UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
For the quarterly period endedMarch 31, 2012 March 31, 2012
OR
For the transition period from to
Commission File No.: 000-51826
MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Suite 1120, 700 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1G8
(Address of office)
(604) 684-1099
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). YES x NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ¨ NO x
The Registrant had 55,779,204 shares of common stock outstanding as at May 4, 2012.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 2
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of Euros)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Receivables
Inventories (Note 2)
Prepaid expenses and other
Deferred income tax
Total current assets
Long-term assets
Property, plant and equipment
Deferred note issuance and other
Total assets
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and other
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations (Note 4)
Debt (Note 3)
Total current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
Unrealized interest rate derivative losses (Note 8)
Capital leases and other
Total liabilities
EQUITY
Shareholders’ equity
Share capital (Note 5)
Paid-in capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Total shareholders’ equity
Noncontrolling deficit
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim consolidated financial statements.
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 3
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands of Euros, except per share data)
Revenues
Pulp
Energy
Costs and expenses
Operating costs
Operating depreciation and amortization
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Operating income
Other income (expense)
Interest expense
Gain on derivative instruments (Note 8)
Foreign exchange gain on debt
Total other income (expense)
Income before income taxes
Income tax provision – current
– deferred
Net income
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to common shareholders
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders (Note 7)
Basic
Diluted
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 4
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS
Retained earnings (deficit), beginning of period
Retained earnings, end of period
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax benefit of €90 (2011 – nil)
Pension income
Unrealized gains on securities arising during the period
Total comprehensive income
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 5
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
Gain on derivative instruments
Depreciation and amortization
Accretion expense
Noncontrolling interest
Deferred income taxes
Stock compensation expense
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding
Other
Changes in current assets and liabilities
Inventories
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Net cash from operating activities
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
Note receivable
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Repayment of notes payable and debt
Repayment of capital lease obligations
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net
Payment of note issuance costs
Proceeds from government grants
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 6
INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for
Interest
Income taxes
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities
Acquisition of production and other equipment under capital lease obligations
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable related to investing and financing activities
Increase (decrease) in accounts receivable and other current assets related to investing activities
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 7
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The interim consolidated financial statements contained herein include the accounts of Mercer International Inc. (“Mercer Inc.”) and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”). The Company’s shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on both the NASDAQ Global Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The year-end Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from audited financial statements. The footnote disclosure included herein has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted for interim financial statements in the United States (“GAAP”). The interim consolidated financial statements should be read together with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. In the opinion of the Company, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contained herein contain all adjustments necessary to fairly present the results of the interim periods included. The results for the periods included herein may not be indicative of the results for the entire year.
The Company has three pulp mills that are aggregated into one reportable business segment, market pulp. Accordingly, the results presented are those of the reportable business segment.
Certain prior year amounts in the interim consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
In these interim consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in Euros (“€”). The term “U.S. dollars” and the symbol “$” refer to United States dollars. The symbol “C$” refers to Canadian dollars.
Use of Estimates
Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant management judgment is required in determining the accounting for, among other things, doubtful accounts and reserves, depreciation and amortization, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for long-lived assets, derivative financial instruments, environmental conservation and legal liabilities, asset retirement obligations, pensions and post-retirement benefit obligations, income taxes, contingencies, and inventory obsolescence and provisions. Actual results could differ from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 8
Note 1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Recently Implemented Accounting Standards
In May 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Fair Value Measurements (“ASU 2011-04”), which expands the existing disclosure requirements for fair value measurements (particularly for Level 3 inputs) defined under FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification No. 820, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”), and makes other amendments. Many of the amendments to ASC 820 are being made to eliminate wording differences between GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards and are not intended to result in a change in the application of the requirements of ASC 820. However, some of the amendments clarify the application of existing fair value measurement requirements and others change certain requirements for measuring fair value and could change how the fair value measurement guidance in ASC 820 is applied. The measurement and disclosure requirements of ASU 2011-04 were effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and were applied prospectively. The adoption of this new guidance did not have an impact on the interim consolidated financial statements or related note disclosures.
In June 2011, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), which revises the manner in which entities present comprehensive income in their financial statements. The new guidance amends FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification No. 220, Comprehensive Income (“ASC 220”), and gives reporting entities the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or two separate but consecutive statements. Under the two-statement approach, which the Company currently uses, the first statement includes components of net income, and the second statement includes components of other comprehensive income. ASU 2011-05 does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income. This new guidance was effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and was applied retrospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the interim consolidated financial statements or related note disclosures.
Note 2. Inventories
Raw materials
Finished goods
Spare parts, work in process and other
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Note 3. Debt
Debt consists of the following:
Note payable to bank, included in a total loan credit facility of €827,950 to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill (a)
Senior notes due December 2017, interest at 9.50% accrued and payable semi-annually, unsecured (b)
Credit agreement with a lender with respect to a revolving credit facility of C$40million (c)
Term facility with banks with respect to Project Blue Mill at the Stendal mill of €17,000 (d)
Loan payable to the noncontrolling shareholder of the Stendal mill (e)
Investment loan agreement with a lender with respect to the wash press project at the Rosenthal mill of €4,351 (f)
Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility of €25,000 (g)
Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility of €3,500 (h)
Less: current portion
Debt, less current portion
The Company made principal repayments under these facilities of €10,126 during the three month period ended March 31, 2012 (2011 – €30,351). As of March 31, 2012, the principal maturities of debt are as follows:
Matures
2012
2013(1)
2014
2015
2016
Thereafter
Certain of the Company’s debt instruments 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 March 31, 2012, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the indenture.
