditures in 2011 to total approximately 24.1 million, comprised of an array of small projects at our mills.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. In 2010, financing activities used cash of 6.1 million, primarily due to the receipt of 16.7 million in government grants for the Celgar Energy Project and the proceeds received from the sale of the 2017 Senior Notes, being more than offset by cash used to repurchase our 2013 Senior Notes and 13.9 million in cash used to pay down the Stendal Loan Facility. Financing activities used cash of 13.3 million in 2009 primarily due to principal repayments under the Stendal Loan Facility of 13.9 million, of which 13.0 million was funded from the DSRA under the facility, and the repayment of capital lease obligations of 3.2 million which were partially offset by government investment grants of 9.1 million primarily for the Celgar Energy Project.
Capital Resources
We have no material commitments to acquire assets or operating businesses.
Future Liquidity
Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal, or to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, or to fund planned expenditures will depend on our future performance, which is subject to general economic, financial and other factors that are beyond our control.
Based upon the current level of operations and our current expectations for future periods in light of the current economic environment, and in particular, current and expected pulp pricing and foreign exchange rates, we believe that cash flow from operations and available cash, together with available borrowings under our Celgar Working Capital Facility and Rosenthal Loan Facility, will be adequate to meet the future liquidity needs during the next 12 months.
Off-Balance-Sheet Activities
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, we had no off-balance-sheet arrangements.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table sets out our contractual obligations and commitments as at December 31, 2010 in connection with our long-term liabilities.
(1)
This reflects the future principal payments due under our long-term debt obligations, but excludes the Stendal Loan Facility. See “Item 1 - Business - Description of Certain Indebtedness”, footnote 2 below and Note 7 to our annual financial statements included herein for a description of such indebtedness.
(2)
This reflects principal only in connection with the Stendal Loan Facility. See “Item 1 - Business - Description of Certain Indebtedness” and Note 7 to our annual financial statements included herein for a description of such indebtedness. This does not include amounts associated with derivatives entered into in connection with the Stendal Loan Facility. See “Item 7A
ITEM 7A.
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 rates between the Euro and the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Changes in these rates may affect our results of operations and financial condition and, consequently, our fair value. We seek to manage these risks through internal risk management policies as well as the use of derivatives. We use derivatives to reduce or limit our exposure to interest rate and currency risks. We may in the future use derivatives to reduce or limit our exposure to fluctuations in pulp prices. We also use derivatives to reduce our potential losses or to augment our potential gains, depending on our management’s perception of future economic events and developments. These types of derivatives are generally highly speculative in nature. They are also very volatile as they are highly leveraged given that margin requirements are relatively low in proportion to notional amounts.
Many of our strategies, including the use of derivatives, and the types of derivatives selected by us, are based on historical trading patterns and correlations and our management’s expectations of future events. However, these strategies may not be effective in all market environments or against all types of risks. Unexpected market developments may affect our risk management strategies during this time, and unanticipated developments could impact our risk management strategies in the future. If any of the variety of instruments and strategies we utilize is not effective, we may incur significant losses.
Derivatives
Derivatives are contracts between two parties where payments between the parties are dependent upon movements in the price of an underlying asset, index or financial rate. Examples of derivatives include swaps, options and forward rate agreements. The notional amount of the derivatives is the contract amount used as a
reference point to calculate the payments to be exchanged between the two parties and the notional amount itself is not generally exchanged by the parties.
The principal derivatives we use are foreign exchange derivatives and interest rate derivatives.
Foreign exchange derivatives include currency swaps which involve the exchange of fixed payments in one currency for the receipt of fixed payments in another currency. Such cross currency swaps involve the exchange of both interest and principal amounts in two different currencies. They also include foreign exchange forwards which are contractual obligations in which two counterparties agree to exchange one currency for another at a specified price for settlement at a pre-determined future date. Forward contracts are effectively tailor-made agreements that are transacted between counterparties in the over-the-counter market.
Interest rate derivatives include interest rate forwards (forward rate agreements) which are contractual obligations to buy or sell an interest-rate-sensitive financial instrument on a future date at a specified price. They also include interest rate swaps which are over-the-counter contracts in which two counterparties exchange interest payments based upon rates applied to a notional amount.
Energy derivatives include fixed electricity forward sales and purchase contracts which are contractual obligations to buy or sell electricity at a future specified date. Our mills produce surplus electricity that we sell to third parties. As a result, we monitor the electricity market closely. Where possible and to the extent we think it is advantageous, we may sell into the forward market through forward contracts.
We occasionally use foreign exchange derivatives to convert some of our costs (including currency swaps relating to our long-term indebtedness) from Euros to U.S. dollars as our principal product is priced in U.S. dollars. We have also converted some of our costs to U.S. dollars by issuing long-term U.S. dollar denominated debt in the form of our 2012 Convertible Notes and our 2017 Senior Notes. We use interest rate derivatives to fix the rate of interest on indebtedness, including under the Stendal Loan Facility.
The interest rate derivatives we entered into were pursuant to the Stendal Loan Facility which provides facilities for foreign exchange derivatives, interest rate derivatives and commodities derivatives, subject to prescribed controls, including maximum notional and at-risk amounts. The Stendal Loan Facility is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Stendal mill and has the benefit of certain German governmental guarantees. This credit facility does not have a separate margin requirement when derivatives are entered into and is subsequently marked to market each period.
The Rosenthal Loan Facility also allows us to enter into derivative instruments to manage risks relating to its operations but, as at December 31, 2010, we had not entered into any such derivative instruments.
We record unrealized gains and losses on our outstanding derivatives when they are marked to market at the end of each reporting period and realized gains or losses on them when they are settled. We determine market valuations based primarily upon valuations provided by our counterparties.
In August 2002, Stendal entered into the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts in connection with its long-term indebtedness relating to the Stendal mill to fix the interest rate under the Stendal Loan Facility at the then low level, relative to its historical trend and projected variable interest rate. These contracts were entered into under a specific credit line under the Stendal Loan Facility and are subject to prescribed controls, including certain maximum amounts for notional and at-risk amounts. Under the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts, Stendal pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate with the interest payments being calculated on a notional amount. The interest rates payable under the Stendal Loan Facility were swapped into fixed rates based on the Eur-Euribor rate for the repayment periods of the tranches under the Stendal Loan Facility. Stendal effectively converted the Stendal Loan Facility from a variable interest rate loan into a fixed interest rate loan, thereby reducing interest rate uncertainty.
We are exposed to very modest credit related risks in the event of non-performance by counterparties to derivative contracts. However, we do not expect that the counterparties, which are major financial institutions and large utilities, will fail to meet their obligations.
The following table and the notes thereto sets forth the maturity date, the notional amount, the recognized gain or loss and the strike and swap rates for derivatives that were in effect during 2009 and 2010:
(1)
In connection with the Stendal Loan Facility, in the third quarter of 2002 Stendal entered into the Stendal Interest Rate Swap Contracts, which are variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps, for the term of the Stendal Loan Facility, with respect to an aggregate maximum amount of approximately 612.6 million of the principal amount of the long-term indebtedness under the Stendal Loan Facility. The swaps took effect on October 1, 2002 and are comprised of three contracts. The first contract commenced in October 2002 for a notional amount of 4.1 million, gradually increasing to 464.9 million, with an interest rate of 3.795%, and matured in May 2004. The second contract commenced in May 2004 for a notional amount of 464.9 million, gradually increasing to 612.6 million, with an interest rate of 5.28%, and matured in April 2005. The third contract commenced in April 2005 for a notional amount of 612.6 million, with an interest rate of 5.28%, and the notional amount gradually decreases and the contract terminates upon the maturity of the Stendal Loan Facility in October 2017.
