FORM 6 - K

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

As of 3/27/2015

 

 

 

Ternium S.A.

(Translation of Registrant's name into English)

 

 

Ternium S.A.
29 Avenue de la Porte-Neuve

L-2227 Luxembourg

(352) 2668-3152

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or 40-F.

 

Form 20-F  Ö    Form 40-F     

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12G3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

                                                            Yes          No  Ö                                                         

 

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

Not applicable

 


 
 

                                                                                                                                               

The attached material is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 13a-16 and Form 6-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

This report contains Terniums’ notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, the Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement and Ternium's 2014 Annual Report.

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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.

 

 

TERNIUM S.A.

 

 

By: /s/ Arturo Sporleder                      

Name: Arturo Sporleder

Title: Secretary to the Board of Directors

 

 

Dated: March 27, 2015

 


 
 

Ternium

Ternium S.A.

29, Avenue de la Porte Neuve

L-2227 Luxembourg

Grand Duché de Luxembourg

 

00 352 26 68 31 52 500 tel

00 352 26 68 31 52 549 fax

www.ternium.com

 

RCS Luxembourg B 98 668

 

 

March 27, 2015

 

Dear Ternium Shareholders and ADR holders,

 

I am pleased to invite you to attend the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meetings”) of TERNIUM S.A. (the “Company”), both to be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in 29, avenue de la Porte-Neuve, L-2227, Luxembourg. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will begin at 2:30 p.m., (Luxembourg time), and the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

 

At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, you will hear a report on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations and will be able to vote on various matters, including the approval of the Company’s financial statements, the election of the members of the board of directors and the appointment of the independent auditors. Subsequently, the Extraordinary General Meeting will resolve on the renewal for a further five-year period and on their current terms and conditions of the authorized share capital of the Company and related authorizations and waivers.

 

The convening Notice and Agenda for both the Meetings (which contains the procedures for attending and/or voting at the Meetings), the Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement, the Company’s 2014 annual report (which includes the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, together with the board of directors’ and independent auditors’ reports thereon, and the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014, together with the independent auditor’s report thereon) and the report of the Company’s board of directors in connection with the proposed waiver of, suppression of, and authorization to suppress or limit, pre-emptive subscription rights of existing shareholders under law, will be available on our website at http://www.ternium.com/en/ir-home beginning on March 27, 2015.  Copies of such documents will also be available, free of charge, to ADR holders and shareholders registered in the Company’s share register at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Luxembourg time, beginning on March 27, 2015. In addition, beginning on March 27, 2015, shareholders registered in the Company’s share register may obtain, also free of charge, electronic copies of such documents by sending an e-mail request to the following electronic address: ir@ternium.com.

 

Even if you only own a few shares or ADRs, I hope that you will exercise your right to vote or instruct voting at both Meetings.  If you are a holder of shares on May 1, 2015, you can attend and/or vote, personally or by proxy, at one or both Meetings. If you are a holder of ADRs, please see the letter from The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary bank, or contact your broker/custodian, for instructions on how to give voting instructions in respect of the shares underlying your ADRs.

 

Please note the requirements you must satisfy to attend and/or vote your shares at the Meetings.

 

Yours sincerely,


Paolo Rocca

Chairman

 


 
 

 

 

               

                Re: TERNIUM S.A.

 

To:          Registered Holders of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”)

                for ordinary shares, USD 1.00 par value each (the “Shares”), of

                Ternium S.A. (the “Company”):

 

The Company has announced that its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on May 6, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. (Luxembourg time) and that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Both meetings (the “Meetings”) will take place at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, located at 29, avenue de la Porte-Neuve, L-2227, Luxembourg.  A copy of the Company’s Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, which includes the agenda for the Meetings, is available on the Company’s website at http://www.ternium.com/en/ir-home.

 

The enclosed dedicated proxy form is provided to allow you to give voting instructions in respect of the Shares represented by your ADRs. The Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, the Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement and the Company’s 2014 annual report (which includes the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, together with the board of directors’ and the independent auditors’ reports thereon; and the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014, together with the independent auditors’ report thereon), are available on the Company’s website at http://www.ternium.com/en/ir-home. ADR holders may also obtain, free of charge, copies of such materials upon request at +1-800-555-2470 (toll free if you call from the United States) or at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.(Luxembourg time).

 

Each holder of ADRs as of April 7, 2015, is entitled to instruct The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary (the “Depositary”), as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Shares represented by such holder’s ADRs. Any eligible holder of ADRs who desires to give voting instructions in respect of the Shares represented by such holder’s ADRs must complete, date and sign a proxy form and return it to The Bank of New York Mellon at Proxy Services, C/O Computershare, PO Box 43126, Providence, RI 02940-5138, by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015. If the Depositary receives properly completed and signed instructions by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015, then it shall endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the Shares underlying such ADRs in the manner prescribed by the instructions. However, if by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015, the Depositary receives no instructions from the holder of ADRs, or the instructions received by the Depositary are not in proper form, then the Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed the Depositary to give, and the Depositary shall give, a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that amount of Shares underlying such ADRs to vote such Shares in favor of any proposals or recommendations of the Company (including any recommendation by the Company to vote such Shares on any issue in accordance with the majority shareholders’ vote on that issue) as determined by the appointed proxy. No instruction shall be deemed given and no discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary that (x) it does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists, or (z) the matter materially and adversely affects the rights of the holders of ADRs.

 

Any holder of ADRs is entitled to revoke or revise any instructions previously given to the Depositary by filing with the Depositary a written revocation or duly executed instructions bearing a later date at any time prior to 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015. No instructions, revocations or revisions thereof will be accepted by the Depositary after that time.

 

In order to avoid the possibility of double vote, the Company’s ADR books will be closed for cancellations from April 7, 2015, until May 1, 2015. However, holders of ADRs need not have their ADRs blocked for trading on the New York stock exchange.

 

 

IF YOU WANT YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED, THE DEPOSITARY MUST RECEIVE YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO 12:00 P.M. (NEW YORK CITY TIME) ON April 30, 2015.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

Depositary

 

March 27, 2015

New York, New York

 


 
 

 

Ternium

Ternium S.A.

29, Avenue de la Porte Neuve

L-2227 Luxembourg

Grand Duché de Luxembourg

 

00 352 26 68 31 52 500 tel

00 352 26 68 31 52 549 fax

www.ternium.com

 

RCS Luxembourg B 98 668

 

Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held in Luxembourg on May 6, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. (Luxembourg time) and of an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Notice is hereby given to shareholders of TERNIUM S.A. (the “Company”) that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company will be held on May 6, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. (Luxembourg time) and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Both meetings (the “Meetings”) will be held at the Company’s registered office located at 29, Avenue de la Porte Neuve, L-2227 Luxembourg.  At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders will vote on the items listed below under the heading “Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders”.  At the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, shareholders will vote on the items listed below under the heading “Agenda for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders”.

 

Agenda for the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

 

1.                   Consideration of the Board of Directors’ and independent auditor’s reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Approval of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

2.                   Consideration of the independent auditor’s report on the Company’s annual accounts. Approval of the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014.

 

3.                   Allocation of results and approval of dividend payment for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

4.                   Discharge of members of the Board of Directors for the exercise of their mandate during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

5.                   Election of the members of the Board of Directors.

 

6.                   Authorization of the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors.

 

7.                   Appointment of the independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 and approval of their fees.

 

8.                   Authorization to the Company, or any subsidiary, from time to time to purchase, acquire or receive securities of the Company, in accordance with Article 49-2 of the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 and with applicable laws and regulations.

 

9.                   Authorization to the Board of Directors to delegate the day-to-day management of the Company’s business to one or more of its members.

 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.               Authorization to the Board of Directors to appoint one or more of its members as the Company’s attorney-in-fact.

 

Agenda for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders

 

1.         Decision on the renewal of the authorized share capital of the Company and related authorizations and waivers by:

 

a.       the renewal of the validity period of the Company’s authorized share capital for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting; 

b.       the renewal of the authorization to the Board of Directors, or any delegate(s) duly appointed by the Board of Directors, for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting, from time to time to issue shares within the limits of the authorized share capital against contributions in cash, contributions in kind or by way of incorporation of available reserves at such times and on such terms and conditions, including the issue price, as the Board of Directors or its delegate(s) may in its or their discretion resolve;

c.        the renewal of the authorization to the Board of Directors, for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting, to waive, suppress or limit any pre-emptive subscription rights of shareholders provided for by law to the extent it deems such waiver, suppression or limitation advisable for any issue or issues of shares within the authorized share capital; waiver of any pre-emptive subscription rights provided for by law and related procedures;

d.       the decision that for as long as (but only for as long as) the shares of the Company are listed on a regulated market, any issuance of shares for cash within the limits of the authorized share capital shall be subject by provision of the Company’s articles of association to the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders, except in the following cases (in which cases no pre-emptive rights shall apply):

                                            i.            any issuance of shares for, within, in conjunction with or related to, an initial public offering of the shares of the Company on one or more regulated markets (in one or more instances); and

                                          ii.            any issuance of shares against a contribution other than in cash; and

                                        iii.            any issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares of the Company; provided, however, that the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders shall apply by provision of the Company’s articles of association in connection with any issuance of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares of the Company for cash; and

                                        iv.            any issuance of shares (including by way of free shares or at discount), up to an amount of 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company, to directors, officers,                              

 


 
 

 

 

                              agents, employees of the Company, its direct or indirect subsidiaries, or its Affiliates (as such term is defined in the Company’s articles of association) (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”), including without limitation the direct issue of shares or upon the exercise of options, rights convertible into shares, or similar instruments convertible or exchangeable into shares issued for the purpose of compensation or incentive of the Beneficiaries or in relation thereto (which the Board of Directors shall be authorized to issue upon such terms and conditions as it deems fit).

e.        the acknowledgement and approval of the report of the Board of Directors in relation with the authorized share capital and the proposed authorizations to the Board of Directors with respect to any issuance of shares within the authorized share capital while suppressing any pre-emptive subscription rights of existing shareholders under law and related waiver; and

f.         the amendment of article 5 of the articles of association of the Company to reflect the resolutions on this item of the agenda.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s articles of association, resolutions at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast, irrespective of the number of shares present or represented.

 

The Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may validly deliberate only when at least half of the share capital is present or represented. If the required quorum is not met at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, a second meeting may be convened by means of notices published twice, at fifteen (15) days interval and with the second notice being published not later than fifteen (15) days before the day of the meeting, in the Mémorial - Recueil des Sociétés et Associations (Luxembourg Official Gazette) and two newspapers in Luxembourg. Such notices shall in addition be made in accordance with the publicity requirements of the regulated markets where the shares, or other securities representing shares, are listed. On second call, the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may validly deliberate regardless of the number of shares present or represented. Resolutions at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the votes of the shares present or represented.

 

Procedures for attending and voting at one or both Meetings

 

Any shareholder registered in the Company’s share register on May 1, 2015 (the “Record Date”), shall be admitted to the Meetings. Such shareholder may attend one or both Meetings in person or vote by proxy. To vote by proxy, such shareholder must file a completed proxy form with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, located at 29, avenue de la Porte-Neuve, L-2227, Luxembourg.

 

Any shareholder holding shares through fungible securities accounts wishing to attend one or both Meetings in person must present a certificate issued by the financial institution or professional depositary holding such shares, evidencing deposit of the shares and certifying the number of shares recorded in the relevant account as of the Record Date. Certificates certifying the number of shares recorded in the relevant account as of a date other than the Record Date will not be accepted and such shareholder will not be admitted to the Meetings. Certificates must be filed with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015 at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg.

 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders holding their shares through fungible securities accounts may also vote by proxy. To do so, they must present the above referred certificate, together with a completed proxy form. Such certificate and proxy form must be filed with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg.

 

Shareholders who wish to be represented and vote by proxy at one or both Meetings may obtain, free of charge, a proxy form at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Luxembourg time, beginning on March 27, 2015. In addition, beginning on March 27, 2015, shareholders may obtain, also free of charge, an electronic copy of such proxy form by sending an e-mail request to the following electronic address: ir@ternium.com. All proxy forms must be received by the Company, properly completed and signed, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2014.

 

In the event of shares owned by a corporation or any other legal entity, individuals representing such entity who wish to attend one or both Meetings in person and vote at one or both Meetings on behalf of such entity, must present evidence of their authority to represent the shareholder at the respective Meeting by means of a proper document (such as a general or special power-of-attorney) issued by the relevant entity. A copy of such power of attorney or other proper document must be filed with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg. The original documentation evidencing the authority to attend, and vote at one or both Meetings, or a notarized and legalized copy thereof, must be presented at the respective Meeting.

 

Shareholders and proxy holders attending one or both Meetings in person will be required to identify themselves at the respective Meeting with a valid official identification document (e.g., identity card, passport).

 

Those shareholders who have sold their shares between the Record Date and the date of the Meetings may not attend nor be represented at any of the Meetings. In case of breach of such prohibition, criminal sanctions may apply.

 

Holders of American Depositary Receipts (the “ADRs”) as of April 7, 2015, are entitled to instruct The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary, as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Company’s shares represented by such holder’s ADRs. Eligible holders of ADRs who desire to give voting instructions in respect of the shares represented by their ADRs must complete, date and sign a proxy form and return it to The Bank of New York Mellon at Proxy Services, C/O Computershare, PO Box 43126, Providence, RU 02940-5138, by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015. Holders of ADRs maintaining non-certificated positions must follow voting instructions given by their broker or custodian bank, which may provide for earlier deadlines for submitting voting instructions.

 

Copies of the Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement, the Company’s 2014 annual report (which includes the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, together with the board of directors’ and independent auditors’ reports thereon, and the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014, together with the independent auditor’s report thereon), and the report of the Company’s board of directors in connection with the proposed waiver of, suppression of, and authorization to suppress or limit, pre-emptive subscription rights by the existing shareholders, are available on our website at http://www.ternium.com/en/ir-home beginning on March 27, 2015.  Copies of such documents are also available, free of charge, to ADR holders and shareholders registered in the Company’s share register at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Luxembourg time, beginning on March 27, 2015. In addition, beginning on March 27, 2015, shareholders registered in the Company’s share register may obtain, also free of charge, electronic copies of such documents by sending an e-mail request to the following electronic address: ir@ternium.com.

 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Arturo Sporleder

Secretary to the Board of Directors

 

March 27, 2015

Luxembourg

 

 

 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 


 


Shareholder Meeting Brochure

and Proxy Statement

 

Ternium S.A.

29, Avenue de la Porte Neuve

L-2227 Luxembourg

Grand Duché de Luxembourg

 

RCS Luxembourg B 98 668

 

 


 
 

 

Ternium

 

Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement

Annual General Meeting of Shareholders to be held in Luxembourg on May 6, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. (Luxembourg time) and Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders to be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

 

 

This Shareholder Meeting Brochure and Proxy Statement is furnished by TERNIUM S.A. (the “Company”) in connection with the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company and an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the “Meetings”) both to be held on May 6, 2015, at the Company’s registered office located at 29, avenue de la Porte-Neuve, L-2227 Luxembourg, for the purposes set forth in the convening Notice of the Meetings (the “Notice”). The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will begin at 2:30 p.m. (Luxembourg time) and the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will be held immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.

 

As of the date hereof, there are issued and outstanding 2,004,743,442 ordinary shares, USD 1.00 par value each, of the Company (the “Shares”), including Shares (the “Deposited Shares”) deposited with The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Depositary”) under the Deposit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2006 (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Company, the Depositary and owners and beneficial owners from time to time of American Depositary Receipts (the “ADRs”) issued thereunder. The Deposited Shares are represented by American Depositary Shares, which are evidenced by the ADRs (one ADR equals ten Deposited Shares). A subsidiary of the Company currently holds 41,666,666 Shares.

 

Each Share entitles the holder thereof to one vote at general meeting of shareholders of the Company. However, voting rights on the 41,666,666 Shares held by the Company’s subsidiary shall be suspended for so long as such Shares are so held.

 

Any shareholder registered in the Company’s share register on May 1, 2015 (the “Record Date”), shall be admitted to the Meetings. Such shareholder may attend one or both Meetings in person or vote by proxy. To vote by proxy, such shareholder must file a completed proxy form with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, located at 29, avenue de la Porte-Neuve, L-2227 Luxembourg.

 

Any shareholder holding shares through fungible securities accounts wishing to attend one or both Meetings in person must present a certificate issued by the financial institution or professional depositary holding such shares, evidencing deposit of the shares and certifying the number of shares recorded in the relevant account as of the Record Date. Certificates attesting the number of shares recorded in the relevant account as of a date other than the Record Date will not be accepted and such shareholders will not be admitted to the Meetings. Certificates must be filed with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg.

 

Shareholders holding their shares through fungible securities accounts may also vote by proxy. To do so, they must present the above referred certificate, together with a completed proxy form. Such certificate and proxy form must be filed with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg.

 

 

 

Shareholders who wish to be represented and vote by proxy at one or both Meetings may obtain. free of charge, a proxy form at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Luxembourg time, beginning on March 27, 2015. In addition, beginning on March 27, 2015, shareholders may obtain, also free of charge, an electronic copy of such proxy form free of charge by sending an e-mail request to the following electronic address: ir@ternium.com. All proxy forms must be received by the Company, properly completed and signed, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015.

 


 
 

Ternium

 

 

In the event of shares owned by a corporation or any other legal entity, individuals representing such entity who wish to attend one or both Meetings in person and vote at one or both Meetings on behalf of such entity, must present evidence of their authority to represent the shareholder at the respective Meeting by means of a proper document (such as a general or special power-of-attorney) issued by the relevant entity. A copy of such power of attorney or other proper document must be filed with the Company not later than 5:00 p.m. (Luxembourg time) on May 4, 2015, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg. The original documentation evidencing the authority to attend, and vote, at one or both Meetings, or a notarized and legalized copy thereof, must be presented at the respective Meeting.

 

Shareholders and their proxies attending one or both Meetings in person will be required to identify themselves at the respective Meeting with a valid official identification document (e.g., identity card, passport).

 

Those shareholders who have sold their shares between the Record Date and the date of the Meetings may not attend nor be represented at any of the Meetings. In case of breach of such prohibition, criminal sanctions may apply.

 

Each holder of ADRs as of April 7, 2015, is entitled to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Shares represented by such holder’s ADRs. Any eligible holder of ADRs who desires to give voting instructions in respect of the Shares represented by such holder’s ADRs must complete, date and sign a proxy form and return it to The Bank of New York at Proxy Services, C/O Computershare, PO Box 43126, Providence, RU 02940-5138, by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015. If the Depositary receives properly completed instructions by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015, then it shall endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the shares underlying such ADRs in the manner prescribed by the instructions. However, if by 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015, the Depositary receives no instructions from the holder of ADRs, or the instructions received are not in proper form, then the Depositary shall deem such holder to have instructed the Depositary to give, and the Depositary shall give, a discretionary proxy to a person designated by the Company with respect to that amount of Shares underlying such ADRs to vote such Shares in favor of any proposals or recommendations of the Company (including any recommendation by the Company to vote such Shares on any issue in accordance with the majority shareholders’ vote on that issue) as determined by the appointed proxy. No instruction shall be deemed given and no discretionary proxy shall be given with respect to any matter as to which the Company informs the Depositary that (x) it does not wish such proxy given, (y) substantial opposition exists, or (z) the matter materially and adversely affects the rights of the holders of ADRs.

 

Any holder of ADRs is entitled to revoke or revise any instructions previously given to the Depositary by filing with the Depositary a written revocation or duly executed instructions bearing a later date at any time prior to 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2015. No instructions, revocations or revisions thereof will be accepted by the Depositary after that time.

 

 

 

In order to avoid the possibility of double vote, the Company’s ADR books will be closed for cancellations from April 7, 2015 until May 1, 2015. However, holders of ADRs will not have their ADRs blocked for trading on the New York stock exchange.

 

Holders of ADRs maintaining non-certificated positions must follow voting instructions outlined by their broker or custodian bank, which may provide for earlier deadlines for submitting voting instructions than that indicated above.

 


 
 

Ternium

 

 

The Meetings will appoint a chairperson pro tempore to preside over the Meetings. The chairperson pro tempore will have broad authority to conduct the Meetings in an orderly and timely manner and to establish rules, (including rules for shareholders (or proxy holders) to speak and ask questions at the Meetings); the chairperson may exercise broad discretion in recognizing shareholders who wish to speak and in determining the extent of discussion on each item of the agendas.

 

Pursuant to the Company’s articles of association and Luxembourg law, resolutions at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be passed by a simple majority of the votes cast, irrespective of the number of Shares present or represented. The Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may validly deliberate only when at least half of the share capital is present or represented. If the required quorum is not met at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, a second meeting may be convened by means of notices published twice, at fifteen (15) days interval and with the second notice being published not later than fifteen (15) days before the day of the meeting, in the Mémorial - Recueil des Sociétés et Associations (Luxembourg Official Gazette) and two newspapers in Luxembourg. Such notices shall in addition be made in accordance with the publicity requirements of the regulated markets where the Shares, or other securities representing Shares, are listed. On second call, the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders may validly deliberate regardless of the number of shares present or represented. Resolutions at the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders shall be adopted with a two-thirds majority of the votes of the shares present or represented.

 

The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders is called to address and vote on the following agenda:

1.   Consideration of the Board of Directors’ and independent auditor’s reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Approval of the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

The Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (comprising the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity, consolidated cash flow statements and the notes to such consolidated financial statements) and the reports from the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) and the Company’s independent auditor on such consolidated financial statements are included in the Company’s 2014 annual report, a copy of which is available on the Company’s website at http://www.ternium.com/en/ir-home beginning on March 27, 2015. Copies of the Company’s 2014 annual report are also available to ADR holders and shareholders registered in the Company’s share register, free of charge, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Luxembourg time, beginning on March 27, 2015. In addition, beginning on March 27, 2015, shareholders registered in the Company’s share register may obtain, also free of charge, an electronic copy of the Company’s 2014 annual report by sending an e-mail request to the following electronic address: ir@ternium.com.

 

 

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to approve the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

2.   Consideration of the independent auditor’s report on the Company’s annual accounts. Approval of the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014

The Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 (comprising the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and the notes to such annual accounts) and the report from the Company’s independent auditor on such annual accounts are included in the Company’s 2014 annual report, a copy of which is available on our website at http://www.ternium.com/en/ir-home beginning on March 27, 2015. Copies of the Company’s 2014 annual report are also available to ADR holders and shareholders registered in the Company’s share register, free of charge, at the Company’s registered office in Luxembourg, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Luxembourg time, beginning on March 27, 2015. In addition, beginning on March 27, 2015, shareholders registered in the Company’s share register may obtain, also free of charge, an electronic copy of the Company’s 2014 annual report by sending an e-mail request to the following electronic address: ir@ternium.com.

 


 
 

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Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to approve the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014.

3.   Allocation of results and approval of dividend payment for the year ended December 31, 2014

 

In accordance with applicable Luxembourg law and the Company’s articles of association, the Company is required to allocate 5% of its annual net income to a legal reserve, until this reserve equals 10% of the subscribed capital.  However, the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 show a loss and therefore there will be no allocation of results. In addition, no allocation is needed as the Company’s legal reserve already amounts to 10% of its subscribed capital.

 

The Board of Directors proposes that a dividend payable in U.S. dollars on May 15, 2015, in the amount of USD 0.09 per Share (or USD 0.9 per ADR), which represents an aggregate sum of approximately USD 177 million, be approved and that the Board of Directors be authorized to determine or amend, in its discretion, the terms and conditions of the dividend payment, including the applicable record date. Accordingly, if this dividend proposal is approved, the Company will make, or cause to be made, a dividend payment on May 15, 2015, in the amount of USD 0.09 per Share (or USD 0.9 per ADR).

 

While the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 show a loss for 2014 of USD 289,975,159, the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 show net income for 2014 of USD 588,785,000. Considering the Company’s retained earnings and other distributable reserves, the Company has distributable amounts which exceed the proposed dividend.

 

The aggregate amount of USD 176,676,909.84 to be distributed as dividend on May 15, 2015, is to be paid from the Company’s retained earnings reserve. The loss of the year ended December 31, 2014, would be absorbed by the Company’s retained earnings account.

 

Upon approval of this resolution, it is proposed that the Board of Directors be authorized to determine or amend, in its discretion, any of the terms and conditions (including payment date) of the dividend payment.

 

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “(i) to approve a dividend, payable in U.S. dollars, on May 15, 2015, in the amount of USD 0.09 per share issued and outstanding (or USD 0.9 per ADR), (ii) to authorize the Board of Directors to determine or amend, in its discretion, any of the terms and conditions of such dividend payment, including the applicable record date, (iii) that the aggregate amount of USD 176,676,909.84 to be distributed as dividend on May 15, 2015, be paid from the Company’s retained earnings reserve, and (iv) that the loss of the year ended December 31, 2014, be absorbed by the Company’s retained earnings account.

 


 
 

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4.   Discharge of members of the Board of Directors for the exercise of their mandate during the year ended December 31, 2014

In accordance with applicable Luxembourg law and regulations, it is proposed that, upon approval of the Company’s annual accounts as at December 31, 2014, all who were members of the Board of Directors during the year ended December 31, 2014, be discharged from any liability in connection with the management of the Company’s affairs during such year.

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to discharge all those who were members of the Board of Directors during the year ended December 31, 2014, from any liability in connection with the management of the Company’s affairs during such year.

5.   Election of the members of the Board of Directors

Pursuant to article 7 of the Company’s articles of association, the annual general meeting must elect a Board of Directors of not less than five and not more than fifteen members, who shall have a term of office of one year, but may be reappointed.

 

Pursuant to article 11 of the Company’s articles of association and applicable securities laws and regulations, the Company must have an audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) composed of three members who shall qualify as “independent directors”.

 

The current Board of Directors consists of nine Directors, three of whom (Messrs. Ubaldo Aguirre, Adrian Lajous and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski) qualify as “independent directors” under the Company’s articles of association and applicable law, and are members of the Audit Committee. 

 

It is proposed that (i) the number of members of the Board of Directors be reduce to eight, and that (ii) Messrs. Ubaldo Aguirre, Roberto Bonatti, Carlos Alberto Condorelli, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Adrian Lajous, Gianfelice Mario Rocca, Paolo Rocca and Daniel Agustin Novegil be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors, each to hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders that will be convened to decide on the Company’s 2015 annual accounts.

 

Set forth below is summary biographical information of each of the candidates:

 

1) Mr. Ubaldo José Aguirre. Mr. Aguirre has served on the Board since 2006. He is a managing director of Aguirre y Gonzalez S.A., an Argentine financial services firm, and also serves as chairman of the board of directors and member of the audit committee of Holcim Argentina S.A., a subsidiary of Holcim, the Swiss cement producer. Since 2005, he also serves as chairman of the board of directors of Permasur S.A., an Argentine winery, and of Editorial Sur S.A.  Since 2000, he is a member of the board of directors of URS Argentina S.A., the Argentine subsidiary of the U.S. corporation. He is a member of the Administrative Board of Universidad Catolica Argentina. Mr. Aguirre formerly served as director and chairman of the audit committee of Siderar S.A.I.C. Mr. Aguirre began his career at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. In addition, Mr. Aguirre has been a member of the boards of each of Argentina’s Central Bank —where he was responsible for that country’s external borrowing program and financial negotiations— Banco de la Nación Argentina and Banco Nacional de Desarrollo. He also served as the Republic of Argentina’s financial representative for Europe in Geneva and negotiator on behalf of the Republic of Argentina with the Paris Club. Mr. Aguirre, aged 66, is an Argentine citizen.

 

2) Mr. Roberto Bonatti. Mr. Bonatti has served as a director since 2005. Mr. Bonatti is the grandson of Agustín Rocca, founder of the Techint Group, and has been involved in businesses of the companies controlled by San Faustin, specifically in the engineering and construction and corporate sectors, throughout his career. He was first employed by the Techint Group in 1976, as deputy resident engineer in Venezuela. In 1984, he became a director of San Faustín and, since 2001; he has served as its president. In addition, Mr. Bonatti currently serves as President of Sadma Uruguay S.A. and is member of the Board of Directors of Tenaris S.A. Mr. Bonatti, aged 65, is an Italian citizen.

 

 


 
 

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3) Mr. Carlos Alberto Condorelli. Mr. Condorelli has served as a director since 2005. He is also a Board member of Tenaris, a position that he assumed on June 2007. Mr. Condorelli began his career within the Techint Group in 1975, as an analyst in the accounting and administration department of Siderar. Mr. Condorelli has held several positions within Tenaris and other Techint Group companies, including finance and administrative director of Tamsa and president of the board of directors of Empresa Distribuidora La Plata S.A., or Edelap, an Argentine utilities company. Mr. Condorelli, aged 64, is an Argentine citizen.

 

4) Mr. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Mr. Kuczynski has served as a member of the Board since 2007. He was Prime Minister of Peru in 2005-2006 and prior to that he was the Minister of Economy and Finance from 2001.  He was the Republic of Peru’s Minister of Energy and Mines in 1980-82. He was president until 2001 of a private equity firm he founded in 1992 after spending ten years as Chairman of First Boston International (today Credit Suisse) in New York.  Since 2007, he is Senior Advisor to the Rohatyn Group, a firm specializing in emerging markets.  He ran a bauxite mining company affiliated with Alcoa between 1977 and 1980.  He began his career at the World Bank in 1961 and was in the 1970s head of its Policy Planning Division, Chief Economist for Latin America and Chief Economist of IFC. He was born in Peru in 1938 and educated in Peru and at Oxford and Princeton.  Mr. Kuczynski, aged 76, is a U.S. and Peruvian national.

 

5) Mr. Adrian Lajous. Mr. Lajous has served as a director of the Company since 2006. Mr. Lajous currently serves as chairman of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, a fellow in the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, president of Petrométrica, S.C. and a non-executive director of Trinity Industries Inc. Mr. Lajous began his career teaching economics at El Colegio de México and in 1977 was appointed director general for energy at Mexico’s Ministry of Energy. Mr. Lajous joined Petróleos Mexicanos (“Pemex”) in 1983, where he held a succession of key executive positions including executive coordinator for international trade, corporate director of planning, corporate director of operations and director of refining and marketing. From 1994 until 1999, he served as chief executive officer of Pemex and chairman of the boards of the Pemex Group of operating companies. Additionally he served as non-executive director of Schlumberger, Ltd. from 2002 up to 2014. Mr. Lajous, aged 71, is a Mexican citizen.

 

6)  Mr. Gianfelice Mario Rocca. Mr. Rocca has served as a director of the Company since 2006. He is chairman of the board of directors of San Faustín, a member of the board of directors of Tenaris, president of the Humanitas Group and president of the board of directors of Tenova S.p.A. In June 2013 he was elected President of Assolombarda, the largest territorial association of entrepreneurs in Italy and part of Confindustria (Italian employers’ organization). In addition, he is member of the EIT Governing Board (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) and sits on the board of directors or executive committees of several companies, including Allianz S.p.A, Brembo and Buzzi Unicem. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Allianz Group, of the Aspen Institute Executive Committee, of the Trilateral Commission and of the European Advisory Board of the Harvard Business School. Mr. Rocca, aged 67, is an Italian citizen.

 

7) Mr. Paolo Rocca. Mr. Rocca has served as our chairman since 2005. He is also chairman and chief executive officer of Tenaris S.A., director and vice president of San Faustin S.A. and director of Techint Financial Corporation. In addition, Mr. Rocca currently serves as the chairman of Tubos de Aceros de México S.A. (“Tamsa”). Mr. Rocca, aged 62, is an Italian citizen.

 

8) Mr. Daniel Agustin Novegil. Mr. Novegil has served as a director and chief executive officer of the Company since 2005. He has more than 35 years of experience in the steelmaking industry. Mr. Novegil is the managing director of Siderar since 1993 and a member of Usiminas’ Board of Directors since 2013. He is also member of the Board of Directors of the World Steel Association and former President of the Latin American Steel Association. He obtained a M.S. in Management from Stanford University in 1984 and, since 1999, he is a member of the Advisory Board of the Sloan Master’s Program of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Mr. Novegil, aged 62, is an Argentine citizen.

The Board met six times during 2014. On January 12, 2006, the Board of Directors created an Audit Committee pursuant to Article 11 of the Company’s articles of association. As permitted under applicable laws and regulations, the Board of Directors does not have any executive, nominating or compensation committee, or any committees exercising similar functions.

 


 
 

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Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to reduce the number of members of the Board of Directors to eight and to re-appoint Messrs. Ubaldo Aguirre, Roberto Bonatti, Carlos Alberto Condorelli, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Adrian Lajous,  Gianfelice Mario Rocca, Paolo Rocca and Daniel Agustin Novegil to the Board of Directors, each to hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders that will be convened to decide on the 2015 accounts.

6.   Authorization of the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors

It is proposed that each member of the Board of Directors receives an amount of USD 85,000.00 as compensation for his services during the fiscal year 2015, and that the Chairman of the Board of Directors receives, further, an additional fee of USD 295,000.00. It is further proposed that each of the members of the Board of Directors who are members of the Audit Committee receive an additional fee of USD 55,000.00, and that the Chairman of such Audit Committee receives, further, an additional fee of USD 10,000.00.  In all cases, the proposed compensation would be net of any applicable Luxembourg social security charges. 

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “that each of the members of the Board of Directors receives an amount of USD 85,000.00 as compensation for his services during the fiscal year 2015, and that the Chairman of the Board of Directors receives, further, an additional fee of USD 295,000.00; and that each of the members of the Board of Directors who are members of the Audit Committee receive an additional fee of USD 55,000.00, and that the Chairman of such Audit Committee receives, further, an additional fee of USD 10,000.00. In all cases, the approved compensation will be net of any applicable Luxembourg social security charges.”

7.   Appointment of the independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015 and approval of their fees

The Audit Committee has recommended the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative, Cabinet de révision agréé (PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Luxembourg member firm) as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, to be engaged until the next annual general meeting of shareholders that will be convened to decide on the Company’s 2015 accounts.

 

 

 

 

In addition, the Audit Committee has recommended the approval of the independent auditors’ fees for audit, audit-related and other services to be rendered during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, broken-down into eight currencies (Argentine Pesos, Brazilian Reais, Colombian Pesos, Euro, Mexican Pesos, Swiss Francs, Uruguayan Pesos, and U.S. Dollars), up to a maximum amount for each currency equal to ARS 15,769,259.00; BRL 22,476.00; COP 243,174,993.00; EUR 582,666.00; MXN 12,582,031.00; CHF 27,500.00; UYU 2,645,081.00 and USD 162,400.00. Such fees would cover the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and annual accounts, the audit of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting as mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, other audit-related services, and other services rendered by the independent auditors. It is proposed that the Audit Committee be authorized to approve any increase or reallocation of the independent auditors’ fees as may be necessary, appropriate or desirable under the circumstances.      

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to (i) appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers Société coopérative, Cabinet de révision agréé, as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, to be engaged until the next annual general meeting of shareholders that will be convened to decide on the Company’s 2015 accounts; and (ii) approve the independent auditors’ fees for audit, audit-related and other services to be rendered during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, broken-down into eight currencies (Argentine Pesos, Brazilian Reais, Colombian Pesos, Euro, Mexican Pesos, Swiss Francs, Uruguayan Pesos, and U.S. Dollars), up to a maximum amount for each currency equal to ARS 15,769,259.00; BRL 22,476.00; COP 243,174,993.00; EUR 582,666.00; MXN 12,582,031.00; CHF 27,500.00; UYU 2,645,081.00 and USD 162,400.00., and to authorize the Audit Committee to approve any increase or reallocation of the independent auditors’ fees as may be necessary, appropriate or desirable under the circumstances.

 


 
 

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8.   Authorization to the Company, or any subsidiary, from time to time to purchase, acquire or receive securities of the Company, in accordance with Article 49-2 of the Luxembourg law of 10 August 1915 and with applicable laws and regulations.

The Commercial Companies Law provides that any Luxembourg commercial company may acquire its own shares, either directly or through a person acting on the company’s behalf, subject to, among other conditions, prior authorization granted by the general meeting of shareholders of such company, which shall approve the terms and conditions of the proposed acquisitions, including the maximum number of shares to be acquired, the duration of the period for which the authorization is given (such maximum period being, as of to date, 5 years) and, in case of acquisitions for value, the maximum and minimum consideration.

It is proposed that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders renew the authorization to the Company and to the Company’s subsidiaries to acquire, from time to time, Shares, including Shares represented by ADRs (collectively, “Securities”), granted by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 3, 2010, on the following terms and conditions:

1.         The maximum number of Securities acquired pursuant to this authorization may not exceed 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares or, in the case of acquisitions made through a stock exchange in which the Securities are traded, such lower amount as may not be exceeded pursuant to any applicable laws or regulations of such market.   The number of Securities acquired as a block may amount to the maximum permitted amount of purchases.

2.         The purchases, acquisitions or receptions of Securities may be made in one or more transactions as the Board of Directors of the Company or the board of directors or other governing body of the relevant entity, as applicable, considers advisable. 