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 10
Note 3. Debt (continued)
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. 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 and the Guarantee Amount, as discussed in Note 10(a) – Commitments and Contingencies, held by 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, which means the DSRA is “Fully Funded”, and second to prepay the deferred principal amounts. As at March 31, 2012, the DSRA balance was €31,771 and was not Fully Funded.
In August 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $25.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Senior Notes from time to time, over a period ending August 2012. During the three month period ended March 31, 2012, the Company did not purchase any of its outstanding Senior Notes. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2011, the Company purchased $13.6 million of its outstanding Senior Notes.
The Senior Notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The Senior Notes rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to any current or future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Senior 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 Senior Notes, upon not less than 30 days 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.
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 11
In January 2012, the Stendal mill entered into two additional loans payable by the Stendal mill to its noncontrolling shareholder as part of the financing for Project Blue Mill. The first loan has a principal amount of €1,192 and the second loan has a principal amount of €440. Both loans bear interest at 7.00% per annum and are due in 2017, provided that the Project Blue Mill facility, Note 3(d), and the Stendal Loan Facility, Note 3(a), have been fully repaid on such date. The second loan may be repaid prior to October 1, 2017 if the DSRA has been Fully Funded for the first time. The first loan is subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill and the second loan is subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill only until such time as the DSRA is Fully Funded for the first time.
Note 4. 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 Rosenthal 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 employees’ earnings and years of service. The Celgar Plans are funded by contributions from the Company based on actuarial estimates and statutory requirements. Pension contributions during the three month period ended March 31, 2012 totaled €501 (2011 – €465).
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 three month period ended March 31, 2012, the Company made contributions of €161 (2011 – €139) to this plan.
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 12
Note 4. Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)
Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the period ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 is as follows:
Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Recognized net loss (gain)
Net periodic benefit cost
The Company participates in a multiemployer plan for the hourly-paid employees at the Celgar mill. The contributions to the plan are determined based on an amount per hour worked pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The Company has no current or future contribution obligations in excess of the contractual contributions. During the three month period ended March 31, 2012 the Company made contributions of €477 (2011 – €448) to this plan.
Note 5. Share Capital
Common shares
The Company has authorized 200,000,000 common shares with a par value of $1 per share.
As at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had 55,779,204 common shares issued and outstanding.
Share Repurchase Program
In August 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program (the “Program”) to repurchase up to $25.0 million worth of the Company’s outstanding common shares from time to time over a period ending August 2012. During the three month period ended March 31, 2012, the Company did not repurchase any of its common shares. During the twelve month period ended December 31, 2011, the Company repurchased 1,263,401 of its common shares at an aggregate cost of $10.6 million.
The Company may make additional repurchases of common shares under its Program, depending on prevailing market conditions, alternate uses of capital, and other factors. Whether and when to initiate a purchase of common shares and the amount of common shares purchased is at the Company’s discretion. As at March 31, 2012, the Company had an authorized amount of approximately $14.4 million left to repurchase its common shares.
Preferred shares
The Company has authorized 50,000,000 preferred shares with $1 par value issuable in series, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated as Series A. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series and with such designations and preferences for each series as shall be stated in the resolutions providing for the designation and issue of each such series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors is authorized by the Company’s articles of incorporation to determine the voting, dividend, redemption and liquidation preferences pertaining to each such series. As at March 31, 2012, no preferred shares had been issued by the Company.
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 13
Note 6. 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 shares, performance shares, performance share units (“PSUs”) and stock appreciation rights to be awarded to employees, consultants and non-employee directors. As at March 31, 2012, after factoring in all allocated shares, there remain approximately 1.2 million common shares available for grant pursuant to the 2010 Plan.
Performance Shares and PSUs
Performance shares are common shares granted to an employee which have restrictive conditions, such as the ability to sell the shares, until the Company and the grantee achieve certain performance objectives. PSUs comprise rights to receive common shares at a future date that are contingent on the Company and the grantee achieving certain performance objectives.
Expense recognized for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 was €587 (2011 – €1,941). The fair value of the performance shares and PSUs is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting period. The fair value is determined based upon the targeted number of shares awarded and the quoted price of the Company’s shares at the reporting date. The target number of shares is determined using management’s best estimate. The final determination of the number of shares to be granted or unrestricted will be made by the Company’s Board of Directors.
As at March 31, 2012, there are no performance shares outstanding.
Following is a summary of the outstanding PSUs:
Outstanding at January 1, 2011
Granted
Vested and issued
Cancelled
Forfeited
Outstanding at December 31, 2011
Outstanding at March 31, 2012
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 14
Note 6. Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
Restricted Shares
The fair value of restricted shares is determined based upon the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company’s shares on the date of grant. Restricted shares generally vest over one year; however, 200,000 restricted shares granted during the year ended December 31, 2011 vest in equal amounts over a five-year period commencing in 2012. The fair value of the restricted shares is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.
Expense recognized for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 was €281 (2011 – €127). As at March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, the total remaining unrecognized compensation expense related to restricted shares amounted to €1,067 and €1,781, respectively. Unrecognized compensation expense is amortized over the remaining vesting periods.