Interest Rate Risk
Fluctuations in interest rates may affect the fair value of fixed interest rate financial instruments which are sensitive to such fluctuations. A decrease in interest rates may increase the fair value of such fixed interest rate financial instrument assets and an increase in interest rates may decrease the fair value of such fixed interest rate financial instrument liabilities, thereby increasing our fair value. An increase in interest rates may decrease the fair value of such fixed interest rate financial instrument assets and a decrease in interest rates may increase the fair value of such fixed interest rate financial instrument liabilities, thereby decreasing our fair value. We seek to manage our interest rate risks through the use of interest rate derivatives. For a discussion of our interest rate derivatives including maturities, notional amounts, gains or losses and swap rates, see “Derivatives” in this Item 7A.
The following tables provide information about our exposure to interest rate fluctuations for the carrying amount of financial instruments sensitive to such fluctuations as at December 31, 2010 and expected cash flows from these instruments:
(1)
Senior Notes due February 2013, bearing interest at 9.25%, principal amount $20.5 million.
(2)
Senior Notes due 2017, bearing interest at 9.50%, principal amount $300.0 million.
(3)
2012 Convertible Notes due January 2012 bearing interest at 8.5%, principal amount $44.4 million.
(4)
Stendal Loan Facility bears interest at varying rates of between Euribor plus 0.90% to Euribor plus 1.85%.
(5)
Rosenthal investment loan bears interest at Euribor plus 2.75%. As at December 31, 2010, 3.8 million was drawn from this loan and was accruing interest at a rate of 3.90%.
(6)
Celgar Working Capital Facility bears interest at bankers acceptance plus 3.75% or Canadian prime plus 2.0% on Canadian dollar denominated amounts and bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.75% or U.S. base plus 2.0% on U.S. dollar denominated amounts. As at December 31, 2010, the principal amount owing was C$20.0 million.
(7)
Interest rate swaps put in place on the Stendal Loan Facility, effectively converting it from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate loan.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
Our reporting currency is the Euro. However, we hold financial instruments denominated in U.S. dollars and Canadian dollars which are sensitive to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. A depreciation of these currencies against the Euro will decrease the fair value of such financial instrument assets and an appreciation of these currencies against the Euro will increase the fair value of such financial instrument liabilities, thereby decreasing our fair value. An appreciation of these currencies against the Euro will increase the fair value of such financial instrument assets and a depreciation of these currencies against the Euro will decrease the fair value of financial instrument liabilities, thereby increasing our fair value. We seek to manage our foreign currency risks by utilizing foreign exchange rate derivatives. For a discussion of such derivatives including maturities, notional amounts, gains or losses and strike rates, see “Derivatives” in this Item 7A.
The following table provides information about our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations for the carrying amount of financial instruments sensitive to such fluctuations as at December 31, 2010 and expected cash flows from these instruments:
(1)
Senior Notes due February 2013, bearing interest at 9.25%, principal amount $20.5 million.
(2)
Senior Notes due 2017, bearing interest at 9.50%, principal amount $300.0 million.
(3)
2012 Convertible Notes due January 2012, principal amount $44.4 million.
(4)
Celgar Working Capital Facility bears interest at bankers acceptance plus 3.75% or Canadian prime plus 2.0% on Canadian dollar denominated amounts and bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.75% or U.S. base plus 2.0% on U.S. dollar denominated amounts. As at December 31, 2010, the principal amount owing was C$20.0 million.
Energy Price Risk
We are subject to some electricity price risk, primarily for the electricity that our operations purchase.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements and supplementary data required with respect to this Item 8, and as listed in Item 15 of this annual report on Form 10-K, are included in this annual report on Form 10-K commencing on page 72.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of 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 Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this annual report on Form 10-K. 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.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Mercer Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
•
Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Mercer;
•
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors; and
•
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree or compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of Mercer Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, as issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our assessment and those criteria, management believes that Mercer Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010.
Mercer Inc.’s independent registered chartered accountants have issued an audit report on Mercer Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, which appears below.
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 year ended December 31, 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
We are governed by a board of directors, referred to as the “Board”, each member of which is elected annually. The following sets forth information relating to our directors and executive officers.
Jimmy S.H. Lee, age 53, has been a director since May 1985 and President and Chief Executive Officer since 1992. Previously, during the period that MFC Bancorp Ltd. was our affiliate, he served as a director from 1986 and President from 1988 to December 1996 when it was spun out. During Mr. Lee’s tenure with Mercer, we acquired the Rosenthal mill and converted it to the production of kraft pulp, constructed and commenced operations at the Stendal mill and acquired the Celgar mill.
Kenneth A. Shields, age 62, has been a director since August 2003. Mr. Shields is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Conifex Timber Inc., a public Canadian company operating in the forestry and sawmilling sector. Mr. Shields was formerly a member of the board of directors of Raymond James Financial, Inc., and retired as Chief Executive Officer of its Canadian subsidiary, Raymond James Ltd., in February 2006. Mr. Shields has served as past Chairman of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Pacifica Papers Inc., and is a former director of each of Slocan Forest Products Ltd., TimberWest Forest Corp. and the Investment Dealers Association of Canada.
William D. McCartney, age 55, has been a director since January 2003. Mr. McCartney has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Pemcorp Management Inc., a management services company, since 1990. Mr. McCartney is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Canada.
Guy W. Adams, age 59, has been a director since August 2003. Mr. Adams is the managing member of GWA Advisors, LLC, GWA Investments, LLC and GWA Capital Partners, LLC, where he has served since 2002. GWA Investments is an investment fund investing in publicly traded securities managed by GWA Capital Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor. Prior to 2002, Mr. Adams was the President of GWA Capital, which he founded in 1996 to invest his own capital in public and private equity transactions, and a business consultant to entities seeking refinancing or recapitalization.
Eric Lauritzen, age 72, has been a director since June 2004. Mr. Lauritzen was President and Chief Executive Officer of Harmac Pacific, Inc., a North American producer of softwood kraft pulp previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and acquired by Pope & Talbot Inc. in 1998, from May 1994 to July 1998, when he retired. Mr. Lauritzen was Vice President, Pulp and Paper Marketing of MacMillan Bloedel Limited, a North American pulp and paper company previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and acquired by Weyerhaeuser Company Limited in 1999, from July 1981 to April 1994.
Graeme A. Witts, age 72, has been a director since January 2003. Mr. Witts organized Sanne Trust Company Limited, a trust company located in the Channel Islands, in 1988 and was managing director from 1988 to 2000, when he retired. He is now managing director of Azure Property Group, SA, a European hotel group. Mr. Witts is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and has previous executive experience with the Procter & Gamble Company and Clarks Shoes, as well as government auditing.
George Malpass, age 71, has been a director since November 2006. Mr. Malpass is currently a director of Conifex Timber Inc. He was formerly the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Primex Forest Products Ltd. and is also a former director of both International Forest Products Ltd. and Riverside Forest Products Ltd.
