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The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1. The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Background

 

Mercer International Inc. (“Mercer Inc.”) is a Washington corporation and its shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

Mercer Inc. owns and operates four pulp manufacturing facilities, two in Canada and two in Germany, one sawmill and one timber processing and value-add pallet production facility in Germany. The Company also owns three mass timber production facilities, two located in the U.S. and one in Canada.

 

In these consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars (“$”). The symbol “€” refers to euros and the symbol “C$” refers to Canadian dollars.

Basis of Presentation

These consolidated financial statements contained herein include the accounts of Mercer Inc. and all of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Mercer Inc. owns 100% of its subsidiaries. In 2024, the Company disposed of its 50% joint venture interest in Cariboo Pulp & Paper Company (“CPP”) with West Fraser Mills Ltd. (“West Fraser”) which prior to the disposal was accounted for using the equity method.

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, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for long-lived assets, depreciation and amortization, pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations, deferred income taxes (valuation allowance and permanent reinvestment), revenues under long-term contracts, inventory impairment, legal liabilities and contingencies. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.

Significant Accounting Policies

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at cost, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company reviews the collectability of accounts receivable at each reporting date and maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts at an amount estimated to cover the expected losses on uninsured accounts receivable. 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, financial position of the debtors and current market conditions.

The Company’s credit risk associated with its sales is currently managed through the purchase of credit insurance, obtaining letters of credit and setting credit limits prior to the sale. The Company reviews new customers’ credit history before granting credit and conducts regular reviews of existing customers’ credit.

Inventories

Inventories of raw materials, finished goods and work in progress are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value and are released from inventory on the same basis. Spare parts and other materials 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. Raw materials inventories include pulp logs, sawlogs, wood chips and lumber. These inventories are located both at the mills, or facilities, and at various offsite locations. In accordance with industry practice, physical inventory counts utilize standardized techniques to estimate quantities of such 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. The amortization periods have been provided in the Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Note.

The costs of major rebuilds, replacements and those expenditures that substantially increase the useful lives of existing property, plant and equipment are capitalized. The Company capitalizes interest on borrowings during the construction period of major capital projects as part of the related asset. The cost of repairs and maintenance as well as planned shutdown maintenance performed on manufacturing facilities, composed of labor, materials and other incremental costs, is recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as incurred.

The Company provides for asset retirement obligations when there is a legislated or contractual basis for those obligations. An obligation is recorded as a liability at fair value in the period in which the Company incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement of an asset. The associated costs are capitalized as part of the carrying value of the related asset and amortized over its remaining useful life. The liability is accreted using a credit adjusted risk-free interest rate.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The unit of account for impairment testing for long-lived assets is its “Asset Group”, which includes property, plant and equipment and amortizable intangible assets, and liabilities directly related to those assets. The Company evaluates an Asset Group for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable, such as continuing operating losses. When an indicator that the carrying value of an Asset Group may not be recoverable is triggered, the Company compares the carrying value of the Asset Group to its forecasted undiscounted future cash flows. If the carrying value of the Asset Group is greater than the forecasted undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recorded based on the excess of the Asset Group’s carrying value over its fair value.

Leases

The Company determines if a contract contains a lease at inception. Leases are classified as either operating or finance leases. Leases with a term of less than 12 months are not recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and are expensed over the term of the lease in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Operating and finance lease right-of-use assets and the related liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of the future lease payments over the term of the lease. Renewal and termination options are included in the lease terms when it is reasonably certain that they will be exercised. In determining the present value of lease payments, the Company uses the implicit rate when readily determinable, or the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate, which is based on information available at the lease commencement date.

Government Grants

The Company records grants from federal, provincial and state governments when the conditions of their receipt are complied with and there is reasonable assurance that the grants will be 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 restricting the type or location of the assets and/or other conditions that must be met. Grants related to assets are deducted from the cost of the assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and amortized over the same period as the related asset in “Cost of sales depreciation and amortization” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Grants related to income are government grants which are either unconditional, related to reduced environmental emissions or related to the Company’s normal business operations, and are reported as a reduction of related expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company is required to pay certain fees based on wastewater emissions at its German mills. Accrued fees can be reduced upon the mills’ demonstration of improved wastewater emissions. The fees are expensed as incurred and the fee reduction is recognized once the Company has reasonable assurance that the German regulators will accept the lower level of wastewater emissions. Both the fees and the fee reduction are recognized in “Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. There may be a significant period of time between recognition of the wastewater expense and recognition of the wastewater fee reduction.

Amortizable Intangible Assets

Amortizable intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is based on the estimated useful lives of the intangible assets and is computed using the straight-line method. The amortization periods have been provided in the Amortizable Intangible Assets, Net Note.