Following is a summary of the outstanding restricted shares:
Awarded
Vested
Stock Options
During the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, no options were granted, exercised or cancelled. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, nil options expired (2011 – 15,000). The aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the quoted market price for the Company’s common stock as at March 31, 2012, and those options where the exercise price is below the quoted market price. As at March 31, 2012, the Company had 175,000 options with an exercise price below the quoted market price resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of €197. As at March 31, 2011, the Company had 175,000 options with an exercise price below the quoted market price resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of €900. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options.
Stock compensation expense recognized for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 was €nil (2011 – €nil). As at March 31, 2012, all stock options have fully vested.
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Note 7. Net Income Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders
Net income attributable to common shareholders – basic
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax
Net income attributable to common shareholders – diluted
Net income per share attributable to common shareholders
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic(1)
Effect of dilutive shares:
Performance shares and PSUs
Restricted shares
Stock options and awards
Convertible notes
The calculation of diluted net income per share attributable to common shareholders does not assume the exercise of any instruments that would have an anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share.
Stock options and awards excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share attributable to common shareholders because they were anti-dilutive totaled 45,000 stock options for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 (2011 – nil).
Restricted shares excluded from the calculation of diluted income per share attributable to common shareholders because they were anti-dilutive totaled 198,000 shares for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 (2011 – nil).
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Note 8. Derivative Transactions
The Company is exposed to certain market risks relating to its ongoing business. The Company seeks to manage these risks through internal risk management policies as well as, from time to time, the use of derivatives. Currently, the only risk managed using derivative instruments is interest rate risk.
Interest Rate Derivatives
During 2004, the Company entered into certain variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps in connection with the Stendal Loan Facility with respect to an aggregate maximum principal amount of approximately €612,600 of the principal of the total indebtedness under the Stendal Loan Facility. Under the remaining interest rate swaps, the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate with the interest payments being calculated on a notional amount. Currently, the contract has an aggregate notional amount of €404,448 at a fixed interest rate of 5.28% and it matures in October 2017 (which for the most part matches the maturity of the Stendal Loan Facility). The Company recognized an unrealized gain of €876 with respect to this interest rate swap for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 (2011 – €12,243), in gain on derivative instruments in the Interim Consolidated Statement of Operations. Derivative instruments are required to be measured at fair value. Accordingly, the fair value of the interest rate swap is presented in unrealized interest rate derivative losses in the Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet, which currently amounts to a cumulative unrealized loss of €51,515. As at December 31, 2011 the unrealized interest rate derivative loss was €52,391.
The interest rate derivative contract is with the same bank that holds the Stendal Loan Facility and the Company does not anticipate non-performance by the banks.
Note 9. Financial Instruments
The fair value of financial instruments as at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is summarized as follows:
Marketable securities(1)
Debt
Interest rate derivative contract – liability
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable and other 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 debt reflects recent market transactions and discounted cash flow estimates. Marketable securities are recorded at fair value based on recent transactions. See the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure section for details on how the fair value of the interest rate derivative contracts was determined.
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Note 9. Financial Instruments (continued)
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 have financial risk that the value of the Company’s financial instruments will vary due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
Fair value Measurement and Disclosure
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 the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, and are 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 marketable securities within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy because quoted prices are available in an active market for both the exchange-traded equities and the German federal government bonds. The Company classified the German federal government bonds as available-for-sale as it is not certain these investments will be held to maturity, nor does the Company intend to actively trade these investments.
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 and yield curves observable at specified intervals. The 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. The counterparty to our interest rate swap derivative is a multi-national financial institution.
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The following table presents a summary of the Company’s outstanding financial instruments and their estimated fair values under the hierarchy defined in the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification:
Description
Assets
German federal government bonds
Exchange traded equities
Liabilities
Derivatives – Interest rate swap
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 19
Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies
The €10,000 was initially recognized as an increase in cash and a corresponding increase in accounts payable and other. As civil works remediation steps are agreed to with the general construction contractor an agreed to portion of the payable is reversed with the offset recorded in operating costs to offset the remediation expenditures. During the three month period ended March 31, 2012, the noncontrolling shareholder contributed its required €1,632 from the Guarantee Amount as part of the financing agreement for Project Blue Mill. This contribution was reclassified to long-term debt as part of the loan payable to the noncontrolling shareholder. See Note 3(e) – Debt. As at March 31, 2012, the Company had €4,818 remaining in accounts payable and other.
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Note 11. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure
The terms of the indenture governing our Senior Notes require that we provide the results of operations and financial condition of Mercer International Inc. and our restricted subsidiaries under the indenture, collectively referred to as the “Restricted Group”. As at and during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011, 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
Due from unrestricted group
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations
Due to restricted group
Unrealized interest rate derivative losses
Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)
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Note 11. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
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Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
Income tax provision
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
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Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Other(1)
Proceeds from credit facilities, net
Net cash from (used in) financing activities
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Adjustments to reconcile net income attributable to common shareholders to cash flows from operating activities
Notes receivable
Repayment of credit facilities, net
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In this document: (i) unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” or “Mercer” mean Mercer International Inc. and its subsidiaries; (ii) references to “Mercer Inc.” mean the Company excluding its subsidiaries; (iii) information is provided as of March 31, 2012, unless otherwise stated; (iv) all references to monetary amounts are to “Euros”, the lawful currency adopted by most members of the European Union, unless otherwise stated; (v) “€” refers to Euros, “$” refers to U.S. dollars and “C$” refers to Canadian dollars; (vi) “ADMTs” refers to air-dried metric tonnes; (vii) “MW” refers to megawatts; and (viii) “MWh” refers to megawatt hours.