David M. Gandossi, age 53, has been Secretary, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer since August 15, 2003. Mr. Gandossi was formerly the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President of Formation Forest Products (a closely held corporation) from June 2002 to August 2003. Mr. Gandossi previously served as Chief Financial Officer, Vice-President, Finance and Secretary of Pacifica Papers Inc., a North American specialty pulp and paper manufacturing company previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, from December 1999 to August 2001 and Controller and Treasurer from June 1998 to December 1999. From June 1998 to August 31, 1998, he also served as Secretary to Pacifica Papers Inc. From March 1998 to June 1998, Mr. Gandossi served as Controller, Treasurer and Secretary of MB Paper Ltd. From April 1994 to March 1998, Mr. Gandossi held
the position of Controller and Treasurer with Harmac Pacific Inc., a Canadian pulp manufacturing company previously listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Mr. Gandossi participated in the Pulp and Paper Advisory Committee of the British Columbia Competition Council and was a member of the British Columbia Working Roundtable on Forestry. From February 2007 to present, he has chaired the B.C. Pulp and Paper Task Force, a government industry and labor effort that is mandated to identify measures to improve the competitiveness of the British Columbia pulp and paper industry. Mr. Gandossi is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Canada.
Claes-Inge Isacson, age 65, has been our Chief Operating Officer since November 2006 and is based in our Berlin office. Mr. Isacson brings over 24 years of senior level pulp and paper management to our senior management team, with a focus on kraft pulp. Mr. Isacson held the positions of President Norske Skog Europe, and then Senior Vice President Production for Norske Skogindustrier ASA between 1989 and 2004. His most recent position was President, AF Process, a consulting and engineering company working worldwide. He holds a Masters of Science, Mechanical Engineering.
Richard Short, age 43, has been our Controller since December 2010, prior to which he was our Director, Corporate Finance, since joining Mercer in 2007. Prior to joining Mercer, Mr. Short was Controller, Financial Reporting from 2006 to 2007 and Director, Corporate Finance from 2004 to 2006 with Catalyst Paper Corp. Mr. Short is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Canada.
Leonhard Nossol, age 53, has been our Group Controller for Europe since August 2005. He has also been a managing director of Rosenthal since 1997 and the sole managing director of Rosenthal since September 2005. Mr. Nossol had a significant involvement in the conversion of the Rosenthal mill to the production of kraft pulp in 1999 and increases in the mill’s annual production capacity to 330,000 ADMTs, as well as the reduction in production costs at the mill.
David M. Cooper, age 57, has been Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Europe since June 2005. Mr. Cooper previously held a variety of senior positions around the world in Sappi Ltd., a large global forest products group, from 1982 to 2005, including the sales and marketing of various pulp and paper grades and the management of a manufacturing facility. He has more than 25 years of diversified experience in the international pulp and paper industry.
Eric X. Heine, age 47, has been Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America and Asia since June 2005. Mr. Heine was previously Vice President Pulp and International Paper Sales and Marketing for Domtar Inc., a global pulp and paper corporation, from 1999 to 2005. He has over 18 years of experience in the pulp and paper industry, including developing strategic sales channels and market partners to build corporate brands.
Wolfram Ridder, age 49, was appointed Vice President of Business Development in August 2005, prior to which he was a managing director of Stendal. Mr. Ridder was the principal assistant to our Chief Executive Officer from November 1995 until September 2002.
Genevieve Stannus, age 40, has been our Treasurer since July 2005, prior to which she was a Senior Financial Analyst with Mercer from August 2003. Prior to joining Mercer, Ms. Stannus held Senior Treasury Analyst positions with Catalyst Paper Corporation and Pacifica Papers Inc. She has over ten years experience in the forest products industry. Ms. Stannus is a member of the Certified General Accountants’ Association of Canada.
Niklaus Gruenenfelder, age 53, became the Managing Director of Stendal in January 2009. Previously, from 1989 until 2006, Mr. Gruenenfelder held a variety of positions in Switzerland, China, Germany and Pakistan with Swiss chemicals manufacturer Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. (formerly Ciba-Geigy AG). In 2006, Huntsman Corporation, a global chemical and chemical products company, acquired the textile effects business from Ciba and Mr. Gruenenfelder was the Managing Director and Head of Technical Operations at Huntsman’s Langweid am Leich plant in Germany from 2006 until he joined Mercer. Mr. Gruenenfelder holds a Ph.D. in Technical Science and an MBA.
Brian Merwin, age 37, has been our Vice President of Strategic Initiatives since February 2009, prior to which he was our Director of Strategic and Business Initiatives since August 2007 and Business Analyst since May 2005. Brian has an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
We also have experienced mill managers at all of our mills who have operated through multiple business cycles in the pulp industry.
The Board met five times during 2010 and each current member of the Board attended 75% or more of the total number of such meetings and meetings of the committees of the Board on which they serve during their term. In addition, our independent directors regularly meet in separate executive sessions without any member of our management present. The Lead Director presides over these meetings. Although we do not have a formal policy with respect to attendance of directors at our annual meetings, all directors are encouraged and expected to attend such meetings if possible. All of our directors attended our 2010 annual meeting.
The Board has developed corporate governance guidelines in respect of: (i) the duties and responsibilities of the Board, its committees and officers; and (ii) practices with respect to the holding of regular quarterly and strategic meetings of the Board including separate meetings of non-management directors. The Board has established four standing committees, the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Human Resource Committee, the Governance and Nominating Committee and the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee functions pursuant to a charter adopted by the directors. A copy of the current charter is incorporated by reference in the exhibits to this Form 10-K and is available on our website at www.mercerint.com under the “Governance” link. The function of the Audit Committee generally is to meet with and review the results of the audit of our financial statements performed by the independent public accountants and to recommend the selection of independent public accountants. The members of the Audit Committee are Mr. McCartney, Mr. Witts and Mr. Lauritzen, each of whom is independent under applicable laws and regulations and the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market. Both Mr. McCartney and Mr. Witts are Chartered Accountants and Mr. McCartney is a “financial expert” within the meaning of such term under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Audit Committee met four times during 2010.
The Audit Committee has established procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters; and (ii) the confidential and anonymous submission by our employees and others of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. A person wishing to notify us of such a complaint or concern should send a written notice thereof, marked “Private & Confidential”, to the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Mercer International Inc., c/o Suite 2840, P.O. Box 11576, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 4N8.
Compensation and Human Resource Committee
The Board has established a Compensation and Human Resource Committee. The Compensation and Human Resource Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the strategy and design of our compensation, equity-based and benefits programs. The Compensation and Human Resource Committee functions pursuant to a charter adopted by the directors, a copy of which is available on our website at www.mercerint.com in the Corporate Governance Guidelines under the “Governance” link. The Compensation and Human Resource Committee is also responsible for approving all compensation actions relating to executive officers. The members of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee are Mr. Malpass, Mr. Lauritzen and Mr. Adams, each of whom is independent under applicable laws and regulations and the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market. The Compensation and Human Resource Committee met six times during 2010.
Governance and Nominating Committee
The Board has established a Governance and Nominating Committee comprised of Mr. Shields, Mr. McCartney and Mr. Witts, each of whom is independent under applicable laws and regulations and the listing requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market. The Governance and Nominating Committee functions pursuant to a charter adopted by the directors, a copy of which is incorporated by reference in the exhibits to this Form 10-K and is available on our website at www.mercerint.com in the Corporate Governance Guidelines under the “Governance” link. The purpose of the committee is to: (i) manage the corporate governance system of the Board; (ii) assist the Board in fulfilling its duties to meet applicable legal and regulatory and self-regulatory business principles and
codes of best practice; (iii) assist in the creation of a corporate culture and environment of integrity and accountability; (iv) in conjunction with the Lead Director, monitor the quality of the relationship between the Board and management; (v) review management succession plans; (vi) recommend to the Board nominees for appointment to the Board; (vii) lead the Board’s annual review of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance; and (viii) set the Board’s forward meeting agenda. The Governance and Nominating Committee met four times in 2010.
