Mercer International Inc. Presents at Barclay's High Yield Bond and Syndicated Loan Conference, May-21-2013 05:25 PM. Venue: JW Marriott Chicago, 151 W. Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Speakers: David M. Gandossi, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Executive Vice President of Finance and Secretary.

Mercer International Inc. reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. For the quarter, the company's total revenue was EUR 198,272,000 against EUR 218,358,000 a year ago, decreased by approximately 9%, due to lower pulp revenues and energy and chemical revenues. Operating income was EUR 9,548,000 against EUR 16,243,000 a year ago, primarily due to the combined effect of lower pulp prices and sales volumes. Income before income taxes was EUR 1,150,000 against EUR 2,576,000 a year ago. Net cash from operating activities was EUR 21,948,000 against EUR 36,137,000 a year ago. Purchase of property, plant and equipment was EUR 11,395,000 against EUR 8,465,000 a year ago. Operating EBITDA was EUR 24,342,000 against EUR 30,593,000 a year ago. The company reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of EUR 0.4 million, or EUR 0.01 per basic and diluted share, for the first quarter of 2013, which included a net non-cash unrealized gain of EUR 4.7 million on the fixed price pulp swaps and Stendal interest rate derivative, partially offset by a non-cash charge for stock compensation of EUR 0.3 million. In the first quarter of 2012, the company reported net income attributable to common shareholders of EUR 1.2 million, or EUR 0.02 per basic and diluted share, which included a non-cash unrealized gain of EUR 0.9 million on the Stendal interest rate derivative, offset by a non-cash charge for stock compensation of EUR 0.9 million. The company reported production results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. Pulp production decreased by approximately 5% to 361,164 ADMTs in the current quarter from 380,342 ADMTs in the same quarter of 2012, primarily due to decreased pulp production at Celgar and Stendal mills. The company has 11 days (approximately 16,000 ADMTs) of maintenance downtime scheduled for Celgar mill in the second quarter of 2013 in order to perform annual maintenance.

Mercer International Inc. announced unaudited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2012. Total revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2012 decreased to €188.4 million ($244.4 million) from €231.6 million ($312.1 million) in the same period in 2011. Pulp revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2012 decreased by approximately 20% to €171.3 million from €213.2 million in the comparative period of 2011, primarily due to lower average pulp sales realizations and pulp sales volumes during the period, partially offset by a stronger USD relative to the Euro. Energy and chemical revenues decreased by approximately 6% in the fourth quarter of 2012 to €17.2 million from €18.3 million in the same quarter last year, as a result of lower pulp production. For the fourth quarter of 2012, operating income increased to €7.3 million from €3.0 million in the comparative quarter of 2011, primarily due to lower fiber costs and a stronger USD against the Euro, partially offset by lower average pulp sales realizations. In the fourth quarter of 2012, Operating EBITDA increased to €21.3 million from €17.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. The company reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of €5.2 million, or €0.09 per basic and diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to a net loss attributable to common shareholders of €1.8 million, or €0.03 per basic and diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2011. Loss before income taxes was €3.946 million compared to €11.301 million a year ago period. Total revenues for 2012 decreased to €834.1 million ($1,072.7 million) from €899.5 million ($1,252.0 million) in 2011. Pulp revenues for 2012 decreased by approximately 8% to million from €831.4 million in 2011, primarily due to lower average pulp sales realizations, partially offset by higher pulp sales volumes and a stronger USD relative to the Euro. Energy and chemical revenues increased by approximately 6% in 2012 to an annual record of €72.3 million from €68.1 million in 2011, primarily as a result of record pulp production. For 2012, operating income decreased to €49.0 million from €111.1 million in 2011, primarily due to lower average pulp sales realizations, partially offset by a stronger USD relative to the Euro and lower fiber costs. In 2012, Operating EBITDA decreased to €107.1 million from €167.1 million in 2011. The company reported a net loss attributable to common shareholders of €12.2 million, or €0.22 per basic and diluted share, for 2012, which included a total non-cash unrealized gain of €2.5 million on Stendal interest rate and pulp price derivatives. In 2011, the company reported net income attributable to common shareholders of €50.1 million, or €1.00 per basic and per diluted share, which included a non-cash unrealized loss of €1.4 million on the Stendal interest rate derivative. Loss before income taxes was €3.198 million compared to income before income taxes of €53.311 million a year ago period. Net cash from operating activities was €45.973 million compared to €111.055 million a year ago period. Purchase of property, plant and equipment was €36.704 million compared to €37.809 million a year ago period. Pulp production decreased to 349,517 ADMTs in the current quarter from 364,876 ADMTs in the same quarter of 2011, primarily due to greater than planned maintenance downtime at the Celgar mill, partially offset by record production at the Rosenthal mill. In the current quarter, equipment and process disruptions at the Celgar mill resulted in approximately 14,000 ADMTs of lost production. Pulp sales volumes decreased by approximately 16% and 17% to 335,215 ADMTs in the current quarter from 400,005 ADMTs and 404,301 ADMTs in the comparative and prior quarters, respectively, primarily as a result of lower sales to China. Pulp sales volumes in the comparative and prior quarters were particularly strong as a result of strong sales volumes to China. Average pulp sales realizations decreased by 4% to 504 ($654) per ADMT in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to 527 ($710) per ADMT in the same period last year, due to lower NBSK pulp prices. Pulp sales volumes increased by approximately 3% to a record 1,473,519 ADMTs in 2012 from 1,427,924 ADMTs in 2011, primarily as a result of increased sales to China. Average pulp sales realizations decreased by 11% to 511 per ADMT in 2012, compared to 574 per ADMT in 2011, primarily due to lower pulp prices, only partially offset by a stronger USD relative to the Euro.