Results of Operations
General
We operate three northern bleached softwood kraft (“NBSK”) pulp mills through our wholly owned subsidiaries, Rosenthal and Celgar, and our 74.9% owned subsidiary, Stendal, which have a consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 1.5 million ADMTs.
The following discussion and analysis of our results of operations and financial condition for the three months ended March 31, 2012 should be read in conjunction with our interim consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this quarterly report, as well as our most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Current Market Environment
Although economic uncertainty in Europe has reduced European NBSK pulp demand, strong Chinese demand has helped to maintain global NBSK prices and has resulted in some modest price increases in the first quarter. Going forward, we anticipate that NBSK pulp prices will gradually increase in the medium term.
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First Quarter Operational Snapshot
Selected production, sales and exchange rate data for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
Pulp Production (‘000 ADMTs)
Scheduled Production Downtime (‘000 ADMTs)
Pulp Sales (‘000 ADMTs)
Pulp Revenues (in millions)
Average NBSK pulp list prices in Europe ($/ADMT)
Average NBSK pulp list prices in Europe (€/ADMT)
Average pulp sales realizations (€/ADMT)(1)
Energy Production (‘000 MWh)
Energy Sales (‘000 MWh)
Energy Revenue (in millions)
Average energy sales realizations (€/MWh)
Average Spot Currency Exchange Rates
€ / $(2)
C$ / $(2)
C$ / €(3)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased slightly to €215.6 million ($282.7 million) from €224.1 million ($306.6 million) in the same period in 2011, primarily due to lower average pulp realizations, partially offset by higher energy revenues.
Pulp revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased to €199.4 million from €210.5 million in the comparative quarter of 2011, primarily due to lower pulp prices, partially offset by higher sales volumes and a stronger U.S. dollar compared to the Euro. The U.S. dollar was approximately 4% stronger versus the Euro in the current quarter compared to the same quarter of last year.
Energy revenues increased by approximately 18% to a record €16.1 million in the first quarter from €13.7 million in the same quarter last year, primarily as a result of strong pulp production at all of our mills.
List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $837 (€638) per ADMT in the current quarter, compared to $960 (€702) per ADMT in the same quarter last year and $825 (€636) per ADMT at the end of 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, average pulp sales realizations decreased to €512 ($671) per ADMT from €593 ($811) per ADMT in the same quarter last year, primarily due to lower pulp prices, partially offset by a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro.
Pulp production increased to 380,342 ADMTs in the current quarter from 358,557 ADMTs in the same quarter of 2011, primarily due to increased production at both our Celgar and Stendal mills. We have 21 days (approximately 20,000 ADMTS) of maintenance downtime scheduled for our Rosenthal mill in the second quarter of 2012 in order to perform annual maintenance and to upgrade the mill’s recovery process.
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Pulp sales volume increased to 384,826 ADMTs in the current quarter from 348,995 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2011, primarily as a result of increased sales to China.
Costs and expenses in the first quarter of 2012 increased to €199.3 million from €187.5 million in the comparative period of 2011, primarily due to higher sales volumes.
In the first quarter of 2012, operating depreciation and amortization marginally increased to €14.3 million from €14.1 million in the same quarter last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses remained at approximately €10.1 million in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011.
Transportation costs increased to €18.0 million in the first quarter of 2012 from €15.5 million in the first quarter of 2011 primarily due to higher sales volumes and increased sales to China.
On average, our per unit fiber costs in the current quarter decreased by approximately 3% from the same period in 2011, primarily due to lower fiber costs at our German mills as a result of reduced demand for fiber from the European pellet and board industries. Fiber costs at our Celgar mill were higher, primarily due to increased competition for fiber in 2012. As we move into the second quarter, we currently expect fiber prices for our German mills to continue to decline, while we currently expect fiber prices at our Celgar mill to stabilize through the second quarter and then begin to decline slightly early in the third quarter.
For the first quarter of 2012, operating income decreased to €16.2 million from €36.6 million in the comparative quarter of 2011, primarily due to lower pulp revenues resulting from lower pulp prices, partially offset by higher sales volumes and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro.
Interest expense in the first quarter of 2012 decreased to €14.1 million from €15.9 million in the comparative quarter of 2011, primarily due to the conversion of our remaining convertible notes in 2011 and reduced debt levels associated with the Stendal mill.
Our Stendal mill recorded an unrealized gain of €0.9 million on the mark to market adjustment of its interest rate derivative in the current quarter, compared to an unrealized gain of €12.2 million in the same quarter of last year. We recorded a foreign exchange gain of €nil on our foreign currency denominated debt in the first quarter of 2012, compared to a gain of €1.1 million in the same period of 2011.
During the current quarter, we recorded €0.7 million of income tax expense, compared to income tax expense of €0.8 million in the same period last year.
We recorded €0.4 million in other expenses in the current quarter, primarily related to our take-over bid for Fibrek Inc.
In the first quarter of 2012, the noncontrolling shareholder’s interest in the Stendal mill’s income was €0.7 million, compared to income of €4.5 million in the same quarter last year.
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We reported net income attributable to common shareholders of €1.2 million, or €0.02 per basic and diluted share for the first quarter of 2012, which included a non-cash unrealized gain of €0.9 million on the Stendal interest rate derivative, offset by a non-cash charge for stock compensation of €0.9 million. In the first quarter of 2011, net income attributable to common shareholders was €29.1 million, or €0.66 per basic and €0.52 per diluted share, which included a non-cash unrealized gain of €12.2 million, or €0.28 per basic share, on the Stendal interest rate derivative and a €1.1 million non-cash foreign exchange gain on our debt, partially offset by a non-cash charge for stock compensation of €2.1 million, or €0.05 per basic share.
