First quarter 2019 results - “Resilient results despite a weak market environment in Europe and a seasonally weak Brazil”

Luxembourg, May 8, 2019 (07:00 CET) - Aperam (referred to as “Aperam” or the “Company”) (Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Paris, Brussels: APAM, NYRS: APEMY), announced today results for the three months ending March 31, 2019

Highlights

Strategic initiatives

Prospects

Financial Highlights (on the basis of financial information prepared under IFRS)

Health & Safety results

Health and Safety performance based on Aperam personnel figures and contractors’ lost time injury frequency rate was 1.1x in the first quarter of 2019 compared to 0.8x in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Financial results analysis for the three-month period ending March 31, 2019

Sales for the first quarter of 2019 increased by 5.2%, at EUR 1,178 million compared to EUR 1,120 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Steel shipments increased from 480 thousand tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2018, to 501 thousand tonnes in the first quarter of 2019.

EBITDA was EUR 81 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to EUR 90 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Group EBITDA was negatively impacted due to lag effects from the import flood in Europe during Q4 as destocking kept pressure on base prices, while Brazil declined due to seasonal factors. Also negative inventory valuation effects remained at a high level. The positive effect from the Leadership Journey®, and the Top Line strategy enabled resilient results over the quarter.

Depreciation and amortization was EUR (35) million for the first quarter of 2019.

Aperam had an operating income for the first quarter of 2019 of EUR 46 million compared to an operating income of EUR 52 million for the previous quarter.

Net interest expense and other financing costs for the first quarter of 2019 were EUR (16) million, including cash cost of financing of EUR (2) million. During the quarter, the Company booked an exceptional net financial loss of EUR (11) million, mainly related to the accounting effects linked to the acceptance by bondholders of the invitation to sell their Convertible Bonds 2021 pursuant to a fixed price tender offer process. Realized and unrealized foreign exchange and derivative gains were EUR 2 million for the first quarter of 2019.

Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2019 was EUR (7) million.

The Company recorded a net income of EUR 25 million for the first quarter of 2019.

Cash flows from operations for the first quarter of 2019 were positive at EUR 71 million, despite a working capital increase of EUR (19) million, mainly due to higher prices and activity. CAPEX for the first quarter was EUR (47) million.

Free cash flow before dividend for the first quarter of 2019 amounted to EUR 24 million.

During the first quarter of 2019, the cash returns to shareholders amounted to EUR (33) million, via dividends. During the first quarter of 2019, the Company repurchased Convertible Bonds 2021 with a nominal amount of USD 72.4 million (EUR 63 million) for a total consideration of EUR 63 million.

Operating segment results analysis

Stainless & Electrical Steel (1)

(1) Amounts are shown prior to intra-group eliminations

The Stainless & Electrical Steel segment had sales of EUR 931 million for the first quarter of 2019. This represents a 2.0% increase compared to sales of EUR 913 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Steel shipments during the first quarter were 479 thousand tonnes. This is an increase of 1.9% compared to shipments of 470 thousand tonnes during the previous quarter. The volume increase was mainly due to a soft seasonal recovery in Europe. Overall, average steel selling prices for the Stainless & Electrical Steel segment remained stable compared to the previous quarter.

The segment recorded EBITDA of EUR 52 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to EUR 87 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Despite higher volumes and a stable mix, a seasonally weak quarter in Brazil, challenging market conditions in Europe and negative valuation effects on inventories due to lower raw material prices caused lower earnings compared to the previous quarter.

Depreciation and amortisation expense was EUR (30) million for the first quarter of 2019.  

The Stainless & Electrical Steel segment had an operating income of EUR 22 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to an operating income of EUR 53 million for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Services & Solutions(1)

(1) Amounts are shown prior to intra-group eliminations

The Services & Solutions segment had sales of EUR 520 million for the first quarter of 2019, representing an increase of 11% compared to EUR 467 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. For the first quarter of 2019, steel shipments were 214 thousand tonnes compared to 181 thousand tonnes during the previous quarter. The Services & Solutions segment recorded lower average steel selling prices during the period compared to the previous period.  

Segment EBITDA at EUR 16 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to EUR (3) million for the fourth quarter of 2018. EBITDA improved quarter on quarter primarily due to higher shipments and positive inventory effects versus the previous quarter.

Depreciation and amortisation was EUR (2) million for the first quarter of 2019.

The Services & Solutions segment had an operating income of EUR 14 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to an operating loss of EUR (6) million for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Alloys & Specialties(1)

(1) Amounts are shown prior to intra-group eliminations

The Alloys & Specialties segment had sales of EUR 153 million for the first quarter of 2019, representing an increase of 11% compared to EUR 138 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. Steel shipments were higher during the first quarter of 2019 at 10 thousand tonnes compared to 9 thousand tonnes during the fourth quarter of 2018. Average steel selling prices increased over the quarter.

The Alloys & Specialties segment achieved an EBITDA of EUR 12 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to EUR 7 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in EBITDA was predominantly volume related and supplemented by a positive inventory valuation effect and a better price/mix versus the previous quarter.

Depreciation and amortisation expense for the first quarter of 2019 was EUR (2) million.

The Alloys & Specialties segment had an operating income of EUR 10 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared to an operating income of EUR 6 million for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Recent developments

• Over the period, from February 11, 2019 to May 6, 2019, Aperam announced several notifications for Designated Persons in relation to the share buyback.

• On February 25, 2019, Aperam announced the signature of a financing contract where the EIB will make available to Aperam an amount of EUR 100 million for advanced stainless steel manufacturing.

