Mercer International Inc. Completes Private Add-On Offering of $200,000,000 of 2028 Senior Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

Mercer International (Nasdaq: MERC) has completed a private offering of $200 million in 12.875% senior notes due October 1, 2028, issued at 103.000% of principal amount. The Additional Notes, combined with cash on hand, will be used to redeem $300 million of 5.500% senior notes due 2026. The redemption is scheduled for November 1, 2024. This transaction will result in a $100 million reduction in total debt. The Additional Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons under Regulation S of the Securities Act.

Positive

• Total debt reduction of $100 million
• Successful completion of $200 million notes offering

Negative

• Higher interest rate on new notes (12.875%) compared to existing notes (5.500%)
• Notes issued at premium of 103.000% of principal amount

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mercer International Inc. (Nasdaq: MERC) (the "Company") today announced that it has completed its previously announced private offering of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 12.875% senior notes due October 1, 2028 (the "Additional Notes").

The Additional Notes were issued at a price of 103.000% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest from October 1, 2024, for a yield to worst of 11.624%. The Additional Notes were issued as additional notes under the indenture dated September 21, 2023, pursuant to which the Company previously issued $200.0 million aggregate principal of 12.875% senior notes due 2028. The net proceeds of the offering, along with cash on hand, will be used by the Company to redeem $300.0 million in principal amount of its currently outstanding 5.500% senior notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes").

Pursuant to the previously announced redemption, the Company will redeem all $300.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of 2026 Notes on November 1, 2024 at $1,000 per $1,000 of principal amount redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including the redemption date.

As a result of the completion of the offering and the redemption, the Company will have reduced its total debt by $100.0 million.

The Additional Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Additional Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption form, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Additional Notes in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Mercer International Inc. is a global forest products company with operations in Germany, the United States and Canada with consolidated annual production capacity of 2.1 million tonnes of pulp, 960 million board feet of lumber, 210,000 cubic meters of cross-laminated timber, 45,000 cubic meters of glulam, 17 million pallets and 230,000 metric tonnes of biofuels.

The preceding contains "forward looking statements" which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. In particular, statements about our plans or intentions regarding the intended use of proceeds of the Additional Notes and the completion of the redemption of the 2026 Notes are forward looking statements and may not necessarily occur. Words such as "expects", "anticipates", "projects", "intends", "designed", "will", "believes", "estimates", "may", "could" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the highly cyclical nature of our business, raw material costs, our level of indebtedness, competition, foreign exchange and interest rate fluctuations, expenditures for capital projects, environmental regulation and compliance, disruptions to our production, market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our SEC reports.

APPROVED BY:
William D. McCartney
Chairman of the Board
(604) 684-1099

Juan Carlos Bueno
Chief Executive Officer
(604) 684-1099

FAQ

What is the value of Mercer International's (MERC) new senior notes offering?

Mercer International completed a $200 million private offering of 12.875% senior notes due October 1, 2028.

How much debt will MERC reduce through this refinancing?

Through this refinancing, Mercer International will reduce its total debt by $100 million.

When will MERC redeem its 2026 senior notes?

Mercer International will redeem $300 million of its 5.500% senior notes due 2026 on November 1, 2024.

What is the interest rate on MERC's new 2028 senior notes?

The new senior notes due 2028 carry an interest rate of 12.875%.