terniumfs2014_6k.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing  

                                                                                                                                               

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:

 

 

 

 

 

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

-