3.         The purchase price per ADR to be paid in cash may not exceed 125% (excluding transaction costs and expenses), nor may it be lower than 75% (excluding transaction costs and expenses), in each case of the average of the closing prices of the Company´s ADRs in the New York Stock Exchange during the five trading days in which transactions in the ADRs were recorded in the New York Stock Exchange preceding (but excluding) the day on which the ADRs are purchased. In the case of purchases of Securities other than in the form of ADRs, the maximum and minimum per Security purchase prices shall be equal to the prices that would have applied in case of an ADR purchase pursuant to the formula above divided by the number of underlying shares represented by an ADR at the time of the relevant purchase.  Such maximum and minimum purchase prices shall also apply to over-the-counter or off-market transactions. Compliance with maximum and minimum purchase price requirements in any and all acquisitions made pursuant to this authorization (including, without limitation, acquisitions carried out through the use of derivative financial instruments or option strategies) shall be determined on and as of the date on which the relevant transaction is entered into, irrespective of the date on which the transaction is to be settled.

4.         The above maximum and minimum purchase prices shall, in the event of a change in the par value of the Securities, a capital increase by means of a capitalization of reserves, a distribution of Securities under compensation or similar programs, a stock split or reverse stock split, a distribution of reserves or any other assets, the redemption of capital, or any other transaction impacting on the Company’s equity be adapted automatically, so that the impact of any such transaction on the value of the Securities shall be reflected.

 


 
 

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5.         The acquisitions of Securities may not have the effect of reducing the Company’s net assets below the sum of the Company’s capital stock plus its undistributable reserves.

6.         Only fully paid-up Securities may be acquired pursuant to this authorization.

7.         The acquisitions of Securities may be carried out for any purpose, as may be permitted under applicable laws and regulations, including, without limitation, to reduce the share capital of the Company, to offer such Securities to third parties in the context of corporate mergers or acquisitions of other entities or participating interests therein, for distribution to the Company’s or the Company’s subsidiaries’ directors, officers or employees or to meet obligations arising from convertible debt instruments.

8.         The acquisitions of Securities may be carried out by any and all means, as may be permitted under applicable laws and regulations, including through any stock exchange in which the Securities are traded, through public offers to all shareholders of the Company to buy Securities, through the use of derivative financial instruments or option strategies, or in over the counter or off-market transactions or in any other manner.

 

 

 

 

9.         The acquisitions of Securities may be carried out at any time and from time to time during the duration of the authorization, including during a tender offer period, as may be permitted under applicable laws and regulations.

10.     The authorization granted to acquire Securities shall be valid for such maximum period as may be provided for under applicable Luxembourg law as in effect from time to time (such maximum period being, as of to date, five years).

11.     The acquisitions of Securities shall be made at such times and on such other terms and conditions as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company or the board of directors or other governing body of the relevant Company subsidiary, provided that any such purchase shall comply with Article 49-2 et.seq. of the Commercial Companies Law and, in the case of acquisitions of Securities made through a stock exchange in which such Securities are traded, with any applicable laws and regulations of such market.

It is also recommended that the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders grant this authorization and further grant all powers to the Board of Directors and to the board of directors or other governing bodies of the Company’s subsidiaries, in each case with powers to delegate in accordance with applicable laws, the Company’s articles of association or other applicable organizational documents of the relevant Company’s subsidiary, to decide on and implement this authorization, to define, if necessary, the terms and procedures for carrying out any purchase, acquisition or reception of Securities, and, in particular, to place any stock exchange orders, conclude any agreements, including, without limitation, for keeping registers of purchases and sales of Securities, make any declarations to the applicable regulatory authorities, carry out all formalities and, generally, do all such other acts and things as may be necessary, appropriate or desirable for the purposes aforesaid. It is further recommended that the Board of Directors be expressly authorized to delegate to its Chairman, with the latter having the option to sub-delegate to any other person(s), the performance of the actions entrusted to the Board of Directors, pursuant to, or in connection with, this authorization.

 


 
 

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Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: to (i) renew the authorization to the Company and to the Company’s subsidiaries to purchase, acquire or receive, from time to time, shares, including shares represented by ADRs (“Securities”), on the terms and conditions set forth above; (ii) grant all powers to the Board of Directors and to the board of directors or other governing bodies of the Company’s subsidiaries, in each case with powers to delegate in accordance with applicable laws, the Articles or the articles of association or other applicable organizational documents of the relevant Company’s subsidiary, to decide on and implement this authorization, to define, if necessary, the terms and procedures for carrying out any purchase, acquisition or reception of Securities, and, in particular, to place any stock exchange orders, conclude any agreements, including, without limitation, for keeping registers of purchases and sales of Securities, make any declarations to the applicable regulatory authorities, carry out all formalities and, generally, do all such other acts and things as may be necessary, appropriate or desirable for the purposes aforesaid; and (iii) authorize the Board of Directors to delegate to its Chairman, with the latter having the option to sub-delegate to any other person(s), the performance of the actions entrusted to the Board of Directors, pursuant to, or in connection with, this authorization.

9.   Authorization to the Board of Directors to delegate the day-to-day management of the Company’s business to one or more of its members

It is proposed that the Board of Directors be authorized to delegate the management of the Company’s day-to-day business and the authority to represent and bind the Company with his sole signature in such day-to-day management to Mr. Daniel Agustin Novegil, and to appoint Mr. Novegil as chief executive officer (administrateur délégué) of the Company.

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to authorize the Board of Directors to delegate the management of the Company’s day-to-day business and the authority to represent and bind the Company with his sole signature in such day-to-day management to Mr. Daniel Agustin Novegil, and to appoint Mr. Novegil as Chief Executive Officer (Administrateur Délégué) of the Company.

10. Authorization to the Board of Directors to appoint one or more of its members as the Company’s attorney-in-fact

In order to provide for the necessary flexibility in the management of the Company’s affairs, it is proposed to authorize the Board of Directors to appoint any or all members of the Board of Directors from time to time as the Company’s attorney-in-fact, delegating to such directors any management powers (including, without limitation, any day-to-day management powers) to the extent the Board of Directors may deem appropriate in connection therewith, this authorization to be valid until expressly revoked by the Company’s general meeting of shareholders, it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that this authorization does not impair nor limit in any way the powers of the Board of Directors to appoint any non-members of the Board of Directors as attorneys-in-fact of the Company pursuant to the provisions of article 10.1(iii) of the Company’s articles of association.

Draft resolution proposed to be adopted: “to authorize the Board of Directors to appoint any or all members of the Board of Directors from time to time as the Company’s attorney-in-fact, delegating to such directors any management powers (including, without limitation, any day-to-day management powers) to the extent the Board of Directors may deem appropriate in connection therewith, this authorization to be valid until expressly revoked by the Company’s general meeting of shareholders; it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that this authorization does not impair nor limit in any way the powers of the Board of Directors to appoint any non-members of the Board of Directors as attorneys-in-fact of the Company pursuant to the provisions of article 10.1(iii) of the Company’s articles of association.

 


 
 

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The Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders is called to address and vote on the following agenda:

1. Decision on the renewal of the authorized share capital of the Company and related authorizations and waivers by:

a.  the renewal of the validity period of the Company’s authorized share capital for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting;

b.  the renewal of the authorization to the Board of Directors, or any delegate(s) duly appointed by the Board of Directors, for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting, from time to time to issue shares within the limits of the authorized share capital against contributions in cash, contributions in kind or by way of incorporation of available reserves at such times and on such terms and conditions, including the issue price, as the Board of Directors or its delegate(s) may in its or their discretion resolve;

c.  the renewal of the authorization to the Board of Directors, for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting, to waive, suppress or limit any pre-emptive subscription rights of shareholders provided for by law to the extent it deems such waiver, suppression or limitation advisable for any issue or issues of shares within the authorized share capital; waiver of any pre-emptive subscription rights provided for by law and related procedures;

d.  the decision that for as long as (but only for as long as) the shares of the Company are listed on a regulated market, any issuance of shares for cash within the limits of the authorized share capital shall be subject by provision of the Company’s articles of association to the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders, except in the following cases (in which cases no pre-emptive rights shall apply):

i.     any issuance of shares for, within, in conjunction with or related to, an initial public offering of the shares of the Company on one or more regulated markets (in one or more instances); and

 


 
 

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ii.     any issuance of shares against a contribution other than in cash; and

iii.     any issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares of the Company; provided, however, that the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders shall apply by provision of the Company’s articles of association in connection with any issuance of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares of the Company for cash; and

iv.     any issuance of shares (including by way of free shares or at discount), up to an amount of 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company, to directors, officers, agents, employees of the Company, its direct or indirect subsidiaries, or its Affiliates (as such term is defined in the Company’s articles of association) (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”), including without limitation the direct issue of shares or upon the exercise of options, rights convertible into shares, or similar instruments convertible or exchangeable into shares issued for the purpose of compensation or incentive of the Beneficiaries or in relation thereto (which the Board of Directors shall be authorized to issue upon such terms and conditions as it deems fit).

e.  the acknowledgement and approval of the report of the Board of Directors in relation with the authorized share capital and the proposed authorizations to the Board of Directors with respect to any issuance of shares within the authorized share capital while suppressing any pre-emptive subscription rights of existing shareholders under law and related waiver; and

f.         the amendment of article 5 of the articles of association of the Company to reflect the resolutions on this item of the agenda.

 

 

Pursuant to the Company’s articles of association, the Board of Directors is authorized for a period of five years to issue shares within the limits of the authorized share capital without shareholder approval, and any such issuances of shares may be made without reserving preferential subscription rights of existing shareholders by law in certain cases (i.e., shares issued for consideration other than cash, shares issued as compensation to directors, officers, agents, or employees of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates, and shares issued to satisfy conversion or option rights created to provide compensation to directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates).

It is proposed that Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders renew the authorization granted by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 2, 2010, to issue shares within the limits of the authorized share capital without shareholder approval for an additional five-year period on the same terms and conditions and grant the related authorizations and waivers as set forth in the agenda.

The Board of Directors is of the opinion that the successful implementation and development of the Company and its group’s long term strategy will depend, among other factors, on the Company’s ability to grow through acquisitions or other investments on the best possible terms, and that the existence of the preferential subscription rights provided for by Luxembourg law for the benefit of existing shareholders will seriously reduce the flexibility of the Company to finance its operations and potential growth through issuances of shares; in addition, the preferential subscription rights procedure contemplated by Luxembourg law would, in some cases, risk delaying increases in share capital and issuances of new shares at times when timing may be of the essence.

 


 
 

Ternium

 

Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes it to be in the Company’s best interest that the Board of Directors be authorized to negotiate and conclude acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and other transactions using shares or rights to shares of the Company’s capital as consideration. Similarly, the Board of Directors believes that the interest of the Company requires that maximum flexibility be granted so that the Company be able to react quickly and without delay to any suitable acquisition, investment, joint venture or other strategic proposals or projects and/or to secure financing in connection thereto by issuing or offering to issue shares within the limits of the proposed authorization.

The Board of Directors also believes that the interest of the Company requires that the Board of Directors be authorized to issue such shares or rights thereto either at or below market price, and including by way of incorporation of reserves, as it may be necessary or convenient in light of the facts and circumstances of the transaction in question or its strategic significance.

The Board of Directors further believes that, for the Company and its group to maximize its ability to attract and retain valuable directors, managers, officers, agent or employees, it is its best interest that the Company retain the flexibility to offer to such persons shares or conversion, option or similar plans or incentive programs permitting the subscription of shares in the Company either at or below market price. Such plans and programs, by serving the purpose of facilitating the recruitment or retention of key employees and executives, would enable the Company and its group to secure business opportunities, further strengthen and develop its market position and continue the implementation of the Company’s long term strategy.

Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes that issuances of shares as compensation to, or to satisfy conversion or option rights created to provide compensation to directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company, its subsidiaries or its affiliated companies should be made by the Board of Directors upon such terms and conditions as it deems fit and without reserving pre-emptive subscription rights to existing shareholders; provided, however, that any such issuances shall be limited to 1.5% of the Company’s issued share capital from time to time.

 

___________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Company anticipates that the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on May 4, 2016. Any shareholder who intends to present a proposal to be considered at the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders must submit the proposal in writing to the Company at the Company’s registered office located at 29, avenue de la Porte-Neuve, L-2227 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, not later than 4:00 P.M. (Luxembourg time) on February 1, 2016, in order for such proposal to be considered for inclusion on the agenda for the 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. PricewaterhouseCoopers, société coopérative, Cabinet de révision agréé, are the Company’s independent auditors. A representative of the independent auditors will be present at the Meetings.

 

Arturo Sporleder

Secretary to the Board of Directors

 

March 27, 2015

 


 
 

Ternium

 

Luxembourg

 

 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report by the Board of Directors with respect to the
proposed waiver of, suppression of, and authorization to suppress or limit, pre-
emptive subscription rights by the existing shareholders of Ternium S.A. (the Company”)

 

 

Dear Shareholders,

 

At the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of the Company to be held on May 6, 2015 immediately after the adjournment of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, the shareholders will be asked to resolve, among other things, on the following agenda item:

 

1.         Decision on the renewal of the authorized share capital of the Company and related authorizations and waivers by:

a.            the renewal of the validity period of the Company’s authorized share capital for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting;

 

b.           the renewal of the authorization to the Board of Directors, or any delegate(s) duly appointed by the Board of Directors, for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting, from time to time to issue shares within the limits of the authorized share capital against contributions in cash, contributions in kind or by way of incorporation of available reserves at such times and on such terms and conditions, including the issue price, as the Board of Directors or its delegate(s) may in its or their discretion resolve;

 

c.            the renewal of the authorization to the Board of Directors, for a period starting on the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders and ending on the fifth anniversary of the date of the publication in the Mémorial of the deed recording the minutes of such meeting, to waive, suppress or limit any pre-emptive subscription rights of shareholders provided for by law to the extent it deems such waiver, suppression or limitation advisable for any issue or issues of shares within the authorized share capital; waiver of any pre-emptive subscription rights provided for by law and related procedures;

 

d.           the decision that for as long as (but only for as long as) the shares of the Company are listed on a regulated market, any issuance of shares for cash within the limits of the authorized share capital shall be subject by provision of the Company’s articles of association to the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders, except in the following cases (in which cases no pre-emptive rights shall apply):

 

                                   i.     any issuance of shares for, within, in conjunction with or related to, an initial public offering of the shares of the Company on one or more regulated markets (in one or more instances); and

 

 

 

                                 ii.     any issuance of shares against a contribution other than in cash; and

 

 


 
 


 

Ternium

 

 

 


 

 

                               iii.     any issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares of the Company; provided, however, that the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders shall apply by provision of the Company’s articles of association in connection with any issuance of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares of the Company for cash; and

 

                               iv.     any issuance of shares (including by way of free shares or at discount), up to an amount of 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company, to directors, officers, agents, employees of the Company, its direct or indirect subsidiaries, or its Affiliates (as such term is defined in the Companys articles of association) (collectively, the “Beneficiaries”), including without limitation the direct issue of shares or upon the exercise of options, rights convertible into shares, or similar instruments convertible or exchangeable into shares issued for the purpose of compensation or incentive of the Beneficiaries or in relation thereto (which the Board of Directors shall be authorized to issue upon such terms and conditions as it deems fit).

 

e.            the acknowledgement and approval of the report of the Board of Directors in relation with the authorized share capital and the proposed authorizations to the Board of Directors with respect to any issuance of shares within the authorized share capital while suppressing any pre-emptive subscription rights of existing shareholders under law and related waiver; and

 

f.             the amendment of article 5 of articles of association of the Company to reflect the resolutions on this item of the agenda.

 

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the approval of the renewal of the authorized share capital of the Company and the related authorizations and waivers on the terms set forth in the above agenda.

 

The Board of Directors is of the opinion that the successful implementation and development of the Company and its group’s long term strategy will depend, among other factors, on the Company’s ability to grow through acquisitions or other investments on the best possible terms, and that the existence of the preferential subscription rights provided for by Luxembourg law for the benefit of existing shareholders will seriously reduce the flexibility of the Company to finance its operations and potential growth through issuances of shares; in addition, the preferential subscription rights procedure contemplated by Luxembourg law would, in some cases, risk delaying increases in share capital and issuances of new shares at times when timing may be of the essence.

 

Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes it to be in the Company’s best interest that the Board of Directors be authorized to negotiate and conclude acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and other transactions using shares or rights to shares of the Company’s capital as consideration. Similarly, the Board of Directors believes that the interest of the Company requires that maximum flexibility be granted so that the Company be able to react quickly and without delay to any suitable acquisition, investment, joint venture or other strategic proposals or projects and/or to secure financing in connection thereto by issuing or offering to issue shares within the limits of the proposed authorization.

 

The Board of Directors also believes that the interest of the Company requires that the Board of Directors be authorized to issue such shares or rights thereto either at or below market price, and including by way of incorporation of reserves, as it may be necessary or convenient in light of the facts and circumstances of the transaction in question or its strategic significance.

 

The Board of Directors further believes that, for the Company and its group to maximize its ability to attract and retain valuable directors, managers, officers, agent or employees, it is its best interest that the Company retain the flexibility to offer to such persons shares or conversion, option or similar plans or incentive programs permitting the subscription of shares in the Company either at or below market price. Such plans and programs, by serving the purpose of facilitating the recruitment or retention of key employees and executives, would enable the Company and its group to secure business opportunities, further strengthen and develop its market position and continue the implementation of the Company’s long term strategy.

 


 
 

 

Ternium



 

 

 

Accordingly, the Board of Directors believes that issuances of shares as compensation to, or to satisfy conversion or option rights created to provide compensation to directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company, its subsidiaries or its affiliated companies should be made by the Board of Directors upon such terms and conditions as it deems fit and without reserving pre-emptive subscription rights to existing shareholders; provided, however, that any such issuances shall be limited to 1.5% of the Company’s issued share capital from time to time.

 

 

 

 

The Board of Directors

 

 

 


 

 

Ternium 2014 Annual Report

 

Contents

 

Company Profile and Strategy

 

Operating and Financial Highlights

 

Chairman’s Letter

 

Management Report

 

Business Review

 

Corporate Governance

 

Board of Directors and Senior Management

 

Investor Information

 

2014 Results. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Financial Statements

 

1

 


 

 

Company Profile and Strategy

 

Ternium is a leading steel producer in Latin America.  We manufacture and process a broad range of value-added steel products, including galvanized and electro-galvanized sheets, pre-painted sheets, tinplate, welded pipes, hot-rolled flat products, cold-rolled products, bars and wire rods as well as slit and cut-to-length offerings through our service centers.

 

Our customers range from large global companies to small businesses operating in the construction, automotive, home appliances, capital goods, container, food and energy industries.  We aim to build close relationships with our customers and recognize that our success is closely linked with theirs.

 

Ternium has a deeply ingrained industrial culture.  With approximately 16,900 employees and an annual production capacity of 11 million tons of finished steel products, Ternium has production facilities located in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, the southern United States and Guatemala, as well as a network of service and distribution centers throughout Latin America that provide it with a strong position from which to serve its core markets.  In addition, Ternium participates in the control group of Usiminas, a leading steel company in the Brazilian steel market.

 

Our proximity to local steel consuming markets enable us to differentiate from our competitors by offering valuable services to our customer base across Latin America.  Our favorable access to iron ore sources and proprietary iron ore mines in Mexico provide reduced logistics costs, and our diversified steel production technology enables us to adapt to fluctuating input-cost conditions.

 

We operate with a broad and long-term perspective, and we regularly work towards improving the quality of life of our employees, their families and the local communities where we operate.

 

 

 

 

 

Ternium S.A. (the “Company”) is a Luxembourg company and its American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TX). We refer to Ternium S.A. and its consolidated subsidiaries as “we,” “our” or “Ternium.”

The financial and operational information contained in this annual report is based on Ternium’s operational data and on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and IFRIC interpretations as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB and adopted by the European Union (EU), or IFRS, and presented in U.S. dollars ($) and metric tons.

 

2

 


 

 

Operating and Financial Highlights

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

20121

 

20111 2

 

20101 2

STEEL SALES VOLUME (thousand tons)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico

5,632.2

 

4,984.9

 

4,952.4

 

4,683.2

 

4,466.9

Southern Region

2,510.9

 

2,633.1

 

2,444.5

 

2,635.3

 

2,396.4

Other Markets

1,238.5

 

1,370.3

 

1,371.2

 

1,505.0

 

1,191.3

Total

9,381.5

 

8,988.4

 

8,768.2

 

8,823.6

 

8,054.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCIAL INDICATORS (millions of $)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

8,726.1

 

8,530.0

 

8,608.1

 

9,122.8

 

7,339.9

Operating income

1,056.2

 

1,109.4

 

920.6

 

1,255.7

 

1,043.6

EBITDA3

1,471.0

 

1,486.6

 

1,291.5

 

1,651.6

 

1,417.8

Equity in (losses) earnings of non-consolidated companies

(34.2)

 

(31.6)

 

(346.8)

 

10.1

 

12.9

Profit before income tax expense

952.5

 

942.3

 

452.1

 

965.4

 

1,185.7

Profit for the year attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of the Parent

452.4

 

455.4

 

142.0

 

517.7

 

622.1

Non-controlling interest

136.4

 

137.5

 

48.9

 

135.1

 

157.4

Profit for the year

588.8

 

592.9

 

190.9

 

652.8

 

779.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

443.5

 

883.3

 

1,022.6

 

577.0

 

339.4

Free cash flow4

62.4

 

208.9

 

32.5

 

45.4

 

457.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BALANCE SHEET (millions of $)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

10,254.5

 

10,372.6

 

10,867.0

 

10,743.1

 

11,099.9

Total financial debt

2,164.8

 

2,002.8

 

2,424.4

 

1,996.1

 

1,939.7

Net debt (cash) financial position

1,801.5

 

1,526.1

 

1,703.3

 

(443.6)

 

(688.0)

Total liabilities

3,996.1

 

4,034.6

 

4,432.1

 

3,954.5

 

4,139.1

Capital and reserves attributable to the owners of the parent

5,285.0

 

5,340.0

 

5,369.2

 

5,711.5

 

5,833.2

Non-controlling interest

973.5

 

998.0

 

1,065.7

 

1,077.1

 

1,127.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCK DATA ($ per share / ADS5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

0.23

 

0.23

 

0.07

 

0.26

 

0.31

Basic earnings per ADS

2.30

 

2.32

 

0.72

 

2.63

 

3.10

Proposed dividend per ADS

0.90

 

0.75

 

0.65

 

0.75

 

0.75

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding6

1,963,076.8

 

1,963,076.8

 

1,963,076.8

 

1,968,327.9

 

2,004,743.4

(thousand shares)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1 Starting on January 1, 2013, Peña Colorada and Exiros have been proportionally consolidated. Comparative amounts for the periods ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 show them as investments in non-consolidated companies and their results are included within “Equity in (losses) earnings of non-consolidated companies” in the consolidated income statement.

2 Ternium changed prospectively the functional currency of its Mexican subsidiaries to the U.S. dollar, effective as of January 1, 2012.  For the periods ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 the functional currency for the Company's Mexican subsidiaries was the Mexican peso.

3 EBITDA equals operating income adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization, and impairment charges.

4 Free cash flow equals net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

5 Each ADS represents 10 shares.

6 Shares outstanding were 1,963,076,776 as of December 31 of each of 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011, and 2,004,743,442 as of December 31 of 2010.

3

 


 

 

Chairman’s Letter

 

In 2014, Ternium developed its activities in a context of a recovery in the Mexican economy alongside that of the U.S., together with a slowdown in economic growth in the rest of Latin America due to the decline of commodity prices and a very aggressive competitive environment due to the increase in steel imports from China.

 

The fall in commodity prices is affecting many of Latin America’s economies where growth which has been fuelled by high prices for commodity exports over the past few years has not been accompanied by growth in industrial activity and manufacturing employment. This is reflected in higher imports of steel products and manufactured goods in the region, particularly from China.

 

Direct exports of steel products from China to Latin America rose 56% year on year in 2014 to a record level of 8.3 million tons, representing 12% of total regional consumption. Indirect exports through manufactured goods also rose exponentially. There is a need for a vigilant and concrete response from industry, governments and unions and trade actions to prevent dumping and subsidized imports if the manufacturing base of the region’s economies is to be sustained.    

 

The ongoing slowdown of the Chinese economy and, in particular, the abrupt change in steel intensity this year - Chinese apparent steel use grew 11% in 2013 but decreased 3% in 2014 -has resulted in substantial overcapacity and intensified competitive pressures throughout the steel industry worldwide.  As Chinese producers seek to increase exports, prices for steel products have fallen to levels that threaten the sustainability of many producers.

 

In this context, Ternium maintained its profitability in 2014 through expanding its markets and range of products and working to reduce costs. Shipments rose 4% to a new record of 9.4 million tons reflecting the investments and solid positioning we have established in our Latin American markets and our focus on serving the industrial sector.

 

In Mexico, our shipments rose 13% year on year to reach 60% of our total shipments. The successful ramp-up of our new cold rolling mill and Tenigal hot-dipped galvanizing line in Pesquería, Mexico, has strengthened our positioning in the high-end steel markets. We are developing new products and certifying new steel grades, and our sales of differentiated products for the automotive and specialized industrial sectors are growing and displacing imported products.

 

In the rest of Latin America, however, our shipments declined. In Argentina, demand for our products was affected by weaker economic activity outside the energy sector with a particularly sharp decline in the automotive sector. In Colombia, despite growth in activity in the construction and industrial sectors, a surge in low-priced imports from China and other countries affected our sales of finished products.

 

Following the investments we have made in strengthening our industrial system, we set a number of new production records including record levels of hot rolled coil and galvanized products. In addition to our investments in capacity to produce differentiated products and to reduce energy costs for our Mexican operations, we are working on many different improvement projects throughout our industrial facilities with the aim of optimizing our operations and reducing costs.

 

Most important are the actions we have been taking to improve safety following the fatal accident in our Guerrero plant in 2013. With the technical assistance of Dupont, we have diagnosed potential process hazards at selected critical processes and are developing new safety management tools to address them. We are encouraged by the response and active participation of our employees in our safety hour routines and new training activities aimed at consolidating a culture of prevention and excellence, identifying potential hazards and avoiding risk. To help identify further opportunities for improvement, we are proceeding with the certification of our safety management systems under the OHSAS 18001 standard and expect to have completed this process in our main facilities in Mexico and Argentina by the end of 2015. And at the Guerrero plant, we are implementing an integral safety and environmental investment plan encompassing technological upgrades and replacement of outdated equipment, and the incorporation of new equipment and technologies to control emissions. Our safety and environmental indicators are improving but we will continue to work to improve all aspects of our safety performance.

4

 


 

 

 

Our initiatives to strengthen the industrial value chain in the countries where we operate by offering support and training for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) continues to generate interest with a record number of 940 companies participating. In 2014, we launched several new training programs and incorporated new platforms for collaboration with state entities. In Mexico, we made an agreement with the Instituto Nacional del Emprendedor (National Entrepreneur Institute) to support selected SMEs with training and consultancy services associated to capital expenditure projects funded by the Institute. In Argentina, our commercial and institutional assistance efforts focused on the development of new business for SMEs, taking advantage of the solid expansion of oil and gas reserve development projects, in coordination with government financing arms.

 

Our investment in Usiminas suffered a setback this year. The deterioration in the Brazilian industrial environment and the downturn in international prices for iron ore and steel are affecting the company’s profitability. Despite the success shown in turning round the company’s operating and financial performance over the past three years, the board of directors of Usiminas passed a resolution on September 26, 2014 dismissing the company’s chief executive officer (Diretor-Presidente) and two other executives from their respective positions, following a controversy that arose within the Usiminas control group with respect to rules applicable to the appointment of senior managers. Although this situation remains unresolved, I am confident that the long-term potential of Usiminas remains intact and that, with a strong management team, it can achieve the vision we originally set out for it.

 

In 2014, our earnings per ADS amounted to $2.30. Our financial position is solid with a net debt equivalent to 1.2 times the last twelve months of EBITDA. We are proposing to increase the annual dividend by 20% to a level of $0.90 per ADS.

 

During 2014, Ternium made good progress in its expansion plans in Mexico through the ramp up of its investments in Pesquería and its commercial integration with end-user industrial customers. Throughout the company, we are working to differentiate ourselves from our competitors and to sustain a position of leadership through industrial excellence, product development and customer service. 2015 will bring new challenges but I am confident that the company will be successful in meeting them.  I would like to thank our employees for their efforts and achievements during the past year. I would also like to thank our customers, suppliers and shareholders for their continuing support and confidence in our company.

 

 

Paolo Rocca

Chairman

 

 

5

 


 

 

Business Review

 

Steel consumption in the main steel markets of the Americas showed mixed performances in 2014. The steel markets of the U.S., Mexico and Colombia showed solid expansion in the year, reflecting healthy economic activity. On the other hand, consumption in the Argentine steel market was relatively stable in 2014 and consumption in the Brazilian steel market decreased, reflecting a slowdown in economic activity. Throughout 2014, Ternium continued to be the leading supplier of flat steel products in Mexico and Argentina, and a leading supplier of steel products in Colombia and Central America.

 

Ternium achieved record shipment volumes of 9.4 million tons in 2014. In Mexico, shipments increased an outstanding 13.0% year-over-year, on the back of the ramp-up of Ternium’s new facilities in Pesquería coupled with solid steel demand growth in that country. Mexico showed a moderate acceleration in economic activity in 2014, with steel market demand expanding by 11.7% year-over-year, according to the Latin American Steel Association, reflecting a vibrant industrial sector that continued increasing exports of manufactured goods, particularly to the U.S., and a slowly improving construction sector. Mexico continues to gain share in Ternium’s total steel shipments, with its participation increasing to 60.0% during 2014, from a 55.5% participation in 2013.

 

Shipments in the Southern Region and in Other Markets decreased year-over-year. Argentina’s economic activity showed a moderate contraction in 2014, as strong activity in the oil & gas sector was offset by weaker activity elsewhere. The economy was affected by macroeconomic imbalances and a less favorable external context, including a sharp deceleration of the Brazilian economy and a deflation process in international commodities markets.

 

Economic activity expanded in Colombia, the U.S. and Central America during 2014, resulting in a strong growth of steel consumption in these markets. Despite this, Ternium steel shipments decreased in 2014, due to the effect of increased steel imports penetration.

 

During 2014, the new industrial center in Pesquería, Nuevo León, Mexico, achieved its targeted production rates, following a period of ramp-up mainly during the first half of the year. Within the Pesquería industrial center, certain projects were developed by Ternium México and others by Tenigal, a company in which Ternium and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC) hold 51% and 49% participations, respectively.  Through their state-of-the-art production lines, Ternium México’s cold-rolling mill and Tenigal’s hot-dipped galvanizing mill, this center produces high-end steel mainly targeting the automotive industry, with annual processing capacity of 1.5 million tons of cold-rolled steel and 400,000 tons of galvanized steel. The increased utilization rates of these facilities, following their ramp-up during 2014, is expected to enable Ternium to achieve record shipment levels in 2015, nearing 10 million tons of finished steel products for the whole year.

 

The construction of Techgen’s power plant has been progressing on schedule and within budget. Techgen is a joint venture company located in the Pesquería area of the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. The 900 megawatts power plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2016 at an estimated cost of $1.1 billion. The plant is expected to cover 100% of Ternium’s electricity requirements in Mexico and generate substantial cost savings.

 

Ternium’s support program for small- and medium-sized enterprises (ProPymes) continued growing in 2014 in Mexico and Argentina and now includes approximately 940 companies. Throughout its more than 10 years of existence, ProPymes has helped create an industrial network including customers, suppliers, technical schools, universities, business schools and governments, that has contributed to the improvement of the industry’s operating performance and to the reduction of investment barriers within our customers and suppliers. In 2015, ProPymes seeks to continue expanding its influence in Mexico through the incorporation of new SMEs into the program and the organization of a high profile annual industry convention.

6

 


 

 

 

Ternium’s environmental projects during 2014 continued focusing on the improvement of air emissions and wastewater treatment and disposal, and on the reduction or elimination of hazardous products from our manufacturing processes. Of note during the year was, in Argentina, the commissioning of new equipment in several facilities, including equipment to reduce particulate matter emissions in the coal charging process; to reduce emissions of sulphur and nitric oxides in the coking process of metallurgical coal; to abate carbon dioxide during the pig iron pouring process; and to de-dust the continuous casters tundishing process. In addition, during 2014, an energy efficiency program was launched in order to identify opportunities to develop and implement projects targeting savings in energy consumption. Furthermore, during the year Siderar continued with a new ISO 14001 certification procedure encompassing all of its steel processing facilities under a four-year certification program.

 

Ternium made progress in several projects under the Guerrero investment plan launched in 2013 encompassing industrial safety, environmental sustainability, maintenance and facility overhaul. Civil works started during 2014 in a number of projects in the iron ore reduction facilities, the steel shop and the cold-rolling mills, and engineering studies started for additional projects in the mentioned facilities. These capital expenditure programs aim at bringing Ternium’s Guerrero unit in Mexico to meet the most stringent environmental and safety norms in the world.

 

On safety management initiatives, during the second half of 2013 Ternium retained Dupont, a renowned authority in industrial safety, to evaluate opportunity areas in Ternium’s safety systems with focus on critical production processes, among other projects. As a result, during 2014 we advanced in the diagnosis and identification of process hazards at selected critical processes, and, accordingly, in the development of new safety management tools for such processes. In addition, during 2014 Ternium advanced in the development of, and undertook the first external audit of the documentary structure under a program aimed at obtaining the OHSAS 18001 certification for its largest facilities in Mexico and Argentina.

 

In 2014, we also strengthened our presence in Usiminas. Following the acquisition of 51.4 million additional ordinary shares of Usiminas on October 30, 2014, we now hold 32.9% of Usiminas’ ordinary shares and a participation in Usiminas’ results of 16.8%.

 

 

Steel Segment

Ternium’s shipments of steel products reached 9.4 million tons in 2014, a 4.4% increase compared with the 9.0 million tons achieved in the previous year. GDP in Latin America grew 1.2% in the year, lower than the 2.8% expansion rate in 2013, while the U.S. economy grew 2.4% in 2014, slightly higher than its 2.2% expansion rate in 2013.

 

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Apparent demand for finished steel grew 0.6% year-over-year in Latin America in 2014, lower than its 3.3% expansion rate in 2013. In Mexico, the industrial sector advanced at a solid pace during the year while activity in the construction sector showed a slow improvement. In the main South American markets, construction activity stagnated during 2014 while industrial activity decreased year-over-year. Apparent demand for finished steel grew 11.7% in the United States, resuming the cycle of solid expansion seen in previous years.

 

 

 


Mexico

During 2014, Ternium was the leading supplier of flat steel products in Mexico. Shipments to this market increased 13.0% year-over-year to 5.6 million tons, representing 60.0% of Ternium’s total steel shipments. Mexico’s GDP increased 2.1% year-over-year in 2014, evidencing an acceleration in economic activity versus the prior year. Apparent steel use increased 11.7% year-over-year to approximately 22.5 million tons in 2014 in the context of a broad expansion of Mexican industrial sector during the year.

 

 

 


7 Source:  International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook

8 Source: World Steel Association, Latin American Steel Association and Ternium estimates

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Construction activity in Mexico remained flat in 2014. On the other hand, motor vehicles production increased a solid 9.8% year-over-year, confirming the continued outstanding performance of this sector in Mexico. With 3.2 million units produced in 2014, the Mexican automotive industry now ranks as the seventh largest car producer in the world.

 

 


Steel prices in the United States, which are a significant driver for steel prices in Mexico, remained range bound during most of 2014, following an upward trend in the second half of 2013, and began to trend downward during the fourth quarter 2014 in line with the downturn in international steel prices and a significant increase in imports into the U.S. market. Service center steel inventories remained range bound during the first half 2014 and increased during the second half of the year, partly responding to steel demand growth.

 

During 2014, Ternium continued running its integrated steelmaking facilities in Mexico at close to full capacity. We continued maximizing the use of direct reduced iron in the metallic mix of our steel shops (produced in our natural gas-based iron ore direct reduction units), which has been a cost efficient input compared with steel scrap given prevailing prices during the year. Our re-rolling facilities saw higher utilization rates in 2014 compared with those of the year prior, as our Guerrero unit’s hot strip mill #1, idled for most of 2013, has been operating since the end of 2013 due to an increased demand for its products.  As of year-end 2014, these facilities were operating at their targeted utilization rates.

 

Ternium’s capital expenditures in the steel segment in the country amounted to $201 million in 2014. The main investments carried out during the period included those made in the new cold rolling mill (Pesquería facility), in our mining activities, in the maintenance and enhancement of our iron ore reduction facilities and for the expansion of our service center capacity. The Pesquería facility is a new cold-rolling mill commissioned during 2013, with annual processing capacity of 1.5 million tons, designed to serve the dynamic Mexican industry. Our 2011-2014 high-end investment plan in our steel segment in Mexico has been mostly completed and focus has now shifted toward projects aimed at enhancing quality and productivity, and reducing costs.