Pension Plans

The Company maintains defined benefit pension plans for its Peace River employees and its salaried employees at the Celgar mill which are funded and non-contributory. The cost of the benefits earned by the employees is determined using the projected unit credit benefit method prorated on years of service. 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) prior service costs, and (ii) the net actuarial gain or loss that exceeds 10% of the greater of the accrued benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets as of the beginning of the year. The Company recognizes the net funded status of the plan.

The Company also has a multiemployer pension plan and defined contribution plans for which contributions are expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Foreign Operations and Currency Translation

The Company determines its foreign subsidiaries’ functional currency by reviewing the currency of the primary economic environment in which the foreign subsidiaries operate, which is normally the currency of the environment in which the foreign subsidiaries generate and expend cash. The Company translates assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. dollar functional currency subsidiaries into U.S. dollars using the rate in effect at the balance sheet date and revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange throughout the period. Foreign currency translation gains and losses are recognized within “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the respective functional currencies of each operation using exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are translated to the functional currency using the exchange rate at that date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency using historical exchange rates. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions related to operating activities are included in “Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization” while those related to non-operating activities are included in “Other income” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Where intercompany loans are of a long-term investment nature, exchange rate changes are included as a foreign currency translation adjustment within “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with its customer are satisfied; generally this occurs with the transfer of control of the products sold. Transfer of control to the customer is based on the standardized shipping terms in the contract as this determines when the Company has the right to payment, the customer has legal title to the asset and the customer has the risks of ownership. Payment is due, and revenue and a receivable is recognized after control has transferred to the customer. Payment terms are defined in the contract as typically due within three months after control has transferred to the customer, and as such, the contract does not have a significant financing component.

A contract liability is created when the customer prepays for goods prior to the Company transferring control over those goods to the customer. The contract liability is reduced and revenue is recognized once control of the goods is transferred to the customer.

The Company excludes value-added taxes, sales and other taxes it collects from the customer on behalf of third parties concurrent with revenue-producing activities from revenues.

The Company may arrange shipping and handling activities as part of the sale of its products. The Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur after the customer has obtained control of the product as a fulfillment cost rather than as an additional promised service.

The following is a description of the principal activities from which the Company generates its revenues. For a breakdown of revenues by product and geographic location see the Segment Information Note.

Pulp and Lumber Revenues

For European sales sent by truck or train from the mills directly to the customer, the contracted sales terms are such that control transfers once the truck or train leaves the mill. For orders sent by ocean freighter, the contract terms state that control transfers at the time the product passes the ship’s rail. For North American sales shipped by truck or train, the contracts state that control transfers once the truck or train has arrived at the customer’s specified location.

The transaction price is included in the sales contract and is net of customer discounts, rebates and other selling concessions.

The Company’s pulp sales are to tissue and paper producers and the Company’s lumber sales are to manufacturers and retailers. The Company’s sales in Europe and North America are direct to the customer. The Company’s pulp sales to overseas customers are primarily through third-party sales agents and the Company’s lumber sales to overseas customers are either direct to the customer or through third-party sales agents. The Company is the principal in all of the arrangements with third-party sales agents.

Energy Revenues

Energy sales are to utility companies in Canada and Germany. Sales of energy are recognized as the electricity is consumed by the customer and is based on contractual usage rates and meter readings that measure electricity consumption.

Pallet, Chemical, Biofuel and Wood Residual Revenues

Pallet, chemical, biofuel and wood residual revenues sold from the German mills are sold primarily into the European market. Pallet and biofuel sales are sold to the customer or to a trader. Chemical and wood residual sales are sold direct to the customer. These sales typically have shipping terms where control transfers once the product is loaded onto the truck at the mill.

Mass Timber Revenues

Mass timber includes cross-laminated timber (“CLT”) and glue-laminated timber (“glulam”), manufactured at our mass timber production facilities. A mass timber sales contract will typically represent a single distinct performance obligation due to the highly interdependent and interrelated nature of the underlying goods and services provided.

Mass timber contract revenue is recognized over the contract term as the work progresses because of the continuous transfer of control to the customer. The customer typically controls the work in process as evidenced by the Company's right to payment of the transaction price associated with work performed to date on products or services that do not have an alternative use to the Company.

The accounting for the mass timber contracts involves a judgmental process of estimating total sales, costs and profit for the performance obligation. Cost of sales is recognized as incurred. The amount reported as revenues is determined by adding a proportionate amount of the estimated profit to the amount reported as cost of sales. Recognizing revenue as costs are incurred provides an objective measure of progress and thereby best depicts the extent of transfer of control to the customer. Changes in estimated revenues, cost of sales and the related effect on operating income (loss) are recognized using a cumulative catch-up adjustment which recognizes in the current period the cumulative effect of the changes on current and prior periods based on the contract’s percentage-of-completion.