Environmental, Health and Safety Committee
The Board established an Environmental, Health and Safety Committee in 2006, currently comprised of Mr. Lauritzen, Mr. Malpass and Mr. Lee, to review on behalf of the Board the policies and processes implemented by management, and the resulting impact and assessments of all our environmental, health and safety related activities. The Environmental, Health and Safety Committee functions pursuant to a charter adopted by the directors, a copy of which is available on our website at www.mercerint.com in the Corporate Governance Guidelines under the “Governance” link. More specifically, the Environmental, Health and Safety Committee is to: (i) review and approve, and if necessary revise, our environmental, health and safety policies and environmental compliance programs; (ii) monitor our environmental, health and safety management systems including internal and external audit results and reporting; and (iii) provide direction to management on the frequency and focus of external independent environmental, health and safety audits. The Environmental, Health and Safety Committee met four times in 2010.
Lead Director/Deputy Chairman
The Board appointed Mr. Shields as its Lead Director in September 2003 and in 2006 as Deputy Chairman of the Board. The role of the Lead Director is to provide leadership to the non-management directors on the Board and to ensure that the Board can operate independently of management and that directors have an independent leadership contact. The duties of the Lead Director include, among other things: (i) ensuring that the Board has adequate resources to support its decision-making process and ensuring that the Board is appropriately approving strategy and supervising management’s progress against that strategy; (ii) ensuring that the independent directors have adequate opportunity to meet to discuss issues without management being present; (iii) chairing meetings of directors in the absence of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; (iv) ensuring that delegated committee functions are carried out and reported to the Board; and (v) communicating to management, as appropriate, the results of private discussions among outside directors and acting as a liaison between the Board and the Chief Executive Officer.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
The Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our directors, employees and executive officers. The code is incorporated by reference in the exhibits to this Form 10-K and is available on our website at www.mercerint.com under the “Governance” link. A copy of the code may also be obtained without charge upon request to Investor Relations, Mercer International Inc., Suite 2840, P.O. Box 11576, 650 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6B 4N8 (Telephone: (604) 684-1099) or Investor Relations, Mercer International Inc., 14900 Interurban Avenue South, Suite 282, Seattle WA, U.S.A. 98168 (Telephone: (206) 674-4639).
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
The information required under “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” is incorporated by reference from the proxy statement relating to our annual meeting to be held in 2011, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our most recently completed fiscal year.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 is incorporated by reference from the proxy statement relating to our annual meeting to be held in 2011, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our most recently completed fiscal year.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item 12 is incorporated by reference from the proxy statement relating to our annual meeting to be held in 2011, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our most recently completed fiscal year.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
Pursuant to the terms of the Audit Committee Charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving the terms and conditions of all proposed transactions between us, any of our officers, directors or shareholders who beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock, or relatives or affiliates of any such officers, directors or shareholders, to ensure that such related party transactions are fair and are in our overall best interest and that of our shareholders. In the case of transactions with employees, a portion of the review authority is delegated to supervising employees pursuant to the terms of our written Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
The Audit Committee has not adopted any specific procedures for conduct of reviews and considers each transaction in light of the facts and circumstances. In the course of its review and approval of a transaction, the Audit Committee considers, among other factors it deems appropriate:
•
Whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to us;
•
The business reasons for the transaction;
•
Whether the transaction would impair the independence of one of our non-employee directors; and
•
Whether the transaction is material, taking into account the significance of the transaction.
Any member of the Audit Committee who is a related person with respect to a transaction under review may not participate in the deliberations or vote respecting approval or ratification of the transaction, provided, however, that such director may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the committee that considers the transaction.
The information called for by Items 404(a) and 407(a) of Regulation S-K required to be included under this Item 13 is incorporated by reference from the proxy statement relating to our annual meeting to be held in 2011, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our most recently completed fiscal year.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated by reference from the proxy statement relating to our annual meeting to be held in 2011, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days of our most recently completed fiscal year.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) (1) Financial Statements
(b)
List of Exhibits
*
Filed in Form 10-K for prior years.
**
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 Exchange Act; and (ii) are not to be subject to automatic incorporation by reference into any of our Company’s registration statements filed under the Securities Act for the purposes of liability thereunder or any offering memorandum, unless our Company specifically incorporates them by reference therein.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Mercer International Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Mercer International Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010. We also have audited Mercer International Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mercer International Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, Mercer International Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
February 15, 2011
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands of Euros)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands of Euros)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands of Euros)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1.
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Background
Mercer International Inc. (“Mercer Inc.” or the “Company”) is a Washington corporation and the Company’s shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange, respectively. The Company converted its corporate form from a Washington business trust to a corporation effective March 1, 2006 without effecting any changes to its business, management, accounting practices, assets or liabilities.
Mercer Inc. operates three pulp manufacturing facilities in Canada and Germany, and is one of the largest producers of market northern bleached softwood kraft, or “NBSK”, pulp in the world.
In these 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.
Basis of Presentation
These consolidated financial statements contained herein include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant management judgement is required in determining the accounting for, among other things, the accounting for 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.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts and highly liquid money market investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Investments
Trading securities, consisting of marketable securities, are classified as current investments and are reported at fair values with realized gains or losses and unrealized holding gains or losses included in the results of operations.
Equity investments in publicly traded companies in which the Company has less than 20% of the voting interest and in which it does not exercise significant influence are classified as available-for-sale securities. These securities are reported in long-term assets at fair values; based upon quoted market prices, with the unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, until realized. If a loss in value in available-for-sale securities is considered to be other than temporary, the loss is recognized in the determination of net income. The cost of all securities sold is based on the specific identification method to determine realized gains or losses.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1.
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - (Continued)
Inventories
Inventories of pulp, logs and wood chips are valued at the lower of cost, using the weighted-average cost method, or net realizable value. Other materials and supplies are valued at the lower of cost and replacement cost. Cost includes labor, materials and production overhead and is determined by using the weighted average cost method. Inventories include both roundwood (logs) and wood chips. These inventories are located both at the pulp mills and at various offsite locations. In accordance with industry practice, physical inventory counts utilize standardized techniques to estimate quantities of roundwood and wood chip inventory volumes. These techniques historically have provided reasonable estimates of such inventories.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings and production equipment is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets and is computed using the straight-line method. Buildings are depreciated over 10 to 50 years and production and other equipment primarily over 25 years.
The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. To determine recoverability, the Company compares the carrying value of the assets to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets held for use is based on the fair value of the asset.
The costs of major rebuilds, replacements and those expenditures that substantially increase the useful lives of existing property, plant, and equipment are capitalized, as well as interest costs associated with major capital projects until ready for their intended use. The cost of repairs and maintenance performed on manufacturing facilities, composed of labor, materials and other incremental costs, is charged to operations as incurred.
Leases which transfer to the Company substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item are capitalized at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Capital leases are depreciated over the lease term. Operating lease payments are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company provides for asset retirement obligations when there are legislated or contractual bases for those obligations. Obligations are recorded as a liability at fair value, with a corresponding increase to property, plant, and equipment, and are amortized over the remaining useful life of the related assets. The liability is accreted using a risk free interest rate.
The Company’s obligations for the proper removal and disposal of asbestos products from the Company’s mills meets the definition of a conditional asset retirement obligation as found in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance as outlined in Accounting Standards Codification Topic 410, (“ASC 410”), Asset Retirement and Environment. Generally asbestos is found on steam and condensate piping systems as well as certain cladding on buildings and in building insulation throughout its older facilities. As a result of the longevity of the Company’s mills, due in part to the maintenance procedures and the fact that the Company does not have plans for major changes that require the removal of asbestos, the timing of the asbestos removal is indeterminate. As a result, the Company is currently unable to estimate the fair value of its asbestos removal and disposal obligation.