 

Ternium expects GDP growth rates in Mexico to accelerate further this year as a result of higher infrastructure and construction spending and ongoing solid U.S. economic performance. Apparent steel use is expected to grow with a continued and broad expansion of the industrial sectors and a gradual rebound of construction activity, related to higher activity in infrastructure development and a rebound of residential projects.  In this context Ternium expects in 2015 to achieve new record shipment levels in the country, profiting from a higher utilization rate at its Pesquería industrial center.

 

Southern Region

 

The Southern Region encompasses the steel markets of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. During 2014, Ternium was the leading supplier of flat steel products in Argentina and a leading supplier of steel products in Paraguay and Uruguay.  Shipments in the Southern Region decreased 4.6% year-over-year in 2014 to 2.5 million tons, representing 26.8% of Ternium’s total steel shipments.
 

 Source: Mexican Statistics and Geography Institute

10 Source: Mexican Automotive Industry Association

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Argentina’s GDP records in 2014 showed a moderate contraction in activity, reflecting weak economic performance across the board. Apparent steel demand decreased slightly year-over-year to approximately 5.0 million tons, with a stagnant construction sector and a significant contraction of the automotive sector, all of which resulted in a decrease of Ternium’s shipments in the country.


 
 

 

 

Ternium’s shipments in the Paraguayan and Bolivian markets increased in 2014, while shipments in the Uruguayan market remained relatively stable and shipments to the Chilean market decreased compared with shipment levels in the year prior. The economies of these countries expanded in 2014, with GDP growth rates of between 2.0% and 5.2% year-over-year.

 

In 2014, Ternium’s Argentine subsidiary Siderar increased steel production by 9% compared with production levels in 2013, as Siderar has been ramping-up its new steelmaking facilities since the first quarter of the year and as steel production levels in 2013 were affected by the outage of Siderar’s blast furnace #2, which was idle during most of the second half of 2012 until February 2013. In the finishing facilities, utilization rates decreased compared with those of the previous year reflecting lower demand for finished steel products in the domestic Argentine market.

 

Siderar’s capital expenditures amounted to $189 million in 2014. During the year, Siderar made progress on several projects, including those for the expansion and enhancement of the coking facilities, for the expansion and enhancement of the steelmaking facilities (including a new continuous caster in the steel shop, inaugurated during the first quarter) and for the revamping of the hot-rolling mill.

 

Looking ahead to 2015, steel consumption is not expected to show growth in Argentina, in the context of a stagnant local economy and relatively weak demand growth in Brazil.  During the year, Siderar expects to progress in the utilization of its new industrial facilities, a result of the investments performed in the latest years, particularly in those facilities that enable the production of high-end steel products that result in an increase in the added value of our steel shipments.  Siderar’s capital expenditures focus in 2015 is planned to shift towards projects aimed at increasing steel processing capacity, increasing operating efficiency, enhancing process technology and reliability, and widening the product range.

 


11  Source: Argentine Statistics Institute

12  Source: Argentine Automotive Producers Association

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Other Markets

Ternium’s sales to the rest of the world are shown under “Other Markets”, including major shipment destinations such as Colombia, the United States and Central America. During 2014, Ternium was a leading supplier of steel products in Colombia and Central America. In addition, Ternium continued serving customers in southern United States and in other countries throughout Latin America. Shipments to these markets, which represent 13.2% of Ternium’s total steel shipments, decreased 9.6% on average year-over-year in 2014 to 1.2 million tons.

 

Colombia’s GDP continued growing at a solid pace in 2014, reflecting a broad-based increase in activity. Apparent steel use increased 15.8% year-over-year to approximately 4.0 million tons, following an expansion of the construction and industrial sectors. Crude steel production rates at our Colombian facilities increased 27% year-over-year in 2014 following the completion, in 2013, of a new de-dusting system at its steel shop. Finished steel production decreased in 2014, however, as the indicated increase in production of integrated steel products was more than offset by lower production of non-integrated steel products due to the effect of increased steel imports penetration in this market. As a result, Ternium’s steel shipments in the country decreased slightly in 2014 when compared with the prior year.

 

The U.S. economy continued recovering during 2014, with GDP growth of 2.4% and apparent steel use increasing strongly year-over-year to approximately 106.9 million tons. Ternium’s shipments to this country, however, decreased slightly year-over-year in 2014 due to the effect of record steel import penetration in the U.S. market.

 

Ternium’s shipments to Central American steel markets decreased in 2014 despite the continued economic activity expansion in these regions, with GDP growth rates estimated at between 1.7% and 6.6% year-over-year, due to the effect of increased steel imports penetration in these markets.

 

 

Mining Segment

Ternium has iron ore production facilities in Mexico. We conduct our mining activities through Las Encinas, a company in which we have a 100% equity interest, and Consorcio Peña Colorada, a company in which we have a 50% interest (with ArcelorMittal having the other 50% interest). ArcelorMittal and Ternium each receive 50% of total iron ore production of Consorcio Peña Colorada. Most of our iron ore production is consumed internally at Ternium’s steelmaking facilities in Mexico and small quantities are sold to third parties. In 2014, Ternium’s mining segment reported shipments of 3.9 million tons of iron ore, a 9% decrease compared with 2013 primarily attributable to lower iron ore production at Consorcio Peña Colorada.

 

Las Encinas

Las Encinas produces iron ore pellets and magnetite concentrate. As of the end of 2014, Las Encinas was operating the Aquila open pit iron ore mine, located in Michoacán, and El Chilillo open pit iron ore mine, a small body located in Jalisco. The Las Encinas facilities include two crushing plants located close to each of the Aquila and El Encino mines, and a concentration and pelletizing plant located in Alzada, Colima.

 

Las Encinas’ saleable production (pellets and concentrates) reached 2.1 million tons in 2014, slightly higher than the 2.0 million tons achieved in 2013. Iron ore reserves as of December 31, 2014 were 23 million tons on a run-of-mine basis (with a 41% average iron grade). Las Encinas’ combined active mines life was estimated at 6 years as of the end of 2014. Capital expenditures during the year reached $13 million, mainly related to maintenance and upgrade of equipment, and exploration activities.

 

 

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Consorcio Peña Colorada

Consorcio Peña Colorada produces iron ore pellets and magnetite concentrate. As of the end of 2014, it was operating the Peña Colorada open pit iron ore mine, located in Colima. The Consorcio Peña Colorada facilities include a concentration facility located at the mine and a two-line pelletizing plant located near the Manzanillo seaport on the Pacific coast in Colima.

 

Consorcio Peña Colorada’s saleable production (pellets and concentrates) was 3.6 million tons in 2014, lower than the 3.9 million tons achieved in 2013, mainly as a result of a decrease in the average ferrous content of the iron ore. Iron ore reserves as of December 31, 2014 were 241 million tons on a run-of-mine basis (with a 23% average iron grade). Consorcio Peña Colorada’s combined active mines life was estimated at 17 years as of the end of 2014.

 

Ternium’s share in Peña Colorada’s capital expenditures during the year amounted to $33 million, mainly related to maintenance and upgrade of equipment, and exploration activities. During 2014, Consorcio Peña Colorada’s shareholders approved the investments required to increase the processing capacity of its crushing, grinding and concentration facilities to raise iron ore concentrate production levels back to 4.5 million tons per year. The project is expected to be completed in 2016.

 

 

Support Program for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

As it has been doing for several years, with the aim at bolstering growth of its domestic steel markets, Ternium continued sponsoring a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) support program called ProPymes. The program is focused on helping SMEs in the steel industry’s value chain grow through the enhancement of competitiveness and the stimulus of investments in the steel industry’s value chain. To achieve this, ProPymes provides a variety of services to SMEs along the value chain, including training, business advisory, institutional assistance, commercial support and financial aid.  Through these means, ProPymes has helped create an industrial network that encourages the professionalization and quest for excellence of SMEs which, based on knowledge sharing, reciprocal learning and exchange of experiences, aims at the implementation along the whole value chain of the best practices utilized in the industry. ProPymes currently assists approximately 940 SMEs in Mexico and Argentina.

 

Ternium supervises the execution of the ProPymes programs through two departments operating under local management supervision in Mexico and Argentina.

 

Mexico

ProPymes in Mexico selects participating SMEs according to their ability to increase their products’ competitiveness as suppliers, along with their capability to add value to steel products and their potential to increase exports or substitute imports as customers. Approximately 260 Mexican SMEs participate in ProPymes.

 

During 2014, new training programs were launched, including a new program for SMEs’ middle managers and supervisors focused on leadership, and a new program for workers and technicians comprising a broad range of business requirements. These new activities, which were organized in conjunction with a local institution and sponsored by the Instituto Nacional del Emprendedor (National Entrepreneur Institute), or INADEM, and ProPymes, complement the ongoing program for SMEs’ managers, which is in its sixth year now.

 

ProPymes’ business development platforms incorporated a new cooperation agreement with INADEM during the year, through which selected SMEs are granted financial aid to fund their capital expenditure projects and related expenses, such as training programs and consultancy services. In addition, ProPymes consolidated during 2014 the activities of a recently created development committee that it leads together with the manufacturing industry’s chamber and Monterrey´s competitive center. The committee develops selected SMEs as suppliers of some chamber member companies by offering them consultancy services and training programs. During 2014, ProPymes participated, as it has done in previous years, in selected conferences and conventions intended to facilitate new commercial ties between SMEs and potential customers in the automotive sector and other industries that belong to the steel value chain.

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In 2015, ProPymes intends to continue facilitating commercial relationships and sponsoring training and advisory activities to strengthen the steel industry’s value chain. In addition, the program is targeting an expansion of the number of participating SMEs and the startup of an annual convention in order to promote the sharing of know-how, reciprocal learning and the exchange of experiences among participating SMEs.

 

Argentina

Approximately 680 Argentine SMEs participate in ProPymes. The size of the program’s activities continued to set new records during 2014, particularly those for the training of SME personnel. Of note during 2014, the first cohort of 28 students completed the SME management development program, a two year-long initiative launched during 2013. This part-time specialized course for selected SMEs middle managers and professionals is part of a broader career development strategy to attract and keep in SMEs employees with high potential.

 

During 2014, ProPymes furthered activities related to its corporate social responsibility program, an initiative aimed at helping SMEs build and consolidate long-term community relations, and the medium-term development of a qualified labor force. Under this program, students and teachers at selected technical schools were offered internships and training, respectively, with the aim of improving technical education. The program, launched in 2013 at five technical schools, showed solid expansion in 2014 with more than twice as many participating technical schools and internships offered compared with those of the previous year.

 

In addition, ProPymes renewed and expanded its offer of training activities, both those performed in-house and those performed at local educational institutions. These programs comprise a broad range of business requirements and target SME employees of all levels. Specifically during 2014, a new protocol and succession seminar was launched, aimed at assisting a number of family businesses undergo their governance transition processes. A new record for ProPymes’ training programs was achieved in 2014 with more than 3,000 participants, an increase of 25% compared with the record level of participants achieved in the previous year.

 

The program’s consulting area, one of ProPymes’ pillars, reached a new record of diagnostic reports and assistances performed with a 38% expansion year-over-year, including those for the use of automation technology, the development of health and safety protocols, the development of tools for training and human resources management, the implementation of management control systems, the development of competitive financing alternatives and the implementation of maintenance management.

 

During 2014, ProPymes commercial and institutional assistance efforts focused on the development of new business for SMEs, taking advantage of the solid expansion of oil and gas reserve development projects in Argentina.  For this purpose ProPymes coordinated business meetings including SMEs representatives, oil and gas industry experts and governmental financing arms for SMEs.

 

In 2015, ProPymes intends to launch new training programs specialized in industrial company management and in media relations management. In addition, ProPymes intends to expand its ongoing programs to meet the increasing requirements of SMEs, particularly in fields such as career development strategies, training, consultancy, and commercial and institutional support for oil and gas-related business opportunities.

 

 

 

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Product Research and Development

Product research and development activities at Ternium are conducted through a central Product Development Department in coordination with local teams that operate in several of our facilities. Applied research efforts are carried out in-house and in conjunction with universities and research centers, as well as through participation in international consortia. Ternium also develops new products and processes in cooperation with its industrial customers, prioritizing an early involvement scheme.

 

In 2014, Ternium’s product research and development activities focused mainly on the development of high-end flat steel products to gain market share in the automotive, home appliance, electric motors and oil and gas sectors. In this regard, during the year Ternium furthered the development, certification and production of advanced steel with high quality standards from its industrial center in Pesquería, currently the most modern of its kind in Latin America, with the aim at increasing its share of the Mexican automotive steel market and increasing the value added to its product sales mix.

 

In addition, Ternium launched a new range of interstitial-free ultra-low carbon steel grades with high silicon content and very low core loss for automotive, home appliance and electric motor applications, to consolidate the company’s competitiveness in certain industrial steel market segments in Mexico and Argentina. Some of these new developments were possible following the commissioning of a new steel vacuum degassing station and a new continuous caster in Argentina.

 

Industrial Products

During 2014, Ternium continued the development and certification of products and manufacturing processes with its customers in the automotive industry in Mexico and Argentina. These efforts were aimed at increasing Ternium’s share in the high-end steel market, especially of those products involving the utilization of its new Pesquería facilities. In addition, Ternium developed new manufacturing processes for steels with complex micro-structures, suitable for tough performance such as in bodyworks and rims, for special steel qualities for hydroforming and for steel qualities for hot-stamping, the latter currently at the approval stage. These new developments were also possible following the commissioning of the new facilities in Argentina.

 

For the oil and gas industry, during 2014 Ternium participated in the development of metallurgic studies for certain steel grades. This project aimed at improving its portfolio offerings for tube and pipe manufacturers serving such industry. The project is being developed in conjunction with the Tenaris Research Center and the University of Pittsburgh, and entails the evaluation and assessment of certain steel grades intended for use in sour service conditions. In addition, during the year Ternium launched the development of hot-rolled steel products suitable for the manufacturing of high-pressure welded pipes, given the new demand expected for these products stemming from the extension of natural gas pipelines in Mexico and Argentina.

 

In order to increase its participation in the electrical steel markets in Mexico, during 2014 Ternium launched the development of ultra-low carbon steel grades with high silicon content, which enhances steel magnetic properties. Early tests showed that the new products yielded significant improvements in terms of electric motor energy efficiency. The project has advanced to the customer certification stage.

 

For the home appliance industry, Ternium developed an early involvement strategy with the main home appliance manufacturers in Mexico and Argentina, a strategy that proved decisive in gaining market share in this segment. Under these arrangements, Ternium developed customized products and services, and provided technical assistance related to the shaping processes of new products parts.

 

During the year, Siderar continued its technical assistance to customers and its fostering of new technologies that enable the introduction of higher quality steels aimed at the improvement of the performance and the competitiveness of their products. Following the developments together with agricultural machinery and vehicle manufacturers in the year prior, during 2014 Siderar incorporated new developments together with can manufacturers that helped them increase market share through the introduction of new varnished products.

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Applied Research

Ternium’s medium-term product research and development plans are based on a continuing assessment of steel product performance and the emerging requirements of the industry, carried out in close collaboration with leading steel customers and institutions. Based on customer needs, we improve, adapt and create new applications and define future technology requirements at our facilities.

 

During 2014, Ternium continued participating in leading research and development projects through international consortia and together with universities and research centers to further expand the required know-how for the development of new products. Consortia projects included the development of high-strength steel for applications in the pipe manufacturing and automotive industries, with the Colorado School of Mines, and the development of new coating technologies for applications in the automotive industry and of improvements in the galvanizing bath to optimize processes, with the International Zinc Association.

 

University and research center joint projects included the Mexican Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (Nuevo León Autonomous University) for basic research on steel and steel coatings mechanical and chemical performance, the Mexican Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados (Advanced Materials Research Center) for hot-stamped steel coatings performance and electric steel efficiency performance, and the Instituto Argentino de Siderurgia (Argentine Steel Institute) for high-strength steel casting and hot rolling processing development.

 

Prospective Developments

During 2015, Ternium will focus on the optimization of its current product range design and on the development of new advanced hot-rolled steel such as dual phase, complex phase and martensitic steel products. These new developments will be possible as a result of the enhancement project for the hot rolling mill of our Monterrey unit, and are aimed at gaining share in Mexico’s automotive steel market segment.

 

During the year, Ternium will consolidate ongoing developments, such as the above mentioned certification of new products and processes related to its Pesquería facilities and its new steel vacuum degassing station and continuous caster. In addition, Siderar is expected to complete the development of special steel grades to fulfill the requirements of Mexican industrial customers.

 

In addition, Ternium expects to complete during 2015 the above mentioned development of metallurgic studies for oil and gas steel grades, aimed at improving its product portfolio for tube and pipe manufacturers.

 

 

Human Resources and Communities

Ternium had approximately 16,900 employees as of December 31, 2014, a figure similar to that at year-end 2013. During 2014, the company continued its medium-term personnel recruitment plans in the different regions, leaning mainly on the program for recent graduated professionals, a program that has contributed a majority of our current management and technologist positions. In addition, a number of students from different Latin American universities continued carrying out internships in different areas of the organization. The purpose of these internships is to offer students and the universities a professional experience within an actual business environment, and to serve as a tool to identify talent and to promote acquaintance between the company and its potential employees.

 

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During 2014, Ternium continued investing in training with diverse programs aimed at satisfying the specific needs of the different business areas. Of note during the year was the development of a new safety training program, an activity involving all of the company’s areas and all of the company’s levels aimed at the achievement and consolidation of a safe and proactive behavior profile for Ternium’s personnel.  In addition, during 2014 Ternium launched two new continuous improvement and energy savings training programs, and also launched the second stage of its leaders training program, an activity initiated in 2013 aimed at the development of skills required specifically by personnel in leadership positions.

 

Throughout the year, the company continued its established training programs for young professionals, which it considers key for the development of its future managers, technicians and experts. In addition, the company continued during 2014 several in-company post-graduate as well as customized courses, launched in 2013, focused on performance and technical knowledge. These courses enable employees to learn the latest concepts and tools in their relevant fields, and encourage them to achieve the highest possible levels of productivity and operating efficiency. Ternium continued enabling the financial support and contributions to different joint industry and university programs, including the endowment of Chairs at certain universities and the funding of scholarship and fellowship grants to talented undergraduate and graduate students of engineering and applied sciences in selected countries. Throughout the year, the company continued to host various courses for graduate and undergraduate students and fostered conferences on technical subjects related to the steel industry.

 

During 2014, Siderar continued its work attendance program, an activity launched in 2012 with the purpose of increasing work attendance and strengthening commitment, teamwork and an industrial culture among its workers. Of note was the 10% improvement recorded in its attendance indicators during 2014, compared with those recorded at the program’s initiation.  Among the initiatives aimed at fostering the quality of life of its employees, in and out of the workplace, during 2014 the company continued expanding its flexible working program, including the construction of remote office space, the introduction of the flexible Friday timetable and the implementation of teleworking as an addition to paternity leave. Moreover, the company continued with its sports and fitness fostering programs, clinical examination and disease prevention campaigns, scholarship and leisure programs for the employees’ children, and loan programs for home improvement and special situations.

 

Community Relations

With an eye toward prioritizing our long-term relationships in the communities where we operate, Ternium’s social programs in 2014 continued seeking to strengthen its communities and to deepen its insertion in them, working together with local institutions to identify priorities and develop projects in the areas of education and social integration, health and sports, and culture dissemination.

 

On education and social integration-related initiatives, a sponsored technical module continued to be taught in some technical schools of the state of Nuevo León, Mexico. This module has been designed to teach the skills required to perform operational and maintenance works in steelmaking facilities. In addition, during the year Ternium furthered its support to a local technical school, including activities such as the upgrading of teachers’ skills and school’s management, and improvements in the school’s infrastructure and equipment. These initiatives aim at securing Ternium’s access to a trained labor force in the medium term.

 

In the Ramallo and Ensenada industrial areas of Argentina, Siderar continued to support a program aimed at strengthening local technical schools, an endeavor initiated in 2006 involving the Argentine government, Siderar, and several technical schools near Siderar’s facilities. Over time, this program has secured Ternium’s access to a trained labor force, with a noticeable upgrade of the graduates’ skills. Under this program, Siderar continued providing technical scholarships at its workshops and training at its operating areas in the industrial centers, and carried on technical training programs in the schools. In addition, the company continued cooperating with schools’ infrastructure improvement activities together with the Hermanos Agustín y Enrique Rocca foundation.

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In addition, during 2014 Ternium continued financing programs aimed at the improvement of basic education. In Mexico, Ternium supported basic schools in Monterrey and shop academies in Pihuamo, Aquila and Alzada. Likewise, in Argentina, Siderar continued supporting a pilot scheme launched in 2013 involving basic schools located in Ramallo and San Nicolás. Furthermore, during 2014 Ternium and Siderar launched a new volunteer program for the restoration and refurbishing of several community educational centers in Pesquería, Mexico, and in San Nicolás, Argentina. Works under this program included maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the schools’ infrastructure with the participation of Ternium’s employees and the involvement of the schools’ teachers, managers, students’ relatives, and neighbors. The program was supported and financed by Ternium or Siderar and the Hermanos Agustín y Enrique Rocca foundation, as well as by other companies operating in the steel industry value chain.

 

Together with the Hermanos Agustín y Enrique Rocca foundation, Ternium and Siderar continued supporting  the financing of scholarships for high performance students from the communities in different countries, including as from 2014 those in the community of Nuevo León, Mexico.

 

On health-care, sports and culture dissemination-related initiatives, during 2014 the Ternium continued organizing health fairs in different cities aimed at increasing the community’s awareness and basic understanding of how to prevent and take care of various health issues. In addition, Ternium continued supporting a basic health care unit in Aquila, Mexico. The company continued organizing, among other activities, its annual local marathons and cinema festivals, achieving a new record of participants. These traditional events that take place every year in Colima and Monterrey, Mexico, and in San Nicolás, Argentina, were also organized in Puebla, Mexico, starting in 2014.

 

 

Environment, Health and Safety

Ternium reaffirms environmental protection and the individual’s health and safety as a paramount value, holding its personnel responsible for the observance of this value and encouraging the promotion and sharing of related policies with the company’s value chain and with the communities where it operates. Ternium’s environment, health and safety policies abide by the World Steel Association’s policy statement and its principles for excellence in safety and occupational health, and by the ISO 14000 environmental management international standard directives.

 

Ternium participates in the World Steel Association (worldsteel) forums. These forums, which are focused on sustainable development, environment, safety and occupational health, develop consistent measurements, statistics and databases of selected variables aiming to enable steelmaking companies to benchmark performance, share state-of-the-art best practices and ultimately set industrial process improvement plans. These forums include the Climate Change Policy, Life Cycle Assessment, Carbon Dioxide Data Collection Program, Water Management, Sustainability Reporting, and Safety and Occupational Health Committee groups and their working subgroups. During 2014, activities intensified in relation to the sharing of best practices among Ternium’s facilities.

 

During 2014, Ternium’s operations in Mexico revalidated their clean industry certificates under the Mexican Government’s National Environmental Voluntary Program, including its steel and in-use mining facilities. In Argentina, Siderar revalidated the ISO 14001 certificates, where applicable, for its local facilities. During the year, Siderar carried on with a new ISO 14001 certification procedure encompassing all of its steel processing facilities under a four-year program. The first new ISO 14001 certifications are expected to be achieved during the second quarter of 2015.

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Safety management improvements for critical production processes

During the second half of 2013, Ternium retained Dupont, a renowned authority in industrial safety, to evaluate opportunity areas in Ternium’s safety systems with focus on critical production processes, among other initiatives. As a result, during 2014 we advanced in the diagnosis and identification of process hazards at selected critical processes, and, accordingly, in the development of new safety management tools for such processes. Ternium is currently evaluating the expansion of this initiative to all of its identified critical processes.

 

OHSAS 18001 certification project

The Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) standard is the result of a concerted effort from a number of the world’s leading national standards bodies, certification bodies and specialist consultancies to help develop safety management systems with the highest level of excellence. Ternium intends to obtain the OHSAS 18001 certification for its largest facilities in Mexico and Argentina, with the aim at finding new opportunities to improve its safety management systems. During 2014, Ternium advanced in the development of the documentary structure and undertook the first external documentary audit. During 2015, we expect to obtain the OHSAS 18001 certification for our Guerrero and Pesquería units in Mexico and for our San Nicolás and Ensenada units in Argentina.

 

Environmental and safety investment plan at Ternium’s Guerrero unit

Following the launch of a thorough investment plan at the Guerrero unit in 2013, encompassing industrial safety, environmental sustainability, maintenance and facility overhaul, during 2014 Ternium achieved significant improvements in different areas of the unit. Advanced projects included a technological upgrade of the iron ore feeding systems of the direct reduction modules, expected to be completed during the second half of 2015. This project aims at improving the facilities’ process control conditions.

 

Other main ongoing projects include a new hydrochloric acid regeneration plant that stores and process acid consumed by the pickling lines of the cold-rolling mills; the construction of a briquetting plant to process metallic fines produced in the direct reduction modules; the installation of a secondary de-dusting system in the steel shop to enhance control over emissions; and several improvements in the processing and handling of steel slag in the steel shop. These projects, expected to be concluded during the second half of 2016, aim at further improving environmental conditions throughout the unit. Furthermore, the program includes complementary investments such as the replacement of pickling tanks, improvements in the treatment of sludge and raw material storage yards, and safety improvements in vehicular traffic.

 

Ongoing investments in different areas are designed to enhance safety and environmental measures in order to bring the Guerrero plant up to the most stringent norms and standards in the world.

 

Ternium’s safety indicators in 2014

Average injury rates at Ternium’s facilities continued improving after the renewal of our health and safety programs in 2010; our injury rates, which were adversely affected by the tragic accident at the Guerrero unit in 2013, reached new lows in 2014. Our average injuries frequency rate13 (IFR) and lost-time injuries frequency rate14(LTIFR) were 2.6 and 0.8, respectively, in 2014. These measurements cover all of Ternium’s facilities other than Ferrasa in Colombia (excluded for comparability purposes), and include both our personnel and the personnel of third-party contractors operating in our facilities.  Ternium’s health and safety policies began to be implemented in Ferrasa soon after its acquisition in August 2010, with consistent improvements in its safety ratios since then.

 

*   Does not include Ferrasa


13  Injuries frequency rate refers to total quantity of injuries per million of hours worked.

14  Lost time injuries frequency rate refers to quantity of day-loss injuries per million of hours worked.

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Emissions Control

As part of its ongoing strategy to reduce dust emissions, during 2014 Siderar commissioned new equipment in several facilities, including, in the coking batteries, a new smokeless coal charging car that reduces particulate matter emissions during the coal charging process; in the by-products plant, new state-of-the-art equipment for the treatment of coke oven by-product gases that reduces the emissions of sulphur and nitric oxides generated in the coking process of metallurgical coal; in the blast furnaces, three new cabins for emissions abatement during the pig iron pouring process; and, in a scrap processing yard, a new de-dusting system for the processing of worn out equipment.

 

These activities are part of an ongoing program that monitors and reviews our facilities, aimed at maximizing the efficient use of energy resources, the re-use of by-products and the appropriate treatment and disposal of wastes, air emissions and wastewater. During 2015, Siderar expects to commission a new de-dusting system for the slag pouring process of torpedo ladle cars used in the transportation of liquid pig iron from the blast furnaces to the steel shop. In addition, Ternium intends to commission a new scrap shredder for our scrap-based steel shop in Colombia, which is expected to enable a reduction in emissions through a higher availability of cleaner and dimensioned steel scrap.

 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Efficiency

The accompanying chart shows Ternium’s estimated emission of carbon dioxide per ton of liquid steel produced, as reported to worldsteel. We support the steel industry’s ongoing efforts to develop innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the lifecycle of steel products. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the steel industry accounts for approximately 6-7% of total world GHG emissions.

 

 


Our steel production facilities in Mexico have achieved GHG-specific emission levels that are close to the theoretical minimum. In Argentina, Siderar’s GHG-specific emission levels are close to the industry average for blast furnace technology.

 

During 2014, an energy efficiency program was launched in order to identify opportunities and develop and implement projects targeting savings in energy consumption. This long-term initiative encompasses all of Ternium’s facilities.

 

19

 

 


 

 

 

Ternium’s Investment in Usiminas

As of December 31, 2014, Ternium, through its subsidiaries Ternium Investments, Siderar, and Siderar’s subsidiary Prosid, owned 166.1 million ordinary shares of Usiminas, representing 32.9% of Usiminas’ ordinary shares. Of these, 114.7 million ordinary shares are subject to the shareholders’ agreement that governs the rights and obligations of the Usiminas control members (representing a 35.6% interest within that group), while 51.4 million shares (acquired in October 2014 through the transaction described below) are not subject to the shareholders agreement, although during the term of that agreement Ternium is required to vote such shares in accordance with the control group’s decisions.

 

Ternium has a 16.8% participation in Usiminas’ results, included in the item “results of non-consolidated companies”. The investment in Usiminas as of December 31, 2014, amounts to $1,390.7 million. For further information on Ternium’s investment in Usiminas see note 14 to Ternium’s consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.

 

In 2014, Usiminas reported net income attributable to shareholders of BRL129.6 million, compared with a net loss attributable to shareholders of BRL141.7 million in 2013. Net revenues were BRL11.7 billion in 2014, down 8% year-over-year, on steel shipments of 5.5 million tons and iron ore shipments of 5.6 million tons, down 11% and 17% year-over-year, respectively. Net income attributable to shareholders was a gain of BRL272.9 million in the first nine months of 2014 and a loss of BRL143.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. During that fourth quarter, low investments, weak consumption, strong imports and high inventories affected Brazilian steel-intensive industrial sectors such as the capital goods, durable goods, vehicles, and machinery and equipment sectors. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA reached BRL1.9 billion during 2014, up 3% year-over-year, representing 16% of net sales. As of year-end 2014, Usiminas net debt was BRL3.8 billion, equivalent to 2.1 times last twelve months’ EBITDA.

 

On October 30, 2014, Ternium acquired from Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil (PREVI) 51.4 million ordinary shares of Usiminas at a price of BRL12 per share, for a total amount of BRL616.7 million. During 2014, the Company applied its purchase price allocation procedures in connection with the acquisition of these additional shares and determined a higher value of net assets at fair value versus book value, thus recognizing a gain from bargain purchase in the amount of $188.9 million.

 

As of December 31, 2014, Ternium wrote down its investment in Usiminas by $196.4 million. The impairment was mainly due to expectations of a weaker industrial environment in Brazil, and consequently steel demand, as a result of worsening economic activity, as well as a significant additional downturn in international prices of iron ore and steel, which led to diminished cash flow expectations.

 

Controversy within Usiminas’ Control Group

On September 26, 2014, the board of directors of Usiminas passed a resolution dismissing the company’s chief executive officer (Diretor-Presidente) and two other executives from their respective positions on the Usiminas board of officers. The board resolution dismissing the officers was passed with a 5 to 5 vote, including the positive vote of the NSSMC Group-appointed members and the negative vote of the Ternium/Tenaris (T/T) Group and Previdência Usiminas (CEU)-appointed members, and the tie was resolved by the chairman of the board through his casting vote.

 

The dismissal of the officers is part of a controversy that arose within the Usiminas’ control group with respect to rules applicable to the appointment of senior managers. Ternium believes that the votes cast by the NSSMC Group-appointed members were computed in violation of the shareholders agreement that governs the rights of the members of the Usiminas’ control group. Following the dismissal of the officers, a temporary CEO was elected with the same votes that decided the dismissal, until a new board of officers is agreed between the T/T Group and the NSSMC Group.

 

As a result of these circumstances, Ternium took several actions to protect its rights and investment in Usiminas, including an injunction request in the Belo Horizonte courts and several complaints with the Brazilian securities regulator. Similarly, Usiminas’ Supervisory Board challenged the chairman’s actions. As of the date of this annual report, these proceedings and complaints are ongoing.

20

 

 


 

 

Corporate Governance

 

The Company

The Company is a public limited liability company (société anonyme) organized under the laws of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg. Its object and purpose, as set forth in Article 2 of its articles of association, is the taking of interests, in any form, in corporations or other business entities, and the administration, management, control and development thereof. The Company is registered under the number B98 668 in Luxembourg’s Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés.

 

Shares; Shareholders’ Meetings

The Company’s authorized share capital is fixed by the Company’s articles of association, as amended from time to time, with the approval of shareholders at an extraordinary general shareholders’ meeting. The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of $1.00 per share. The general extraordinary meeting of shareholders held on June 2, 2010, renewed the validity of the Company’s authorized share capital until July 15, 2015. A further renewal will be submitted to the consideration of the Company’s general extraordinary meeting of shareholders to be held on May 6, 2015. As of December 31, 2014, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued and outstanding.

 

The Company’s articles of association authorize the board of directors or any delegate(s) duly appointed by the board of directors, to issue shares within the limits of its authorized share capital against contributions in cash, contributions in kind or by way of incorporation of available reserves, at such times and on such terms and conditions as the board of directors or its delegates may determine. The extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on June 2, 2010 renewed this authorization through July 15, 2015. A further renewal will be submitted to the consideration of the Company’s general extraordinary meeting of shareholders to be held on May 6, 2015.

 

Under Luxembourg law, the Company’s existing shareholders have a pre-emptive right to subscribe for any new shares issued for cash. The Company’s shareholders have authorized the board of directors to waive, suppress or limit such pre-emptive subscription rights and related procedures to the extent it deems such waiver, suppression or limitation advisable for any issue or issues of shares within the authorized share capital. However, our articles of association provide that, if and from the date the Company’s shares are listed on a regulated market (and only for as long as they are so listed), any issuance of shares for cash within the limits of the authorized share capital shall be subject to the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then-existing shareholders, except in the following cases (in which cases no pre-emptive rights shall apply):

 

 

 

 

§ any issuance of shares for, within, in conjunction with or related to, an initial public offering of the Company’s shares on one or more regulated markets (in one or more instances);

 

 

 

 

§ any issuance of shares against a contribution other than in cash;

 

 

 

 

 

§ any issuance of shares upon conversion of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares; provided, however, that the pre-emptive subscription rights of the then existing shareholders shall apply by provision of the Company’s articles of association in connection with any issuance of convertible bonds or other instruments convertible into shares for cash; and

 

 

 

 

 

§ any issuance of shares (including by way of free shares or at a discount), up to an amount of 1.5% of the issued share capital of the Company, to directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company, its direct or indirect subsidiaries, or its Affiliates (as such term is defined in the Company’s articles of association), including without limitation the direct issue of shares upon the exercise of options, rights convertible into shares, or similar instruments convertible or exchangeable into shares issued for the purpose of, or in relation to, compensation or incentive of any such persons.

21

 

 


 

 

 

Our articles of association provide that our annual ordinary general shareholders’ meetings must take place in Luxembourg on the first Wednesday of every May at 2:30 p.m., Luxembourg time. At these meetings, our annual financial statements are approved and the members of our board of directors are elected. No attendance quorum is required at annual ordinary general shareholders’ meetings and resolutions are adopted by a simple majority vote of the shares represented at the meeting. There are no limitations currently imposed by Luxembourg law on the rights of non-resident shareholders to hold or vote the Company’s shares.

 

On May 7, 2014, the annual general meeting of shareholders of Ternium S.A. authorized the board of directors to delegate the management of the Company’s day-to-day business and the authority to represent and bind the Company with his sole signature in such day-to-day management to Mr. Daniel Agustin Novegil, and to appoint Mr. Novegil as chief executive officer (administrateur délégué) of the Company. Following the adjournment of such annual general meeting, the board of directors resolved to delegate such management and representation authority to Mr. Novegil and to reappoint Mr. Novegil as chief executive officer (administrateur délégué) of the Company.

 

American Depositary Shares (ADSs)

Each ADS represents ten shares.  Holders of ADSs only have those rights that are expressly granted to them in the deposit agreement dated January 31, 2006, among the Company, The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as depositary, and all owners and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs of the Company. ADS holders may not attend or directly exercise voting rights in shareholders’ meetings, but may instruct the depositary how to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie their ADSs. Holders of ADSs maintaining non-certificated positions must follow instructions given by their broker or custodian bank.

 

Share and ADS Repurchases

The Company may repurchase its own shares in the cases and subject to the conditions set by the Luxembourg law of August 10, 1915, as amended. The ordinary general shareholders’ meeting held on June 2, 2010 authorized the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries to acquire shares of the Company, including shares represented by American Depositary Shares, or ADSs, at such times and on such other terms and conditions as may be determined by the board of directors of the Company or the board of directors or other governing body of the relevant Company subsidiary, provided that, among other conditions, the maximum number of shares, including shares represented by ADSs, acquired pursuant to the authorization may not exceed 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares or, in the case of acquisitions made through a stock exchange in which the shares or ADSs are traded, such lower amount as may not be exceeded pursuant to any applicable laws or regulations of such market, and that the purchase price per ADS to be paid in cash may not exceed 125% (excluding transaction costs and expenses), nor may it be lower than 75% (excluding transaction costs and expenses), in each case of the average of the closing prices of the ADSs in the New York Stock Exchange during the five trading days in which transactions in the ADSs were recorded in the New York Stock Exchange preceding (but excluding) the day on which the ADSs are purchased. In the case of purchases of shares other than in the form of ADSs, the maximum and minimum per share purchase prices shall be equal to the prices that would have applied in case of an ADS purchase pursuant to the formula above divided by the number of underlying shares represented by an ADS at the time of the relevant purchase.

