May 22, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Mercer International Inc. announced on Monday, May 22 that it has commenced a public offering of its shares of common stock. The company plans to offer approximately 9 000 000 of its shares of common stock. The offering will be made under the company's shelf registration statement filed with the securities and exchange commission and dated December 23, 2004. The net proceeds from the offering will be used to increase the company's equity capital and liquidity. Such proceeds may be utilized to retire debt and for general corporate purposes, including working capital and incremental projects to improve the performance of the company's pulp mills that may arise from time to time. Raymond James and RBC Capital Markets will be lead managers for the offering of the shares of common stock, with UBS Investment Bank serving as co-manager. Mercer International Inc. is a global pulp and paper manufacturing company and operates three modern NBSK pulp mills in Germany and Canada with a consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 1.3 million tonnes.