Operating EBITDA in the first quarter of 2012 was €30.6 million, compared to €50.8 million in the first quarter of 2011. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges. Management uses Operating EBITDA as a benchmark measurement of its own operating results, and as a benchmark relative to its competitors. Management considers it to be a meaningful supplement to operating income as a performance measure primarily because depreciation expense and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges are not an actual cash cost, and depreciation expense varies widely from company to company in a manner that management considers largely independent of the underlying cost efficiency of their operating facilities. In addition, we believe Operating EBITDA is commonly used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate our financial performance.
Operating EBITDA does not reflect the impact of a number of items that affect our net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders, including financing costs and the effect of derivative instruments. Operating EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) or income (loss) from operations as a measure of performance, nor as an alternative to net cash from operating activities as a measure of liquidity.
Operating EBITDA has significant limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are that Operating EBITDA does not reflect: (i) our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; (ii) changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; (iii) the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our outstanding debt; (iv) noncontrolling interests on our Stendal mill operations; (v) the impact of realized or marked to market changes in our derivative positions, which can be substantial; and (vi) the impact of impairment charges against our investments or assets. Because of these limitations, Operating EBITDA should only be considered as a supplemental operational performance measure and should not be considered as a measure of liquidity or cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. See the Statement of Cash Flows set out in our interim consolidated financial statements included herein. Because all companies do not calculate Operating EBITDA in the same manner, Operating EBITDA as calculated by us may differ from Operating EBITDA or EBITDA as calculated by other companies. We compensate for these limitations by using Operating EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our operational performance and relying primarily on our GAAP financial statements.
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The following table provides a reconciliation of net income attributable to common shareholders to operating income and Operating EBITDA for the periods indicated:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Other expense (income)
Foreign exchange (gain) loss on debt
Loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments
Add: Depreciation and amortization
Operating EBITDA
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table is a summary of selected financial information at the dates indicated:
As at
March 31,
Financial Position
Working capital
As at March 31, 2012, our cash and cash equivalents and holdings of short-term German federal government bonds had increased to €136.4 million from €117.3 million at the end of 2011, and working capital had decreased slightly to €238.0 million from €247.2 million at the end of 2011.
Sources and Uses of Funds
Our principal sources of funds are cash flows from operations, cash on hand and the revolving working capital loan facilities for our Celgar and Rosenthal mills. Our principal uses of funds consist of operating expenditures, payments of principal and interest on the project loan facility relating to our Stendal mill (“Stendal Loan Facility”), capital expenditures and interest payments on our outstanding 9.5% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Senior Notes”).
Debt Covenants
Our long-term obligations contain various financial tests and covenants customary to these types of arrangements.
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The Stendal Loan Facility requires Stendal to maintain a leverage ratio of total debt under the facility to EBITDA (the “Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio”). An aggregate of 80% of the principal amount of the tranches under the Stendal Loan Facility are severally guaranteed by German federal and state governments, and the facility is without recourse to the “Restricted Group” which is comprised of Mercer Inc., the Rosenthal and Celgar mills, and certain holding subsidiaries. Because of potential changes to foreign exchange rates and pulp prices we can give no assurance that the Stendal mill will be in compliance with the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio as of June 30, 2012. We have entered into discussions with the Stendal mill’s lenders and expect to receive, if required, a satisfactory amendment or waiver. Additionally, we have the right to cure any breach of the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio by providing additional equity to Stendal. In the event that the Stendal mill is not in compliance with the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio, we are not able to acquire a satisfactory amendment or waiver of such covenant, and we do not undertake to cure the breach by providing additional equity to Stendal, the Stendal mill will be in default under the Stendal Loan Facility and the Stendal mill’s lenders will be entitled to pursue their rights and remedies under such facility. This would have a material adverse effect on the Stendal mill and our consolidated results of operations and business.
As at March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with all of the covenants of our indebtedness.
Cash Flow Analysis
Cash Flows from Operating Activities. We operate in a cyclical industry and our operating cash flows vary accordingly. Our principal operating cash expenditures are for labor, fiber and chemicals.
Working capital levels fluctuate throughout the year and are affected by maintenance downtime, changing sales patterns, seasonality and the timing of receivables and the payment of payables and expenses.
Cash provided by operating activities decreased to €36.1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012 from €74.8 million in the comparative period of 2011, primarily due to decreased net income and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, which provided cash of only €2.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses providing cash of €25.4 million in the same period of 2011. A decrease in inventories provided cash of €11.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to a decrease in inventories providing cash of €4.3 million in the same period of 2011. A decrease in receivables provided cash of €2.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared to a decrease in receivables providing cash of €7.2 million, in the same period of 2011.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities.Investing activities in the three months ended March 31, 2012 used cash of €8.2 million, compared to using cash of €7.3 million in the same period of 2011. Capital expenditures in the three months ended March 31, 2012 used cash of €8.5 million, compared to €8.1 million in the same period of 2011. Capital expenditures in the three months ended March 31, 2012 primarily related to Project Blue Mill (defined below) at our Stendal mill and various small projects at the Celgar and Rosenthal mills.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, financing activities used cash of €8.0 million, compared to using cash of €41.7 million in the same period of 2011. In the comparative period of 2011, financing activities used cash of €41.7 million, primarily as a result of cash used to redeem our 9.25% Senior Notes due 2013, to repay €14.6 million of the principal under the Stendal Loan Facility and to repay €14.7 million of borrowings under the revolving facility at our Celgar mill.