 

As of the date of this report, Ternium held 41,666,666 of its own shares.  Those shares were purchased from Usiminas on February 15, 2011, concurrently with the closing of an underwritten public offering by Usiminas of Ternium ADSs.

22

 

 


 

 

 

Board of Directors

The Company’s articles of association provide for a board of directors consisting of a minimum of five members (when the shares of the Company are listed on a regulated market, as they currently are) and a maximum of fifteen. The board of directors is vested with the broadest powers to act on behalf of the Company and accomplish or authorize all acts and transactions of management and disposition that are within its corporate purpose and are not specifically reserved in the articles of association or by applicable law to the general shareholders’ meeting.

 

The board of directors is required to meet as often as required by the interests of the Company and at least four times per year. In 2014, the Company’s board of directors met six times. A majority of the members of the board of directors in office present or represented at each board of directors’ meeting constitutes a quorum, and resolutions may be adopted by the vote of a majority of the directors present or represented. In case of a tie, the chairman is entitled to cast the deciding vote.

 

Directors are elected at the annual ordinary general shareholders’ meeting to serve one-year renewable terms, as determined by the general shareholders’ meeting. The general shareholders’ meeting may dismiss all or any one member of the board of directors at any time, with or without cause, by resolution passed by a simple majority vote. The Company’s current board of directors is composed of nine directors, three of whom are independent directors.

 

Audit Committee

The board of directors has an audit committee consisting of three independent directors. The members of the audit committee are not eligible to participate in any incentive compensation plan for employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Under the Company’s articles of association and the audit committee charter, the audit committee:

 

  • assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, including periodically reporting to the board of directors on its activity and the adequacy of the Company’s systems of internal control over financial reporting;

 

  • is responsible for making recommendations for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of, and assessment of the independence of the Company’s independent auditors;

 

  • reviews material transactions between the Company or its subsidiaries with related parties (other than transactions that were reviewed and approved by the independent members of the board of directors or other governing body of any subsidiary of the Company) to determine whether their terms are consistent with market conditions or are otherwise fair to the Company and its subsidiaries; and

 

  • performs such other duties imposed by applicable laws and regulations of the regulated market or markets in which the shares of the Company are listed, as well as any other duty entrusted to it by the board of directors.

 

The audit committee has the authority to conduct any investigation appropriate to fulfilling its responsibilities, and has direct access to the Company’s internal and external auditors as well as the Company’s management and employees and, subject to applicable laws, its subsidiaries.

 

23

 

 


 

 

Auditors

The Company’s articles of association require the appointment of at least one independent auditor chosen from among the members of the Luxembourg Institute of Independent Auditors. Auditors are appointed by the general shareholders’ meeting, on the audit committee’s recommendation, through a resolution passed by a simple majority vote.

Shareholders may determine the number and the term of the office of the auditors at the ordinary general shareholders’ meeting, provided however that an auditor’s term shall not exceed one year and that any auditor may be reappointed or dismissed by the general shareholders’ meeting at any time, with or without cause. As part of their duties, the auditors report directly to the audit committee.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers S.à r.l.), Cabinet de révision agréé, was appointed as the Company’s independent auditor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, at the ordinary general shareholders’ meeting held on May 7, 2014.

 

24

 

 


 

 

Board of Directors and Senior Management

 

Board of Directors

 

Chairman

Paolo Rocca

 

Ubaldo Aguirre (*)

Roberto Bonatti

Carlos Condorelli

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (*)

Adrián Lajous (*)

Bruno Marchettini

Daniel Novegil

Gianfelice Rocca

 

Secretary

Arturo Sporleder

 

(*) Audit Committee Members

 

Senior Management

 

Chief Executive Officer

Daniel Novegil

 

Chief Financial Officer

Pablo Brizzio

 

Mexico Area Manager

Máximo Vedoya

 

Siderar Executive Vice President

Martín Berardi

 

International Area Manager

Héctor Obeso Zunzunegui

 

Planning and Operations General Director

Oscar Montero

 

Engineering and Environment Director

Luis Andreozzi

 

Human Resources Director

Rodrigo Piña

 

Chief Information Officer

Roberto Demidchuck

 

Quality and Product Director

Rubén Herrera

 

25

 

 


 

 

Investor Information

 

Investor Relations Director

 

IR Inquiries

Sebastián Martí

 

TERNIUM Investor Relations

smarti@ternium.com

 

ir@ternium.com

U.S. toll free: 866 890 0443

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luxembourg Office

 

 

29 Avenue de la Porte-Neuve

 

 

L2227 - Luxembourg

 

 

Luxembourg

 

 

Phone: +352 2668 3153

 

 

Fax: +352 2659 8349

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Information

 

ADS Depositary Bank

New York Stock Exchange (TX)

 

BNY Mellon

CUSIP Number: 880890108

 

Proxy services: C/O Computershare Investor Services

 

 

P.O. Box 43102

 

 

Providence, RI 02940-5068

 

 

 

 

 

Toll free number for U.S. calls: +1 888 269 2377

 

 

International calls: +1 201 680 6825

 

 

www.computershare.com/us/contact

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internet

 

 

www.ternium.com

 

 

     

 

26

 

 


 

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The review of Ternium’s financial condition and results of operations is based on, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 (including the notes thereto), which are included elsewhere in this annual report.

 

The financial and operational information contained in this annual report is based on the operational data and consolidated financial statements of the Company, which were prepared in accordance with IFRS and IFRIC interpretations as issued by IASB and adopted by the EU, and presented in U.S. dollars ($) and metric tons.

 

Overview

Apparent steel use in Mexico increased 11.7% year-over-year to approximately 22.5 million tons in 2014, reflecting a vibrant industrial sector that continued increasing exports of manufactured goods, particularly to the U.S., and a slowly improving construction sector. Mexico’s GDP increased 2.1% year-over-year, evidencing a moderate acceleration in economic activity versus the prior year. In Argentina, apparent steel use decreased slightly to approximately 5.0 million tons, reflecting a broad decrease in activity, particularly in the automotive sector.  In Colombia, apparent steel use increased 15.8% year-over-year to approximately 4.0 million tons in 2014. GDP in this country continued expanding at a solid pace, with positive performance by each of the different steel consuming sectors.

 

Ternium’s operating income in 2014 was $1.1 billion, slightly lower than operating income in 2013. Steel shipments increased by 647,000 tons year-over-year in Mexico, and decreased a combined 254,000 tons in the Southern Region and Other Markets. Operating margin decreased slightly reflecting $14 lower steel revenue per ton, partially offset by $3 lower steel operating cost per ton. A decrease in steel prices in the Southern Region was mostly offset by higher steel prices and a higher value added product mix in Mexico.

 

Ternium’s net income in 2014 was $588.8 million, relatively stable compared with net income in 2013, mainly as a result of the above mentioned slightly lower operating income, offset by an improved financial result.

 

As of December 31, 2014, Ternium performed an impairment test of its investment in Usiminas and subsequently wrote down such investment by $196.4 million in the fourth quarter 2014. The main changes to the Company’s previous estimation of its investment’s value in use that led to this impairment were related to expectations of a weaker industrial environment in Brazil, and consequently steel demand, as a result of worsening economic activity, as well as a significant downturn in international prices of iron ore and steel, both of which led to diminished cash flow expectations.

 

In addition, in October 2014 Ternium acquired 51.4 million additional ordinary shares of Usiminas from PREVI for a total consideration of BRL616.7 million (or $249.0 million).  Subsequently, Ternium applied its purchase price allocation procedures in connection with this transaction and determined a higher value of net assets at fair value versus book value and, accordingly, recognized a gain from bargain purchase of $188.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

28

 

 


 

 

Net Sales

Net sales in 2014 were $8.7 billion, 2% higher than net sales in 2013, mainly as a result of higher steel products sales in Mexico, partially offset by lower steel products sales in the Southern Region and Other Markets. For a discussion on the drivers of the increase or decrease of sales in each region, see “Business Review.”

 

The following table shows Ternium’s total consolidated net sales for 2014 and 2013:

 

$ million

 

2014

2013

Dif.

Mexico

 

4,863.9

4,230.1

15%

Southern Region

 

2,641.5

2,944.7

-10%

Other Markets

 

1,159.3

1,251.2

-7%

Total steel products net sales

 

8,664.8

8,426.0

3%

Other products15

 

35.8

33.9

5%

Total steel segment net sales

 

8,700.5

8,459.9

3%

 

 

 

 

 

Total mining segment net sales

 

313.2

386.5

-19%

Intersegment eliminations

 

(287.6)

(316.4)

 

Total net sales

 

8,726.1

8,530.0

2%

Cost of sales

Cost of sales was $6.9 billion in 2014, an increase of $324.9 million compared with 2013. This was principally due to a $248.0 million, or 5%, increase in raw material and consumables used, mainly reflecting a 4% increase in steel shipment volumes, higher purchased slabs costs and higher energy costs, partially offset by lower iron ore and coking coal costs; and a $76.9 million increase in other costs, including a $44.6 million increase in maintenance expenses, a $39.7 million increase in depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets and a $2.6 million increase in services and fees, partially offset by a $6.9 million decrease in labor costs and $2.5 million decrease in insurance costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses in 2014 were $816.5 million, or 9.4% of net sales, a decrease of $26.8 million compared with SG&A in 2013, mainly as a result of lower taxes and contributions (other than income tax) and lower freight and transportation expenses.

Other net operating income

Other net operating income in 2014 was $71.8 million, higher than the $23.0 million gain in 2013. Other net operating income in 2014 and 2013 included a $57.5 million and a $11.7 million income recognition on insurance recovery, respectively.

 

 

Operating income

Operating income in 2014 was $1.1 billion, or 12.1% of net sales, compared with operating income of $1.1 billion, or 13.0% of net sales, in 2013.

 


15 The item “Other products” primarily includes pig iron and pre-engineered metal buildings.

28

 

 


 

 

The following table shows Ternium’s operating income by segment for 2014 and 2013:

   

Steel segment

Mining segment

Intersegment

eliminations

Total

$ million

 

2014

2013

 

2014

2013

 

2014

2013

 

2014

2013

Net Sales

 

8,700.5

8,459.9

 

313.2

386.5

 

(287.6)

(316.4)

 

8,726.1

8,530.0

Cost of sales

 

(6,960.0)

(6,645.2)

 

(255.2)

(268.3)

 

290.1

313.2

 

(6,925.2)

(6,600.3)

SG&A expenses

 

(799.8)

(820.3)

 

(16.6)

(23.0)

 

-

-

 

(816.5)

(843.3)

Other operating income, net

 

70.7

23.1

 

1.0

(0.1)

 

-

-

 

71.8

23.0

Operating income (loss)

 

1,011.4

1,017.5

 

42.3

95.1

 

2.4

(3.2)

 

1,056.2

1,109.4

                         

EBITDA

 

1,380.6

1,361.9

 

87.9

127.8

 

2.4

(3.2)

 

1,471.0

1,486.6

 

Steel reporting segment

The steel segment’s operating income was $1.0 billion in 2014, a decrease of $6.1 million compared with 2013, reflecting higher operating cost, offset by higher sales.

 

Net sales of steel products in 2014 increased 3% compared with 2013, reflecting an increase in shipments partially offset by a decrease in revenue per ton. Shipments increased 393,000 tons, or 4%, compared with 2013, mainly due to higher sales volume in Mexico partially offset by lower sales volume in the Southern Region and Other Markets. Revenue per ton decreased $14, mainly due to lower steel prices in the Southern Region, mostly offset by higher steel prices and a higher value added product mix in Mexico.

 

   

Net Sales (million $)

 

Shipments (thousand tons)

 

Revenue / ton ($/ton)

 

 

2014

2013

Dif.

 

2014

2013

Dif.

 

2014

2013

Dif.

Mexico

 

4,863.9

4,230.1

15%

 

5,632.2

4,984.9

13%

 

864

849

2%

Southern Region

 

2,641.5

2,944.7

-10%

 

2,510.9

2,633.1

-5%

 

1,052

1,118

-6%

Other Markets

 

1,159.3

1,251.2

-7%

 

1,238.5

1,370.3

-10%

 

936

913

3%

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total steel products

 

8,664.8

8,426.0

3%

 

9,381.5

8,988.4

4%

 

924

937

-1%

Other products15

 

35.8

33.9

5%

               
   

4,207.8

4,207.8

-3%

               

Steel segment

 

8,700.5

8,459.9

3%

               

 

Operating cost increased 4%, due to the above-mentioned 4% increase in shipment volumes and relatively stable operating cost per ton.

 

Mining reporting segment

The mining segment’s operating income was $42.3 million in 2014, a decrease of $52.8 million compared with 2013 mainly reflecting lower iron ore sales, partially offset by lower operating cost.

 

Net Sales of mining products in 2014 were 19% lower than in 2013, reflecting lower shipments and revenue per ton. Shipments were 3.9 million tons, 9% lower than in 2013, mainly as a result of lower iron ore production at Peña Colorada.

 

29

 

 


 

 

 

   

Mining segment

 

 

 

2014

2013

Dif.

 

Net Sales ($ million)

 

313.2

386.5

-19%

 

Shipments (thousand tons)

 

3,857.3

4,243.0

-9%

 

Revenue per ton ($/ton)

 

81

91

-11%

 

 

Operating cost decreased 7% year-over-year, due to the above mentioned 9% decrease in shipment volumes, partially offset by a 3% increase in operating cost per ton. Operating cost per ton increased mainly due to higher depreciation of property, plant and equipment.

 

EBITDA3

EBITDA in 2014 was $1.5 billion, or 16.9% of net sales, compared with $1.5 billion, or 17.4% of net sales, in 2013.

 

Net financial results

Net financial results were a $69.5 million loss in 2014, compared with a $135.5 million loss in 2013. During 2014, Ternium’s net financial interest results totaled a loss of $106.8 million, compared with a loss of $111.5 million in 2013.

 

Net foreign exchange result was a gain of $26.7 million in 2014 compared with a gain of $0.3 million in 2013. The gain in 2014 was primarily associated with the effect of the Mexican peso depreciation against the U.S. dollar on a net short local currency position in Ternium’s Mexican subsidiaries.

 

Change in fair value of financial instruments included in net financial results in 2014 was a $17.8 million gain, mainly related to results from changes in the fair value of financial assets, compared with a $12.3 million loss in 2013.

 

Equity in results of non-consolidated companies

Equity in results of non-consolidated companies was a loss of $34.2 million in 2014, compared with a loss of $31.6 million in 2013. Equity in results of non-consolidated companies in 2014 included the above mentioned $196.4 million loss related to an impairment of Ternium’s investment in Usiminas, partially offset by an income recognition of $188.9 million related to Ternium’s acquisition of additional shares in Usiminas during October 2014 as a result of a higher value of net assets at fair value versus book value after applying purchase price allocation procedures.

 

Income tax expense

Income tax expense in 2014 was $363.7 million, or 38% of income before income tax, compared with an income tax expense of $349.4 million, or 37% of income before income tax, in 2013. The relatively high effective tax rate in 2014 was mainly related to the non-cash effect on deferred taxes of the significant depreciation of the Mexican peso and the Colombian peso against the U.S. dollar during the year, which reduces, in U.S. dollar terms, the tax base used to calculate deferred tax at our Mexican and Colombian subsidiaries (which have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency), an amendment of a previous period tax return in Mexico and the impact of non-taxable losses stemming from the investment in Usiminas, partially offset by a net gain related to a non-cash reduction of deferred tax liabilities at one of Ternium’s subsidiaries.

 

Net gain attributable to non-controlling interest

Net gain attributable to non-controlling interest in 2014 was $136.4 million, compared with a net gain of $137.5 million in 2013.

 

 

30

 

 


 

 

Liquidity and capital resources

We obtain funds from our operations, as well as from short-term and long-term borrowings from financial institutions. These funds are primarily used to finance our working capital and capital expenditures requirements, as well as our acquisitions. We hold money market investments, time deposits and variable-rate or fixed-rate securities, a majority of which are obligations of investment grade issuers. During 2014 we increased our financial indebtedness, from $2.0 billion at the end of 2013 to $2.2 billion at the end of 2014.

Management believes that funds from operations will be sufficient to satisfy our current working capital needs and service our debt in the foreseeable future. Ternium has not negotiated additional committed credit facilities. However, Ternium has negotiated non-committed credit facilities and management believes it has adequate access to the credit markets. Management also believes that our liquidity and capital resources give us adequate flexibility to manage our planned capital spending programs and to address short-term changes in business conditions.

The following table shows the changes in our cash and cash equivalents for each of the periods indicated below:

 

In $ thousands

 

For the year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

505,844

 

1,092,174

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(675,774)

 

(882,779)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

84,561

 

(466,076)

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(85,369)

 

(256,681)

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

(8,546)

 

(8,635)

Initial cash of Peña Colorada and Exiros1

 

-

 

12,227

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

 

307,218

 

560,307

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

 

213,303

 

307,218

               

 

During 2014, Ternium’s primary source of funding was cash provided by operating activities, net proceeds from borrowings and cash on hand. Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2014 were $213.3 million, a $93.9 million decrease from $307.2 million at the end of the previous year. The decrease is mainly attributable to net cash used in investing activities of $675.8 million, partially offset by net cash provided by operating activities of $505.8 million and net cash provided by financing activities of $84.6 million.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents, as of December 31, 2014, we held other investments with maturity of more than three months for a total amount of $150.0 million, decreasing $19.5 million compared with December 31, 2013.

 

Operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $505.8 million in 2014, lower than the $1.1 billion recorded in 2013, including an increase in working capital of $551.0 million in 2014 and a decrease in working capital of $114.6 million in 2013.

The increase in working capital during 2014 was the result of a $357.0 million increase in inventories, an aggregate $108.0 million net decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities and an aggregate $86.0 million net increase in trade and other receivables.

 

31

 

 


 

 

Inventories increased as shown in the following table:

 

 

Change in inventory Dec’14 / Dec’13

($ million)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Price

 

Volume

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished goods

 

(29.4)

 

(25.6)

 

(55.0)

Goods in process

 

(52.9)

 

(47.3)

 

(100.2)

Raw materials, supplies and allowances

 

(36.5)

 

(165.3)

 

(201.8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

(118.8)

 

(238.2)

 

(357.0)

                   

 

Investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities in 2014 was $675.8 million, compared with net cash used in investing activities of $882.8 million in 2013. This change was primarily attributable to the following:

 

  a decrease of $439.9 million in capital expenditures (from $883.3 million in 2013 to $443.5 million in 2014); partially offset by

 

  an increase in net cash used in acquisitions of businesses of $249.0 million (net cash used in 2014 included the acquisition of additional ordinary shares of Usiminas)

 

 

Financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $84.6 million in 2014, compared with net cash used in financing activities of $466.1 million in 2013, for a net year-over-year change of $550.6 million. This change was primarily attributable to the following:

 

  net proceeds from borrowings of $265.4 million in 2014, compared with net repayment of borrowings of $270.8 million in 2013, for a net year-over-year change of $536.3 million; and

 

  a decrease of $33.1 million in dividends paid in cash to non-controlling interests (from $66.7 million in 2013 to $33.6 million in 2014); partially offset by

 

  an increase of $19.6 million in dividends paid in cash to the company’s shareholders (from $127.6 million in 2013 to $147.2 million in 2014).

 

Principal sources of funding

 

Funding policy

Management’s policy is to maintain a high degree of flexibility in operating and investment activities by maintaining adequate liquidity levels and ensuring access to readily available sources of financing. While Ternium currently does not have committed credit facilities available for borrowing, management believes that it could have access to external borrowing in case of any shortfalls or specific needs. We obtain financing primarily in U.S. dollars, Argentine pesos and Colombian pesos. Whenever feasible, management bases its financing decisions, including the election of currency, term and type of the facility, on the intended use of proceeds for the proposed financing and on costs. For further information on our financial risk management please see note 28 to our consolidated financial statements, included in this annual report.

 

Financial liabilities

Our financial liabilities consist of loans with financial institutions and some pre-accorded overdraft transactions. As of December 31, 2014, these facilities were mainly denominated in U.S. dollars (81.6% of total financial liabilities), Argentine pesos (12.9% of total financial liabilities) and Colombian pesos (4.6% of total financial liabilities). Total financial debt (inclusive of principal and interest accrued thereon) increased by $162.0 million in the year, from $2.0 billion as of December 31, 2013, to $2.2 billion as of December 31, 2014, mainly due to an increase in short term borrowings, partially offset by the repayment of principal and interest on borrowings related to prior acquisitions.  As of December 2014, current borrowings were 58.4% of total borrowings, none of which corresponded to borrowings with related parties.

32

 

 


 

Ternium’s nominal weighted average interest rate for 2014 was 4.64%. This rate was calculated using the rates set for each instrument in its corresponding currency and weighted using the U.S. dollar-equivalent outstanding principal amount of each instrument as of December 31, 2014.

 

Most significant borrowings and financial commitments

Our most significant borrowings as of December 31, 2014, were those incurred under Ternium México’s 2013 syndicated loan facility, intended to improve the company debt profile, and under Tenigal’s syndicated loan facility, in order to finance the construction of its new hot-dipped galvanizing mill in Pesquería, Mexico.

$ Million

Date

Borrower

Type

Original principal

Outstanding principal amount as of

Maturity

 

 

 

amount

December 31, 2014

 

November 2013

Ternium México

Syndicated loan

800.0

800.0

November 2018

2012/2013

Tenigal

Syndicated loan

200.0

200.0

July 2022

The main covenants in our syndicated loan agreements are limitations on liens and encumbrances, limitations on the sale of certain assets and compliance with financial ratios (e.g., leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio). As of December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all covenants under our loan agreements.

Our most significant financial commitment as of December 31, 2014, was a corporate guarantee covering 48% of the obligations of Techgen under a syndicated loan agreement. Proceeds from the syndicated loan will be used by Techgen for the construction of its facilities. As of December 31, 2014, disbursements under the syndicated loan agreement amounted to $440 million, Ternium S.A.’s guaranteed amount being approximately $211 million. If the $800 million syndicated loan is disbursed in full, the amount guaranteed by Ternium S.A. will be approximately $384 million. The main covenants under the corporate guarantee are limitations on the sale of certain assets and compliance with financial ratios (e.g. leverage ratio). As of December 31, 2014, Techgen and Ternium S.A. were in compliance with all of their covenants under this syndicated loan agreement.

For further information on our derivative financial instruments, borrowings and financial commitments please see notes 22, 23, 24 and 28 to our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.

 

 

Recent Developments

 

Acquisition of the remaining 46% minority interest in Ferrasa

On January 20, 2015, Ternium entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 46% interest in Ferrasa for a total consideration of $74 million. The transaction, which is subject to customary conditions, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015. Ternium also agreed to sell its 54% interest in Ferrasa Panamá for a total consideration of $2 million.


 

33


 
 

 

 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements

as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and

for the years ended on December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

29 Avenue de la Porte-Neuve, 3rd floor

L – 2227

R.C.S. Luxembourg: B 98 668

 

 

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

1

Consolidated Income Statements for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

2

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

3

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

4

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

8

Index to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

9

 

 

 

     

 

 


 
 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Ternium S.A.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Ternium S.A. and its subsidiaries as of 31 December 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 31 December 2014.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ternium S.A. and its subsidiaries at 31 December 2014 and 2013, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 31 December 2014 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Société coopérative                                                    Luxembourg, 18 February 2015

Represented by

 

Mervyn R. Martins

Page 1 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

Consolidated Income Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

Notes

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

           

Net sales

 

5

 

8,726,057

 

8,530,012

 

8,608,054

Cost of sales

 

6

 

(6,925,169)

 

(6,600,292)

 

(6,866,379)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

 

 

 

1,800,888

 

1,929,720

 

1,741,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

7

 

(816,478)

 

(843,311)

 

(809,181)

Other operating income (expenses), net

 

9

 

71,751

 

23,014

 

(11,881)

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

 

1,056,161

 

1,109,423

 

920,613

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance expense

 

10

 

(117,866)

 

(132,113)

 

(150,302)

Finance income

 

10

 

5,715

 

(2,358)

 

11,400

Other financial income (expenses), net

 

10

 

42,701

 

(1,004)

 

17,270

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

Equity in (losses) earnings of non-consolidated companies

 

3 & 14

 

(34,218)

 

(31,609)

 

(346,833)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit before income tax expense

 

 

 

952,493

 

942,339

 

452,148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

11

 

(363,708)

 

(349,426)

 

(261,227)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the year

 

 

 

588,785

 

592,913

 

190,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attributable to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owners of the parent

 

 

 

452,404

 

455,425

 

142,043

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

136,381

 

137,488

 

48,878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Profit for the year

 

 

 

588,785

 

592,913

 

190,921

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

 

 

 

1,963,076,776

 

1,963,076,776

 

1,963,076,776

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share for profit attributable to the owners of the parent (expressed in USD per share)

 

 

 

0.23

 

0.23

 

0.07

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

Page 2 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Profit for the year

 

588,785

 

592,913

 

190,921

 

 

         

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

 

         

Currency translation adjustment

 

(270,773)

 

(301,943)

 

(149,550)

Currency translation adjustment from participation in non-consolidated companies

 

(188,995)

 

(201,362)

 

(275,897)

Changes in the fair value of derivatives classified as cash flow hedges and available-for-sale financial instruments

 

(3,016)

 

1,805

 

17,556

Income tax relating to cash flow hedges

 

638

 

(541)

 

(2,808)

Changes in the fair value of derivatives classified as cash flow hedges from participation in non-consolidated companies

 

154

 

6,869

 

1,437

Others from participation in non-consolidated companies

 

(5,642)

 

6,113

 

(1,961)

 

 

         

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

 

         

Remeasurement of post employment benefit obligations

 

(27,562)

 

(7,714)

 

(15,408)

Income tax relating to remeasurement of post employment benefit obligations

 

7,711

 

2,224

 

3,556

 

 

         

Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax

 

(487,484)

 

(494,549)

 

(423,075)

 

 

         

Total comprehensive income for the year

 

101,301

 

98,364

 

(232,154)

 

 

         

Attributable to:

 

         

Equity holders of the Company

 

92,155

 

98,856

 

(195,081)

Non-controlling interest

 

9,146

 

(492)

 

(37,073)

 

 

         

Total comprehensive income for the year

 

101,301

 

98,364

 

(232,154)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 3 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

       

Balances as of

   

Notes

  

December 31, 2014

 

December 31, 2013

                     

ASSETS

   

  

             
                     

Non-current assets

   

  

             

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

12

  

4,481,027

     

4,708,895

   

Intangible assets, net

 

13

  

948,886

     

961,504

   

Investments in non-consolidated companies

 

14

  

1,396,560

     

1,375,165

   

Derivative financial instruments

 

22

 

-

     

1,535

   

Deferred tax assets

 

20

 

31,626

     

24,902

   

Receivables, net

 

15

 

47,482

     

79,407

   

Trade receivables, net

 

16

 

91

 

6,905,672

 

1,754

 

7,153,162

     

  

             

Current assets

                   

Receivables

 

15

 

112,229

     

112,388

   

Derivative financial instruments

 

22

 

4,338

     

-

   

Inventories, net

 

17

 

2,134,034

     

1,941,130

   

Trade receivables, net

 

16

 

720,214

     

671,453

   

Other investments

 

18

 

149,995

     

169,503

   

Cash and cash equivalents

 

18

 

213,303

 

3,334,113

 

307,218

 

3,201,692

                     

Non-current assets classified as held for sale

         

14,756

     

17,770

                     
           

3,348,869

     

3,219,462

                     

Total Assets

     

  

 

10,254,541

 

  

 

10,372,624

       

  

     

  

   

EQUITY

     

  

     

  

   

Capital and reserves attributable to the owners of the parent

     

  

 

5,284,959

 

  

 

5,340,035

                     

Non-controlling interest

     

  

 

973,523

 

  

 

998,009

                     

Total Equity

         

6,258,482

     

6,338,044

                     

LIABILITIES

                   
                     

Non-current liabilities

     

  

     

  

   

Provisions

 

19

 

9,067

 

  

 

13,984

 

  

Deferred tax liabilities

 

20

 

611,126

 

  

 

605,883

 

  

Other liabilities

 

21

 

371,900

 

  

 

345,431

 

  

Trade payables

 

 

 

11,969

     

15,243

   

Borrowings

 

23

 

900,611

 

1,904,673

 

1,204,880

 

2,185,421

                     

Current liabilities

                   

Current income tax liabilities

 

 

 

51,083

     

92,009

   

Other liabilities

 

21

 

210,206

     

203,326

   

Trade payables

 

 

 

564,513

     

755,880

   

Derivative financial instruments

 

22

 

1,376

     

-

   

Borrowings

 

23

 

1,264,208

 

2,091,386

 

797,944

 

1,849,159

                     

Total Liabilities

         

3,996,059

     

4,034,580

                     

Total Equity and Liabilities

         

10,254,541

     

10,372,624

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 4 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

   

Attributable to the owners of the parent (1)

       
   

Capital stock (2)

Treasury shares

Initial public offering expenses

Reserves (3)

Capital stock issue discount (4)

Currency translation adjustment

Retained earnings

Total

 

Non-controlling interest

 

Total Equity

     
                           

Balance at January 1, 2014

 

2,004,743

(150,000)

(23,295)

1,499,976

(2,324,866)

(1,563,562)

5,897,039

5,340,035

 

998,009

 

6,338,044

Profit for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

452,404

452,404

 

136,381

 

588,785

Other comprehensive income (loss)
for the year

                         

Currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

(335,892)

 

(335,892)

 

(123,876)

 

(459,768)

Remeasurement of post employment benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

(17,871)

 

 

 

(17,871)

 

(1,979)

 

(19,850)

Cash flow hedges and available-for-sale financial instruments, net of tax

 

 

 

 

(1,327)

 

 

 

(1,327)

 

(897)

 

(2,224)

Others

 

 

 

 

(5,159)

 

 

 

(5,159)

 

(483)

 

(5,642)

                           

Total comprehensive income for the year

 

-

-

-

(24,357)

-

(335,892)

452,404

92,155

 

9,146

 

101,301

                           

Dividends paid in cash (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(147,231)

(147,231)

 

 

 

(147,231)

Dividends paid in cash by subsidiary companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

(33,632)

 

(33,632)

                           

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

2,004,743

(150,000)

(23,295)

1,475,619

(2,324,866)

(1,899,454)

6,202,212

5,284,959

 

973,523

 

6,258,482


(1) Shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Luxembourg is disclosed in Note 24 (iii).

(2) The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2014, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued. All issued shares are fully paid.

(3) Include legal reserve under Luxembourg law for USD 200.5 million, undistributable reserves under Luxembourg law for USD 1.4 billion, hedge accounting reserve, net of tax effect, for USD (0.4) million and reserves related to the acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries according to IAS 27 for USD (58.9) million.

(4) Represents the difference between book value of non-monetary contributions received from shareholders under Luxembourg GAAP and IFRS.

(5) Represents USD 0.075 per share (USD 0.75 per ADS). Related to the dividends distributed on May 7, 2014, and as 41,666,666 shares are held as treasury shares  by one of Ternium’s subsidiaries, the dividends attributable to these treasury shares amounting to USD 3.1 million were included in equity as less dividend paid.

 

Dividends may be paid by Ternium to the extent distributable retained earnings calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations exist. Therefore, retained earnings included in these consolidated financial statements may not be wholly distributable. See Note 24 (iii). The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 5 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

   

Attributable to the owners of the parent (1)

       
   

Capital stock (2)

Treasury shares

Initial public offering expenses

Reserves (3)

Capital stock issue discount (4)

Currency translation adjustment

Retained earnings

Total

 

Non-controlling interest

 

Total Equity

     
                           

Balance at January 1, 2013

 

2,004,743

(150,000)

(23,295)

1,493,201

(2,324,866)

(1,199,814)

5,569,214

5,369,183

 

1,065,730

 

6,434,913

Profit for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

455,425

455,425

 

137,488

 

592,913

Other comprehensive income (loss)
for the year

                         

Currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

(363,748)

 

(363,748)

 

(139,557)

 

(503,305)

Remeasurement of post employment benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

(5,126)

 

 

 

(5,126)

 

(364)

 

(5,490)

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

 

 

 

6,813

 

 

 

6,813

 

1,317

 

8,130

Others

 

 

 

 

5,492

 

 

 

5,492

 

624

 

6,116

                           

Total comprehensive income for the year

 

-

-

-

7,179

-

(363,748)

455,425

98,856

 

(492)

 

98,364

                           

Acquisition of non-controlling interest (5)

 

 

 

 

(404)

 

 

 

(404)

 

(525)

 

(929)

Dividends paid in cash (6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(127,600)

(127,600)

 

 

 

(127,600)

Dividends paid in cash by subsidiary companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

(66,704)

 

(66,704)

                           

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

2,004,743

(150,000)

(23,295)

1,499,976

(2,324,866)

(1,563,562)

5,897,039

5,340,035

 

998,009

 

6,338,044


(1) Shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Luxembourg is disclosed in Note 24 (iii).

(2) The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2013, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued. All issued shares are fully paid.

(3) Include legal reserve under Luxembourg law for USD 200.5 million, undistributable reserves under Luxembourg law for USD 1.4 billion, hedge accounting reserve, net of tax effect, for USD 1.1 million and reserves related to the acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries according to IAS 27 for USD (58.9) million.

(4) Represents the difference between book value of non-monetary contributions received from shareholders under Luxembourg GAAP and IFRS.

(5) Corresponds to the acquisition of the non-controlling interest held by Siderúrgica de Caldas S.A.S., a subsidiary of Ternium S.A., in Procesadora de Materiales Industriales S.A. in April 2013.

(6) Represents USD 0.065 per share (USD 0.65 per ADS). Related to the dividends distributed on May 10, 2013, and as 41,666,666 shares are held as treasury shares  by one of Ternium’s subsidiaries, the dividends attributable to these treasury shares amounting to USD 2.7 million were included in equity as less dividend paid.

 

Dividends may be paid by Ternium to the extent distributable retained earnings calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations exist. Therefore, retained earnings included in these consolidated financial statements may not be wholly distributable. See Note 24 (iii). The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 6 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

   

Attributable to the owners of the parent (1)

       
   

Capital stock (2)

Treasury shares

Initial public offering expenses

Reserves (3)

Capital stock issue discount (4)

Currency translation adjustment

Retained earnings

Total

 

Non-controlling interest

 

Total Equity

     
                           

Balance at January 1, 2012

 

2,004,743

(150,000)

(23,295)

1,489,794

(2,324,866)

(859,283)

5,574,402

5,711,495

 

1,077,055

 

6,788,550

Profit for the year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

142,043

142,043

 

48,878

 

190,921

Other comprehensive income (loss)
for the year

                         

Currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

(340,531)

 

(340,531)

 

(84,916)

 

(425,447)

Remeasurement of post employment benefit obligations

 

 

 

 

(9,632)

 

 

 

(9,632)

 

(2,220)

 

(11,852)

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

 

 

 

 

14,800

 

 

 

14,800

 

1,385

 

16,185

Others

 

 

 

 

(1,761)

 

 

 

(1,761)

 

(200)

 

(1,961)

                           

Total comprehensive income for the year

 

-

-

-

3,407

-

(340,531)

142,043

(195,081)

 

(37,073)

 

(232,154)

                           

Dividends paid in cash (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(147,231)

(147,231)

 

 

 

(147,231)

Dividends paid in cash by subsidiary companies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

(15,902)

 

(15,902)

Contributions from non-controlling shareholders in consolidated subsidiaries (6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

41,650

 

41,650

                           

Balance at December 31, 2012

 

2,004,743

(150,000)

(23,295)

1,493,201

(2,324,866)

(1,199,814)

5,569,214

5,369,183

 

1,065,730

 

6,434,913


(1) Shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Luxembourg is disclosed in Note 24 (iii).

(2) The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2012, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued. All issued shares are fully paid.

(3) Include legal reserve under Luxembourg law for USD 200.5 million, undistributable reserves under Luxembourg law for USD 1.4 billion, hedge accounting reserve, net of tax effect, for USD 1.2 million and reserves related to the acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries according to IAS 27 for USD (58.5) million.

(4) Represents the difference between book value of non-monetary contributions received from shareholders under Luxembourg GAAP and IFRS.

(5) Represents USD 0.075 per share (USD 0.75 per ADS). Related to the dividends distributed on  May 2, 2012, and as 41,666,666 shares are held as treasury shares  by one of Ternium’s subsidiaries, the dividends attributable to these treasury shares amounting to USD 3.1 million were included in equity as less dividend paid.

(6) Corresponds to the contribution made by Nippon Steel Corporation in Tenigal, S.R.L. de C.V.