Government Investment Grants
The Company records investment grants from federal and state governments when they are received. Grants related to assets are government grants whose primary condition is that the company qualifying for them should purchase, construct or otherwise acquire long-term assets. Secondary conditions may also be attached, including
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1.
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - (Continued)
restricting the type or location of the assets and/or other conditions that must be met. Grants related to assets, when received, are deducted from the asset costs. Grants related to income are government grants which are either unconditional or related to the Company’s normal business operations, and are reported as a reduction of related expenses when received.
To the extent that government grants have been received and not applied, these grants are recorded in cash with a corresponding adjustment to the “Accounts payable and accrued expenses” due to the short-term nature of the related payments.
Deferred Note Issuance Costs
Note issuance costs are deferred and amortized as a component of interest expense over the term of the related debt instrument.
Pensions
The Company maintains a defined benefit pension plan for its salaried employees at its Celgar mill which is funded and non-contributory. The cost of the benefits earned by the salaried employees is determined using the projected benefit method pro rated on services. The pension expense reflects the current service cost, the interest on the unfunded liability and the amortization over the estimated average remaining service life of the employees of (i) the unfunded liability and (ii) experience gains or losses.
In accordance with the guidance as outlined in the Compensation-Retirement Benefits Topic ASC 715 (“ASC 715-30” and “ASC 715-60”), the Company recognizes the net funded status of the plan.
Effective December 31, 2008, the defined benefit pension plan was closed to new members and the defined benefit service accrual ceased. Members began to accrue benefits under a new defined contribution plan effective January 1, 2009. The contributions to the new plan will be charged against earnings, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
In addition, hourly-paid employees at the Celgar mill are covered by a multi-employer defined contribution pension plan for which contributions are charged against earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Foreign Operations and Currency Translation
The Company translates foreign assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries, other than those denominated in Euros, at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange throughout the year. Transaction gains and losses related to net assets primarily located in Canada are recognized as unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments within comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity, until all of the investment in the subsidiaries is sold or liquidated. The translation adjustments do not recognize the effect of income tax when the Company expects to reinvest the amounts indefinitely in operations. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions (transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity’s functional currency) are included in “Costs and expenses” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Revenue and Related Cost Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales, transportation and other when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the sales price is fixed or determinable, title of ownership and risk of loss have passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Sales are reported net of discounts and allowances.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1.
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - (Continued)
Amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling are recognized as revenue. Shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company are included in “Operating costs”.
During 2008, the Company increased its focus on the production and sale of surplus electricity. Accordingly, management no longer considered this activity to be a by-product and, commencing in 2008, the Company began reporting revenue from sales of surplus electricity as “Energy revenue” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Energy revenues are recognized as customers are invoiced at agreed upon rates and when collection is reasonably assured. These revenues include an estimate of the value of electricity consumed by customers in the year but billed subsequent to year-end. Customer bills are based on meter readings that indicate electricity consumption. This activity does not meet the tests to be considered an operating segment, as defined in the Segment Reporting Topic ASC 280 (“ASC 280-10”).
Environmental Conservation
Liabilities for environmental conservation are recorded when it is probable that obligations have been incurred and their fair value can be reasonably estimated. Any potential recoveries of such liabilities are recorded when there is an agreement with the reimbursing entity and recovery is assessed as likely to occur.
Stock-Based Compensation
Under the Compensation-Stock Compensation Topic ASC 718 (“ASC 718”), the Company recognizes compensation expense over an award’s vesting period based on the award’s fair value. Stock based compensation expense has been recorded in “Selling, general, and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The fair value of performance stock awards is re-measured at each balance sheet date. The cumulative effect of the change in fair value is recognized in the period of the change as an adjustment to compensation cost. The Company estimates forfeitures of performance stock awards based on management’s expectations and recognizes compensation cost only for those awards expected to vest. Estimated forfeitures are adjusted to actual experience as needed.
The fair value of restricted stock awards are determined by multiplying the market price of a share of Mercer common shares on the grant date by the number of units.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are reported under the guidance of the Income Taxes Topic ASC 740 (“ASC 740-10”) and accordingly, deferred income taxes are recognized using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided if, after considering both positive and negative available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Deferred income taxes are determined separately for each tax-paying component of the Company. For each tax-paying component, all current deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be offset and presented as a single net amount and all noncurrent deferred tax liabilities and assets shall be offset and presented as a single net amount.
Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company occasionally enters into derivative financial instruments, including foreign currency forward contracts, electricity forward contracts, and interest rate swaps to limit exposures to changes in foreign currency
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 1.
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - (Continued)
exchange rates, energy prices, and interest rates. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments under the guidance of the Derivatives and Hedging Topic ASC 815 (“ASC 815-25”), and accordingly, any change in the marked-to-market fair value is recognized as a gain or loss on derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Periodically, the Company enters into derivative contracts for its own use and as such are exempt from mark to market accounting.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted income (loss) per share is calculated to give effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding (computed under basic EPS) by applying the “Treasury Stock” and “If Converted” methods. Outstanding stock options, restricted stock, awards such as restricted stock awards with performance conditions (known as “performance stock”), and convertible notes represent the only potentially dilutive effects on the Company’s weighted average shares. See Note 12-Net Income (Loss) Per Share.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year amounts in the consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
New Accounting Standards
In April 2010, the FASB issued guidance within Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-13, Compensation - Stock Compensation (ASC 718): Effect of Denominating the Exercise Price of a Share-Based Payment Award in the Currency of the Market in Which the Underlying Equity Security Trades. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The amendments in this update should be applied by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The cumulative-effect adjustment should be calculated for all awards outstanding as of the beginning of the fiscal year in which the amendments are initially applied, as if the amendments had been applied consistently since the inception of the award. The cumulative-effect adjustment should be presented separately. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Recently Implemented Accounting Standards
This section highlights recently implemented accounting standards that had a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In January 2010, the Company adopted 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.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 2.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company maintains cash balances in foreign financial institutions in excess of insured limits.
Included in cash and cash equivalents is approximately nil (2009 - 1,300) that was provided as part of the Canadian Federal Government’s Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program (“GTP”). Monies provided under the GTP are expected to be spent on various projects at the Celgar mill shortly after receipt.
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash allocated for debt service reserves as required under debt agreements (Note 7(a)).
Note 3.
Receivables
The Company reviews the collectability of receivables on a periodic basis. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts at an amount estimated to cover the potential losses on certain uninsured receivables. Any amounts that are determined to be uncollectible and uninsured are offset against the allowance. The allowance is based on the Company’s evaluation of numerous factors, including the payment history and financial position of the debtors. The Company does not generally require collateral for any of its receivables.
As at December 31, 2010, pursuant to an amended contribution agreement for approximately C$48.0 million finalized in November 2010 under the GTP, the Company recorded approximately 7,700 (C$10.2 million) (2009 - nil) within other receivables in relation to the Green Energy Project.
Other than the above mentioned item, other receivables relates to non-trade receivables that are individually not material.
Note 4.
Inventories
As at December 31, 2010, the Company had not recorded any provisions against finished goods inventories (2009 - nil), or against raw material inventories (2009 - nil).
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 5.
Property, Plant and Equipment
As at December 31, 2010 property, plant and equipment was net of 297,992 of unamortized government investment grants (2009 - 283,730).
As at December 31, 2010, included in production equipment and other is equipment under capital leases which had gross amounts of 17,468 (2009 - 17,465), and accumulated depreciation of 9,585 (2009 - 9,280). During the year production equipment and other totalling 2,087 was acquired under capital lease obligations (2009 - 625; 2008 - 5,318).