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Capital Resources
In January 2012, we committed to implementing a €40.0 million project at the Stendal mill, referred to as “Project Blue Mill”, to increase production and efficiency through debottlenecking initiatives and the installation of a 40 MW steam turbine at the mill. The €40.0 million required to complete Project Blue Mill will primarily be funded through €12.0 million in non-refundable German government grants and a new €17.0 million amortizing term facility. The balance of Project Blue Mill will be funded through operating cash flow of the Stendal mill and €6.5 million in pro rata shareholder loans from Mercer and Stendal’s noncontrolling shareholder. As at March 31, 2012, we had approximately €16.4 million of capital commitments related to Project Blue Mill and approximately €10.6 million set aside in an investment account to manage the project’s costs and funding.
Additionally, as at March 31, 2012, we had approximately €8.5 million in capital commitments related to a project to upgrade our Rosenthal mill’s recovery process.
In February 2012, we entered into a support agreement with Fibrek Inc. (“Fibrek”) whereby we agreed to make a take-over offer to acquire all of Fibrek’s outstanding common shares. Since the minimum tender condition of our offer was not met upon the expiry of our offer on April 27, 2012, we acquired no Fibrek common shares in connection with such transaction.
Other than commitments relating to Project Blue Mill and the recovery upgrade project at our Rosenthal mill, we currently have no material commitments to acquire assets or operating businesses.
Future Liquidity
Based upon the current level of operations and our current expectations for future periods in light of the current economic environment, and in particular, current and expected pulp pricing and foreign exchange rates, we believe that cash flow from operations and available cash, together with available borrowings will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs in the next 12 months.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
There were no material changes outside the ordinary course to any of our material contractual obligations during the first three months of 2012.
The collective agreement with our hourly workers at our Celgar mill expired on April 30, 2012. We consider the relationships with our employees at our Celgar mill to be good and, although no assurance can be provided, we currently expect to enter into a new labor agreement with our Celgar mill’s employees without any significant work stoppage.
Foreign Currency
Our reporting currency is the Euro as the majority of our business transactions are denominated in Euros. However, we hold certain assets and liabilities in U.S. dollars and Canadian dollars. Accordingly, our consolidated financial results are subject to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
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We translate foreign denominated assets and liabilities into Euros at the rate of exchange on the balance sheet date. Equity accounts are translated using historical exchange rates. Unrealized gains or losses from these translations are recorded in our consolidated statement of comprehensive income and impact shareholders’ equity on the balance sheet but do not affect our net income.
In the three months ended March 31, 2012, accumulated other comprehensive income increased by €2.4 million to €23.7 million, primarily due to the foreign currency translation adjustment.
Based upon the exchange rate at March 31, 2012, the U.S. dollar has strengthened by approximately 6% in value against the Euro since March 31, 2011. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk”.
Results of Operations of the Restricted Group under our Senior Note Indenture
The indenture governing our Senior Notes requires that we also provide a discussion in annual and quarterly reports we file with the SEC under Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the results of operations and financial condition of Mercer Inc. and our restricted subsidiaries under the indenture, referred to as the “Restricted Group”. The Restricted Group is comprised of Mercer Inc., our Rosenthal and Celgar mills and certain holding subsidiaries. The Restricted Group excludes our Stendal mill.
The following is a discussion of the results of operations and financial condition of the Restricted Group. For further information regarding the Restricted Group including, without limitation, a reconciliation to our consolidated results of operations, see Note 11 of our Interim Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
Restricted Group Results — Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
Total revenues for the Restricted Group decreased slightly to €117.9 million ($154.6 million) in the first quarter of 2012, compared to €121.1 million ($165.7 million) in the first quarter of 2011 due to higher energy revenues being more than offset by lower average pulp realizations.
Pulp revenues for the Restricted Group for the three months ended March 31, 2012 decreased to €109.9 million from €115.2 million in the comparative period of 2011, primarily due to lower pulp prices, partially offset by higher sales volumes to China and a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro. The U.S. dollar was approximately 4% stronger versus the Euro in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. Energy revenues increased by approximately 38% in the current quarter to €8.0 million from €5.8 million in the same period last year, primarily due to strong pulp production resulting in record first quarter energy sales at both our Celgar and Rosenthal mills.
List prices for NBSK pulp in Europe were approximately $837 (€638) per ADMT in the current quarter, compared to $960 (€702) per ADMT in the same quarter last year. In the first quarter of 2012, average pulp sales realizations for the Restricted Group decreased to €514 per ADMT from €596 per ADMT in the same period last year due to a lower pulp prices partially offset by a stronger U.S. dollar relative to the Euro.
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Pulp production for the Restricted Group marginally increased to 218,620 ADMTs in the first quarter of 2012 from 204,306 ADMTs in the same period of 2011.
Pulp sales volume of the Restricted Group increased to 213,472 ADMTs in the first quarter of 2012 from 193,236 ADMTs in the comparative period of 2011, primarily due to increased sales to China.
Costs and expenses for the Restricted Group in the first quarter of 2012 increased to €112.5 million from €99.8 million in the comparative period of 2011, primarily due to higher sales volumes combined with higher fiber costs at our Celgar mill.