 

Dividends may be paid by Ternium to the extent distributable retained earnings calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations exist. Therefore, retained earnings included in these consolidated financial statements may not be wholly distributable. See Note 24 (iii). The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 7 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

       

Year ended December 31,

   

Notes

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

                 

Cash flows from operating activities

               

Profit for the year

 

 

 

588,785

 

592,913

 

190,921

Adjustments for:

               

Depreciation and amortization

 

12 & 13

 

414,797

 

377,133

 

370,855

Income tax accruals less payments

 

26 (b)

 

(14,926)

 

(24,177)

 

41,030

Equity in losses (earnings) of non-consolidated companies

 

3 & 14

 

34,218

 

31,609

 

346,833

Interest accruals less payments

 

26 (b)

 

5,162

 

(16,869)

 

816

Changes in provisions

 

19

 

92

 

7,330

 

5,754

Changes in working capital (1)

 

26 (b)

 

(550,980)

 

114,611

 

23,533

Net foreign exchange results and others

 

 

 

28,696

 

9,624

 

75,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     

505,844

 

1,092,174

 

1,055,092

                 

Cash flows from investing activities

               

Capital expenditures

 

12 & 13

 

(443,463)

 

(883,317)

 

(1,022,592)

Acquisition of business/stake - Purchase consideration Usiminas

 

3 & 14

 

(249,032)

 

-

 

(2,243,610)

Decrease (Increase) in other investments

 

18

 

18,258

 

(1,802)

 

127,875

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

1,473

 

2,133

 

2,143

Proceeds from Sidor financial asset

 

 

 

-

 

-

 

136,719

Dividends received from non-consolidated companies

 

14

 

-

 

207

 

4,718

Investments in non-consolidated companies - Techgen

 

14

 

(3,010)

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     

(675,774)

 

(882,779)

 

(2,994,747)

                 

Cash flows from financing activities

               

Dividends paid in cash to company’s shareholders

 

 

 

(147,231)

 

(127,600)

 

(147,231)

Dividends paid in cash to non-controlling interests

 

 

 

(33,632)

 

(66,704)

 

(15,902)

Contributions from non-controlling shareholders in consolidated subsidiaries

 

 

 

-

 

-

 

41,650

Acquisition of non-controlling interest

 

 

 

-

 

(929)

 

-

Proceeds from borrowings

 

 

 

1,038,820

 

1,863,868

 

1,284,659

Repayments of borrowings

 

 

 

(773,396)

 

(2,134,711)

 

(814,976)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     

84,561

 

(466,076)

 

348,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     

(85,369)

 

(256,681)

 

(1,591,454)

                 

Movement in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At January 1,

 

 

 

307,218

 

560,307

 

2,158,044

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

 

 

(8,546)

 

(8,635)

 

(6,283)

Initial cash of Peña Colorada and Exiros

 

 

 

-

 

12,227

 

-

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

(85,369)

 

(256,681)

 

(1,591,454)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, (2)

     

213,303

 

307,218

 

560,307

 

(1)  The working capital is impacted by non-cash movement of USD (149.9) million as of December 31, 2014 (USD (157.7) million and USD (53.7) million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively) due to the variations in the exchange rates used by subsidiaries with functional currencies different from the US dollar.

 

(2)  It includes restricted cash of USD 93, USD 869 and USD 941 as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition , the Company had other investments with a maturity of more than three months for USD 149,995, USD 169,503 and USD 160,750 as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 8 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

INDEX TO THE NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

1

General information

10

2

Basis of presentation

11

3

Acquisition of business – Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. – USIMINAS

15

4

Accounting policies

17

5

Segment information

37

6

Cost of sales

40

7

Selling, general and administrative expenses

41

8

Labor costs (included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses)

41

9

Other operating income (expenses), net

41

10

Other financial income (expenses), net

42

11

Income tax expense

42

12

Property, plant and equipment, net

44

13

Intangible assets, net

45

14

Investments in non-consolidated companies

46

15

Receivables, net - non-current and current

48

16

Trade receivables, net – non-current and current

49

17

Inventories, net

49

18

Cash, cash equivalents and other investments

50

19

Allowances and provisions – non-current and current

50

20

Deferred income tax

51

21

Other liabilities – non-current and current

53

22

Derivative financial instruments

55

23

Borrowings

57

24

Contingencies, commitments and restrictions on the distribution of profits

59

25

Related party transactions

63

26

Other required disclosures

64

27

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

65

28

Financial risk management

66

29

Subsequent events

73

 

 

 

Page 9 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.      GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Ternium S.A. (the “Company” or “Ternium”), was incorporated on December 22, 2003 to hold investments in flat and long steel manufacturing and distributing companies.  The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share.  As of December 31, 2014, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued.  All issued shares are fully paid.

 

Following a corporate reorganization carried out during fiscal year 2005, in January 2006 the Company successfully completed its registration process with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Ternium’s ADSs began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TX” on February 1, 2006.  The Company’s initial public offering was settled on February 6, 2006.  

 

The Company was initially established as a public limited liability company (société anonyme) under Luxembourg’s 1929 holding company regime.  Until termination of such regime on December 31, 2010, holding companies incorporated under the 1929 regime (including the Company) were exempt from Luxembourg corporate and withholding tax over dividends distributed to shareholders.

 

On January 1, 2011, the Company became an ordinary public limited liability company (société anonyme) and, effective as from that date, the Company is subject to all applicable Luxembourg taxes (including, among others, corporate income tax on its worldwide income) and its dividend distributions will generally be subject to Luxembourg withholding tax.  However, dividends received by the Company from subsidiaries in high income tax jurisdictions, as defined under Luxembourg law, will continue to be exempt from corporate income tax in Luxembourg under Luxembourg’s participation exemption.

 

As part of the Company’s corporate reorganization in connection with the termination of Luxembourg’s 1929 holding company regime, on December 6, 2010, the Company contributed its equity holdings in all its subsidiaries and all its financial assets to its Luxembourg wholly-owned subsidiary Ternium Investments S.à.r.l., or Ternium Investments, in exchange for newly issued corporate units of Ternium Investments. As the assets contributed were recorded at their historical carrying amount in accordance with Luxembourg GAAP, the Company’s December 2010 contribution of such assets to Ternium Investments resulted in a non-taxable revaluation of the accounting value of the Company’s assets under Luxembourg GAAP. The amount of the December 2010 revaluation was equal to the difference between the historical carrying amounts of the assets contributed and the value at which such assets were contributed and amounted to USD 4.0 billion. However, for the purpose of these consolidated financial statements, the assets contributed by Ternium to its wholly-owned subsidiary Ternium Investments were recorded based on their historical carrying amounts in accordance with IFRS, with no impact on the financial statements.

 

 

Page 10 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

1.      GENERAL INFORMATION (continued)

 

Following the completion of the corporate reorganization, and upon its conversion into an ordinary Luxembourg holding company, the Company voluntarily recorded a special reserve exclusively for tax-basis purposes. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, this special tax reserve amounted to USD 7.3 billion and USD 7.5 billion, respectively. The Company expects that, as a result of its corporate reorganization, its current overall tax burden will not increase, as all or substantially all of its dividend income will come from high income tax jurisdictions. In addition, the Company expects that dividend distributions for the foreseeable future will be imputed to the special reserve and therefore should be exempt from Luxembourg withholding tax under current Luxembourg law.

 

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) issued and effective or issued and early adopted as at the time of preparing these statements (February 2015), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and adopted by the European Union (“EU”). These consolidated financial statements are presented in thousands of United States dollars (“USD”), except otherwise indicated.

 

Elimination of all material intercompany transactions and balances between the Company and their respective subsidiaries has been made in consolidation.

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets, and financial assets and financial liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value through profit or loss.

 

Certain comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform to changes in presentation in the current period. These reclassifications do not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

These consolidated financial statements have been approved for issue by the Board of Directors on February 18, 2015.

 

Detailed below are the companies whose financial statements have been consolidated and accounted for interest in these consolidated financial statements.

Page 11 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)

 

Company

 

Country of Organization

 

Main activity

 

Percentage of ownership
at December 31,

     

2014

 

2013

 

2012

                     

Ternium S.A.

 

Luxembourg

 

Holding

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Investments S.à.r.l.

 

Luxembourg

 

Holding

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Solutions A.G. (1)

 

Switzerland

 

Services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Brasil S.A. (1)

 

Brazil

 

Holding

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Investments Switzerland AG (1)

 

Switzerland

 

Holding

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. (1)

 

Spain

 

Marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Siderúrgica do Norte Fluminense S.A. (2)

 

Brazil

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

-

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Consorcio Siderurgia Amazonia S.L. (3)

 

Spain

 

Holding

 

-

 

94.38%

 

94.38%

Secor - Servicios Corporativos S.A. (4)

 

Venezuela

 

Holding

 

-

 

-

 

94.53%

Siderar S.A.I.C. (5)

 

Argentina

 

Manufacturing and selling of flat steel products

 

60.94%

 

60.94%

 

60.94%

Impeco S.A. (6)

 

Argentina

 

Manufacturing of pipe products

 

60.97%

 

60.97%

 

60.97%

Prosid Investments S.C.A. (6)

 

Uruguay

 

Holding

 

60.94%

 

60.94%

 

60.94%

Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V. (7)

 

Mexico

 

Holding

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Hylsa S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Las Encinas S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Exploration, exploitation and pelletizing of iron ore

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Ferropak Comercial S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Scrap services company

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Ferropak Servicios S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Services

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Galvacer America Inc (8)

 

USA

 

Distributing company

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Galvamet America Corp (8)

 

USA

 

Manufacturing and selling of insulated panel products

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Transamerica E. & I. Trading Corp. (8)

 

USA

 

Scrap services company

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Técnica Industrial S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Services

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Corporativo Grupo Imsa S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Services

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Acedor, S.A. de C.V. (8)

 

Mexico

 

Holding

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Ternium Gas México S.A. de C.V. (9)

 

Mexico

 

Financial Services

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Ecore Holding S. de R.L. de C.V. (10)

 

Mexico

 

Holding

 

-

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Treasury Services S.A. de C.V. (10)

 

Mexico

 

Financial Services

 

-

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

APM, S.A. de C.V. (10)

 

Mexico

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

-

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Acerus S.A. de C.V. (10)

 

Mexico

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

-

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Neotec L.L.C. (11)

 

USA

 

Holding

 

-

 

88.72%

 

88.72%

Imsa Monclova S.A. de C.V. (12)

 

Mexico

 

Services

 

-

 

-

 

88.72%

Ternium Internacional Guatemala S.A. (13)

 

Guatemala

 

Selling of steel products

 

99.98%

 

99.98%

 

99.98%

Ternium USA Inc. (14)

 

USA

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

88.72%

Consorcio Minero Benito Juarez Peña Colorada S.A.de C.V. (15)

 

Mexico

 

Exploration, exploitation and pelletizing of iron ore

 

44.36%

 

44.36%

 

-

Peña Colorada Servicios S.A. de C.V. (15)

 

Mexico

 

Services

 

44.36%

 

44.36%

 

-

Exiros B.V. (15)

 

Netherlands

 

Procurement and trading services

 

50.00%

 

50.00%

 

-

Servicios Integrales Nova de Monterrey S.A. de C.V. (16)

 

Mexico

 

Medical and Social Services

 

66.09%

 

66.09%

 

66.09%

 

Page 12 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)

 

Company

 

Country of Organization

 

Main activity

 

Percentage of ownership
at December 31,

     

2014

 

2013

 

2012

                     

Ternium Internacional Nicaragua S.A.

 

Nicaragua

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

99.38%

 

99.38%

 

99.38%

Ternium Internacional Honduras S.A. de C.V.

 

Honduras

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

99.18%

 

99.18%

 

99.18%

Ternium Internacional El Salvador S.A. de C.V.

 

El Salvador

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

99.91%

 

99.91%

 

99.91%

Ternium Internacional Costa Rica S.A.

 

Costa Rica

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

99.98%

 

99.98%

 

99.98%

Ferrasa S.A.S. (17)

 

Colombia

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

Perfilamos del Cauca S.A.S. (17)

 

Colombia

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

Siderúrgica de Caldas S.A.S. (17)

 

Colombia

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

Procesadora de Materiales Industriales S.A. (17)

 

Colombia

 

Scrap services company

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

32.40%

Figuraciones S.A.S. (18)

 

Colombia

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

-

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

Tenigal S. de R.L. de C.V. (19)

 

Mexico

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

51.00%

 

51.00%

 

51.00%

Ternium Internacional S.A. (20)

 

Uruguay

 

Holding and marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Procurement S.A. (20)

 

Uruguay

 

Procurement services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium International Inc. (20)

 

Panama

 

Marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Treasury Services S.A. (20)

 

Uruguay

 

Financial Services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium International Ecuador S.A. (21)

 

Ecuador

 

Marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium International USA Corporation (21)

 

USA

 

Marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Internacional de Colombia S.A.S. (21)

 

Colombia

 

Marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Internationaal B.V. (22)

 

Netherlands

 

Marketing of steel products

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Engineering & Services S.A. (23)

 

Uruguay

 

Engineering and other services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Ingeniería y Servicios de Argentina S.A.

 

Argentina

 

Engineering and other services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Ingeniería y Servicios de México S.A. de C.V.

 

Mexico

 

Engineering and other services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Ternium Treasury Services B.V. (24)

 

Netherlands

 

Financial Services

 

-

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

Soluciones Integrales de Gestión S.A. (25)

 

Argentina

 

Other services

 

100.00%

 

100.00%

 

-

Ferrasa Panamá, S.A. (26)

 

Panama

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

Aceros Transformados de Panamá, S.A. (26)

 

Panama

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

54.00%

 

Page 13 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)

 

(1) Indirectly through Ternium Investments S.à.r.l. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(2) This company was sold as of January 9, 2014.

(3) This company was dissolved as of December 17, 2014.

(4) This company was dissolved as of January 8, 2013.

(5) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. Total voting rights held: 60.94%.

(6) Indirectly through Siderar S.A.I.C and Ternium Internacional S.A. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(7) Indirectly through Siderar S.A.I.C., Ternium Internacional S.A. and Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. Total voting rights held 99.93%.

(8) Indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(9) Indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V.  and Tenigal S. de R.L. de C.V. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(10) Merged with Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V. during the first quarter of 2014.

(11) This company was dissolved as of September 5, 2014.

(12) Merged with Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V. during the fourth quarter of 2011.

(13) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. Total voting rights held: 100%.

(14) Since first quarter 2013, indirectly through Ternium Investments S.à.r.l. (100,00%). Total voting rights held: 100.00%. Before that, indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V.

(15) Total voting rights held: 50.00%.

(16) Indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V.  Total voting rights held: 74.50%.

(17) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U.. Total voting rights held: 54.00%.

(18) This company was dissolved as of December 24, 2014.

(19) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U.. Total voting rights held: 51.00%.

(20) Indirectly through Ternium Investments Switzerland AG. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(21) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional S.A. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(22) Since fourth quarter 2014, indirectly through Ternium Investments Switzerland AG (100,00%). Total voting rights held: 100.00%. Before that, indirectly through Ternium Internacional S.A.

(23) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional Inc.. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(24) Merged with Ternium Internationaal B.V. during the fourth quarter of 2014.

(25) Indirectly through Ternium Investments S.à.r.l. and Ternium Treasury Services S.A. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(26) Indirectly through Ternium Treasury Services S.A. Total voting rights held: 54.00%.

 

The most important non-controlling interest is related to the investment in Siderar S.A.I.C., which is a company listed in the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange. All the information related to this investment could be found in the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange webpage.

 

Page 14 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

3.      ACQUISITION OF BUSINESS – USINAS SIDERÚRGICAS DE MINAS GERAIS S.A. - USIMINAS

 

On November 27, 2011, the Company’s wholly-owned Luxembourg subsidiary Ternium Investments S.à r.l. (“Ternium Investments”), together with its Argentine majority-owned subsidiary Siderar S.A.I.C. (and Siderar’s wholly-owned Uruguayan subsidiary Prosid Investments S.C.A.), and Confab Industrial S.A., a Brazilian subsidiary of Tenaris S.A. (“TenarisConfab”), entered into share purchase agreements with Camargo Corrêa, Votorantim and Usiminas employee pension fund Previdência Usiminas (f.k.a. Caixa dos Empregados da Usiminas) (“CEU”) for the acquisition of 139.7 million ordinary shares of Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. – USIMINAS (“Usiminas”), representing 27.66% of Usiminas’ voting capital, at a price of BRL 36.0 (approximately USD 19.0) per ordinary share.

 

Upon closing of the transaction on January 16, 2012, Ternium Investments, Siderar and TenarisConfab joined Usiminas’ existing control group through the acquisition of 84.7, 30.0, and 25.0 million ordinary shares, respectively. In addition, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (f.k.a. Nippon Steel Corporation) (“NSSMC”) acquired from CEU 8.5 million ordinary shares. In addition, Ternium Investments, Siderar, Prosid and TenarisConfab entered into an amended and restated Usiminas shareholders’ agreement with Nippon Steel, Mitsubishi, Metal One and CEU, governing Ternium Investments, Siderar (and Prosid) and TenarisConfab’s rights within the Usiminas control group; most decisions in that control group are subject for its approval to a 65% majority of the control group shares. As a result of these transactions, the control group, which held 322.7 million ordinary shares representing the majority of Usiminas’ voting rights, was then formed as follows: NSSMC Group 46.1%, Ternium/Tenaris Group 43.3%, and CEU 10.6%. The rights of Ternium Investments, Siderar (and Prosid), and TenarisConfab within the Ternium/Tenaris Group are governed under a separate shareholders agreement.

 

During 2012, the Company completed its purchase price allocation procedures and determined a notional goodwill included within the investment balance of USD 583 million, according to the following calculation:

 

Opening net assets at January 16, 2012

 

9,690,397

Percentage of interest of the Company over opening assets (1)

 

11.62%

     

Interest of the Company over opening net assets

 

1,126,306

     

Net assets at fair value vs. book value

 

534,531

Goodwill

 

582,773

     

Total Purchase consideration

 

2,243,610

     

(1) This percentage of interest is calculated considering treasury shares.

 

The Company reviews periodically the recoverability of its investment in Usiminas. To determine the recoverable value, the Company estimates the value in use of the investment by calculating the present value of the expected cash flows. There is a significant interaction among the principal assumptions made in estimating Usiminas’ cash flow projections, which include iron ore and steel prices, foreign exchange and interest rates, Brazilian GDP and steel consumption in the Brazilian market.

 

Page 15 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

 

3.      ACQUISITION OF BUSINESS – USINAS SIDERÚRGICAS DE MINAS GERAIS S.A. - USIMINAS (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2012, the Company wrote down its investment in Usiminas by USD 275 million. The impairment was mainly due to expectations of a weaker industrial environment in Brazil, where industrial production and consequently steel demand had suffered downward adjustments. In addition, a higher degree of uncertainty regarding future prices of iron ore led to a reduction in Ternium’s forecast of long term iron ore prices that affected cash flow expectations. As of December 31, 2012, the discount rate used to test the investment in Usiminas for impairment was 9.6%.

 

On October 2, 2014, Ternium Investments entered into a definitive purchase agreement with Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil – PREVI for the acquisition of 51.4 million ordinary shares of Usiminas at a price of BRL 12 per share, for a total amount of BRL 616.7 million. On October 30, 2014, Ternium Investments completed the acquisition.

 

Following the acquisition of these additional shares, Ternium (through Ternium Investments, Siderar and Prosid) owns 166.1 million ordinary shares, representing 32.9% of Usiminas’ ordinary shares. Ternium continues to hold 35.6% of Usiminas’ voting rights over the control group and has a participation in Usiminas’ results of 16.82%.

 

During 2014, the Company performed its purchase price allocation procedures in connection with the acquisition of these additional shares, determined a higher value of net assets at fair value versus book value and, accordingly, recognized a gain in the amount of USD 188.9 million. Set forth below is the Company’s calculation:

 

Net assets at fair value at September 30, 2014

 

8,415,389

Percentage of interest of the Company over net assets at fair value acquired (1)

 

5.20%

     

Interest of the Company over net assets at fair value acquired

 

437,920

     

Gain from bargain purchase

 

(188,888)

     

Total Purchase consideration

 

249,032

     

(1) This percentage of interest is calculated considering treasury shares.

   

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company further wrote down its investment in Usiminas by USD 196.4 million. As a result, the recoverable value of the Company’s investment in Usiminas currently amounts to USD 1,390.7 million (see note 14).  The impairment was mainly due to expectations of a weaker industrial environment in Brazil, and consequently steel demand, as a result of worsening economic activity, as well as a significant additional downturn in international prices of iron ore and steel, which led to diminished cash flow expectations. As of December 31, 2014 the discount rate used to test the investment in Usiminas for impairment was 9.8%.

 

Factors that could result in impairment charges in future periods would be an increase in the discount rate or a decrease in steel prices. The Company estimated that a change of 10 bps in the discount rate would have resulted in a change of 2% in the value in use, and a change of 10 USD per ton in the steel price would have resulted in a change of 7% in the value in use.

 

At December 31, 2014, the closing price of the Usiminas’ ordinary shares as quoted on the BM&FBovespa Stock Exchange was BRL 12.30 (approximately USD 4.63) per share, giving Ternium’s ownership stake a market value of approximately USD 769.3 million.

 

 

 

Page 16 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

These Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared following the same accounting policies used in the preparation of the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

The following is a summary of the principal accounting policies followed in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements:

 

(a)    Group accounting

 

(1) Subsidiary companies and transactions with non-controlling interests

 

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Company has control. The Company controls an entity when the Company is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity.  Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company.  They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

 

The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by the Company. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at the fair values at the acquisition date. Indemnification assets are recognized at the same time that the Company recognizes the indemnified item and measures them on the same basis as the indemnified item, subject to the need for a valuation allowance for uncollectible amounts. The Company measures the value of a reacquired right recognized as an intangible asset on the basis of the remaining contractual term of the related contract regardless of whether market participants would consider potential contractual renewals in determining its fair value.

 

On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Company recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the acquiree's net assets.

 

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the Company's share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If this is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognized directly in the income statement.

 

The measurement period is the earlier of the date that the acquirer receives the information that it is looking for or cannot obtain the information and one year after the acquisition date. Where the accounting for a business combination is not complete by the end of the reporting period in which the business combination occurred provisional amounts are reported.

Page 17 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

The Company treats transactions with non-controlling interests as transactions with equity owners of the Company. For purchases from non-controlling interests, the difference between any consideration paid and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity. Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

 

When the Company ceases to have control or significant influence, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value, with the change in carrying amount recognized in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This may mean that amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.

 

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Unrealized losses are also eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the group. However, the fact that the functional currency of some subsidiaries is their respective local currency, generates some financial gains (losses) arising from intercompany transactions, that are included in the consolidated income statement under Other financial expenses, net.

 

(2) Investments in non-consolidated companies

 

Associated companies are those entities in which Ternium has significant influence, but which it does not control.

 

Investments in non-consolidated companies are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, interests in joint ventures and associates are initially recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognize the Company’s share of the post-acquisition profits or losses in the income statement, and its share of post-acquisition changes in reserves recognized in reserves and in other comprehensive income in the income statement. Unrealized gains on transactions among the Company and its non-consolidated companies are eliminated to the extent of the Company’s interest in such non-consolidated companies; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the transferred asset. When the Company’s share of losses in a non-consolidated company equals or exceeds its interest in such non-consolidated company, the Company does not recognize further losses unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of such non-consolidated company.

 

The Company’s investment in associates and joint ventures includes notional goodwill identified on acquisition.

 

The Company determines at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that the investment is impaired. If this is the case, the group calculates the amount of impairment as the difference between the recoverable amount of the investment and its carrying value and recognizes the amount within “Equity on earnings (losses) of non-consolidated companies”.  

 

Page 18 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(b)    Foreign currency translation

 

(1)  Functional and presentation currency

 

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Company's subsidiaries and associated companies are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the "functional currency"). Except for the Argentine and the Brazilian subsidiaries and non-consolidated companies whose functional currencies are their local currencies, Ternium determined that the functional currency of its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Although Ternium is located in Luxembourg, it operates in several countries with different currencies. The USD is the currency that best reflects the economic substance of the underlying events and circumstances relevant to Ternium as a whole.

 

(2) Subsidiary companies

 

The results and financial position of all the group entities (none of which operates in a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency, are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

 

(i)  assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate of each statement of financial position;

(ii)  income and expenses for each income statement are translated at average exchange rates; and

(iii)  all resulting translation differences are recognized within other comprehensive income.

 

In the case of a sale or other disposition of any such subsidiary, any accumulated translation differences would be recognized in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale.

 

(3) Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency

 

Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transactions or valuation where items are re-measured.

At the end of each reporting period: (i) monetary items denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated using the closing rates, (ii) non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a currency other than the functional currency are translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transactions; and (iii) non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a currency other than the functional currency are translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined.

 

 

 

 

Page 19 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded as gains and losses from foreign exchange and included in "Other financial income (expenses), net" in the consolidated income statement, except when deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges and qualifying net investment hedges. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets and liabilities such as equities held at fair value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss as part of the "fair value gain or loss," while translation differences on non-monetary financial assets such as equities classified as available for sale are included in the "available for sale reserve" in equity. Ternium had no such assets or liabilities for any of the periods presented.

 

(c)    Financial instruments

 

Non derivative financial instruments

 

Non derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity and debt securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans and borrowings, and trade and other payables. Ternium non derivative financial instruments are classified into the following categories:

 

·    Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss: comprises mainly cash and cash equivalents and investments in debt securities held for trading;

·    Held-to-maturity instruments: measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method less impairment losses. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, there are no instruments classified under this category;

·    Loans and receivables: measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method less impairment losses;  

·   Available-for-sale ("AFS") financial assets: gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognized within other comprehensive income ("OCI") with the exception of impairment losses, interest calculated using the effective interest method and foreign exchange gains and losses on monetary assets, which are recognized directly in profit or loss. Where the investment is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, the cumulative gain or loss previously recognized in OCI is included in the income statement for the period. As of December 31, 2014, there are USD 35 million classified under this category, while as of December 31, 2013, there were no instruments classified under this category;

·    Other financial liabilities: measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

 

The classification depends on the nature and purpose of the financial assets and is determined at the time of initial recognition.

 

Financial assets and liabilities are recognized and derecognized on the settlement date.

 

Financial assets are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs, except for those financial assets classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss.

 

Financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognized on an effective yield basis.

Page 20 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Impairment of financial assets

 

The Company assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired and impairment losses are incurred only if there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset (a "loss event") and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or group of financial assets that can be reliably estimated. The Company first assesses whether objective evidence of impairment exists.

 

For loans and receivables category and for held-to-maturity investments, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced and the amount of the loss is recognized in the consolidated income statement.

 

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, the reversal of the previously recognized impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated income statement.

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

Information about accounting for derivative financial instruments and hedging activities is included in Note 28 "Financial Risk management".

 

(d)    Property, plant and equipment

 

Land and buildings comprise mainly factories and offices. All property, plant and equipment are recognized at historical acquisition or construction cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment (if applicable), except for land, which is carried at acquisition cost less accumulated impairment (if applicable). There are no material residual values for property, plant and equipment items.

 

Major overhaul and rebuilding expenditures are recognized as a separate asset when future economic benefits are expected from the item, and the cost can be measured reliably.

 

Ordinary maintenance expenses on manufacturing properties are recorded as cost of products sold in the period in which they are incurred.

 

Where a tangible fixed asset comprises major components having different useful lives, these components are accounted for as separate items.

 

Leases where the lessor retains a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

 

 

Page 21 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Depreciation method is reviewed at each year end. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method to amortize the cost of each asset to its residual value over its estimated useful life as follows:

 

Land

No depreciation

Buildings and improvements

10-50 years

Production equipment

5-30 years

Vehicles, furniture and fixtures and other equipment

5-10 years

 

Property, plant and equipment used in mining activities are depreciated over its useful life or over the remaining life of the mine if shorter and there is no alternative use possible.

 

The assets' useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each year end. The re-estimation of assets useful lives by the Company did not materially affect depreciation charges in 2014, 2013 and 2012.

 

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the corresponding carrying amounts and are included in the income statement.

 

If the carrying amount of an asset were greater than its estimated recoverable amount, it would be written down to its recoverable amount. (see Note 4 (f) "Impairment").

 

(e)    Intangible assets

 

(1) Information system projects

 

Generally, costs associated with developing or maintaining computer software programs are recognized as an expense as incurred. However, costs directly related to the acquisition and implementation of information systems are recognized as intangible assets if they have a probable economic benefit exceeding the cost beyond one year and comply with the recognition criteria of IAS 38.

 

Information system projects recognized as assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their useful lives, not exceeding a period of 3 years. Amortization charges are included in cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(2) Mining assets

 

Mining assets include:

(a)  Mining licenses acquired;

(b)  Capitalized exploration and evaluation costs, reclassified from exploration and evaluation costs (see note 4 (e) 3); and

(c)  Capitalized developmental stripping costs (see note 4 (t)).

 

Mining licenses were recognized as separate intangible assets upon the acquisition of the investment in Mexico and comprise the right to exploit the mines and are recognized at its fair value at acquisition date less accumulated amortization.

 

Page 22 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

These mining concessions were granted for a 50-year period; following the expiration of the initial concession term, the concessions are renewable for an additional 50-year term in accordance with, and subject to the procedures set forth in, applicable Mexican mining law.

 

Amortization charge is calculated by using the unit-of-production method, on the basis of actual mineral extracted in each period compared to the estimated mineral reserves, and is included in cost of sales. Any change in the estimation of reserves is accounted for prospectively. The resulting amortization rate for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, is approximately 10%, 9% and 9% per year, respectively.

 

(3)  Exploration and evaluation costs

 

Exploration and evaluation activities involve the search for iron ore resources, the determination of technical feasibility and the assessment of commercial viability of an identified resource.

 

Exploration and evaluation costs are measured at cost. Costs directly associated with exploration and evaluation activities are capitalized as intangible assets until the determination of reserves is evaluated. The costs associated to the acquisition of machinery and equipment are recognized as property, plant and equipment. If it is determined that commercial discovery has been achieved, costs incurred are reclassified into Mining assets and amortization starts once production begins.

 

Exploration costs are tested for impairment when there are indicators that impairment exists. Indicators of impairment include, but are not limited to:

·  Rights to explore in an area have expired or will expire in the near future without renewal;

·  No further exploration and evaluation is planned or budgeted;

·  A decision to discontinue exploration and evaluation in an area because of the absence of commercial reserves; and

·  Sufficient data exists to indicate that the book value will not be fully recovered from future development and production.

 

When technical feasibility and commercial viability are demonstrated, exploration and evaluation costs are tested for impairment immediately prior to reclassification to the definitive intangible asset. Any impairment charge arising from this test will be included as Other operating expense.

 

When analyzing the existence of impairment indicators, the exploration and evaluation areas from the mining cash-generating units will be evaluated.

 

(4) Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of Ternium's participation in acquired companies' net assets at the acquisition date. Under IFRS 3 (revised), goodwill is considered to have an indefinite life and not amortized, but is subject to annual impairment testing.

 

Page 23 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Goodwill is allocated to Cash-generating units ("CGU") for the purpose of impairment testing. The allocation is made to those cash-generating units expected to benefit from the business combination which generated the goodwill being tested.

 

As of December 31, 2014, the carrying amount of goodwill allocated to the Mexico CGUs was USD 662.3 million, of which USD 619.8 million corresponds to steel operations and USD 42.5 million to mining operations.

 

(5) Research and development

 

Research expenditures are recognized as expenses as incurred. Development costs are recorded as cost of sales in the income statement as incurred because they do not fulfill the criteria for capitalization. Research and development expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 totaled USD 8.0 million, USD 7.6 million and USD 8.8 million, respectively.

 

(6) Customer relationships acquired in a business combination

 

In accordance with IFRS 3 (revised) and IAS 38, Ternium has recognized the value of customer relationships separately from goodwill in connection with the acquisitions of Grupo Imsa and Ferrasa S.A.S..

 

Customer relationships are amortized using the straight-line method over a useful life of approximately 10 years.

 

(7) Trademarks acquired in a business combination

 

In accordance with IFRS 3 and IAS 38, Ternium has recognized the value of trademarks separately from goodwill in connection with the acquisitions of Grupo Imsa and Ferrasa S.A.S..

 

Trademarks are amortized using the straight-line method over a useful life of between 5 to 10 years.

 

(f)    Impairment

 

Assets that have an indefinite useful life (including goodwill) are not subject to amortization and are tested annually for impairment or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Assets that are subject to amortization and investments in affiliates are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less cost to sell and the value in use.

 

To carry out these tests, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (each, a CGU). When evaluating long-lived assets for potential impairment, the Company estimates the recoverable amount based on the value in use of the corresponding CGU. The value in use of each CGU is determined on the basis of the present value of net future cash flows which will be generated by the assets tested.

 

Page 24 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Determining the present value of future cash flows involves highly sensitive estimates and assumptions specific to the nature of each CGU's activities, including estimates and assumptions relating to amount and timing of projected future cash flows, expected changes in market prices, expected changes in the demand of Ternium products and services, selected discount rate and selected tax rate.

 

Ternium uses cash flow projections for the next five years based on past performance and expectations of market development; thereafter, it uses a perpetuity rate. Application of the discounted cash flow (DCF) method to determine the value in use of a CGU begins with a forecast of all expected future net cash flows. Variables considered in forecasts include the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rates of the country under study and their correlation with steel demand, level of steel prices and estimated raw material costs as observed in industry reports.

 

Cash flows are discounted at rates that reflect specific country and currency risks associated with the cash flow projections. The discount rates used are based on Ternium's weighted average cost of capital (WACC), which is considered to be a good indicator of cost of capital. As of December 31, 2014 the discount rate used to test goodwill allocated to the Steel and Mining Mexico CGUs for impairment was 9.44%.

 

As a result of the above factors, actual cash flows and values could vary significantly from the forecasted future cash flows and related values derived using discounting techniques. Based on the information currently available, however, Ternium believes that it is not reasonably possible that the variation would cause the carrying amount to exceed the recoverable amount of the CGUs.

 

Except for the impairment in connection with the investment in Usiminas in 2014 and 2012, during the years 2014, 2013 and 2012, no impairment provisions were recorded in connection with assets that have an indefinite useful life (including goodwill). For the impairment in connection with the investment in Usiminas, see note 3.

 

(g)    Other investments

 

Other investments consist primarily of investments in financial debt instruments and equity investments where the Company holds a minor equity interest and does not exert significant influence.

 

All purchases and sales of investments are recognized on the settlement date, which is not significantly different from the trade date, which is the date that Ternium commits to purchase or sell the investment.

 

Income from financial instruments is recognized in Other financial income (expenses), net in the income statement. The fair value of quoted investments is based on current bid prices. If the market for a financial investment is not active or the securities are not listed, the Company estimates the fair value by using standard valuation techniques. Dividends from investments in equity instruments are recognized in the income statement when the Company's right to receive payments is established.

 

 

Page 25 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Certain fixed income financial instruments purchased by the Company have been categorized as available for sale if designated in this category or not classified in any of the other categories. The results of these financial investments are recognized in Finance Income in the Consolidated Income Statement using the effective interest method. Unrealized gains and losses other than impairment and foreign exchange results are recognized in Other comprehensive income. On maturity or disposal, net gain and losses previously deferred in Other comprehensive income are recognized in Finance Income in the Consolidated Income Statement.

 

(h)    Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (calculated using the first-in-first-out "FIFO" method) or net realizable value. The cost of finished goods and goods in process comprises raw materials, direct labor, depreciation, other direct costs and related production overhead costs. It excludes borrowing costs.  Goods acquired in transit at year end are valued at supplier's invoice cost.

 

The cost of iron ore produced in our mines comprises all direct costs necessary to extract and convert stockpiled inventories into raw materials, including production stripping costs, depreciation of fixed assets related to the mining activity and amortization of mining assets for those under-production mines.

 

The Company assesses the recoverability of its inventories considering their selling prices, if the inventories are damaged, or if they have become wholly or partially obsolete (see note 4 (y) (4)).

 

(i)    Trade receivables and other receivables

 

Trade and other receivables are recognized initially at fair value, generally the original invoice amount. The Company analyzes its trade receivables on a regular basis and, when aware of a specific counterparty’s difficulty or inability to meet its obligations, impairs any amounts due by means of a charge to an allowance for doubtful accounts. Additionally, this allowance is adjusted periodically based on the aging of receivables.

 

(j)   Cash and cash equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents and highly liquid short-term securities are carried at fair market value or at a historical cost which approximates fair market value.

 

For purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash, bank current accounts and short-term highly liquid investments (original maturity of three months or less at date of acquisition) and overdrafts.

 

In the consolidated statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are included in borrowings within current liabilities.

 

 

Page 26 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(k)  Non-current assets (disposal groups) classified as held for sale

 

Non-current assets (disposal groups) are classified as assets held for sale, complying with the recognition criteria of IFRS 5, and stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less cost to sell if their carrying amount is recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use.

 

The carrying value of non-current assets classified as held for sale, at December 31, 2014 and 2013 totals USD 14.8 million and USD 17.8 million, respectively, which corresponds principally to land and other real estate items. Sale is expected to be completed within a one-year period.

 

(l)    Borrowings

 

Borrowings are recognized initially for an amount equal to the proceeds received. In subsequent periods, borrowings are stated at amortized cost following the effective interest method.

 

Capitalized costs for issue of debt are amortized over the life of their respective debt.