As at December 31, 2010, the Company had recorded 4,180 (2009 - 3,912) of asset retirement obligations.
Certain of the assets at the Celgar mill are subject to a lien registered for the benefit of the province of British Columbia. The lien was registered pursuant to a property transfer tax dispute that is currently before the courts. Effective January 24, 2011, the lien was removed from these assets. See Note 16 - Commitments and Contingencies.
Note 6.
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 7.
Debt
Debt consists of the following:
The Company made scheduled principal repayments under these facilities of 16,086 in 2010, and expects the principal repayments to be 39,596 in 2011. As of December 31, 2010, the principal maturities of debt are as follows:
(1)
On December 20, 2010, the Company announced its intention to redeem all of its Senior Notes due 2013. The unconditional redemption notice stipulates that all outstanding Senior Notes due 2013 are irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date of February 15, 2011 and as such the Company has treated this amount as current as at December 31, 2010. See Note 18 - Subsequent Events.
(2)
On January 21, 2010, 15,162 of the subordinated convertible notes due October 2010 were tendered for exchange for subordinated convertible notes due January 2012 and as such the Company treated this amount as non-current at December 31, 2009.
(3)
Includes revolving credit facility principal amounts totalling 15,016.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 7.
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 December 31, 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 1.58% (rates on amounts of borrowing at December 31, 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 December 31, 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 (“2013 Notes), which bear interest at 9.25% accrued, and payable semi-annually, and are unsecured. On or after February 15, 2009, the Company may redeem all or a part of the notes at redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) equal to 104.63% for the twelve month period beginning on February 15, 2009, 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.
On November 17, 2010, the Company used the proceeds from a private offering of $300 million Senior Notes due 2017, described in Note 5(c) below and cash on hand to complete a tender offer to repurchase approximately $289 million aggregate principal amount of its 2013 Notes. Pursuant to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification No. 405, Liabilities - Extinguishment of Liabilities (“ASC 405-20”), the Company concluded that the tendering of the 2013 Notes met the definition of debt extinguishment. In connection with this tender offer and pursuant to FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification No. 470-50, Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments (“ASC 470-50”), the Company recorded approximately 7,500 to the loss on extinguishment of debt line in the Consolidated Statement of Operations which included the tender premium paid and the write-off of 2013 Notes unamortized debt issue costs. On December 2, 2010, a further $0.6 million of 2013 Notes were tendered.
On December 20, 2010, the Company issued a redemption notice (the “Redemption Notice”) and announced its intention to redeem all 2013 Notes, of which approximately $20.5 million remain outstanding. The Redemption Notice is unconditional, and pursuant to the terms of the indenture all outstanding 2013 Notes are irrevocably due and payable on February 15, 2011 (the “Redemption Date”). The redemption price is 100.00% of the principal amount of the 2013 Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Redemption Date. See Note 18 - Subsequent Events.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 7.
Debt - (Continued)
(c)
On November 17, 2010, the Company completed a private offering of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2017 (“2017 Notes”). The proceeds from this offering were used to finance the tender offer and consent solicitation for approximately $289 million of the Company’s 2013 Notes. See Note 7(b). The 2017 Notes were issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount. The 2017 Notes will mature on December 1, 2017 and bear interest at 9.5% which is accrued and payable semi-annually.
The 2017 Notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The 2017 Notes rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to any current or future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The 2017 Notes are effectively junior in right of payment to all borrowings of the Company’s restricted subsidiaries, including borrowings under the Company’s credit agreements which are secured by certain assets of its restricted subsidiaries.
The Company may redeem all or a part of the 2017 Notes, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to 104.75% for the twelve month period beginning on December 1, 2014, 102.38% for the twelve month period beginning on December 1, 2015, and 100.00% beginning on December 1, 2016 and at any time thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
(d)
On October 15, 2010 the Company repaid the outstanding principal balance of approximately $2.3 million for the Subordinated Convertible Notes due October 2010 (“2010 Notes”) and any unpaid interest up to the redemption date. This balance represented the amount of 2010 Notes which were not exchanged for Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012. See Note 7(e).
(e)
On December 10 and 11, 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 (the “2012 Notes”). On January 22, 2010, through an exchange offer with the remaining holders of the 2010 Notes, the Company exchanged a further $21.7 million of 2010 Notes for approximately $22.0 million of the Company’s 2012 Notes. 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. During 2010, the Company recognized a loss of 929 as a result of the January 22, 2010 exchange. Both the gain and the loss were determined using fair market values prevailing at the time of the transactions, and both will 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 2012 Notes 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 year, approximately $21.4 million of Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012 were converted into 6,500,171 shares. The Company recorded a debt conversion expense of approximately $0.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, as a result of the conversions, which is included within interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 18 - Subsequent Events.
(f)
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
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 7.
Debt - (Continued)
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 December 31, 2010, this facility was accruing interest at a rate of approximately 4.96% and the undrawn amount was approximately C$17.9 million.
(g)
Loans payable to the noncontrolling shareholder of Stendal mill bear interest at 7.00%, and are 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. During the first quarter of 2010, the noncontrolling shareholder agreed to convert approximately 6,275 of accrued interest into a capital contribution. See Note 17- Noncontrolling Interest.
(h)
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 December 31, 2010, approximately 2,100 of this facility was supporting bank guarantees leaving approximately 22,900 undrawn.
(i)
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 December 31, 2010 this facility was drawn by 3,807 and was accruing interest at a rate of 3.90%.
(j)
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 December 31, 2010, this facility was undrawn.
Note 8.
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 a defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefit plans for certain employees (“Celgar Plans”).
Pension benefits are based on employee’s 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 twelve month period ended December 31, 2010 totalled 1,053 (2009 - 963).
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. During the year the Company made contributions of approximately 2,264 to its defined contribution plans (2009 - 1,844).
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 8.
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations - (Continued)
Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2010 is as follows:
(1)
The total of 24,964 on the consolidated balance sheets also includes the pension liabilities of 116 relating to employees at the Company’s German operations.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 8.
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations - (Continued)
Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2009 is as follows:
(1)
The total of 18,469 on the consolidated balance sheets also includes the pension liabilities of 124 relating to employees at the Company’s German operations.
The Company anticipates that it will make contributions to the pension plan of approximately 1,419 in 2011. Estimated future benefit payments under the Celgar Plans are as follows:
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 8.
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations - (Continued)
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recognized a loss of 3,314 in other comprehensive income (2009 - loss of 3,128; 2008 - income of 4,079). As at December 31, 2010, the pension related accumulated other comprehensive income balance of 7,292 (2009 - 3,978) is a result of net actuarial losses. These amounts have been stated net of tax. The Celgar Plans do not have any net transition asset or obligation recognized as a reclassification adjustment of other comprehensive income. The amount included in other comprehensive income which is expected to be recognized in 2011 is approximately 571 of net actuarial losses. There are no plan assets that are expected to be returned to the Company in 2011.
Summary of key assumptions:
The expected rate of return on plan assets is a management estimate based on, among other factors, historical long-term returns, expected asset mix and active management premium.
A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effect on the post-retirement benefit obligations:
Asset allocation of funded plans:
Investment Objective:
The investment objective for the Celgar Plans is to sufficiently diversify invested plan assets to maintain a reasonable level of risk without imprudently sacrificing the return on the invested funds, and ultimately to achieve a long-term total rate of return, net of fees and expenses, at least equal to the long-term interest rate assumptions used
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 8.