• On March 25, 2019, Aperam announced the invitation to holders of its outstanding U.S.$300 million 0.625 per cent Net Share Settled Bonds due 2021, (convertible into common shares of Aperam) to offer to sell their Bonds pursuant to a fixed price tender offer process.

• On March 25, 2019, Aperam announced the results in relation to its fixed price tender of its outstanding U.S.$300 million 0.625 per cent Net Share Settled Bonds due 2021 (convertible into common shares of Aperam).

• On March 27, 2019, Aperam announced the Final Purchase Price in relation to its fixed price tender of its outstanding U.S.$300 million 0.625 per cent Net Share Settled Bonds due 2021 (convertible into common shares of Aperam).

• On April 1, 2019, Aperam announced shareholding notifications by Prudential plc for reaching and crossing the 5% voting rights threshold with reference to Transparency Law.

• On May 7, 2019, Aperam announced that the Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders of Aperam held in Luxembourg on May 7, 2019 approved all resolutions on the agenda by a large majority.

Investor conference call

Aperam management will host a conference call for members of the investment community to discuss the first quarter 2019 financial performance at the following time:

The dial-in numbers for the call are: France (+33 (0) 1767 00794); USA (+1 631 510 7495); and international (+44 (0) 2071 928000). Conference ID: 4889473

A replay of the conference call will be available until 15 May 2019: France (+33 (0) 170950348); USA (+1 (917) 677-7532) and international (+44 (0) 3333 009785). Conference ID: 4889473

Contacts

Corporate Communications / Laurent Beauloye: +352 27 36 27 103
Investor Relations / Thorsten Zimmermann: +352 27 36 27 304

About Aperam

Aperam is a global player in stainless, electrical and specialty steel, with customers in over 40 countries. The business is organised in three primary operating segments: Stainless & Electrical Steel, Services & Solutions and Alloys & Specialties.

Aperam has 2.5 million tonnes of flat Stainless and Electrical steel capacity in Brazil and Europe and is a leader in high value specialty products. Aperam has a highly integrated distribution, processing and services network and a unique capability to produce stainless and specialty from low cost biomass (charcoal). Its industrial network is spread in six production facilities located in Brazil, Belgium and France.

In 2018, Aperam had sales of EUR 4,677 million and steel shipments of 1.97 million tonnes.

For further information, please refer to our website at www.aperam.com

Forward-looking statements

This document may contain forward-looking information and statements about Aperam and its subsidiaries. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “target” or similar expressions. Although Aperam’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of Aperam’s securities are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Aperam, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in Aperam’s filings with the Luxembourg Stock Market Authority for the Financial Markets (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier). Aperam undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

APERAM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

APERAM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

APERAM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Appendix 1a – Health & Safety statistics

Lost time injury frequency rate equals lost time injuries per 1,000,000 worked hours, based on own personnel and contractors.

Appendix 1b - Key operational and financial information

Appendix 2 – Terms and definitions

Unless indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this earnings release report to the following terms have the meanings set out next to them below:

Average steel selling prices: calculated as steel sales divided by steel shipments.
Cash and cash equivalents: represents cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments.
CAPEX: relates to capital expenditures and is defined as purchase of tangible assets, intangible assets and biological assets.
EBITDA: operating income before depreciation, amortisation and impairment expenses.
EBITDA/tonne: calculated as EBITDA divided by total steel shipments.
Free cash flow before dividend: net cash provided by operating activities less net cash used in investing activities.
Gross financial debt: long-term debt plus short-term debt.
Liquidity: Cash and cash equivalent and undrawn credit lines.
LTI frequency rate: Lost time injury frequency rate equals lost time injuries per 1,000,000 worked hours, based on own personnel and contractors.
Net financial debt and / or Net cash: long-term debt, plus short-term debt less cash and cash equivalents.
Net financial debt/EBITDA or Gearing: Refers to Net financial debt divided by last twelve months EBITDA calculation.
Shipments: information at segment and group level eliminates inter-segment shipments (which are primarily between Stainless & Electrical Steel and Services & Solutions) and intra-segment shipments, respectively.
Working capital: trade accounts receivable plus inventories less trade accounts payable.

1 The financial information in this press release and Appendix 1 has been prepared in accordance with the measurement and recognition criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted in the European Union. While the interim financial information included in this announcement has been prepared in accordance with IFRS applicable to interim periods, this announcement does not contain sufficient information to constitute an interim financial report as defined in International Accounting Standard 34, “Interim Financial Reporting”. Unless otherwise noted the numbers and information in the press release have not been audited. The financial information and certain other information presented in a number of tables in this press release have been rounded to the nearest whole number or the nearest decimal. Therefore, the sum of the numbers in a column may not conform exactly to the total figure given for that column. In addition, certain percentages presented in the tables in this press release reflect calculations based upon the underlying information prior to rounding and, accordingly, may not conform exactly to the percentages that would be derived if the relevant calculations were based upon the rounded numbers. This press release also includes Alternative Performance Measures (“APM” hereafter). The Company believes that these APMs are relevant to enhance the understanding of its financial position and provides additional information to investors and management with respect to the Company’s financial performance, capital structure and credit assessment. These non-GAAP financial measures should be read in conjunction with and not as an alternative for, Aperam’s financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Such non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures applied by other companies. The APM’s used are defined under Appendix 2 “Terms & definitions”.
2 The Leadership Journey® is an initiative launched on December 16, 2010, and subsequently accelerated and increased, to target management gains and profit enhancement. The third phase of the Leadership Journey® - the Transformation Program - was initially targeting EUR 150 million of additional EBITDA gains per year by end of 2020. In February 2019, the annualized gains target has been increased by EUR 50 million to reach EUR 200 million by year end 2020.
3 Includes revolving credit facility of EUR 300 million.