 

(m)   Income taxes - current and deferred

 

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws in force in the countries in which Ternium and its subsidiaries operate. Management evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation could be subject to interpretation. A liability is recorded for tax benefits that were taken in the applicable tax return but have not been recognized for financial reporting.

 

Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. The principal temporary differences arise on fixed assets, intangible assets, inventories valuation and provisions for pensions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantially enacted at year end. Under IFRS, deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are classified as non-current assets (liabilities).

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent it is probable that future taxable income will be available to offset temporary differences.

 

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associated companies, except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Company and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Page 27 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(n)    Employee liabilities

 

(1)   Post-employment obligations

 

The Company has defined benefit and defined contribution plans. A defined benefit plan is a pension plan that defines an amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement, usually dependent on one or more factors such as age, years of service and compensation.

 

The Company applied IAS 19 (amended 2011), “Employee benefits”, on January 1, 2013. In accordance with the amended standard, post-employment benefits are accounted as follows:

 

The liability recognized in the statement of financial position in respect of defined benefit pension plans is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period less the fair value of plan assets. The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually (at year end) by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension obligation. In countries where there is no deep market in such bonds, the market rates on government bonds are used.

 

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

 

Past-service costs are recognized immediately in income.

 

For defined benefit plans, net interest income/expense is calculated based on the surplus or deficit derived by the difference between the defined benefit obligations less plan assets.

 

For defined contribution plans, the Company pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory, contractual or voluntary basis. The Company has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid. The contributions are recognized as employee benefit expense when they are due. Prepaid contributions are recognized as an asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payments is available.

 

Mexico

 

Ternium Mexico has defined benefit and defined contribution plans.

 

 

 

Page 28 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

The valuation of the liabilities for the defined benefit employee retirement plans (pensions and seniority premiums) covers all employees and is based primarily on their years of service, their present age and their remuneration at the date of retirement. The cost of the employee retirement plans (pension, health-care expenses and seniority premiums) is recognized as an expense in the year in which services are rendered in accordance with actuarial studies made by independent actuaries. The formal retirement plans are congruent with and complementary to the retirement benefits established by the Mexican Institute of Social Security. Additionally, the Company has established a plan to cover health-care expenses of retired employees. The Company has established irrevocable trust funds for the payment of pensions and seniority premiums, as well as for health-care expenses.

 

The defined contribution plans provides a benefit equivalent to the capital accumulated with the company's contributions, which are provided as a match of employees' contributions to the plan. The plan provides vested rights according to the years of service and the cause of retirement.

 

Argentina

 

Siderar implemented an unfunded defined benefit employee retirement plan for certain senior officers. The plan is designed to provide certain benefits to those officers (additional to those contemplated under applicable Argentine labor laws) in case of termination of the employment relationship due to certain specified events, including retirement. Benefits provided by the plan are calculated based on a seven-year salary average.

 

(2)   Termination benefits

 

Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Company recognizes termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to either: (i) terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without possibility of withdrawal or (ii) providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy.

 

(3)  Other compensation obligations

 

Employee entitlements to annual leave and long-service leave are accrued as earned.

 

During 2007, Ternium launched an incentive retention program (the "Program") applicable to certain senior officers and employees of the Company, who will be granted a number of Units throughout the duration of the Program. The value of each of these Units is based on Ternium's shareholders' equity (excluding non-controlling interest). Also, the beneficiaries of the Program are entitled to receive cash amounts based on (i) the amount of dividend payments made by Ternium to its shareholders, and (ii) the number of Units held by each beneficiary to the Program. Units vest ratably over a period of four years and will be redeemed by the Company ten years after grant date, with the option of an early redemption at seven years after grant date. As the cash payment of the benefit is tied to the book value of the shares, and not to their market value, Ternium valued this long-term incentive program as a long term benefit plan as classified in IAS 19.

 

Page 29 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the outstanding liability corresponding to the Program amounts to USD 22.5 million and USD 19.3 million, respectively. The total value of the units granted to date under the program, considering the number of units and the book value per share as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, is USD 27.4 million and USD 21.8 million, respectively.

 

Under Mexican law, Ternium's subsidiaries are required to pay their employees an annual benefit which is determined as a percentage of taxable profit for the year.

 

(4)  Social security contributions

 

Social security laws in force in the countries in which the Company operates provide for pension benefits to be paid to retired employees from government pension plans and/or private fund managed plans to which employees may elect to contribute. As stipulated by the respective laws, Siderar and Ternium Mexico make monthly contributions calculated based on each employee's salary to fund such plans. The related amounts are expensed as incurred. No additional liabilities exist once the contributions are paid.

 

(o)    Provisions and other liabilities

 

Ternium has certain contingencies with respect to existing or potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings. Unless otherwise specified, Ternium accrues a provision for a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, when it is probable that future cost could be incurred and that cost can be reasonably estimated. Generally, accruals are based on developments to date, Ternium's estimates of the outcomes of these matters and the advice of Ternium's legal advisors.

 

(p)    Trade payables

 

Trade payables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

 

(q)    Revenue recognition

 

Revenues are recognized as sales when revenue is earned and is realized or realizable. This includes satisfying all of the following criteria: the arrangement with the customer is evident, usually through the receipt of a purchase order; the sales price is fixed or determinable; delivery as defined by the risk transfer provision of the sales contracts has occurred, and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenues are shown net of value-added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the group.

 

Interest income is recognized on an effective yield basis.

 

Page 30 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(r)    Borrowing Costs

 

The Company capitalizes the borrowing costs incurred to finance construction, acquisition or production of qualifying assets. In the case of specific borrowings, Ternium determines the amount of borrowing costs eligible for capitalization as the actual borrowing costs incurred on that borrowing during the period less any investment income on the temporary investment of those borrowings. For general borrowings, Ternium determines the amount of borrowing costs eligible for capitalization by applying a capitalization rate to the expenditures on that asset. The capitalization rate is the weighted average of the borrowing costs applicable to the borrowings that are outstanding during the period, other than borrowings made specifically for the purpose of obtaining a qualifying asset.

 

The amount of borrowing costs that Ternium capitalizes during a period will not exceed the amount of borrowing costs incurred during that period. At December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the capitalized borrowing costs are not material.

 

(s)    Cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses

 

Cost of sales and expenses are recognized in the income statement on the accrual basis of accounting.

 

Commissions, freight and other selling expenses, including shipping and handling costs, are recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Income Statement.

 

(t)    Stripping costs

 

Stripping costs are the costs associated with the removal of overburden and other waste materials and can be incurred before the mining production commences (“developmental stripping”) or during the production stage (“production stripping”).

 

Development stripping costs that contribute to the future economic benefits of mining operations are capitalized as intangible assets (Mining assets). Production stripping costs which are part of on-going activities are included in the cost of the inventory produced (that is extracted) at each mine during the period in which they are incurred.

 

Capitalization of development stripping costs finishes when the commercial production of the mine commences. At that time, all development stripping costs are presented within Mining assets and depreciated on a unit-of-production basis. It is considered that commercial production begins when the production stage of mining operations begins and continues throughout the life of a mine.

 

(u)  Mining development costs

 

Mining development costs are the costs associated to the activities related to the establishment of access to the mineral reserve and other preparations for commercial production. These activities often continue during production.

Development expenditures are capitalized and classified as Work in progress. On completion of development, all assets included in Work in progress are individually reclassified to the appropriate category of property, plant and equipment and depreciated accordingly. 

Page 31 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(v)  Asset retirement obligations

 

Ternium records asset retirement obligations (“ARO”) initially at the fair value of the legal or constructive obligation in the period in which it is incurred and capitalizes the ARO by increasing the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment. The fair value of the obligation is determined as the discounted value of the expected future cash flows and is included in Provisions. The liability is accreted to its present value through net financing cost and the capitalized cost is depreciated based in the unit of production method.

 

(w)   Earnings per share

 

Earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net income attributable to shareholders by the daily weighted average number of ordinary shares issued during the year. There are no dilutive securities for the periods presented.

 

(x)  Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities

 

Ternium designates certain derivatives as hedges of a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability or a highly probable forecast transaction. These transactions are classified as cash flow hedges (mainly interest rate swaps, collars, currency forward contracts on highly probable forecast transactions and commodities contracts). The effective portion of the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognized in OCI. Amounts accumulated in OCI are recognized in the income statement in the same period as any offsetting losses and gains on the hedged item. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the income statement. The fair value of Ternium derivative financial instruments (asset or liability) continues to be reflected in the statement of financial position.

 

For transactions designated and qualifying for hedge accounting, Ternium documents the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the effective portion of designated cash flow hedges (net of taxes) amounted to USD (0.4) million and USD 1.1 million, respectively, and were included under "changes in the fair value of derivatives classified as cash flow hedges" line item in the statement of comprehensive income (see Note 26 (a)).

 

More information about accounting for derivative financial instruments and hedging activities is included in Note 28 "Financial risk management".

 

 

Page 32 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(y)   Critical Accounting Estimates 

 

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

The principal estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below.

 

(1)  Goodwill impairment test

 

Assessment of the recoverability of the carrying value of goodwill requires significant judgment. Management evaluates goodwill allocated to the operating units for impairment on an annual basis or whenever there is an impairment indicator.

 

Goodwill is tested at the level of the CGUs. Impairment testing of the CGUs is carried out and the value in use determined in accordance with the accounting policy stated in Note 4(f). The discount rates used for these tests are based on Ternium's weighted average cost of capital adjusted for specific country and currency risks associated with the cash flow projections. The discount rate used at December 31, 2014 was 9.44% and no impairment charge resulted from the impairment test performed.

 

(2)  Income taxes

 

Management calculates current and deferred income taxes according to the tax laws applicable to each subsidiary in the countries in which such subsidiaries operate. However, certain adjustments necessary to determine the income tax provision are finalized only after the balance sheet is issued. In cases in which the final tax outcome is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.

 

Also, when assessing the recoverability of tax assets, management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies.

 

 

Page 33 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(3)    Loss contingencies

 

Ternium is subject to various claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business, including customer claims in which a third party is seeking reimbursement or indemnity. The Company's liability with respect to such claims, lawsuits and other legal proceedings cannot be estimated with certainty. Periodically, management reviews the status of each significant matter and assesses potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from the claim or proceeding is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, a liability is recorded. Management estimates the amount of such liability based on the information available and the assumptions and methods it has concluded are appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of IFRS. Accruals for such contingencies reflect a reasonable estimate of the losses to be incurred based on information available, including the relevant litigation or settlement strategy, as of the date of preparation of these financial statements. As additional information becomes available, management will reassess its evaluation of the pending claims, lawsuits and other proceedings and revise its estimates. The loss contingencies provision amounts to USD 9.1 million and USD 14.0 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

(4)  Allowance for obsolescence of supplies and spare parts and slow-moving inventory

 

Management assesses the recoverability of its inventories considering their selling prices or whether they are damaged or have become wholly or partly obsolete.

 

Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the costs of completion and selling expenses.

 

The Company establishes an allowance for obsolete or slow-moving inventory in connection with finished goods and goods in process. The allowance for slow-moving inventory is recognized for finished goods and goods in process based on management's analysis of their aging. In connection with supplies and spare parts, the calculation is based on management's analysis of their aging, the capacity of such materials to be used based on their levels of preservation and maintenance, and their potential obsolescence due to technological change.

 

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded no allowance for net realizable value and USD 48.0 million and USD 47.8 million, respectively, as allowance for obsolescence.

 

(5)    Useful Lives and Impairment of Property, Plant and Equipment and Other Long-lived Assets

 

In determining useful lives, management considered, among others, the following factors: age, operating condition and level of usage and maintenance. Management conducted visual inspections for the purpose of (i) determining whether the current conditions of such assets are consistent with normal conditions of assets of similar age; (ii) confirming that the operating conditions and levels of usage of such assets are adequate and consistent with their design; (iii) establishing obsolescence levels and (iv) estimating life expectancy, all of which were used in determining useful lives. Management believes, however, that it is possible that the periods of economic utilization of property, plant and equipment may be different than the useful lives so determined. Furthermore, management believes that this accounting policy involves a critical accounting estimate because it is subject to change from period to period as a result of variations in economic conditions and business performance.

 

 

Page 34 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

When assessing whether an impairment indicator may exist, the Company evaluates both internal and external sources of information, such as the following:

 

·   whether significant changes with an adverse effect on the entity have taken place during the period, or will take place in the near future, in the technological, market, economic or legal environment in which the entity operates or in the market to which an asset is dedicated;

·   whether market interest rates or other market rates of return on investments have increased during the period, and those increases are likely to affect the discount rate used in calculating an asset's value in use and decrease the asset's recoverable amount materially;

·   whether the carrying amount of the net assets of the entity is more than its market capitalization;

·   whether evidence is available of obsolescence or physical damage of an asset.

·   whether significant changes with an adverse effect on the entity have taken place during the period, or are expected to take place in the near future, in the extent to which, or manner in which, an asset is used or is expected to be used. These changes include the asset becoming idle, plans to discontinue or restructure the operation to which an asset belongs, plans to dispose of an asset before the previously expected date, and reassessing the useful life of an asset as finite rather than indefinite; and

·   whether evidence is available from internal reporting that indicates that the economic performance of an asset is, or will be, worse than expected.

 

None of the Company's CGUs were tested for impairment, other than for the investment in Usiminas and goodwill test (see note 4 (y) (1)), in 2014 and 2013, as no impairment indicators were identified. Furthermore, based on information currently available, management believes that the recognition of a future impairment charge is not reasonably possible. For the impairment in connection with the investment in Usiminas in 2014 and 2012, see note 3.

 

(6)    Allowances for doubtful accounts

 

Management makes estimates of the uncollectibility of our accounts receivable. Management analyses the trade accounts receivable on a regular basis and, when aware of a third party´s inability to meet its financial commitments to the Company, managements impairs the amount due by means of a charge to the allowance for doubtful accounts. Management specifically analyses accounts receivable and historical bad debts, customer creditworthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

Allowances for doubtful accounts are adjusted periodically in accordance with the aging of overdue accounts. For this purpose, trade accounts receivable overdue by more than 90 days, and which are not covered by a credit collateral, guarantee or similar surety, are fully provisioned. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, allowance for doubtful accounts totals USD 11.4 million and USD 12.8 million, respectively.

 

 

  

Page 35 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

(7)  Mining reserve estimates

 

Reserves are estimates of the amount of product that can be economically and legally extracted from the Company’s mining concessions. In order to estimate reserves, a range of geological, technical and economic factors is required to be considered. Estimating the quantity and/or grade of reserves requires complex and difficult geological judgments to interpret the data. Because the economic assumptions used to estimate reserves change from period to period, and because additional geological data is generated during the course of operations, estimates of reserves may change from period to period.

 

Changes in reported reserves may affect the Company’s financial results and financial position, including the following:

• Asset carrying amounts may be affected due to changes in estimated future cash flows.

• Depreciation and amortization charges may change where such charges are determined by the units of production basis, or where the useful economic lives of assets change.

• Stripping costs recognized in Mining assets or charged to results may change due to changes in stripping ratios or the units of production basis of depreciation.

• Asset retirement obligations may change where changes in estimated reserves affect expectations about the timing or cost of these activities.

 

 

Page 36 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

5.      SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

REPORTABLE OPERATING SEGMENTS

 

The Company is organized in two reportable segments: Steel and Mining.

 

The Steel segment includes the sales of steel products, which comprises slabs, hot rolled coils and sheets, cold rolled coils and sheets, tin plate, welded pipes, hot dipped galvanized and electro-galvanized sheets, pre-painted sheets, billets (steel in its basic, semi-finished state), wire rod and bars and other tailor-made products to serve its customers’ requirements.

 

The Steel segment comprises three operating segments: Mexico, Southern Region and Other markets. These three segments have been aggregated considering the economic characteristics and financial effects of each business activity in which the entity engages; the related economic environment in which it operates; the type or class of customer for the products; the nature of the products; and the production processes. The Mexico operating segment comprises the Company’s businesses in Mexico. The Southern region operating segment manages the businesses in Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia and Uruguay. The Other markets operating segment includes businesses mainly in United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panamá and Honduras.

 

The Mining segment includes the sales of mining products, mainly iron ore and pellets, and comprises the mining activities of Las Encinas, an iron ore mining company in which Ternium holds a 100% equity interest and the 50% of the operations and results performed by Peña Colorada, another iron ore mining company in which Ternium maintains that same percentage over its equity interest. Both mining operations are located in Mexico. In the comparative information as of December 31, 2012, the 50% of the operations and results performed by Peña Colorada are only included under management view.  Until December 31, 2012, Ternium’s investment in Consorcio Minero Benito Juarez Peña Colorada S.A. de C.V. and Peña Colorada Servicios S.A. de C.V. was presented as an investment in non-consolidated companies and its results under the equity in earnings (losses) in non-consolidated companies within the consolidated income statement. Starting on January 1, 2013, and in connection with certain new agreements, the Company began to recognize its assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses in relation to its interest in the joint operation.

 

Ternium’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (CEO) holds monthly meetings with senior management, in which operating and financial performance information is reviewed, including financial information that differs from IFRS principally as follows:

 

- The use of direct cost methodology to calculate the inventories, while under IFRS is at full cost, including absorption of production overheads and depreciation.

 

- The use of costs based on previously internally defined cost estimates, while, under IFRS, costs are calculated at historical cost (with the FIFO method).

 

- Under IFRS, the results of Peña Colorada are aggregated in equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies until December 31, 2012. Starting on January 1, 2013, these results are included considering 50% of the operations on a line by line basis. In the comparative information as of December 31, 2012, the 50% of the operations and results performed by Peña Colorada are only included under management view.

 

- Other timing and non-significant differences.

 

Most information on segment assets is not disclosed as it is not reviewed by the CODM.

Page 37 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

5.      SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

   

Year ended December 31, 2014

   

Steel

 

Mining

 

Inter-segment eliminations

 

Total

IFRS

               
                 

Net sales

 

8,700,521

 

313,157

 

(287,621)

 

8,726,057

Cost of sales

 

(6,960,009)

 

(255,216)

 

290,056

 

(6,925,169)

                 

Gross profit

 

1,740,512

 

57,941

 

2,435

 

1,800,888

                 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(799,844)

 

(16,634)

 

-

 

(816,478)

Other operating income, net

 

70,725

 

1,026

 

-

 

71,751

                 

Operating income - IFRS

 

1,011,393

 

42,333

 

2,435

 

1,056,161

                 

Management view

               

Net sales

 

8,700,521

 

333,718

 

(308,182)

 

8,726,057

Operating income

 

830,312

 

65,671

 

(1,504)

 

894,479

Reconciliation items:

               

Differences in Cost of sales

             

161,682

                 

Operating income - IFRS

             

1,056,161

                 

Financial income (expense), net

             

(69,450)

Equity in (losses) earnings of non-consolidated companies

             

(34,218)

                 

Income before income tax expense - IFRS

             

952,493

                 

Depreciation and amortization - IFRS

 

(369,197)

 

(45,600)

 

-

 

(414,797)

                 
                 
   

Year ended December 31, 2013

   

Steel

 

Mining

 

Inter-segment eliminations

 

Total

IFRS

               
                 

Net sales

 

8,459,943

 

386,466

 

(316,397)

 

8,530,012

Cost of sales

 

(6,645,180)

 

(268,307)

 

313,195

 

(6,600,292)

                 

Gross profit

 

1,814,763

 

118,159

 

(3,202)

 

1,929,720

                 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(820,338)

 

(22,973)

 

-

 

(843,311)

Other operating income, net

 

23,070

 

(56)

 

-

 

23,014

                 

Operating income - IFRS

 

1,017,495

 

95,130

 

(3,202)

 

1,109,423

                 

Management view

               

Net sales

 

8,459,943

 

505,603

 

(435,534)

 

8,530,012

Operating income

 

777,505

 

219,610

 

(3,202)

 

993,913

Reconciliation items:

               

Differences in Cost of sales

             

115,510

                 

Operating income - IFRS

             

1,109,423

                 

Financial income (expense), net

             

(135,475)

Equity in (losses) earnings of non-consolidated companies

             

(31,609)

                 

Income before income tax expense - IFRS

             

942,339

                 

Depreciation and amortization - IFRS

 

(344,415)

 

(32,718)

 

-

 

(377,133)

 

Page 38 of 73


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

5.      SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)                                                                                                                   

 

   

Year ended December 31, 2012

   

Steel

 

Mining

 

Inter-segment eliminations

 

Total

IFRS

               
                 

Net sales

 

8,601,134

 

190,698

 

(183,778)

 

8,608,054

Cost of sales

 

(6,909,538)

 

(132,766)

 

175,925

 

(6,866,379)

                 

Gross profit

 

1,691,596

 

57,932

 

(7,853)

 

1,741,675

                 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(804,690)

 

(4,491)

 

-

 

(809,181)

Other operating income, net

 

(12,261)

 

380

 

-

 

(11,881)

                 

Operating income - IFRS

 

874,645

 

53,821

 

(7,853)

 

920,613

                 

Management view

               

Net sales

 

8,601,134

 

498,171

 

(491,251)

 

8,608,054

Operating income

 

803,487

 

265,802

 

(7,853)

 

1,061,436

Reconciliation items:

               

Differences in Cost of sales

             

(120,118)

Differences related to Peña Colorada (Line by line vs. Equity method)

             

(20,704)

                 

Operating income - IFRS

             

920,613

                 

Financial income (expense), net

             

(121,632)

Equity in (losses) earnings of non-consolidated companies

             

(346,833)

                 

Income before income tax expense - IFRS

             

452,148

                 

Depreciation and amortization - IFRS

 

(355,247)

 

(15,608)

 

-

 

(370,855)

 

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

 

There are no revenues from external customers attributable to the Company’s country of incorporation (Luxembourg).

 

For purposes of reporting geographical information, net sales are allocated based on the customer’s location. Allocation of depreciation and amortization is based on the geographical location of the underlying assets.

 

   

Year ended December 31, 2014

   

Mexico

 

Southern region

 

Other markets

 

Total

                 

Net sales

 

4,911,989

 

2,648,512

 

1,165,556

 

8,726,057

                 

Non-current assets (1)

 

4,248,087

 

916,447

 

265,379

 

5,429,913

                 
   

Year ended December 31, 2013

   

Mexico

 

Southern region

 

Other markets

 

Total

                 

Net sales

 

4,260,676

 

2,952,372

 

1,316,964

 

8,530,012

                 

Non-current assets (1)

 

4,314,223

 

1,078,966

 

277,210

 

5,670,399

                 
   

Year ended December 31, 2012

   

Mexico

 

Southern region

 

Other markets

 

Total

                 

Net sales

 

4,475,139

 

2,746,585

 

1,386,330

 

8,608,054

                 

Non-current assets (1)

 

3,902,868

 

1,220,886

 

279,570

 

5,403,324

                 

(1) Includes Property, plant and equipment and Intangible assets

           

 

Page 39 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

5.      SEGMENT INFORMATION (continued)

 

REVENUES BY PRODUCT

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Semi-finished (1)

 

209,061

 

202,826

 

192,335

Hot rolled (2)

 

3,581,566

 

3,416,674

 

3,617,300

Cold rolled

 

1,297,969

 

1,314,392

 

1,342,036

Coated (3)

 

3,061,580

 

2,906,477

 

2,808,765

Roll-formed and tubular (4)

 

514,586

 

585,627

 

611,551

Steel products

 

8,664,762

 

8,425,996

 

8,571,987

             

Other products (5)

 

61,295

 

104,016

 

36,067

             

TOTAL SALES

 

8,726,057

 

8,530,012

 

8,608,054


(1)      Semi-finished includes slabs, billets and round bars.

(2)      Hot rolled includes hot rolled flat products, merchant bars, reinforcing bars, stirrups and rods.

(3)      Coated includes tin plate and galvanized products.

(4)      Roll-formed and tubular includes tubes, beams, insulated panels, roofing and cladding, roof tiles and steel decks.

(5)      Other products include pre-engineered metal building systems and pig iron.

 

6.      COST OF SALES

   

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             
             

Inventories at the beginning of the year

 

1,941,130

 

2,000,137

 

2,123,516

Opening inventories - Peña Colorada

 

-

 

18,006

 

-

Translation differences

 

(161,983)

 

(186,609)

 

(103,129)

             

Plus: Charges for the year

           

Raw materials and consumables used and
other movements

 

5,718,736

 

5,242,806

 

5,474,845

Services and fees

 

95,940

 

93,366

 

114,612

Labor cost

 

601,258

 

608,151

 

552,009

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

 

330,866

 

310,257

 

306,584

Amortization of intangible assets

 

34,988

 

15,851

 

10,851

Maintenance expenses

 

484,929

 

440,328

 

387,672

Office expenses

 

7,238

 

7,034

 

7,360

Insurance

 

12,310

 

14,848

 

7,743

Charge of obsolescence allowance

 

15,924

 

1,245

 

12,289

Recovery from sales of scrap and by-products

 

(39,846)

 

(42,556)

 

(44,085)

Others

 

17,713

 

18,558

 

16,249

             

Less: Inventories at the end of the year

 

(2,134,034)

 

(1,941,130)

 

(2,000,137)

             

Cost of Sales

 

6,925,169

 

6,600,292

 

6,866,379

 

 

Page 40 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

7.      SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Services and fees (1)

 

75,057

 

76,450

 

97,443

Labor cost

 

232,837

 

234,519

 

212,820

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

 

10,957

 

13,839

 

8,788

Amortization of intangible assets

 

37,986

 

37,186

 

44,632

Maintenance and expenses

 

5,785

 

7,443

 

6,904

Taxes

 

133,383

 

143,834

 

113,898

Office expenses

 

39,831

 

41,254

 

44,988

Freight and transportation

 

263,682

 

271,364

 

263,083

Increase (Decrease) of allowance for doubtful accounts

 

1,287

 

(202)

 

855

Others

 

15,673

 

17,624

 

15,770

             

Selling, general and administrative expenses  

 

816,478

 

843,311

 

809,181


(1)
 For the year ended December 31, 2014, it includes fees accrued for professional services rendered by PwC to Ternium S.A. and its subsidiaries that amounted to USD 3,928, including USD 3,450 for audit services, USD 74 for audit-related services, USD 204 for tax services and USD 199 for all other services.

For the year ended December 31, 2013, it includes fees accrued for professional services rendered by PwC to Ternium S.A. and its subsidiaries that amounted to USD 4,288, including USD 3,821 for audit services, USD 391 for audit-related services, USD 39 for tax services and USD 37 for all other services.

For the year ended December 31, 2012, it includes fees accrued for professional services rendered by PwC to Ternium S.A. and its subsidiaries that amounted to USD 4,228, including USD 3,569 for audit services, USD 296 for audit-related services, USD 159 for tax services and USD 204 for all other services.

 

8.      LABOR COSTS (Included Cost of sales and Selling, General and Administrative expenses)

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Wages, salaries and social security costs

 

778,932

 

790,378

 

699,899

Termination benefits

 

25,348

 

19,680

 

37,176

Post-employment benefits (Note 21 (i))

 

29,815

 

32,612

 

27,754

             

 Labor costs

 

834,095

 

842,670

 

764,829


As of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, the quantity of employees was 16,919, 16,788 and 16,611, respectively.

 

9.      OTHER OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES), NET

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Results of sundry assets

 

4,111

 

1,987

 

3,916

Collection of insurance (1)

 

57,500

 

11,700

 

-

Other operating income

 

10,232

 

16,657

 

-

             

Other operating income

 

71,843

 

30,344

 

3,916

             

Provision for legal claims and other matters (Note 19 and 24 (ii))

 

(92)

 

(7,330)

 

(5,754)

Other operating expense

 

-

 

-

 

(10,043)

             

Other operating expense

 

(92)

 

(7,330)

 

(15,797)

             

Other operating (expenses) income, net

 

71,751

 

23,014

 

(11,881)


(1)
Includes an insurance collection of USD 57,500 and USD 11,700 in Argentina in the years 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Page 41 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

10.    OTHER FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES), NET

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Interest expense

 

(114,472)

 

(121,016)

 

(144,488)

Debt issue costs

 

(3,394)

 

(11,097)

 

(5,814)

             

Finance expense

 

(117,866)

 

(132,113)

 

(150,302)

             

Interest income

 

7,685

 

9,517

 

17,047

Change in fair value of financial assets

 

(1,970)

 

(11,875)

 

(5,647)

             

Finance income

 

5,715

 

(2,358)

 

11,400

             

Net foreign exchange gain

 

26,664

 

259

 

7,145

Derivative contract results

 

19,748

 

(400)

 

16,688

Others

 

(3,711)

 

(863)

 

(6,563)

             

Other financial income (expenses), net

 

42,701

 

(1,004)

 

17,270

 

 

11.    INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

Income tax expense for each of the years presented is as follows:

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Current tax

 

(336,176)

 

(370,349)

 

(298,082)

             

Deferred tax (Note 20)

 

         

Deferred tax

 

(22,240)

 

78,474

 

40,401

Effect of changes in tax law on deferred income tax (1)

 

(12,702)

 

(33,826)

 

(5,769)

Withholding tax on dividend distributions (2)

 

(10,474)

 

(24,046)

 

-

Recovery of income tax (3)

 

17,884

 

321

 

2,224

             

Income tax expense

 

(363,708)

 

(349,426)

 

(261,227)

 

(1) For 2014, it includes mainly the effects of the Colombian tax rate reform which introduced an increase from 34% to 39% in 2015, 40% in 2016, 42% in 2017 and 43% in 2018 and of the Mexican mining tax. For the year 2013, it includes the effects of the 2013 Mexican tax reform package, which mainly maintained the current 30% corporate income tax rate, eliminating the scheduled reduction to 29% in 2014 and to 28% in 2015 and repealed the existing tax consolidation regime.

(2) It includes the 10% withholding tax on dividend distributions made by Argentine companies to foreign beneficiaries since 2013.

(3) The amounts recorded in 2014, 2013 and 2012 corresponded to the capitalization of tax losses carried forward generated and not recognized in previous years.

Page 42 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

11.    INCOME TAX EXPENSE (continued)

 

Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 differed from the amount computed by applying the statutory income tax rate in force in each country in which the company operates to pre-tax income as a result of the following:

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

Income before income tax

 

952,493

 

942,339

 

452,148

       

-

 

-

Income tax expense at statutory tax rate

 

(282,777)

 

(302,741)

 

(205,408)

Non taxable income

 

2,073

 

14,799

 

1,012

Non deductible expenses

 

(21,787)

 

(1,940)

 

(58,892)

Effect of currency translation on tax base (1)

 

(55,925)

 

(1,993)

 

5,607

Withholding tax on dividend distributions

 

(10,474)

 

(24,046)

 

-

Recovery of income tax

 

17,884

 

321

 

2,224

Effect of changes in tax law

 

(12,702)

 

(33,826)

 

(5,769)

             

Income tax expense

 

(363,708)

 

(349,426)

 

(261,227)

 

(1)  Ternium applies the liability method to recognize deferred income tax on temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. By application of this method, Ternium recognizes gains and losses on deferred income tax due to the effect of the change in the value on the tax basis in subsidiaries, which have a functional currency different to their local currency.

Tax rates used to perform the reconciliation between tax expense (income) and accounting profit are those in effect at each relevant date or period in each applicable jurisdiction.

Page 43 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

12.    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

   

Year ended December 31, 2014

   

Land

 

Buildings
and
improvements

 

Production equipment

 

Vehicles, furniture and fixtures

 

Work in progress

 

Spare parts

 

Total

Cost

                           

Values at the beginning of the year

 

503,267

 

1,839,727

 

4,083,016

 

125,559

 

741,554

 

61,435

 

7,354,558

                             

Translation differences

 

(3,036)

 

(246,741)

 

(263,228)

 

(18,871)

 

(70,393)

 

(5,753)

 

(608,022)

Additions

 

6,202

 

5,134

 

4,461

 

3,256

 

331,281

 

35,035

 

385,369

Disposals / Consumptions

 

-

 

-

 

(12,452)

 

(4,015)

 

(541)

 

(13,215)

 

(30,223)

Transfers

 

21,034

 

119,712

 

494,430

 

7,694

 

(649,276)

 

8,309

 

1,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Values at the end of the year

 

527,467

 

1,717,832

 

4,306,227

 

113,623

 

352,625

 

85,811

 

7,103,585

                             

Depreciation

                           

Accumulated at the beginning of the year

 

-

 

(610,740)

 

(1,931,231)

 

(98,887)

 

-

 

(4,805)

 

(2,645,663)

                             

Translation differences

 

-

 

118,714

 

213,284

 

16,854

 

-

 

775

 

349,627

Depreciation charge

 

-

 

(83,321)

 

(246,485)

 

(7,133)

 

-

 

(4,884)

 

(341,823)

Disposals / Consumptions

 

-

 

-

 

11,964

 

2,915

 

-

 

422

 

15,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated at the end of the year

 

-

 

(575,347)

 

(1,952,468)

 

(86,251)

 

-

 

(8,492)

 

(2,622,558)

                             

At December 31, 2014

 

527,467

 

1,142,485

 

2,353,759

 

27,372

 

352,625

 

77,319

 

4,481,027

                             
   

Year ended December 31, 2013

   

Land

 

Buildings and improvements

 

Production equipment

 

Vehicles, furniture and fixtures

 

Work in progress

 

Spare parts

 

Total

Cost

                           

Values at the beginning of the year

 

498,757

 

1,768,194

 

3,754,450

 

142,628

 

1,021,352

 

52,633

 

7,238,014

                             

Translation differences

 

(4,056)

 

(313,836)

 

(341,357)

 

(25,169)

 

(96,771)

 

(9,573)

 

(790,762)

Interest in joint operation

 

-

 

-

 

79,002

 

909

 

3,233

 

37

 

83,181

Additions

 

7,983

 

20,235

 

3,102

 

3,002

 

793,582

 

29,908

 

857,812

Disposals / Consumptions

 

-

 

(2,235)

 

(12,554)

 

(3,975)

 

(544)

 

(5,425)

 

(24,733)

Transfers

 

583

 

367,369

 

600,373

 

8,164

 

(979,298)

 

(6,145)

 

(8,954)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Values at the end of the year

 

503,267

 

1,839,727

 

4,083,016

 

125,559

 

741,554

 

61,435

 

7,354,558

                             

Depreciation

                           

Accumulated at the beginning of the year

 

-

 

(673,934)

 

(2,005,899)

 

(116,999)

 

-

 

(3,065)

 

(2,799,897)

                             

Translation differences

 

-

 

151,850

 

286,744

 

22,786

 

-

 

885

 

462,265

Depreciation charge

 

-

 

(90,855)

 

(223,328)

 

(7,091)

 

-

 

(2,822)

 

(324,096)

Disposals / Consumptions

 

-

 

1,759

 

7,822

 

2,216

 

-

 

197

 

11,994

Transfers

 

-

 

440

 

3,430

 

201

 

-

 

-

 

4,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated at the end of the year

 

-

 

(610,740)

 

(1,931,231)

 

(98,887)

 

-

 

(4,805)

 

(2,645,663)

                             

At December 31, 2013

 

503,267

 

1,228,987

 

2,151,785

 

26,672

 

741,554

 

56,630

 

4,708,895

 

Page 44 of 73


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

13.    INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

   

Year ended December 31, 2014

   

Information system projects

 

Mining assets

 

Exploration and evaluation costs

 

Customer relationships and other contractual rights

 

Trademarks

 

Goodwill

 

Total

Cost

                           

Values at the beginning of the year

 

186,681

 

122,361

 

34,767

 

288,475

 

73,665

 

662,307

 

1,368,256

                             

Translation differences

 

(12,097)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(12,097)

Additions

 

28,973

 

2,341

 

21,628

 

10,000

 

-

 

-

 

62,942

Transfers

 

-

 

17,956

 

(17,956)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Values at the end of the year

 

203,557

 

142,658

 

38,439

 

298,475

 

73,665

 

662,307

 

1,419,101

                             

Depreciation

                           

Accumulated at the beginning of the year

 

(88,258)

 

(68,432)

 

-

 

(184,465)

 

(65,597)

 

-

 

(406,752)

                             

Translation differences

 

9,511

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

9,511

Depreciation charge

 

(30,463)

 

(9,241)

 

-

 

(29,045)

 

(4,225)

 

-

 

(72,974)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated at the end of the year

 

(109,210)

 

(77,673)

 

-

 

(213,510)

 

(69,822)

 

-

 

(470,215)

                             

At December 31, 2014

 

94,347

 

64,985

 

38,439

 

84,965

 

3,843

 

662,307

 

948,886

                             
                             
   

Year ended December 31, 2013

   

Information system projects

 

Mining assets

 

Exploration and evaluation costs

 

Customer relationships and other contractual rights

 

Trademarks

 

Goodwill

 

Total

Cost

                           

Values at the beginning of the year

 

165,515

 

111,321

 

26,658

 

290,172

 

73,665

 

663,807

 

1,331,138

                             

Translation differences

 

(15,518)

 

-

 

-

 

(142)

 

-

 

-

 

(15,660)

Interest in joint operation

 

124

 

8,533

 

1,755

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

10,412

Additions

 

37,574

 

-

 

8,861

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

46,435

Disposals / Consumptions

 

(1,014)

 

-

 

-

 

(1,555)

 

-

 

(1,500)

 

(4,069)

Transfers

 

-

 

2,507

 

(2,507)

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Values at the end of the year

 

186,681

 

122,361

 

34,767

 

288,475

 

73,665

 

662,307

 

1,368,256

                             

Depreciation

                           

Accumulated at the beginning of the year

 

(85,985)

 

(59,732)

 

-

 

(156,305)

 

(63,910)

 

-

 

(365,932)

                             

Translation differences

 

12,217

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

12,217

Depreciation charge

 

(14,490)

 

(8,700)

 

-

 

(28,160)

 

(1,687)

 

-

 

(53,037)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated at the end of the year

 

(88,258)

 

(68,432)

 

-

 

(184,465)

 

(65,597)

 

-

 

(406,752)

                             

At December 31, 2013

 

98,423

 

53,929

 

34,767

 

104,010

 

8,068

 

662,307

 

961,504

 

Page 45 of 73


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

14.    INVESTMENTS IN NON-CONSOLIDATED COMPANIES

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

At the beginning of the year

 

1,375,165

 

1,710,722

         

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies

 

(26,697)

 

(31,609)

Other comprehensive income

 

(194,571)

 

(188,588)

Dividends from non-consolidated companies

 

(1,858)

 

(207)

Transfers of joint operations

 

-

 

(115,153)

Acquisitions (note 3)

 

252,042

 

-

Gain from bargain purchase (note 3)

 

188,888

 

-

Impairment charge (note 3)

 

(196,409)

 

-

         

At the end of the year

 

1,396,560

 

1,375,165

 

 

The principal investments in non-consolidated companies, all of which are unlisted, except for Usiminas, are:

 

Company

 

Country of incorporation

 

Main activity

 

Voting rights at

 

Value at

                   
     

December
31, 2014

 

December
31, 2013

 

December
31, 2014

 

December
31, 2013

                         

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. - USIMINAS

 

Brazil

 

Manufacturing and selling of steel products

 

32.88%

 

22.71%

 

1,390,717

 

1,369,820

Techgen S.A. de C.V.