In the first quarter of 2012, operating depreciation and amortization for the Restricted Group remained at €7.6 million compared to the same period last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the Restricted Group marginally increased to €6.5 million from €6.2 million in the comparative period of 2011.
Transportation costs for the Restricted Group increased to €12.9 million in the first quarter of 2012 from €11.2 million in the same quarter last year due to higher sales volumes and increased demand from China.
Overall, per unit fiber costs of the Restricted Group in the first quarter of 2012 increased by approximately 4% compared to the same period in 2011, due to higher costs at our Celgar mill, primarily caused by increased competition for fiber.
In the first quarter of 2012, the Restricted Group reported operating income of €5.4 million compared to operating income of €21.3 million in the first quarter of 2011, primarily due to lower pulp prices.
Interest expense for the Restricted Group decreased to €5.8 million in the first quarter of 2012 from €7.3 million in the same quarter last year, primarily due to lower debt levels.
In the first quarter of 2012, the Restricted Group recorded a foreign exchange gain on foreign currency denominated debt of €nil, compared to a gain on foreign currency denominated debt of €1.1 million in the first quarter of 2011.
During the first quarter of 2012, the Restricted Group recorded €0.7 million of income tax expense, compared to income tax expense of €0.5 million in the same period last year.
The Restricted Group also recorded €0.5 million in other expenses during the first quarter of 2012, related to our take-over bid for Fibrek.
The Restricted Group reported a net loss for the first quarter of 2012 of €0.3 million compared to net income of €15.9 million in the same period last year.
In the first quarter of 2012, the Restricted Group reported Operating EBITDA of €13.1 million compared to Operating EBITDA of €29.0 million in the comparative quarter of 2011. Operating EBITDA is defined as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization and non-recurring capital asset impairment charges. Operating EBITDA has significant limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. See the discussion of our results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 for additional information relating to such limitations of Operating EBITDA.
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The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) to operating income (loss) and Operating EBITDA for the Restricted Group for the periods indicated:
Restricted Group(1)
Other income
Liquidity and Capital Resources of the Restricted Group
The following table is a summary of selected financial information for the Restricted Group at the dates indicated:
Restricted Group Financial Position(1)
Marketable securities(2)
At March 31, 2012, cash and cash equivalents and holdings of short-term German federal government bonds for the Restricted Group increased to €65.8 million from €57.0 million at the end of 2011.
We currently expect the Restricted Group to meet its interest and debt service obligations and meet the working and maintenance capital requirements for its operations for the next 12 months with cash flow from operations, cash on hand and available borrowings.
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Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect both the amount and the timing of the recording of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying note disclosure. Our management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the probable future resolution of the uncertainties increase, these judgments become even more subjective and complex.
Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 1 to our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. While all of the significant accounting policies are important to the consolidated financial statements, some of these policies may be viewed as having a high degree of judgment. On an ongoing basis, using currently available information, management reviews its estimates, including those related to the accounting for pensions and post-retirement benefits, provisions for bad debt and doubtful accounts, derivative instruments, impairment of long-lived assets, deferred taxes, inventory provisions and environmental conservation and legal liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
We have identified certain accounting policies that are the most important to the portrayal of our current financial condition and results of operations.
For information about both our significant and critical accounting policies, see our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
New Accounting Standards
See Note 1 to the Company’s interim consolidated financial statements included in Item 1.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
The statements in this report that are not reported financial results or other historical information are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “seeks”, “estimates”, or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as “will”, “should”, “could”, or “may”, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations, forecasts and assumptions by our management and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other 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:
the highly cyclical nature of our business;
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;
non-compliance with the covenants of the Stendal Loan Facility could have a material adverse effect on the Stendal mill and our consolidated results of operations and business;
cyclical fluctuations in the price and supply of our raw materials could adversely affect our business;
we operate in highly competitive markets;
we are exposed to currency exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations;
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;
we use derivatives to manage certain risks which has caused significant fluctuations in our operating results;
we are subject to extensive environmental regulation and we could have environmental liabilities at our facilities;
Project Blue Mill might not generate the results we expect;
our business is subject to risks associated with climate change and social government responses thereto;
we are subject to risks related to our employees;
we rely on German federal and state government grants and guarantees;
risks relating to our participation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme and the application of Germany’s Renewable Energy Resources Act;
we are dependent on key personnel;
we may experience material disruptions to our production;
we may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, terrorist attacks or natural disasters;
our insurance coverage may not be adequate; and
we rely on third parties for transportation services.
Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. The forgoing review of important factors is not exhaustive or necessarily in order of importance and should be read in conjunction with the risks and assumptions including those set forth in reports and other documents we have filed with or furnished to the SEC, including in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. We advise you that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify in their entirety all forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf. Unless required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements based on unanticipated events or changed expectations. However, you should carefully review the reports and other documents we file from time to time with the SEC.
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Cyclical Nature of Business
The pulp business is highly cyclical in nature and markets for our principal products are characterized by periods of supply and demand imbalance, which in turn affects product prices. Pulp markets are highly competitive and are sensitive to cyclical changes in the global economy, industry capacity and foreign exchange rates, all of which can have a significant influence on selling prices and our operating results. The length and magnitude of industry cycles have varied over time but generally reflect changes in macro-economic conditions and levels of industry capacity.
Industry capacity can fluctuate as changing industry conditions can influence producers to idle production or permanently close machines or entire mills. In addition, to avoid substantial cash costs in idling or closing a mill, some producers will choose to operate at a loss, sometimes even a cash loss, which can prolong weak pricing environments due to oversupply. Oversupply of our products can also result from producers introducing new capacity in response to favorable pricing trends.