The Company has elected to omit disclosure of information about the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations and when revenue will be recognized for its mass timber contracts as these contracts are expected to be completed within 12 months.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling costs are recognized in “Revenues” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company are included in “Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations at the time the related revenue is recognized.

Insurance Claims

The Company records business interruption insurance proceeds once the insurance provider acknowledges that the claim is covered and agrees in writing to the amount to be paid for the claim. The Company reports business interruption insurance proceeds in “Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company records property insurance proceeds up to the amount of the related impairment when it is probable the proceeds will be received. Proceeds in excess of the impairment are recorded once the insurance provider acknowledges that the claim is covered and agrees in writing to the amount to be paid for the claim. The Company reports property insurance proceeds in the same line item in which the related impairment was recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company's stock incentive plan consists of stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), deferred stock units (“DSUs”), restricted shares, performance shares, performance share units (“PSUs”) and stock appreciation rights. The stock-based compensation expense is recognized over an award’s requisite service period based on the award’s fair value in “Selling, general, and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock-based compensation awards.

PSUs provide the holder the right to receive upon vesting a common share of the Company, a cash payment or a combination of common shares or cash, as determined by the Company, if certain market and/or performance goals established by the Company are met. The performance objective period is generally three years. The fair value of PSUs granted with a performance condition is based on the expected number of shares to be awarded and the quoted price of the Company’s shares on the grant date. The fair value of PSUs granted with a market condition is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model which utilizes inputs such as the current share price, expected volatility and a risk-free interest rate.

The fair value of equity settled restricted shares, RSUs, and DSUs (“Equity DSUs”) is based on the quoted price of the Company’s shares on the grant date. The vesting period for restricted shares and Equity DSUs is generally one year. The vesting period for RSUs is generally three years.

DSUs which are settled in cash (“Cash Only DSUs”), are settled based on the quoted price of the Company's shares on the redemption date. Prior to its settlement, Cash Only DSUs are accounted for as a liability and measured based on the quoted price of the Company's shares on the balance sheet date. The change in the fair value of the outstanding Cash Only DSUs is recorded as an expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The vesting period is generally one year or less.

Income Taxes

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 basis, 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 deferred tax liabilities and assets are offset and presented as a single net amount.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company occasionally enters into derivative financial instruments to manage certain market risks. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments and accordingly, are recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets with the changes in fair value recognized in “Other income” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Periodically, the Company enters into derivative contracts to purchase materials for its own use, and also enter into contracts to sell commodities that result in physical delivery. As these contracts result in physical delivery and are intended to be utilized or sold as part of the Company’s ordinary course of business, they qualify for the normal purchases and normal sales exception and as such are exempt from mark-to-market accounting.

Fair Value Measurements

The fair value methodologies and, as a result, the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value are determined based on the fair value hierarchy provided in the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“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 commodity prices or 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 financial instrument’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share

Basic net income (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share is calculated to give effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding by applying the “Treasury Stock” and “If-Converted” methods. Instruments that could have a potentially dilutive effect on the Company’s weighted average shares outstanding include all or a portion of outstanding stock options, RSUs, Equity DSUs, restricted shares, performance shares, PSUs and stock appreciation rights.

Assets and Liabilities Classified as Held for Sale

Assets (and disposal groups) are classified as held for sale if their carrying amount will be recovered primarily through a sale as opposed to continued use by the Company. Assets (and disposal groups) to be disposed that meet the held for sale criteria are reported at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell and are no longer depreciated.

Operating Segments

An operating segment is a component of the Company for which discrete financial information is available and whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance, and that engages in business activities from which it may earn revenue and incur expenses, including revenue and expenses that relate to transactions with any of the Company’s other operations. The Company makes adjustments and eliminations in preparing the financial statements and allocates revenues, expenses, and gains and losses in determining the reported segment performance measures, only if they are included in the performance measures used by the CODM.

New Accounting Pronouncements Adopted

Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures

 

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2023-09, which requires additional disaggregation of the reconciliation between the statutory and effective tax rate for an entity and of income taxes paid. The amendments improve the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information by jurisdiction. ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company has elected to apply this guidance prospectively in the Income Taxes Note by providing the required disclosures for the period ended December 31, 2025 and continuing to provide the pre-ASU 2023-09 disclosures for the comparative periods.

Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted

Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, which expands disclosures about specific expense categories presented on the face of the statement of operations and addresses requests from investors for more detailed information about the types of expenses (including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, and depreciation and amortization) in commonly presented expense captions (such as cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses). ASU 2024-03 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim periods thereafter with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2024-03 to the consolidated financial statements.