 

Mexico

 

Provision of electric power

 

48.00%

 

-

 

1,119

 

-

Other non-consolidated companies (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,724

 

5,345

                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,396,560

 

1,375,165


(1)
 It includes the investment held in Finma S.A.I.F., Arhsa S.A., Techinst S.A., Recrotek  S.R.L. de C.V. and Gas Industrial de Monterrey S.A. de C.V.

 

 

Page 46 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

14.    INVESTMENTS IN NON-CONSOLIDATED COMPANIES (continued)

 

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. – USIMINAS

 

Usiminas is a Brazilian producer of high quality flat steel products used in the energy, automotive and other industries.

 

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the value of the investment in Usiminas is comprised as follows:

 

   

USIMINAS

Value of investment

 

As of December 31, 2014

 

As of December 31, 2013

         

At the beginning of the year

 

1,369,820

 

1,592,340

Share of results (1)

 

(25,135)

 

(35,267)

Other comprehensive income

 

(193,621)

 

(187,253)

Dividends

 

(1,858)

 

-

Acquisitions (note 3)

 

249,032

 

-

Gain from bargain purchase (note 3)

 

188,888

 

-

Impairment charge (note 3)

 

(196,409)

 

-

         

At the end of the year

 

1,390,717

 

1,369,820


(1)
It includes the depreciation of the values associated to the purchase price allocation.

 

On February 17,  2015,  Usiminas approved its annual accounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014, which state that revenues, post-tax gains from continuing operations and shareholders’ equity amounted to USD 5,017 million, USD 63 million and USD 6,293 million, respectively.

   

USIMINAS

Summarized balance sheet (in million USD)

 

As of December 31, 2014

 

As of December 31, 2013

         

Assets

 

 

 

 

Non-current

 

8,372

 

9,348

Current

 

3,104

 

4,038

         

Total Assets

 

11,476

 

13,386

         

Liabilities

       

Non-current

 

2,618

 

3,174

Current

 

1,796

 

2,172

         

Total Liabilities

 

4,414

 

5,346

         

Minority interest

 

769

 

906

         

Shareholders' equity

 

6,293

 

7,134

         
         
   

USIMINAS

Summarized income statement (in million USD)

 

As of December 31, 2014

 

As of December 31, 2013

         

Net sales

 

5,017

 

5,971

Cost of sales

 

(4,569)

 

(5,294)

Gross Profit

 

448

 

677

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(337)

 

(422)

Other operating income (loss), net

 

118

 

(22)

Operating income

 

229

 

233

Financial expenses, net

 

(220)

 

(420)

Equity in earnings of associated companies

 

79

 

84

Profit (Loss) before income tax

 

88

 

(103)

Income tax benefit

 

8

 

101

Net profit (loss) before minority interest

 

96

 

(2)

Minority interest in other subsidiaries

 

(33)

 

(73)

Net profit (loss) for the year

 

63

 

(75)

 

Page 47 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

14.    INVESTMENTS IN NON-CONSOLIDATED COMPANIES (continued)

 

Techgen S.A. de C.V.

 

Techgen is a Mexican project company currently undertaking the construction and operation of a natural gas-fired combined cycle electric power plant in the Pesquería area of the State of Nuevo León, Mexico. As of February 2014, Ternium, Tenaris,  and Tecpetrol International S.A. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of San Faustin S.A., the controlling shareholder of both Ternium and Tenaris) completed their initial investments in Techgen. Techgen is currently owned 48% by Ternium, 30% by Tecpetrol and 22% by Tenaris.  Ternium and Tenaris also agreed to enter into power supply and transportation agreements with Techgen, pursuant to which Ternium and Tenaris will contract 78% and 22%, respectively, of Techgen’s power capacity of between 850 and 900 megawatts. During 2014, each of Techgen’s shareholders made additional investments in Techgen, primarily in the form of subordinated loans; however, as of December 31, 2014, all such shareholder loans have been fully repaid with the proceeds of an up to USD 800 million syndicated loan facility.   

 

For commitments from Ternium in connection with Techgen, see note 24.

 

15.    RECEIVABLES, NET – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Receivables with related parties (Note 25)

 

-

 

43

Employee advances and loans

 

5,804

 

6,288

Advances to suppliers for the purchase of property, plant and equipment

 

17,218

 

22,250

Advances to suppliers for the purchase of property, plant and equipment with related parties (Note 25)

 

467

 

330

Tax credits

 

21,644

 

46,828

Others

 

2,349

 

3,668

         

Receivables, net – Non-current

 

47,482

 

79,407

         
   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Value added tax

 

9,300

 

19,459

Tax credits

 

51,120

 

45,963

Employee advances and loans

 

8,282

 

8,196

Advances to suppliers

 

6,830

 

6,784

Advances to suppliers with related parties (Note 25)

 

37

 

10

Expenses paid in advance

 

10,864

 

6,068

Government tax refunds on exports

 

6,631

 

4,530

Receivables with related parties (Note 25)

 

5,441

 

5,581

Others

 

13,724

 

15,797

         

Receivables, net – Current

 

112,229

 

112,388

 

Page 48 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

16.    TRADE RECEIVABLES, NET – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Trade receivables

 

91

 

1,754

         

Trade receivables, net – Non-current

 

91

 

1,754

         
   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Current accounts

 

710,173

 

659,871

Trade receivables with related parties (Note 25)

 

21,413

 

24,385

Allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 19)

 

(11,372)

 

(12,803)

         

Trade receivables, net  - Current

 

720,214

 

671,453

 

   

Trade receivables, net as of December 31, 2014

   

Total

 

Fully performing

 

Past due

             

Guaranteed

 

442,100

 

413,518

 

28,582

Not guaranteed

 

289,577

 

242,859

 

46,718

             

Trade receivables

 

731,677

 

656,377

 

75,300

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 19)

 

(11,372)

 

-

 

(11,372)

             

Trade receivables, net

 

720,305

 

656,377

 

63,928

 

   

Trade receivables, net as of December 31, 2013

   

Total

 

Fully performing

 

Past due

             

Guaranteed

 

534,400

 

497,261

 

37,139

Not guaranteed

 

151,610

 

101,849

 

49,761

             

Trade receivables

 

686,010

 

599,110

 

86,900

             

Allowance for doubtful accounts (Note 19)

 

(12,803)

 

-

 

(12,803)

             

Trade receivables, net

 

673,207

 

599,110

 

74,097

 

17.    INVENTORIES, NET

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Raw materials, materials and spare parts

 

539,611

 

560,720

Goods in process

 

1,119,123

 

934,909

Finished goods

 

374,981

 

330,098

Goods in transit

 

148,337

 

163,228

Obsolescence allowance (Note 19)

 

(48,018)

 

(47,825)

         

Inventories, net 

 

2,134,034

 

1,941,130

 

Page 49 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

18.    CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

(i) Other investments

 

 

 

 

Deposits with maturity of more than three months

 

149,995

 

169,503

         

Other investments

 

149,995

 

169,503

(ii) Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

Cash and banks

 

75,354

 

102,465

Restricted cash

 

93

 

869

Deposits with maturity of less than three months

 

137,856

 

203,884

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

213,303

 

307,218

 

 

19.    ALLOWANCES AND PROVISIONS – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT

Provisions and allowances - Non current

 

Deducted from assets

 

Liabilities

 

Liabilities

   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

Legal claims and other matters

 

Asset retirement obligation

             

Year ended December 31, 2014

 

 

 

     
             

Values at the beginning of the year

 

-

 

13,984

 

19,853

Translation differences

 

-

 

(3,126)

 

(2,643)

Additions

 

-

 

2,269

 

4,534

Reversals

 

-

 

(2,177)

 

-

Uses

 

-

 

(1,883)

 

-

             

At December 31, 2014

 

-

 

9,067

 

21,744

             

Year ended December 31, 2013

 

 

 

     
             

Values at the beginning of the year

 

-

 

17,498

 

-

Translation differences

 

-

 

(3,753)

 

-

Additions

 

-

 

11,518

 

19,853

Reversals

 

-

 

(4,188)

 

-

Uses

 

-

 

(7,091)

 

-

             

At December 31, 2013

 

-

 

13,984

 

19,853

 

Page 50 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

19.    ALLOWANCES AND PROVISIONS – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT (continued)

 

Provisions and allowances - Current

 

Deducted from assets

 

Liabilities

   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

 

Obsolescence allowance

 

Asset retirement obligation

             

Year ended December 31, 2014

 

 

 

     
             

Values at the beginning of the year

 

12,803

 

47,825

 

-

Translation differences

 

(1,245)

 

(1,792)

 

(73)

Additions

 

2,879

 

28,116

 

2,154

Reversals

 

(1,592)

 

(12,192)

 

-

Uses

 

(1,473)

 

(13,939)

 

-

             

At December 31, 2014

 

11,372

 

48,018

 

2,081

             

Year ended December 31, 2013

 

 

 

     
             

Values at the beginning of the year

 

15,304

 

66,102

 

-

Translation differences

 

(756)

 

(2,856)

 

-

Interest in joint operation

 

-

 

679

 

-

Additions

 

1,678

 

21,396

 

-

Reversals

 

(1,880)

 

(20,151)

 

-

Uses

 

(1,543)

 

(17,345)

 

-

             

At December 31, 2013

 

12,803

 

47,825

 

-

 

 

20.    DEFERRED INCOME TAX

 

Deferred income taxes are calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using the tax rate of the applicable country.

 

Changes in deferred income tax are as follows:

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

At the beginning of the year

 

(580,981)

 

(644,670)

         

Interest in joint operation

 

-

 

(8,116)

Translation differences

 

20,309

 

49,199

Effect of changes in tax law (note 11)

 

(12,702)

 

(33,826)

Withholding tax on dividend distributions

 

(10,474)

 

(24,046)

Charges directly to other comprehensive income

 

8,704

 

1,683

Deferred tax credit (charge)

 

(4,356)

 

78,795

         

At the end of the year

 

(579,500)

 

(580,981)

 

Page 51 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

20.    DEFERRED INCOME TAX (continued)

 

The changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities (prior to offsetting the balances within the same tax jurisdiction) during the year are as follows:

Deferred tax liabilities

 

PP&E

 

Inventories

 

Intangible assets

 

Other

 

Total at
December 31, 2014

                     

At the beginning of the year

 

(516,811)

 

(52,680)

 

(44,136)

 

(135,129)

 

(748,756)

                     

Translation differences

 

18,906

 

(800)

 

173

 

9,259

 

27,538

Charges directly to other comprehensive income

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

638

 

638

Withholding tax on dividend distributions

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(10,474)

 

(10,474)

Effect of changes in tax law

 

(10,814)

 

(504)

 

(1,467)

 

(29)

 

(12,814)

Income statement credit (charge)

 

(81,143)

 

(26,233)

 

(1,425)

 

58,095

 

(50,706)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the year

 

(589,862)

 

(80,217)

 

(46,855)

 

(77,640)

 

(794,574)

                     

Deferred tax assets

 

Provisions

 

Trade receivables

 

Tax losses (1)

 

Other

 

Total at
December 31, 2014

                     

At the beginning of the year

 

58,237

 

7,991

 

27,571

 

73,976

 

167,775

                     

Translation differences

 

(3,829)

 

(432)

 

-

 

(2,968)

 

(7,229)

Charges directly to other comprehensive income

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

8,066

 

8,066

Effect of changes in tax law

 

37

 

-

 

-

 

75

 

112

Income statement credit (charge)

 

3,614

 

3,183

 

35,958

 

3,595

 

46,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the year

 

58,059

 

10,742

 

63,529

 

82,744

 

215,074


(1)
As of December 31, 2014, the recognized deferred tax assets on tax losses amount to USD 63,529 and the net unrecognized deferred tax assets amount to USD 2,064. According to the tax law in force in the jurisdictions in which the tax losses are generated, these amounts do not have a certain expiration date.

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

PP&E

 

Inventories

 

Intangible assets

 

Other

 

Total at
December 31, 2013

                     

At the beginning of the year

 

(515,943)

 

(68,710)

 

(48,382)

 

(166,582)

 

(799,617)

                     

Translation differences

 

26,774

 

1,128

 

255

 

29,414

 

57,571

Interest in joint operation

 

(6,277)

 

(2,467)

 

(3,024)

 

-

 

(11,768)

Charges directly to other comprehensive income

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Effect of changes in tax law

 

(26,476)

 

-

 

(3,108)

 

(24,046)

 

(53,630)

Income statement credit (charge)

 

5,111

 

17,369

 

10,123

 

24,402

 

57,005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the year

 

(516,811)

 

(52,680)

 

(44,136)

 

(136,812)

 

(750,439)

                     

Deferred tax assets

 

Provisions

 

Trade receivables

 

Tax losses (2)

 

Other

 

Total at
December 31, 2013

                     

At the beginning of the year

 

54,659

 

8,291

 

18,193

 

73,804

 

154,947

                     

Translation differences

 

(8,054)

 

109

 

-

 

(427)

 

(8,372)

Interest in joint operation

 

1,806

 

-

 

-

 

1,846

 

3,652

Charges directly to other comprehensive income

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

1,683

 

1,683

Effect of changes in tax law

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(4,242)

 

(4,242)

Income statement credit (charge)

 

9,826

 

(409)

 

9,378

 

2,995

 

21,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the year

 

58,237

 

7,991

 

27,571

 

75,659

 

169,458


(2)
As of December 31, 2013, the recognized deferred tax assets on tax losses amount to USD 27,571 and the net unrecognized deferred tax assets amount to USD 17,782. According to the tax law in force in the jurisdictions in which the tax losses are generated, these amounts do not have a certain expiration date.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the entity a) has a legally enforceable right to set off the recognized amounts; and b) intends to settle the tax on a net basis or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Page 52 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

20.    DEFERRED INCOME TAX (continued)

 

The amounts shown in the statement of financial position include the following:

 

           

As of December 31,

           

2014

 

2013

                 

Deferred tax assets to be recovered after more than 12 months

 

159,918

 

115,201

Deferred tax assets to be recovered within 12 months

 

55,155

 

51,936

Deferred tax liabilities to be settled after more than 12 months

 

(700,031)

 

(681,459)

Deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months

 

(94,542)

 

(66,659)

                 
           

(579,500)

 

(580,981)

 

 

21.    OTHER LIABILITIES – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT

 

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

(i) Other liabilities - Non current

 

 

 

 

Termination benefits

 

203

 

474

Post-employment benefits

 

313,146

 

291,822

Other employee benefits

 

35,351

 

30,111

Asset retirement obligation (note 19) (1)

 

21,744

 

19,853

Other

 

1,456

 

3,171

         

Other liabilities – Non-current

 

371,900

 

345,431


(1) The asset in connection with this liability is included in Property, plant and equipment.

 

Post-employment benefits

 

The amounts recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position are determined as follows:

 

   

Post-employment benefits

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Present value of unfunded obligations

 

313,146

 

313,269

Fair value of plan assets

 

-

 

(21,447)

         

Liability in the statement of financial position

 

313,146

 

291,822

 

The amounts recognized in the consolidated income statement are as follows:

 

   

Post-employment benefits

   

Year ended December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Current service cost

 

8,603

 

8,355

Interest cost

 

20,794

 

22,976

Amortization of prior service costs

 

418

 

1,281

         

Total included in labor costs

 

29,815

 

32,612

 

Page 53 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

21.    OTHER LIABILITIES – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT (continued)

 

Changes in the liability recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position are as follows:

 

   

Post-employment benefits

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

At the beginning of the year

 

291,822

 

261,415

         

Interest in joint operation

 

-

 

8,103

Transfers, new participants and funding of the plan

 

(1,595)

 

7,592

Total expense

 

29,815

 

32,612

Remeasurements

 

27,474

 

7,787

Translation differences

 

(30,929)

 

(2,477)

Contributions paid

 

(3,441)

 

(23,210)

         

At the end of the year

 

313,146

 

291,822

 

The principal actuarial assumptions used were as follows:

 

   

Year ended December 31,

Mexico

 

2014

 

2013

         

Discount rate

 

7.75%

 

8.50%

Compensation growth rate

 

4.00%

 

4.00%

         
   

Year ended December 31,

Argentina

 

2014

 

2013

         

Discount rate

 

7.00%

 

7.00%

Compensation growth rate

 

2.00%

 

2.00%

 

 

The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to changes in the weighted principal assumptions is as follows:

 

   

Impact on defined benefit obligation

   

Change in assumption

 

Increase in assumption

 

Decrease in assumption

             

Discount rate

 

1.00%

 

-10.6%

 

12.8%

Compensation growth rate

 

1.00%

 

2.6%

 

-2.2%

Pension growth rate

 

1.00%

 

1.0%

 

-1.1%

Life expectancy

 

1 year

 

-0.2%

 

0.2%

 

Page 54 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

21.    OTHER LIABILITIES – NON CURRENT AND CURRENT (continued)

 

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

(ii) Other liabilities - Current

 

 

 

 

Payroll and social security payable

 

99,509

 

92,188

VAT liabilities

 

57,031

 

50,765

Other tax liabilities

 

39,620

 

46,042

Termination benefits

 

3,298

 

4,584

Related Parties (Note 25)

 

3,704

 

3,901

Asset retirement obligation (Note 19)

 

2,081

 

-

Others

 

4,963

 

5,846

         

Other liabilities – Current

 

210,206

 

203,326

 

 

22.    DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Net fair values of derivative financial instruments

 

The net fair values of derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:

 

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Contracts with positive fair value

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap contracts

 

-

 

1,535

Foreign exchange contracts

 

4,338

 

-

         
   

4,338

 

1,535

         

Contracts with negative fair value

 

     

Interest rate swap contracts

 

(1,342)

 

-

Foreign exchange contracts

 

(34)

 

-

         
   

(1,376)

 

-

 

 

Derivative financial instruments breakdown is as follows:

 

(a) Interest rate contracts

 

Fluctuations in market interest rates create a degree of risk by affecting the amount of the Company’s interest payments and the value of its floating-rate debt. As of December 31, 2014, most of the Company’s long-term borrowings were at variable rates.

 

During 2012 and 2013, Tenigal entered into several forward starting interest rate swap agreements in order to fix the interest rate to be paid over an aggregate amount of USD 100 million, in an average rate of 1.92%. These agreements are effective from July 2014, will due on July 2022 and have been accounted for as cash flow hedges. As of December 31, 2014, the after-tax cash flow hedge reserve related to these agreements amounted to USD (0.4) million.

 

 

Page 55 of 73

 


 
December

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

22.    DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

 

Changes in fair value of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges for each of the years presented are included below:
 

   

Cash flow hedges

   

Gross amount

 

Income tax

 

Total

             

At December 31, 2012

 

(270)

 

81

 

(189)

             

(Decrease) / Increase

 

1,805

 

(541)

 

1,264

Reclassification to income statement

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

 

1,535

 

(460)

 

1,075

             

(Decrease) / Increase

 

(2,876)

 

863

 

(2,013)

Reclassification to income statement

 

748

 

(225)

 

523

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2014

 

(593)

 

178

 

(415)

 

The gross amount of the pre-tax reserve recorded in other comprehensive income at December 31, 2014 (amounting to a loss of USD 0.6 million) is expected to be reclassified to the income statements in accordance to the payments of interests in connection with the borrowings hedged by these derivative contracts, during 2015 and up to the end of the life of the borrowing in 2022.

 

(b) Foreign exchange contracts

 

From time to time, Ternium’s subsidiaries enter into derivative agreements to manage their exposure to currencies other than the USD.

 

During 2013 and 2014, Prosid Investments entered into several non-deliverable forward agreements to manage the exchange rate exposure generated by Siderar’s debt in ARS against USD. As of December 31, 2014, the notional amount on these agreements amounted to USD 280.3 million.

 

Furthermore, during 2014, Ferrasa S.A.S. has entered into non-deliverable forward agreements to manage the exposure of certain trade receivables denominated in its local currency. As of December 31, 2014, the notional amount on these agreements was USD 2.0 million.

 

The net fair values of the exchange rate derivative contracts as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

           

Fair value at December 31,

Currencies

 

Contract

 

Notional amount

 

2014

 

2013

                 

ARS/USD

 

ND Forward

 

2.5 billion ARS

 

4,338

 

-

COP/USD

 

ND Forward

 

4.8 billion COP

 

(34)

 

-

                 
           

4,304

 

-

 

USD: US dollars; COP: Colombian pesos; ARS: Argentine pesos.

 

Page 56 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

23.    BORROWINGS

 

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

(i) Non-current

 

 

 

 

Bank borrowings

 

906,161

 

1,212,070

Less: debt issue costs

 

(5,550)

 

(7,190)

         
   

900,611

 

1,204,880

         

(ii) Current

 

 

 

 

Bank borrowings

 

1,266,126

 

800,791

Less: debt issue costs

 

(1,918)

 

(2,847)

         
   

1,264,208

 

797,944

         

Total Borrowings

 

2,164,819

 

2,002,824

 

The maturity of borrowings is as follows:

 

   

Expected Maturity Date

   

2015

 

2016

 

2017 and thereafter

 

At December 31, (1)

         

2014

 

2013

                     

Fixed Rate

 

784,860

 

10,334

 

958

 

796,152

 

486,955

Floating Rate

 

479,348

 

329,434

 

559,885

 

1,368,667

 

1,515,869

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

1,264,208

 

339,768

 

560,843

 

2,164,819

 

2,002,824

 

(1) As most borrowings incorporate floating rates that approximate market rates and the contractual repricing occurs mostly every 1 month, the fair value of the borrowings approximates their carrying amount and it is not disclosed separately.

 

The weighted average interest rates - which incorporate instruments denominated mainly in US dollars and Argentina pesos and which do not include the effect of derivative financial instruments nor the devaluation of these local currencies - at year-end were as follows:

 

   

As of December 31,

   

2014

 

2013

         

Bank borrowings

 

4.64%

 

4.89%

 

The nominal average interest rates shown above were calculated using the rates set for each instrument in its corresponding currency and weighted using the dollar-equivalent outstanding principal amount of said instruments at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Page 57 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

23.    BORROWINGS (continued)

 

Breakdown of borrowings by currency is as follows:

 

       

As of December 31,

Currencies

 

Contract

 

2014

 

2013

             

USD

 

Floating

 

1,268,691

 

1,391,298

USD

 

Fixed

 

497,970

 

150,790

ARS

 

Floating

 

-

 

152

ARS

 

Fixed

 

278,840

 

313,366

COP

 

Floating

 

99,976

 

124,418

CRC

 

Fixed

 

2,963

 

6,975

GTQ

 

Fixed

 

16,379

 

15,825

             
       

2,164,819

 

2,002,824

 

 

USD: US dollars; ARS: Argentine pesos; COP: Colombian pesos; GTQ: Guatemalan quetzales; CRC: Costa Rican colon.

 

Ternium’s most significant borrowings as of December 31, 2014, were those incurred under Ternium México’s syndicated loan facilities, in order to improve its maturity profile in 2013 and in relation to the Grupo Imsa transaction in July 2007, and under Tenigal’s syndicated loan facility, in order to finance the construction of its hot-dipped galvanizing mill in Pesquería, Mexico:

 

           

In USD million

   

Date

 

Borrower

 

Type

 

Original principal amount

 

Outstanding principal amount as of December 31, 2014

 

Maturity

                     

November 2013

 

Ternium Mexico

 

Syndicated loan

 

800

 

800

 

November 2018

Years 2012 and 2013

 

Tenigal

 

Syndicated loan

 

200

 

200

 

July 2022

 

The main covenants on these loan agreements are limitations on liens and encumbrances, limitations on the sale of certain assets and compliance with financial ratios (i.e. leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio). As of December 31, 2014, Ternium was in compliance with all of its covenants.

 

Page 58 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

24.   CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS

 

Ternium is involved in litigation arising from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Company recorded a provision for those cases in which there is a probable cash outflow and the outcome can be reliably estimated. Based on management’s assessment and the advice of legal counsel, it is not anticipated that the ultimate resolution of existing litigation would be material to Ternium’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

(i) Tax claims and other contingencies

 

(a) Siderar.  AFIP – Income tax claim for fiscal years 1995 to 1999

 

The Argentine tax authority (Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos, or “AFIP”) has challenged the deduction from income of certain disbursements treated by Siderar as expenses necessary to maintain industrial installations, alleging that these expenses should have been treated as investments or improvements subject to capitalization. Accordingly, AFIP made income tax assessments against Siderar with respect to fiscal years 1995 through 1999.

 

As of December 31, 2014, Siderar’s aggregate exposure under these assessments (including principal, interest and fines) amounts to approximately USD 11.4 million. Siderar appealed each of these assessments before the National Tax Court, which, in successive rulings, reduced the amount of each of the assessments made by AFIP; the National Tax Court decisions were, however, further appealed by both Siderar and AFIP.

 

On May 15, 2014, Siderar was notified of a new National Tax Court ruling approving the AFIP assessment for fiscal year 1997 in an amount of approximately USD 0.8 million (including principal and interest); as the Tax Court did not grant a stay with respect to this decision, Siderar paid the full amount of the ruling, reserving its right to seek reimbursement of that payment.

 

Based on the recent National Tax Court decision, management believes that there could be an additional potential cash outflow in connection with this assessment and, as a result, Siderar recognized a provision which, as of December 31, 2014, amounts to USD 0.6 million.

 

(b) Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) – Tender offer litigation

 

In 2013, the Company was notified of a lawsuit filed in Brazil by Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN) and various entities affiliated with CSN against Ternium Investments S.à r.l., its subsidiary Siderar, and Confab Industrial S.A., a Brazilian subsidiary of Tenaris S.A. The entities named in the CSN lawsuit had acquired a participation in Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. – USIMINAS (Usiminas) in January 2012. The CSN lawsuit alleges that, under applicable Brazilian laws and rules, the acquirers were required to launch a tag-along tender offer to all non-controlling holders of Usiminas ordinary shares for a price per share equal to 80% of the price per share paid in such acquisition, or BRL 28.8, and seeks an order to compel the acquirers to launch an offer at that price plus interest. If so ordered, the offer would need to be made to 182,609,851 ordinary shares of Usiminas not belonging to Usiminas’ control group; Ternium Investments and Siderar’s respective shares in the offer would be 60.6% and 21.5%.

 

On September 23, 2013, the first instance court issued its decision finding in favor of the defendants and dismissing the CSN lawsuit. The claimants appealed the court decision and the defendants filed their response to the appeal. It is currently expected that the court of appeals will issue its judgment on the appeal within 2015.

 

Page 59 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

24.    CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS (continued)

 

Ternium is aware that on November 10, 2014, CSN filed a separate complaint with Brazil’s securities regulator Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) on the same grounds and with the same purpose as the lawsuit referred to above. The CVM proceeding is underway and the Company has not yet been served with process or requested to provide its response.

 

Finally, on December 11, 2014, CSN filed a claim with Brazil’s antitrust regulator Consejo Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE). In its claim, CSN alleges that the antitrust clearance request related to the January 2012 acquisition, which was approved by CADE without restrictions in August 2012, contained a false and deceitful description of the acquisition aimed at frustrating the minority shareholders’ right to a tag-along tender offer, and requests that CADE investigate and reopen the antitrust review of the acquisition and suspend the Company’s voting rights in Usiminas until the review is completed. The case is currently under review by CADE’s Administrative Tribunal.

 

Ternium believes that all of CSN's claims and allegations are groundless and without merit, as confirmed by several opinions of Brazilian legal counsels and previous decisions by CVM, including a February 2012 decision determining that the above mentioned acquisition did not trigger any tender offer requirement, and, more recently, the first instance court decision on this matter first referred to above. Accordingly, no provision was recorded in these Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(c) Shareholder claims relating to the October 2014 acquisition of Usiminas shares

 

Following Ternium’s October 2, 2014 announcement of its acquisition of 51.4 million ordinary shares of Usiminas from PREVI, the CVM has been analyzing, at the request of Usiminas’ shareholders, whether, as a result of this acquisition, Ternium would be required under applicable Brazilian laws and rules to launch a mandatory tender offer to all non-controlling holders of Usiminas ordinary shares for a fair price. Ternium has presented its reasons and the CVM’s analysis is currently ongoing. While no decision has yet been adopted, it is expected that the CVM will issue its decision in the first quarter of 2015; any such decision would, however, be subject to administrative appeal. As indicated in its October 2, 2014 announcement, Ternium believes that the transaction did not trigger any tender offer requirement. In any event, if the CVM were to determine that Ternium’s purchase of Usiminas shares exceeded the threshold that triggers a mandatory tender offer requirement, Ternium may elect to sell to third parties any shares acquired in excess of the threshold so determined, in which case no tender offer would be required either.

 

(ii) Commitments

 

The following are Ternium’s main off-balance sheet commitments:

 

(a)  Siderar entered into a contract with Tenaris, a related company of Ternium, for the supply of steam generated at the power generation facility that Tenaris owns in the compound of the Ramallo facility of Siderar. Under this contract, Tenaris has to provide 250 tn/hour of steam, and Siderar has the obligation to take or pay this volume. The amount of this outsourcing agreement totals USD 52.5 million and is due to terminate in 2018.

 

(b) Siderar, within the investment plan, has entered into several commitments to acquire new production equipment for a total consideration of USD 79.2 million.

 

(c)  Siderar assumed fixed commitments for the purchase of raw materials for a total amount of USD 123.8 million to be expended during the next three years.

Page 60 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

24.    CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS (continued)

 

(d) Siderar is a party to a long-term contract with Air Liquide Argentina S.A. for the supply of oxygen, nitrogen and argon. The agreement requires Siderar to take or pay minimum daily amounts of these gases for an aggregate amount of USD 40.2 million to satisfy Siderar’s current production needs through 2021, and to make incremental purchases of these gases for an aggregate amount of USD 133.8 million to satisfy the requirements through 2030.

 

(e) On December 20, 2000, Hylsa (Ternium Mexico’s predecessor) entered into a 25-year contract with Iberdrola Energia Monterrey, S.A. de C.V. (“Iberdrola”), a Mexican subsidiary of Iberdrola Energía, S.A., for the supply to four of Ternium Mexico’s plants of a contracted electrical demand of 111.2 MW. Iberdrola currently supplies approximately 23% of Ternium Mexico’s electricity needs under this contract. Although the contract was to be effective through 2027, on April 28, 2014, Ternium Mexico and Iberdrola entered into a new supply contract and terminated the previous one. In consideration of the termination of the previous contract, Iberdrola has granted Ternium Mexico a credit of USD 750 thousand per MW of the 111.2 MW contracted capacity, resulting over time in a total value of USD 73.5 million.  In addition, Iberdrola agreed to recognize to Ternium México USD 15 million through discounted rates. As a result of the above mentioned credit and discount, the company expects to incur in electricity rates comparable to those obtained in the past under the previous contract’s terms for a period that is estimated to be approximately 2 years. Following such period, Ternium Mexico’s rates under the contract will increase to market rates with a 2.5% discount; however, Ternium Mexico will be entitled to terminate the contract without penalty.

 

(f) Several Ternium Mexico’s subsidiaries which have facilities throughout the Mexican territory are parties to a long term energy purchase agreement for purchased capacity of electricity with Tractebel Energía de Monterrey, S. de R.L. de C.V., distributed among each plant defined as a capacity user.  Each capacity user is committed to pay Tractebel for the purchased capacity and for the net energy delivered. Ternium Mexico is required to provide its best estimate of its expected nomination for capacity and energy under the specific limits and timelines. The monthly payments are calculated considering the capacity charges, energy charges, back-up power charges, and transmission charges, less any steam credits. The contracted amount is of USD 114.8 million and the contract will terminate in 2018.

 

(g) Following the maturity of a previously existing railroad freight services agreement during 2013, in April 2014, Ternium México and Ferrocarril Mexicano, S. A. de C. V. (“Ferromex”) entered into a new railroad freight services agreement pursuant to which Ferromex will transport Ternium Mexico’s products through railroads operated by Ferromex for a term of five years through 2019. Subject to Ternium’s board approval, both Ternium Mexico and Ferromex would be required to make (within a period of 36 months) certain investments to improve the loading and unloading of gondolas. Ternium Mexico’s total investment commitment would amount to approximately USD 15.5 million, while Ferromex’s would amount to approximately USD 5.4 million. Under the agreement, Ternium Mexico has guaranteed to Ferromex a minimum average transport load of 200 metric tons per month in any six-month period.

  

In the event that the actual per-month average transport loads in any six-month period were lower than such guaranteed minimum, Ternium Mexico would be required to compensate Ferromex for the shortfall so that Ferromex receives a rate equivalent to a total transport load of 1,200 metric tons for such six-month period. However, any such compensation will not be payable if the lower transport loads were due to adverse market conditions, or to adverse operating conditions at Ternium Mexico’s facilities.

Page 61 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

24.    CONTINGENCIES, COMMITMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS (continued)

 

(h) Techgen is a party to transportation capacity agreements with Kinder Morgan Gas Natural de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline LLC and Kinder Morgan Tejas Pipeline LLC for a purchasing capacity of 150,000 MMBtu/Gas per day starting on June 1, 2016 and ending on May 31, 2036. As of December 31, 2014, the outstanding value of this commitment was approximately USD 285 million. Ternium’s exposure under the guarantee in connection with these agreements amounts to USD 136.7 million, corresponding to the 48% of the agreements’ outstanding value as of December 31, 2014.

 

(i) Techgen is a party to a contract with GE Power Systems, Inc. and General Electric International Operations Company, Inc Mexico Branch for the purchase of power generation equipment and other services related to the equipment for an outstanding amount of approximately USD 238 million. These agreements required Techgen to issue stand-by letters of credit up to an amount of USD 47.5 million. Ternium’s exposure under the guarantee in connection with these stand-by letters of credit issued by Techgen is of USD 15.5 million.

 

(j) Ternium issued a Corporate Guarantee covering 48% of the obligations of Techgen under a syndicated loan agreement between Techgen and several banks led by Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, and Natixis, New York Branch acting as joint bookrunners. The loan agreement amounted to USD 800 million and the proceeds will be used by Techgen in the construction of the facility. As of December 31, 2014, disbursements under the loan agreement amounted USD 440 million, as a result the amount guaranteed by Ternium was approximately USD 211 million. If the loan is disbursed in full, the amount guaranteed by Ternium will be approximately USD 384 million. The main covenants under the Corporate Guarantee are limitations on the sale of certain assets and compliance with financial ratios (e.g. leverage ratio). As of December 31, 2014, Techgen was in compliance with all of its covenants.

 

(iii)  Restrictions on the distribution of profits

 

Under Luxembourg law, at least 5% of net income per year calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations must be allocated to a reserve until such reserve has reached an amount equal to 10% of the share capital. At December 31, 2014, this reserve reached the above-mentioned threshold.

 

As of December 31, 2014, Ternium may pay dividends up to USD 5.4 billion in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations.