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations - (Continued)
for funding actuarial valuations. To achieve this objective, the Company’s overall investment strategy is to maintain an investment allocation mix of long-term growth investments (equities) and fixed income investments (debt securities). Investment allocation targets have been established by asset class as summarized above. The asset allocation targets are set after considering the nature of the liabilities, long-term return expectations, the risks associated with key asset classes, inflation and interest rates and related management fees and expenses. In addition, the Celgar Plans’ investment strategy seeks to minimize risk beyond legislated requirements by constraining the investment managers’ investment options. There are a number of specific constraints based on investment type, but they all have the general purpose of ensuring that the investments are fully diversified and that risk is appropriately managed. For example, no more than 10% of the book value of the assets can be invested in any one entity or group, investments in any one entity cannot exceed 30% of the voting shares and all equity holdings must be listed on a public exchange. Reviews of the investment objectives, key assumptions and the independent investment managers are performed periodically.
Celgar Plans’ asset fair value measurements at December 31, 2010:
Concentrations of Risk in the Celgar Plans’ Assets:
The Company has reviewed the Celgar Plans’ investments and determined that they are allocated based on the specific investment manager’s stated investment strategy with only slight over- or under-weightings within any specific category, and that those investments are within the constraints that have been set by the Company. Those constraints include a limitation on the value that can be invested in any one entity or group and the investment category targets noted above. In addition, we have two independent investment managers. The Company has concluded that there are no significant concentrations of risk.
Note 9.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, (“ASC 740”). The Company’s effective income tax (benefit) rate can be affected by many factors, including but not limited to, changes in the mix of earnings in tax jurisdictions with differing statutory rates, changes in corporate structure, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the result of audit examinations of previously filed tax returns and changes in tax laws. The asset and liability approach is used to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.
The Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the United States, Germany and Canada. Currently, the Company does not anticipate that the expiration of the statue of limitations or the completion of audits in the next fiscal year will result in liabilities for uncertain income tax positions that are materially different than the amounts accrued as of December 31, 2010. However, this belief could change as tax years are examined by taxing authorities, the timing of those examinations, if any, are uncertain at this time. During 2010, the German tax
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 9.
Income Taxes - (Continued)
authorities completed examinations of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 tax years. As of December 31, 2010, the 2005, 2006, and 2007 tax years are being examined by Canadian tax authorities. The Company is generally not subject to U.S., German or Canadian income tax examinations for tax years before 2007, 2008 and 2006, respectively.
As at December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately 500 of total gross unrecognized tax benefits, substantially all of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recognized approximately nil in penalties and interest (2009-nil). The Company had approximately nil for the payment of interest and penalties accrued at December 31, 2010.
Except for the changes in uncertain tax positions as mentioned above, the provision for current income taxes consists entirely of non-U.S. taxes for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Differences between the U.S. Federal Statutory and the Company’s effective rates are as follows:
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 9.
Income Taxes - (Continued)
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are composed of the following:
The Company is subject to income tax audits on a continuing basis which may result in changes to the amounts in the above table. Due to this and other uncertainties regarding future amounts of taxable income in Germany, Canada and the United States, the Company has provided a valuation allowance against a portion of its deferred tax assets, which primarily consist of tax losses carried forward for income tax purposes. However, during the year, based on forecasted taxable income for the entities in each tax jurisdiction, income tax strategies, and its best estimates of the timing of temporary differences, the Company believes that it is more likely than not that certain tax assets will be realized and accordingly the Company has reversed certain valuation allowances totalling 10.6 million. The Company’s tax asset recognition methodology consists of forecasting taxable income into the future along with related temporary differences. The Company then estimates which tax assets, based on a variety of factors are more likely than not to be realized, and recognizes the tax assets accordingly. However, ASC 740 does not allow for tax assets to be recognized where the entity does not have a strong history of profitability. As a result of this rule, the Company was not able to recognize certain tax assets as at December 31, 2010. Management expects that certain entities will meet the history of profitability tests in 2011, and if so, additional tax assets are expected to be recognized.
The Company’s German tax loss carryforward amount includes corporate and trade tax losses totalling approximately 442,500 at December 31, 2010 which have no expiration date. The Company’s U.S. loss carryforwards amount is approximately 83,200 at December 31, 2010, of which approximately 2,600, 5,800 and 74,000, if not used, will expire in the tax years ending 2011, 2012 to 2019 and 2020 to 2030, respectively. The Company’s Canadian tax loss carryforward amount is approximately 138,100 at December 31, 2010 which will begin to expire in the tax year ending 2026, if not used. Management has concluded that it is more likely than not that these losses will not be utilized, under current circumstances, and accordingly has reserved any resulting potential tax benefit that is not expected to be realized in the near future.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 9.
Income Taxes - (Continued)
No provision for U.S. income taxes has been made for undistributed earnings of certain of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries which have been indefinitely reinvested. The Company is unable to estimate the amount of U.S. income taxes that would be payable if such undistributed foreign earnings were repatriated.
Note 10.
Shareholders’ Equity
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 twelve months ended December 31, 2010, 6,500,171 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 7(e) - Debt. As at December 31, 2010, the Company had 42,999,658 (2009 - 36,443,487) common shares issued and outstanding.
Preferred shares
The Company has authorized 50,000,000 preferred shares (2009 - 50,000,000) with U.S. $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 December 31, 2010, no preferred shares had been issued by the Company.
Note 11.
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 year ended December 31, 2010, potential stock based performance awards totaled 534,783 shares (2009 - 565,165; 2008 - 570,614). Expense recognized for the year was 2,255 (2009 - 397; 2008 - 96).
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.
On February 11, 2010, the Company awarded a total of 13,000 performance stock to two employees. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2010, 43,382 performance stock were forfeited due to the departure of two employees.
As of December 31, 2010, all of the performance stock had vested (2009 - nil; 2008 - nil), however the decision determining the total number of performance awards to be granted to employees will be finalized by the
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 11.
Stock-Based Compensation - (Continued)
Company during the first quarter of 2011. As at such date, the Company will record any outstanding unrecognized compensation cost associated with the final determination of performance stock within stock compensation expense during the three month period ended March 31, 2011.
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 year ended December 31, 2010 was 139 (2009 - 58; 2008 - 168).
As at December 31, 2010, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock amounted to approximately 93 (2009 - 7), which will be amortized over their remaining vesting period.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, 56,000 restricted stock awards were granted to Directors of the Company (2009 - 21,000; 2008 - 21,000) and no restricted stock was cancelled during the year (2009 - nil; 2008 - nil).
As at December 31, 2010, the total number of restricted stock outstanding was 56,000 (2009 - 21,000; 2008 - 21,000), which had not vested.
Stock Options
Following is a summary of the status of options outstanding at December 31, 2010:
During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, no options were granted, exercised or cancelled and 738,334 (2009 - nil; 2008 - nil) options expired. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and currently exercisable as at December 31, 2010 is $1.73 per option.
Stock compensation expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2010 was nil (2009 - nil). As at December 31, 2010, all stock options had fully vested.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 12.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
(1)
The basic weighted average number of shares excludes performance and restricted stock which have been issued, but have not vested as at December 31, 2010.
The calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders does not assume the exercise of stock options and awards or the conversion of convertible notes 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 for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - 928,334; 2008 - 928,334).
Restricted stock excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they are anti-dilutive represented nil for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - 21,000; 2008 - 21,000).
Shares associated with the convertible notes excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they are anti-dilutive represented nil for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - 9,141,910; 2008 - 8,678,065).
Performance stock excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they are anti-dilutive represented nil for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - 369,924; 2008 - 372,642).
Note 13.
Business Segment Information
The Company has three operating segments, the individual pulp mills that are aggregated into one reportable business segment, market pulp. Accordingly, the results presented are those of the one reportable business segment.