Demand for pulp has historically been determined by the level of economic growth and has been closely tied to overall business activity. From 2006 to mid-2008, pulp prices in Europe steadily improved. However, in the latter half of 2008, a global economic crisis resulted in a sharp decline of European pulp prices from a high of $900 per ADMT to $635 per ADMT at the end of 2008. 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. Pulp prices again rebounded to record levels in the first half of 2011 but declined sharply in the latter part of the year, primarily due to economic uncertainty in Europe and credit tightening in China. Despite continued economic uncertainty in Europe, European pulp prices stabilized at approximately €837 per ADMT in the first quarter of 2012.
Prices for pulp are driven by many factors outside our control, and we have little influence over the timing and extent of price changes, which are often volatile. Because market conditions beyond our control determine the price for pulp, such pulp may fall below our cash production costs, requiring us to either incur short-term losses on product sales or cease production at one or more of our mills. Therefore, our profitability depends on managing our cost structure, particularly raw materials which represent a significant component of our operating costs and can fluctuate based upon factors beyond our control. If the prices of our products decline, or if prices for our raw materials increase, or both, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Costs
Our production costs are influenced by the availability and cost of raw materials, energy and labor, and our plant efficiencies and productivity. Our main raw material is fiber in the form of wood chips and pulp logs. Fiber costs are primarily affected by the supply of, and demand for, lumber which is highly cyclical in nature and can vary significantly by location. The state of lumber markets affects both the amount of sawmill residuals, such as chips, produced as a by-product of lumber and the level of timber harvesting, which provides us with pulp logs. Production costs also depend on the total volume of production. Lower operating rates and production efficiencies during periods of cyclically low demand result in higher average production costs and lower margins.
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Currency
The majority of our sales are in products quoted in U.S. dollars while most of our operating costs and expenses, other than those of the Celgar mill, are incurred in Euros. In addition, all of the products sold by the Celgar mill are quoted in U.S. dollars and the Celgar mill costs are primarily incurred in Canadian dollars. Our results of operations and financial condition are reported in Euros. As a result, our revenues are adversely affected by a decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Euro and to the Canadian dollar. Such shifts in currencies relative to the Euro and the Canadian dollar reduce our operating margins and the cash flow available to fund our operations and to service our debt. Conversely, an increase in the U.S. dollar versus the Euro and the Canadian dollar positively impacts our revenues by increasing our operating margins and cash flow.
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We are exposed to market risks from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, particularly the exchange rate between the Euro and the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar and the Euro. Changes in these rates may affect our results of operations and financial condition and, consequently, our fair value. We seek to manage these risks through internal risk management policies, as well as the use of derivatives. We use derivatives to reduce or limit our exposure to interest rate and, from time to time, currency risks. We may in the future use derivatives to reduce or limit our exposure to fluctuations in pulp prices. We also use derivatives to reduce our potential losses or to augment our potential gains, depending on our management’s perception of future economic events and developments. These types of derivatives are generally highly speculative in nature. They are also very volatile as they are highly leveraged given that margin requirements are relatively low in proportion to notional amounts.
Many of our strategies, including the use of derivatives, and the types of derivatives selected by us, are based on historical trading patterns and correlations and our management’s expectations of future events. However, these strategies may not be effective in all market environments or against all types of risks. Unexpected market developments may affect our risk management strategies during this time, and unanticipated developments could impact our risk management strategies in the future. If any of the variety of instruments and strategies we utilize are not effective, we may incur significant losses.
All of our derivatives are marked to market at the end of each reporting period, and all unrealized gains and losses are recognized in earnings for a reporting period. We determine market valuations based primarily upon observable inputs including applicable yield curves.
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we recorded an unrealized gain of €0.9 million on our outstanding interest rate derivative compared to an unrealized gain of €12.2 million in the same period of 2011.
We are also subject to some energy price risk, primarily for the natural gas and the electricity that our operations purchase.
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Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on such evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
It should be noted that any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions designed to obtain reasonable (and not absolute) assurance as to its effectiveness, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals.
Changes in Internal Controls.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
We are subject to routine litigation incidental to our business, including those described in our latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. We do not believe that the outcome of such litigation will have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition.
If our Stendal mill is not in compliance with its covenants under the Stendal Loan Facility and it is unable to obtain a waiver or other satisfactory arrangement with its lenders, it would have a material adverse effect on the Stendal mill and our consolidated results of operations and business.
Because of potential changes to foreign exchange rates and pulp prices we can give no assurance that the Stendal mill will be in compliance with the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio as of June 30, 2012. We have entered into discussions with the Stendal mill’s lenders and expect to receive, if required, a satisfactory amendment or waiver. Additionally, we have the right to cure any breach of the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio by providing additional equity to Stendal. In the event that the Stendal mill is not in compliance with the Senior Debt/EBITDA Cover Ratio, we are not able to acquire a satisfactory amendment or waiver of such covenant, and we do not undertake to cure the breach by providing additional equity to Stendal, the Stendal mill will be in default under the Stendal Loan Facility and the Stendal mill’s lenders will be entitled to pursue their rights and remedies under such facility. This would have a material adverse effect on the Stendal mill and our consolidated results of operations and business.
Other than as listed above, there have been no material changes to the factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
None.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ David M. Gandossi
Date: May 7, 2012
QUARTERLY REPORT - PAGE 44