 

Shareholders' equity under Luxembourg law and regulations comprises the following captions:

 

   

As of December 31, 2014

     

Share capital

 

2,004,743

Legal reserve

 

200,474

Non distributable reserves

 

1,414,122

Accumulated profit at January 1, 2014

 

5,687,690

Loss for the year

 

(289,975)

     

Total shareholders' equity under Luxembourg GAAP

 

9,017,054

 

Page 62 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

25.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

As of December 31, 2014, Techint owned 62.02% of the Company’s share capital and Tenaris held 11.46% of the Company’s share capital.  Each of Techint and  Tenaris were controlled by San Faustin S.A., a Luxembourg company (“San Faustin”). Rocca & Partners Stichting Administratiekantoor Aandelen San Faustin (“RP STAK”), a Dutch private foundation (Stichting), held shares in San Faustin sufficient in number to control San Faustin.  No person or group of persons controls RP STAK.

 

For commitments with Related parties, see note 24.

 

The following transactions were carried out with related parties:

 

   

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

             

(i) Transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Sales of goods and services

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales of goods to non-consolidated parties

 

1,675

 

23

 

171

Sales of goods to other related parties

 

224,909

 

210,622

 

216,392

Sales of services and others to non-consolidated parties

 

2,459

 

2,270

 

173

Sales of services and others to other related parties

 

1,273

 

2,004

 

616

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

230,316

 

214,919

 

217,352

(b) Purchases of goods and services

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of goods from non-consolidated parties

 

200,167

 

228,065

 

399,495

Purchases of goods from other related parties

 

45,946

 

86,883

 

75,482

Purchases of services and others from non-consolidated parties

 

13,584

 

13,433

 

45,033

Purchases of services and others from other related parties

 

131,413

 

234,372

 

248,647

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

391,110

 

562,753

 

768,656

(c) Financial results

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income with non-consolidated parties

 

1,043

 

-

 

-

Expenses with non-consolidated parties

 

-

 

-

 

(308)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

1,043

 

-

 

(308)

(d) Dividends received

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends from non-consolidated parties

 

1,858

 

207

 

4,718

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

1,858

 

207

 

4,718

(e) Other income and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (expenses), net with non-consolidated parties

 

6,051

 

4,597

 

-

Income (expenses), net with other related parties

 

(640)

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

5,411

 

4,597

 

-

             
 

 

As of December 31,

 

 
   

2014

 

2013

 

 
             

(ii) Year-end balances

 

         

(a) Arising from sales/purchases of goods/services and other transactions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables from non-consolidated parties

 

6,357

 

5,218

   

Receivables from other related parties

 

20,497

 

24,802

   

Advances from non-consolidated parties

 

7

 

-

   

Advances to suppliers with other related parties

 

498

 

330

   

Payables to non-consolidated parties

 

(24,626)

 

(40,244)

   

Payables to other related parties

 

(39,895)

 

(35,451)

   
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

(37,162)

 

(45,345)

 

 

 

 

Page 63 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

25.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

 

 (iii) Officers and Directors’ compensation

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014 the cash compensation of Officers and Directors amounted to USD 12,924. In addition, Officers received 1.059.320 Units for a total amount of USD 2,793 in connection with the incentive retention program mentioned in note 4 (n)(3).

 

26.    OTHER REQUIRED DISCLOSURES

 

(a)   Statement of comprehensive income

 

   

Cash flow hedges

 

Currency translation adjustment

   

Gross amount

 

Income tax

 

Total

 
                 

At December 31, 2012

 

(270)

 

81

 

(189)

 

(1,530,411)

                 

(Decrease) / Increase

 

1,805

 

(541)

 

1,264

 

(503,305)

Reclassification to income statement

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013

 

1,535

 

(460)

 

1,075

 

(2,033,716)

                 

(Decrease) / Increase

 

(2,876)

 

863

 

(2,013)

 

(459,768)

Reclassification to income statement

 

748

 

(225)

 

523

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2014

 

(593)

 

178

 

(415)

 

(2,493,484)

 

(b)  Statement of cash flows

 

   

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i) Changes in working capital (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventories

 

(357,023)

 

(115,843)

 

20,250

Receivables and others

 

4,760

 

78,797

 

(86,319)

Trade receivables

 

(90,725)

 

58,332

 

38,219

Other liabilities

 

30,640

 

58,591

 

(41,456)

Trade payables

 

(138,632)

 

34,734

 

92,839

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

(550,980)

 

114,611

 

23,533

(ii) Income tax accrual less payments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax accrued (Note 11)

 

363,708

 

349,426

 

261,227

Taxes paid

 

(378,634)

 

(373,603)

 

(220,197)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

(14,926)

 

(24,177)

 

41,030

(iii) Interest accruals less payments

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest accrued

 

117,866

 

132,113

 

150,302

Interest paid

 

(112,704)

 

(148,982)

 

(149,486)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

5,162

 

(16,869)

 

816


(1)
Changes in working capital are shown net of the effect of exchange rate changes.

 

Page 64 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

27.    RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

The following standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are not mandatory for the financial year beginning January 1, 2014 and have not been early adopted:

 

International Financial Reporting Standard 15, “Revenue from contracts with customers”

In May 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15, "Revenue from contracts with customers", which sets out the requirements in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and which is based on the principle that revenue is recognized when control of a good or service is transferred to the customer. IFRS 15 must be applied annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017.

 

International Financial Reporting Standard 9, “Financial instruments”

In July 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 9, "Financial instruments", which replaces the guidance in IAS 39. It includes requirements on the classification and measurement of financial assets and liabilities, as well as an expected credit losses model that replaces the current incurred loss impairment model. IFRS 9 must be applied on annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

 

Amendments to IFRS 10, “Consolidated financial statements” and IAS 28, “Investments in associates and joint ventures”

In September 2014, the IASB issued the Amendments to IFRS 10, “Consolidated financial statements” and IAS 28, “Investments in associates and joint ventures”, which addresses and inconsistency between the requirements of both standards in dealing with the sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture. These amendments must be applied annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

 

The Company's management is currently assessing the potential impact that the application of these standards may have on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

 

 

Page 65 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

 

1)   Financial risk factors

 

Ternium’s activities expose the Company to a variety of risks: market risk (including the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodities prices), credit risk and liquidity risk.

 

Ternium’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on the financial performance. Ternium’s subsidiaries may use derivative financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures.

 

1.1)  Market Risk

 

(i) Foreign exchange rate risk

 

Ternium operates and sells its products in different countries, and as a result is exposed to foreign exchange rate volatility. In addition, the Company entered into several borrowings that contain covenants providing for the compliance with certain financial ratios, including ratios measured in currencies other that the U.S. dollar. This situation exposes Ternium to a risk of non-compliance derived from volatility in foreign exchange rates. Ternium’s subsidiaries may use derivative contracts in order to hedge their exposure to exchange rate risk derived from their trade and financial operations.

 

Ternium general policy is to minimize the negative impact of fluctuations in the value of other currencies with respect to the U.S. dollar. Ternium’s subsidiaries monitor their net operating cash flows in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, and analyze potential hedging according to market conditions. This hedging can be carried out by netting operational positions or by financial derivatives. However, regulatory or legal restrictions in the countries in which Ternium’s subsidiaries operate, could limit the possibility of the Company carrying out its hedging policy.

 

Ternium has foreign operations, whose net assets are exposed to foreign currency translation risk, some of which may impact net income. The fact that some subsidiaries have measurement currencies other than the U.S. dollar may, at times, distort the results of the hedging efforts as reported under IFRS.

 

The following table shows a breakdown of Ternium’s assessed financial position exposure to currency risk as of December 31, 2014. These balances include intercompany positions where the intervening parties have different functional currencies.

 

USD million Exposure to

 

Functional currency

 

USD

 

ARS

         

US dollar (USD)

 

-

 

67

EU euro (EUR)

 

(0)

 

3

Argentine peso (ARS)

 

(7)

 

-

Mexican peso (MXN)

 

(298)

 

-

Colombian peso (COP)

 

(40)

 

-

Other currencies

 

(1)

 

-

 

 

Page 66 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

The main relevant exposures correspond to:

 

(a)  Argentine peso vs. US dollar

A change of 1% in the exchange rate of the Argentine peso against the US dollar would have generated a pre-tax gain of USD 0.6 million and a pre-tax loss of USD 0.2 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

(b)  Mexican peso vs. US dollar

A change of 1% in the exchange rate of the Mexican peso against the US dollar would have generated a pre-tax gain of USD 2.9 million and USD 2.7 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

(c)  Colombian peso vs. US dollar

A change of 1% in the exchange rate of the Colombian peso against the US dollar would have generated a pre-tax gain of USD 0.4 million and USD 0.5 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

We estimate that if the Argentine peso, Mexican peso and Colombian peso had weakened simultaneously by 1% against the US dollar with all other variables held constant, total pre-tax income for the year would have been USD 3.9 million higher (USD 2.9 million higher as of December 31, 2013), as a result of foreign exchange gains/losses on translation of US dollar-denominated financial position, mainly trade receivables, trade payables and other liabilities.

 

Considering the same variation of the currencies against the US dollar of all net investments in foreign operations amounting to USD 2.4 billion, the currency translation adjustment included in total equity would have been USD 24.1 million lower (USD 23.4 million lower as of December 31, 2013, arising mainly from the adjustment on translation of the equity related to the Argentine peso and the Brazilian real.

 

(ii) Interest rate risk

 

Ternium manages its exposure to interest rate volatility through its financing alternatives and hedging instruments. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Company to the risk of increased interest expense in the event of a raise in market interest rates, while borrowings issued at fixed rates expose the Company to a variation in its fair value. The Company’s interest-rate risk mainly arises from long-term borrowings that bear variable-rate interest that is partially fixed through different derivative transactions, such as swaps and structures with options. The Company’s general policy is to maintain a balance between instruments exposed to fixed and variable rates; which can be modified according to long term market conditions.

 

Ternium’s nominal weighted average interest rate for its debt instruments, which do not include the effect of derivative financial instruments nor the devaluation of the local currencies, was 4.64% and 4.89% for 2014 and 2013, respectively. These rates were calculated using the rates set for each instrument in its corresponding currency and weighted using the dollar-equivalent outstanding principal amount of each instrument as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

Ternium’s total variable interest rate debt amounted to USD 1,369 million (63.2% of total borrowings) at December 31, 2014 and USD 1,516 million (75.7% of total borrowings) at December 31, 2013.

Page 67 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

If interest rates on the aggregate average notional of US dollar denominated borrowings held during 2014, excluding borrowings with derivatives contracts mentioned in Note 22 (a), had been 100 basis points higher with all other variables held constant, total pre-tax income for the year ended December 31, 2014 would have been USD 20.7 million lower (USD 20.2 million lower as of December 31, 2013).

 

(iii) Commodity price risk

 

In the ordinary course of its operations, Ternium purchases raw materials (such as iron ore, coal and slabs) and other commodities (including electricity and gas). Commodity prices are generally volatile as a result of several factors, including those affecting supply and demand, political, social and economic conditions, and other circumstances. Ternium monitors its exposure to commodity price volatility on a regular basis and applies customary commodity price risk management strategies. For further information on long-term commitments, see note 24(ii).

 

1.2)  Credit risk

 

Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, deposits with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to customers, including outstanding receivables and committed transactions. Ternium’s subsidiaries have credit guidelines in place to ensure that derivative and treasury counterparties are limited to high credit quality financial institutions.

 

Ternium invests in financial assets with a minimum credit rating of investment grade established by an international qualification agency renowned in the financial market, in line with corporate investment portfolio policies. Approximately 80.7% of the Company’s liquid financial assets correspond to investment grade rated instruments as of December 31, 2014, in comparison with approximately 80.9% as of December 31, 2013.

 

Ternium has no significant concentrations of credit risk from customers. No single customer accounts for more than five percent of Ternium’s sales. Ternium’s subsidiaries have policies in place to ensure that sales are made to customers with an appropriate credit history, and that credit insurances, letters of credit or other instruments are requested to reduce credit risk whenever deemed necessary. The subsidiaries maintain allowances for potential credit losses. The utilization of credit limits is regularly monitored.

 

Trade and other receivables are carried at face value less allowance for doubtful accounts, if applicable. This amount does not differ significantly from fair value. The other receivables do not contain significant impaired assets.

 

As of December 31, 2014, trade receivables total USD 720.3 million. These trade receivables are collateralized by guarantees under letter of credit and other bank guarantees of USD 10.6 million, credit insurance of USD 424.3 million and other guarantees of USD 7.2 million.

 

As of December 31, 2014, trade receivables of USD 656.4 million were fully performing.

 

As of December 31, 2014, trade receivables of USD 75.3 million were past due.

 

The amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts was USD 11.4 million as of December 31, 2014.

 

Page 68 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

The carrying amounts of the Company’s trade and other receivables as of December 31, 2014, are denominated in the following currencies:

 

Currency

 

USD million

         

US dollar (USD)

 

562

EU euro (EUR)

 

16

Argentine peso (ARS)

 

30

Mexican peso (MXN)

 

190

Colombian peso (COP)

 

80

Other currencies

 

2

         
       

880

 

 

1.3) Liquidity risk

 

Management maintains sufficient cash and marketable securities and credit facilities to finance normal operations. Management monitors rolling forecasts of the group’s liquidity reserve on the basis of expected cash flow.

 

The table below analyses financial liabilities into relevant maturity groups based on the remaining period at the date of the statement of financial position to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

 

USD million

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

Thereafter

                         

Borrowings

 

1,264

 

340

 

238

 

223

 

100

Interests to be accrued (1)

 

36

 

16

 

8

 

5

 

2

Trade payables and other liabilities

 

540

 

7

 

6

 

6

 

15

                         

Total

 

1,840

 

363

 

252

 

234

 

117

 

(1) These amounts do not include the effect of derivative financial instruments.

 

As of December 31, 2014, total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and other current investments amounted to USD 1,801.5 million.

 

1.4)  Capital risk

 

Ternium seeks to maintain an adequate debt/equity ratio considering the industry and the markets where it operates. The year-end ratio debt over debt plus equity is 0.26 and 0.24 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company does not have to comply with regulatory capital adequacy requirements as known in the financial services industry.

 

2)    Financial instruments by category and fair value hierarchy level

 

The accounting policies for financial instruments have been applied to the line items below. According to the scope and definitions set out in IFRS 7 and IAS 32, employers’ rights and obligations under employee benefit plans, and non-financial assets and liabilities such as advanced payments and income tax payables, are not included.

 

Page 69 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

As of December 31, 2014 (in USD thousands)

 

Loans and receivables

Assets at fair value through profit and loss

Available for sale

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i) Assets as per statement of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

35,599

 

-

 

-

 

35,599

Derivative financial instruments

 

-

 

4,338

 

-

 

4,338

Trade receivables

 

720,305

 

-

 

-

 

720,305

Other investments

 

67,492

 

47,555

 

34,948

 

149,995

Cash and cash equivalents

 

16,246

 

197,057

 

-

 

213,303

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

839,642

 

248,950

 

34,948

 

1,123,540

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2014 (in USD thousands)

 

Derivatives

 

Other financial liabilities

Available for sale

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii) Liabilities as per statement of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

-

 

32,493

 

-

 

32,493

Trade payables

 

-

 

541,330

 

-

 

541,330

Derivative financial instruments

 

1,376

 

-

 

-

 

1,376

Borrowings

 

-

 

2,164,819

 

-

 

2,164,819

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

1,376

 

2,738,642

 

-

 

2,740,018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2013 (in USD thousands)

 

Loans and receivables

Assets at fair value through profit and loss

Available for sale

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i) Assets as per statement of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

39,575

 

-

 

-

 

39,575

Derivative financial instruments

 

-

 

1,535

 

-

 

1,535

Trade receivables

 

673,207

 

-

 

-

 

673,207

Other investments

 

58,198

 

111,305

 

-

 

169,503

Cash and cash equivalents

 

2,002

 

305,216

 

-

 

307,218

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

772,982

 

418,056

 

-

 

1,191,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2013 (in USD thousands)

 

Derivatives

 

Other financial liabilities

Available for sale

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(ii) Liabilities as per statement of financial position

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other liabilities

 

-

 

44,841

 

-

 

44,841

Trade payables

 

-

 

689,092

 

-

 

689,092

Borrowings

 

-

 

2,002,824

 

-

 

2,002,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

-

 

2,736,757

 

-

 

2,736,757

 

Fair Value by Hierarchy

 

Following the requirements contained in IFRS 13, Ternium categorizes each class of financial instrument measured at fair value in the statement of financial position into three levels, depending on the significance of the judgment associated with the inputs used in making the fair value measurements:

-  Level 1 comprises financial assets and financial liabilities whose fair values have been determined on the basis of quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Page 70 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

-  Level 2 includes financial assets and financial liabilities for which fair values have been estimated using inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).

 

-  Level 3 comprises financial instruments for which inputs to estimate fair value of the assets or liabilities are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

The following table presents the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value as of December 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

   

Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2014
(in USD thousands):

Description

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

197,058

 

197,057

 

-

Other investments

 

82,502

 

56,466

 

26,036

Derivative financial instruments

 

4,338

 

-

 

4,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

283,898

 

253,524

 

30,374

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

 

1,376

 

-

 

1,376

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

1,376

 

-

 

1,376

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
   

Fair value measurement as of December 31, 2013
(in USD thousands):

Description

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

305,216

 

300,212

 

5,005

Other investments

 

111,305

 

64,971

 

46,334

Derivative financial instruments

 

1,535

 

-

 

1,535

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

418,057

 

365,183

 

52,874

 

There were no significant transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy and there were no financial assets and liabilities considered as Level 3.

 

The fair value of financial instruments traded in active markets is based on quoted market prices at the reporting date. A market is regarded as active if quoted prices are readily and regularly available from an exchange, dealer, broker, industry group, pricing service, or regulatory agency, and those prices represent actual and regularly occurring market transactions on an arm’s length basis. The quoted market price used for financial assets held by Ternium is the current bid price. These instruments are included in Level 1 and comprise primarily corporate and sovereign debt securities.

 

Page 71 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (such as certain debt securities, certificates of deposits with original maturity of more than three months, forward and interest rate derivative instruments) is determined by using valuation techniques which maximize the use of observable market data when available and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates. If all significant inputs required to value an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in Level 2. Ternium values its assets and liabilities included in this level using bid prices, interest rate curves, broker quotations, current exchange rates, forward rates and implied volatilities obtained from market contributors as of the valuation date.

 

If one or more of the significant inputs are not based on observable market data, the instruments are included in Level 3. Ternium values its assets and liabilities in this level using observable market inputs and management assumptions which reflect the Company’s best estimate on how market participants would price the asset or liability at measurement date.

 

3)    Accounting for derivative financial instruments and hedging activities

 

Derivative financial instruments are initially recognized in the statement of financial position at cost and subsequently measured at fair value. Changes in fair value are disclosed under “Other financial income (expenses), net” line item in the income statement. Ternium does not hedge its net investments in foreign entities.

 

Ternium designates certain derivatives as hedges of a particular risk associated with a recognized asset or liability or a highly probable forecast transaction. These transactions are classified as cash flow hedges (mainly interest rate swaps, collars and commodities contracts). The effective portion of the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognized within other comprehensive income. Amounts accumulated in other comprehensive income are recognized in the income statement in the same period than any offsetting losses and gains on the hedged item. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in the income statement. The fair value of Ternium derivative financial instruments (asset or liability) continues to be reflected on the statement of financial position.

 

For transactions designated and qualifying for hedge accounting, Ternium documents at inception the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Company also documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. At December 31, 2014, the effective portion of designated cash flow hedges amounts to USD (0.4) million (net of taxes) and is included as “Cash flow hedges” line item in the statement of comprehensive income.

 

The fair values of various derivative instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in Note 22. The full fair value of a hedging derivative is classified as a non-current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the hedged item is more than 12 months and as a current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the hedged item is less than 12 months.

 

Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting under IAS 39 are recognized immediately in the income statement.

Page 72 of 73

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

 

28.    FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

 

4)   Fair value estimation

 

The estimated fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.

 

For the purpose of estimating the fair value of financial assets and liabilities with maturities of less than one year, the Company uses the market value less any estimated credit adjustments. For other investments, the Company uses quoted market prices.

 

As most borrowings incorporate floating rates that approximate market rates and the contractual repricing occurs mostly every 1 month, the fair value of the borrowings approximates their carrying amount and it is not disclosed separately.

 

In assessing the fair value of derivatives and other financial instruments, Ternium uses a variety of methods, including, but not limited to, estimated discounted value of future cash flows using assumptions based on market conditions existing at each year end.

 

 

29.    SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On January 20, 2015, Ternium S.A. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the remaining 46% minority interest in its Colombian subsidiary Ferrasa for a total consideration of USD 74 million. The transaction, which is subject to customary conditions, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015. Prior to this transaction, Ternium was already fully consolidating Ferrasa's assets and liabilities and results of operations.

 

Ferrasa is a leading long and flat steel products processor and distributor in Colombia and a scrap-based long steel manufacturer, with finished steel annual production capacity of approximately 480,000 tons and annual sales of close to 600,000 tons, of which approximately 70% are long products and 30% are flat and tubular products, used mainly in the construction sector. Ternium holds, since August 25, 2010, a 54% ownership interest in Ferrasa.

 

Ternium also has agreed to sell its 54% ownership interest in Ferrasa Panamá for a total consideration of USD 2 million. Ferrasa Panamá is a long steel products processor and distributor based in Panama, with annual sales of approximately 25,000 tons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Brizzio

Chief Financial Officer

Page 73 of 73

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

TERNIUM S.A.

Société Anonyme

 

Audited Annual Accounts

as at December 31, 2014

 

 

29, Avenue de la Porte-Neuve 3rd floor

L-2227 Luxembourg

R.C.S. Luxembourg B-98-668

 

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

INDEX TO THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

 

 

 

Page

Audit Report

2

Balance sheet

4

Profit and loss account

5

Notes to the annual accounts

6

 

 

 

 


 
 

 


Audit report

 

To the Shareholders of

Ternium S.A.

 

 

 

We have audited the accompanying annual accounts of Ternium S.A., which comprise the balance sheet as at 31 December 2014, the profit and loss account for the year then ended and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

 

Board of Directors’ responsibility for the annual accounts

 

The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these annual accounts in accordance with Luxembourg legal and regulatory requirements relating to the preparation of the annual accounts, and for such internal control as the Board of Directors determines is necessary to enable the preparation of annual accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Responsibility of the “Réviseur d’entreprises agréé”

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these annual accounts based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing as adopted for Luxembourg by the “Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier”. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the annual accounts are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the annual accounts. The procedures selected depend on the judgment of the “Réviseur d’entreprises agréé”, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the annual accounts, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the “Réviseur d’entreprises agréé” considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the annual accounts in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the Board of Directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the annual accounts.

 

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers Société coopérative, 2 Rue Gerhard Mercator, B.P. 1443, L-1014 Luxembourg

T: +352 494848 1, F:+352 494848 2900, www.pwc.lu

 

Cabinet de révision agréé. Expert-comptable (autorisation gouvernementale n°10028256)

R.C.S. Luxembourg B 65 477 - TVA LU25482518

2

 


 
 

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the annual accounts give a true and fair view of the financial position of Ternium S.A. as of 31 December 2014, and of the results of its operations for the year then ended in accordance with Luxembourg legal and regulatory requirements relating to the preparation of the annual accounts.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers, Société coopérative Luxembourg, 18 February 2015

 

 

Represented by

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mervyn R. Martins

 

 

 

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

Balance sheet as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

 

   

Notes

12/31/2014

 

12/31/2013

   
     

USD

 

USD

 

ASSETS

       
           

C.

Fixed assets

       

III.

Financial Fixed Assets

       

1.

Shares in affiliated undertakings

3

9,023,402,767

 

9,462,789,989

     

9,023,402,767

 

9,462,789,989

D.

Current assets

       

II.

Debtors

       

2.

Amounts owed by affiliated undertakings

       
 

a) becoming due and payable within one year

6

7,545,144

 

14,101,792

4.

Other receivables

       
 

a) becoming due and payable within one year

 

3,208

 

-

     

7,548,352

 

14,101,792

IV.

Cash at bank and in hand

 

38,408

 

38,497

 

Total assets

 

9,030,989,527

 

9,476,930,278

 

LIABILITIES

       

A

Capital and reserves

4

     

I.

Subscribed capital

 

2,004,743,442

 

2,004,743,442

II.

Share premium and similar premiums

 

1,414,121,505

 

1,414,121,505

1.

Legal reserve

5

200,474,346

 

200,474,346

2.

Other Reserves

       

V.

Profit or loss brought forward

 

5,687,690,017

 

5,844,992,653

VI.

Loss for the financial year

 

(289,975,159)

 

(6,946,877)

     

9,017,054,151

 

9,457,385,069

C.

Provisions

       

1.

Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

2.7

10,436,152

 

11,718,509

     

10,436,152

 

11,718,509

D.

Non-subordinated debts

       
 

a) becoming due and payable within one year

6

1,629,606

 

6,053,890

 

b) becoming due and payable after more than one year

       

9

Other creditors

       
 

a) becoming due and payable within one year

 

1,869,618

 

1,772,810

     

13,935,376

 

19,545,209

 

Total liabilities

 

9,030,989,527

 

9,476,930,278

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these annual accounts.

 

4

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

Profit and loss account for the years ended

December 31, 2014 and 2013

         
 

Note

12/31/2014

 

12/31/2013

   

USD

 

USD

A. CHARGES

       
         
2. Other external charges    -    -

5. Other operating charges

8

17,580,534

 

24,715,850

6. Value adjustments and fair value adjustments on financial fixed assets

 

287,194,147

   

8. Interest and other financial charges

       

a) concerning affiliated undertakings

 

192,390

 

213,599

b) other interest and similar financial charges

 

7,927

 

19,386

11. Income Tax

7

8,820

 

4,102

TOTAL CHARGES

 

304,983,818

 

24,952,937

         
         

B. INCOME

       
         

5. Other operating income

 

-

 

-

6. Income from financial fixed assets

       

a) derived from affiliated undertakings

9

15,000,000

 

18,000,000

7. Income from financial current assets

       

a) derived from affiliated undertakings

 

741

 

1,334

b) other income from financial current assets

 

7,917

 

4,726

13. Loss for the financial year

 

289,975,159

 

6,946,877

   

 

 

 

TOTAL INCOME

 

304,983,818

 

24,952,937

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these annual accounts.

 

 

 

5

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

Notes to the annual accounts
 
 
Note 1 – General information

 

Ternium S.A. (the “Company” or “Ternium”), was incorporated on December 22, 2003 to hold investments in flat and long steel manufacturing and distributing companies.  The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share.  As of December 31, 2014, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued.  All issued shares are fully paid.

 

Following a corporate reorganization carried out during fiscal year 2005, in January 2006 the Company successfully completed its registration process with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Ternium’s ADSs began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TX” on February 1, 2006.  The Company’s initial public offering was settled on February 6, 2006. 

 

The Company was initially established as a public limited liability company (société anonyme) under Luxembourg’s 1929 holding company regime.  Until termination of such regime on December 31, 2010, holding companies incorporated under the 1929 regime (including the Company) were exempt from Luxembourg corporate and withholding tax over dividends distributed to shareholders.

 

On January 1, 2011, the Company became an ordinary public limited liability company (société anonyme) and, effective as from that date, the Company is subject to all applicable Luxembourg taxes (including, among others, corporate income tax on its worldwide income) and its dividend distributions will generally be subject to Luxembourg withholding tax.  However, dividends received by the Company from subsidiaries in high income tax jurisdictions, as defined under Luxembourg law, will continue to be exempt from corporate income tax in Luxembourg under Luxembourg’s participation exemption.

 

As part of the Company’s corporate reorganization in connection with the termination of Luxembourg’s 1929 holding company regime, on December 6, 2010, the Company contributed its equity holdings in all its subsidiaries and all its financial assets to its Luxembourg wholly-owned subsidiary Ternium Investments S.à r.l., or Ternium Investments, in exchange for newly issued corporate units of Ternium Investments. As the assets contributed were recorded at their historical carrying amount in accordance with Luxembourg GAAP, the Company’s December 2010 contribution of such assets to Ternium Investments resulted in a non-taxable revaluation of the accounting value of the Company’s assets under Luxembourg GAAP. The amount of the December 2010 revaluation was equal to the difference between the historical carrying amounts of the assets contributed and the value at which such assets were contributed and amounted to USD 4.0 billion.

 

Following the completion of the corporate reorganization, and upon its conversion into an ordinary Luxembourg holding company, the Company voluntarily recorded a special reserve exclusively for tax-basis purposes. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, this special tax reserve amounted to USD 7.3 billion and USD 7.5 billion, respectively. The Company expects that, as a result of its corporate reorganization, its current overall tax burden will not increase, as all or substantially all of its dividend income will come from high income tax jurisdictions. In addition, the Company expects that dividend distributions for the foreseeable future will be imputed to the special reserve and therefore should be exempt from Luxembourg withholding tax under current Luxembourg law.

 

The financial year of the Company starts on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year.

 

Note 2 - Summary of significant accounting policies

 

2.1       Basis of presentation

 

These annual accounts have been prepared in accordance with Luxembourg legal requirements and accounting standards under the historical cost convention.

 

 

6

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

Accounting policies and valuation rules are, besides the ones laid down by the law of 19 December 2002, determined and applied by the Board of Directors.

 

The preparation of annual accounts requires the Board of Directors to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

2.2       Foreign currency translation

 

The Company maintains its books and records in United State Dollars (“USD”). Current assets and liabilities and non-current liabilities denominated in currencies other than the USD are translated into USD at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. Non-current assets remain at the exchange rate on the day of incorporation. The resulting gains or losses are reflected in the Profit and loss account for the financial year. Income and expenses in currencies other than the USD are translated into USD at the exchange rate prevailing at the date of each transaction.

 

2.3       Financial fixed assets

 

Shares in affiliated undertakings are valued at purchase price including the expenses incidental thereto. Loans to affiliated undertakings are stated at nominal value.

 

Whenever necessary the company conducts impairment test on its fixed assets in accordance with Luxembourg regulations.

 

In the case of durable depreciation in value according to the opinion of the Board of Directors, value adjustments are made in respect of financial fixed assets, so that they are valued at the lower figure to be attributed to them at the balance sheet date. These value adjustments are not continued if the reasons for which the value adjustments were made have ceased to apply.

 

2.4       Debtors

 

Amounts owed by affiliated undertakings and other receivables are valued at nominal value. They are subject to value adjustments where their recovery is compromised. These value adjustments are not continued if the reasons for which the value adjustments were made have ceased to apply.

 

Debtors are mainly composed of amounts owed by affiliated undertakings becoming due and payable within one year.

 

2.5       Cash at bank and in hand

 

Cash at bank and cash in hand also comprise cash equivalents, liquidity funds and short-term investments with a maturity of less than three months at the date of purchase. Assets recorded in cash and cash equivalents are carried at fair market value or at historical cost which approximates fair market value.

 

2.6       Non subordinated debts

 

Debts are recorded at their reimbursement value. Where the amount repayable on account is greater than the amount received, the difference is shown as an asset and is written off over the period of the debt based on a linear method.

 

7

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

2.7       Provisions for pensions and similar obligations

 

During 2007, Ternium launched an incentive retention program (the “Program”) applicable to certain senior officers and employees of the Company, who will be granted a number of Units throughout the duration of the Program. The value of each of these Units is based on Ternium’s shareholders’ equity (excluding non-controlling interest). Also, the beneficiaries of the Program are entitled to receive cash amounts based on (i) the amount of dividend payments made by Ternium to its shareholders, and (ii) the number of Units held by each beneficiary to the Program. Units vest rateably over a period of four years and will be redeemed by the Company ten years after grant date, with the option of an early redemption at seven years after grant date. As the cash payment of the benefit is tied to the book value of the shares, and not to their market value, Ternium valued this long-term incentive program as a long term benefit plan as classified in IAS 19. Actuarial gains and losses are charged or credited in the profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

 

As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the outstanding liability corresponding to the Program amounts to USD 10.4 million  and USD 11.7 million, respectively.

 

Note 3- Shares in affiliated undertakings

 

On July 19, 2013 and on July 18, 2014, as result of the master credit agreement entered between Ternium Investments S.à r.l. (“Ternium Investments”) and Ternium S.A. where Ternium Investments pursuant to which, upon request from Ternium, Ternium Investments may, but shall not be required to, from time to time make loans to Ternium. Any loan under the master credit agreement may be repaid or prepaid from time to time through a reduction of the capital of Ternium Investments by an amount equivalent to the amount of the loan then outstanding (including accrued interest). As a result of the cancellation of loans granted to Ternium, the reductions in the capital of Ternium Investments made on July 19, 2013 and on July 18, 2014 amounted to USD 138,207,800 and USD 152,193,076, respectively.

 

As a result of the transactions detailed above, the financial assets of the Company as at December 31, 2014, consist of:

 

 

Company

Country

% of beneficial ownership

Book value at 12.31.2013

Net (Decreases) / Additions

Impairments

Book value at 12.31.2014

Equity at 12.31.2014

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

       

 

Ternium Investments S.à r.l.

Luxembourg

100.00%

9,462,789,989

-152,193,076

-287,194,147

9,023,402,767

8,912,708,110

Shares in affiliated undertakings

9,462,789,989

-152,193,076

-287,194,147

9,023,402,767

8,912,708,110

 

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company wrote down its investment in Ternium Investments S.à r.l. by USD 287.2 million, as a consequence of the impairments registered in the accounts of that company for its participations in Usiminas of USD 285.1 million and in Ternium Brasil S.A. of USD 2.1 million. The impairment for Usiminas was mainly due to expectations of a weaker industrial environment in Brazil, and consequently steel demand, as a result of worsening economic activity, as well as a significant downturn in international prices of iron ore and steel, which led to diminished cash flow expectations. As of December 31, 2014 the discount rate used to test the investment in Usiminas for impairment was 9.8%.

 

 

8

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

Note 4 - Capital and reserves

 

 

   

Subscribed Capital

Share
premium

Legal reserve

Profit or loss brought forward

Result for the financial year

Shareholders' Equity

Balance at December 31, 2013

 

2,004,743,442

1,414,121,505

200,474,346

5,844,992,653

(6,946,877)

9,457,385,069

Allocation of previous year results (1)

 

-

-

-

(6,946,877)

6,946,877

-

Payment of dividends (1)

 

-

-

-

(150,355,759)

-

(150,355,759)

Loss for the year

 

-

-

-

-

(289,975,159)

(289,975,159)

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

2,004,743,442

1,414,121,505

200,474,346

5,687,690,017

(289,975,159)

9,017,054,151

 

(1)      As approved by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on May 7, 2014.

 

The authorized capital of the Company amounts to USD 3,500 million. The total authorized share capital of the Company is represented by 3,500,000,000 shares with a par value of USD 1 per share. The total capital issued and fully paid-up at December 31, 2014, was 2,004,743,442 shares with a par value of USD 1 per share.

 

Note 5 – Legal Reserve

 

In accordance with Luxembourg law, the Company is required to set aside a minimum of 5% of its annual net profit for each financial period to a legal reserve. This requirement ceases to be necessary once the balance of the legal reserve has reached 10% of the Company’s issued share capital. At December 31, 2014, this reserve reached the above-mentioned threshold, the legal reserve is not available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Note 6 – Balances with affiliated undertakings

 

 

December 31, 2014 - USD

 

December 31, 2013 - USD

Assets

     

Debtors

     

Ternium Solutions A.G.

-

 

570,115

Ternium Investments S.à r.l.

7,545,144

 

13,531,677

 

7,545,144

 

14,101,792

Liabilities

     

Creditors

     

Ternium Treasury Services S.A. – Argentine branch

-

 

63,739

Siderar S.A.I.C.

5,542

 

346,718

Soluciones Integrales de Gestión S.A. (SIGSA)

1,001,967

 

978,433

Ternium Solutions A.G.

622,097

 

4,665,000

 

1,629,606

 

6,053,890

 

Note 7 – Taxes

 

For the period ended December 31, 2014, the Company did not realize any profits subject to tax in Luxembourg and will therefore be only subject to the minimum income tax applicable to a Soparfi (société de participations financières). The Company is also liable to the minimum Net Wealth Tax.

 

 

9

 


 

TERNIUM S.A.

Audited annual accounts as at December 31, 2014 and 2013

(All amounts in USD)

 

Note 8 – Other Operating Charges

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

December 31, 2013

USD

USD

Services and fees

15,532,038

 

23,121,790

Board of director`s accrued fees

1,233,563

 

1,160,000

Other expenses

814,933

 

434,060

Total

17,580,534

 

24,715,850

 

 

Services and fees are mainly composed of professional, audit and legal services.

 

Note 9 – Income from financial fixed assets derived from affiliated undertakings

 

During the period, the Company has received a dividend from Ternium Investments S.à r.l. amounting to USD 15,000,000.

 

Note 10 – Parent Company

 

As of December 30, 2014, Techint Holdings S.à r.l. (“Techint”) owned 62.02% of the Company’s share capital and Tenaris Investments S.à r.l. (“Tenaris”) held 11.46% of the Company’s share capital. Each of Techint and  Tenaris were controlled by San Faustin S.A., a Luxembourg company (“San Faustin”). Rocca & Partners Stichting Administratiekantoor Aandelen San Faustin (“RP STAK”), a Dutch private foundation (Stichting), held shares in San Faustin sufficient in number to control San Faustin.  No person or group of persons controls RP STAK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pablo Brizzio

Chief Financial Officer

 

10

 

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