The pulp business is cyclical in nature and its market is affected by fluctuations in supply and demand in each cycle. These fluctuations have significant effect on the cost of materials and the eventual sales prices of products.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 13.
Business Segment Information - (Continued)
The following table presents net sales from continuing operations to external customers by geographic area based on location of the customer.
(1)
Not including Germany or Italy; includes new entrant countries to the European Union from their time of admission.
The following table presents total long-lived assets from continuing operations by geographic area based on location of the asset.
In 2010, pulp sales to the Company’s largest customer amounted to approximately 15% (2009 - 10%; 2008 - 9%) of total pulp sales.
Note 14.
Financial Instruments
The fair value of financial instruments at December 31 is summarized as follows:
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 14.
Financial Instruments - (Continued)
Cash and Debt Instruments
Many of the Company’s transactions are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the U.S. dollar. As a result of these transactions the Company and its subsidiaries has financial risk that the value of the Company’s financial instruments will vary due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
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 estimate. See the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures section for details on how the fair value of the interest rate derivative contracts was determined.
The Company uses interest rate derivatives to fix the rate of interest on indebtedness under the Stendal Loan Facilities and sometimes uses foreign exchange derivatives to convert some costs (including currency swaps relating to long-term indebtedness) from Euros to U.S. dollars. As at December 31, 2010, there were only interest rate derivative instruments in place and there were no foreign exchange derivatives outstanding. The interest rate derivative contracts are with a large European bank that is the largest holder of the Stendal Loan Facility and the Company does not anticipate non-performance.
Energy Derivatives
The Company is also subject to price risk for electricity used in its manufacturing operations. During 2008, the Company entered into fixed electricity forward sales contracts in connection with the Stendal and Rosenthal mills electricity generation. The Company realized no gains for the years ended 2010, 2009, and 2008. The Company entered into the electricity forward sales contracts because it saw an opportunity to sell forward at opportunistic rates. No electricity forward sales were entered into in 2010. Although the Company does not currently have plans to enter into similar transactions, should similar situations present themselves, the Company may enter into similar electricity derivative contracts. As at December 31, 2010, the Company had no outstanding electricity derivative contracts. Gains from energy derivatives are included within “Operating costs” in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Interest Rate Derivatives
During 2004, the Company entered into certain variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps in connection with the Stendal mill with respect to an aggregate maximum amount of approximately 612,619 of the principal amount of the indebtedness under the Stendal Loan Facility. Currently, the aggregate notional amount of these contracts is 447,763 at a fixed interest rate of 5.28% and they mature October 2017 (which for the most part matches the maturity of the Stendal Loan Facility). The Company recognized an unrealized gain of 1,899, with respect to these interest rate swaps for the year ended December 31, 2010 (2009 - an unrealized loss of 5,760; 2008 - an unrealized loss of 25,228).
Foreign Exchange Derivatives
The Company did not enter into foreign exchange derivatives in 2010, 2009 and 2008.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 14.
Financial Instruments - (Continued)
Credit Risk
Concentrations of credit risk on the sale of pulp products are with customers and agents based in Germany, China, Italy and the United States.
Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures
The Company adopted the guidance outlined in ASC 820, originally released as FAS 157, Fair Value Measurement, effective January 1, 2008. The adoption of this guidance resulted in no impact on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet or the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
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:
(a)
Based on observable market data.
(b)
Based on observable inputs for the liability (interest rates and yield curves observable at specific intervals).
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 15.
Lease Commitments
Minimum lease payments, primarily for various vehicles, and plant and equipment under capital and non-cancellable operating leases and the present value of net minimum payments at December 31, 2010 were as follows:
Rent expense under operating leases was 2,246 for 2010 (2009 - 1,218; 2008 - 1,011). The current portion of the capital lease obligations is included in accounts payable and accrued expenses and the long-term portion is included in capital leases and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 16.
Commitments and Contingencies
At December 31, 2010, the Company recorded a liability for environmental conservation expenditures of approximately 2,085. Management believes the liability amount recorded is sufficient.
The Company is required to pay certain fees based on water consumption levels at its German mills. Unpaid fees can be reduced by the mills’ demonstration of reduced environmental emissions. To the extent that the Company has not agreed with regulatory authorities for fee reductions, a liability for these water charges has been recognized.
The Company maintains industrial landfills on its premises for the disposal of waste, primarily from the mill’s pulp processing activities. The mills have obligations under their landfill permits to decommission these disposal facilities pursuant to the requirements of its local regulations.
The Company had also entered into certain other capital commitments at the Rosenthal mill, none of which is individually material.
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.
The Company entered into certain minimum or fixed purchase commitments primarily related to the purchase of raw materials, none of which are individually material, that extend beyond 2011. Commitments under these contracts are approximately 1,000 in 2011.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 17.
Noncontrolling Interest
On March 13, 2009, the Company made a 10,000 capital contribution to the Stendal mill, of which 2,582 related to an increase in the Stendal mill’s stated capital, diluting the interest held by the noncontrolling shareholder and resulting in a 4.32% increase in the Company’s equity ownership in the Stendal mill from 70.58% to 74.90%. Pursuant to ASC 810-10-65, the increase in equity ownership was accounted for as an equity transaction. The carrying amount of the Company’s shareholders’ equity was adjusted to reflect the 4.32% increase of ownership interest in the Stendal mill. As a result, the noncontrolling deficit and the Company’s Additional Paid-in Capital were reduced by 6,809.
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 18.
Subsequent Events
In January and February 2011, approximately $1.9 million and $3.2 million of Subordinated Convertible Notes due January 2012 were converted into 565,757 and 959,391 shares, respectively.
The Company has previously commenced an arbitration proceeding with the general construction contractor of the Stendal mill for civil claims. On January 28, 2011, the Company acted upon a performance guarantee and received a pre-payment of approximately 10.0 million, which the Company treated as a contingent gain and accordingly was not accounted for as a reduction to property, plant and equipment prior to receipt. The ultimate settlement will be determined in an arbitration proceeding that remains ongoing.
On February 15, 2011, the Company redeemed for cash all of its outstanding 9.25% Senior Notes due 2013. As of February 15, 2011, the principal outstanding amount of the 2013 Notes was $20.5 million. The Notes were redeemed for a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, February 15, 2011. In total, the Company paid approximately 15.9 million in connection with the redemption of the Notes.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure
The terms of the indentures governing our 9.25% senior unsecured notes and our 9.5% senior secured 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 years ended December 31, 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
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(1)
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(1)
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Note 19.
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure - (Continued)
Combined Condensed Statement of Cash Flows
(1)
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
Quarterly Financial Data
(Thousands of Euros, except per share amounts)
*
On a diluted basis
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Jimmy S.H. Lee
Jimmy S.H. Lee
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ David M. Gandossi
David M. Gandossi
Secretary, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
and Principal Accounting Officer
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ Kenneth A. Shields
Kenneth A. Shields
Director
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ Eric Lauritzen
Eric Lauritzen
Director
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ William D. McCartney
William D. McCartney
Director
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ Graeme A. Witts
Graeme A. Witts
Director
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ Guy W. Adams
Guy W. Adams
Director
Date: February 17, 2011
/s/ George Malpass
George Malpass
Director
Date: February 17, 2011
EXHIBIT INDEX
*
Filed in Form 10-K for prior years.
**
In accordance with Release 33-8212 of the SEC, these Certifications: (i) are “furnished” to the SEC and are not “filed” for the purposes of liability under the Exchange Act; 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 for the purposes of liability thereunder or any offering memorandum, unless the Company specifically incorporates them by reference therein.