Tenaris Announces 2016 Third Quarter Results

The financial information contained in this press release is based on unaudited consolidated condensed interim financial statements presented in U.S. dollars ($) and prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board and adopted by the European Union, or IFRS


LUXEMBOURG--(Marketwired - Nov 3, 2016) - Tenaris S.A. (NYSE: TS) (BAE: TS) (BMV: TS) (MILAN: TEN) ("Tenaris") today announced its results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016 with comparison to its results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

Summary of 2016 Third Quarter Results

(Comparison with second quarter of 2016 and third quarter of 2015)

  Q3 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2015
Net sales ($ million) 1,049 1,121 (6%) 1,559 (33%)
Operating (loss) ($ million) (14) (40) 65% (319) 96%
Net income (loss) ($ million) 15 (9) 269% (356) 104%
Shareholders' net income (loss) ($ million) 17 (13) 225% (355) 105%
Earnings (loss) per ADS ($) 0.03 (0.02) 225% (0.60) 105%
Earnings (loss) per share ($) 0.01 (0.01) 225% (0.30) 105%
EBITDA* ($ million) 154 124 24% 240 (36%)
EBITDA margin (% of net sales) 14.7% 11.1%   15.4%  
           

*EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation, amortization and impairment charges/(reversals). EBITDA includes severance charges of $10 million in Q3 2016, $43 million in Q2 2016 and $38 million in Q3 2015, in Q3 2016 EBITDA also includes a one off-gain of $14 million from the sale of land. If these charges and one-off gains were not included EBITDA would have been $150 million (14%) in Q3 2016, $167 million (15%) in Q2 2016 and $278 million (18%) in Q3 2015.

Our third quarter sales were down 6% sequentially reflecting a further decline in average selling prices. Shipments, however, stabilized following six consecutive quarters of declines, with higher volumes in US onshore compensating seasonally lower volumes in Europe and the completion of shipments for line pipe projects in Argentina. EBITDA for the quarter rose sequentially with the margin recovering reflecting lower severance charges and a one-off gain of $14 million from the sale of land.

Operating cash flow amounted to $254 million with a further reduction of $149 million in working capital and our free cash flow was positive at $66 million after capital expenditures of $187 million, mainly relating to the construction of our new mill in Bay City. Our financial position remains stable with net cash (cash, other current investments and fixed income investments held to maturity less total borrowings) of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2016.

Interim Dividend Payment

Our board of directors approved the payment of an interim dividend of $0.13 per share ($0.26 per ADS), or approximately $153 million. The payment date will be November 23, 2016, with an ex-dividend date on November 21, 2016 and record date on November 22, 2016.

Market Background and Outlook

The oil market is close to a balance between supply and demand. Modest increases in commodity prices are helping oil and gas companies to balance cash flows. US drilling activity is gradually increasing and is up 25% from its low in May. In the rest of the world, drilling activity is close to bottoming out. The recovery, however, will be gradual while oil inventories remain high and the financial condition of the oil and gas industry and its suppliers is stretched.

Our sales and EBITDA in the fourth quarter will benefit from the gradual recovery of demand in North America and a strong level of shipments in the Middle East and Africa. In the first half of 2017, our sales and EBITDA should continue to benefit from a recovery in sales in North America but a slowdown in sales to the Middle East and Africa will hold back the results of the first quarter.

Analysis of 2016 Third Quarter Results

Tubes Sales volume
 (thousand metric tons)
Q3 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2015
Seamless 416 395 5% 439 (5%)
Welded 62 80 (23%) 160 (61%)
Total 477 475 0% 599 (20%)
Tubes Q3 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2015
(Net sales - $ million)          
North America 282 266 6% 502 (44%)
South America 225 245 (8%) 465 (52%)
Europe 126 162 (23%) 150 (16%)
Middle East & Africa 251 276 (9%) 229 10%
Asia Pacific 34 36 (5%) 47 (28%)
Total net sales ($ million) 917 985 (7%) 1,393 (34%)
Operating (loss) ($ million) (32) (65) 50% (337) 90%
Operating margin (% of sales) (3.5%) (6.6%)   (24.1%)  
           

1Tubes operating income includes severance charges of $9 million in Q3 2016, $39 million in Q2 2016 and $35 million in Q3 2015. Additionally in the third quarter of 2015 operating result includes a goodwill impairment charge of $400 million on our North American business.

Net sales of tubular products and services decreased 7% sequentially and 34% year on year. Sequentially volumes were stable but sales declined reflecting a 7% decline in average selling prices. In North America, sales increased due to higher activity and consumption in the United States and Canada land operations, partially offset by further price declines. In South America we had lower sales following the completion of deliveries to pipeline projects in Argentina. In Europe sales declined reflecting seasonally lower sales to industrial and line pipe customers and lower sales on reduced activity in the North Sea. In the Middle East and Africa sales were negatively affected by lower selling prices with an increase in shipments to Saudi Arabia and for the Zohr project in Egypt offset by lower shipments to Kuwait and UAE. In Asia Pacific higher sales to Chevron in Thailand were offset by lower sales in Indonesia.

Operating result from tubular products and services, was a loss of $32 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to a loss of $65 million in the previous quarter and a loss of $337 million in the third quarter of 2015 when we recorded an impairment charge of $400 million. Sequentially, we reduced the Tubes operating loss mainly due to a reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses and a one-off gain on the sale of land amounting to $14 million. Part of the reduction in SG&A and the improvement in results was due to lower severance charges in the Tubes segment, wich amounted to $10 million in Q3 2016 ($6 million in SG&A and $4 million in cost of sales), compared to $40 million in Q2 2016 ($24 million in SG&A and $16 million in COS) and $36 million in Q3 2015 ($19 million in SG&A and $17 million in COS).

       
Others Q3 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2015
Net sales ($ million) 131 136 (3%) 166 (21%)
Operating income ($ million) 18 25 (27%) 17 7%
Operating margin (% of sales) 14.1% 18.6%   10.4%  
           

Net sales of other products and services decreased 3% sequentially and 21% year on year. Operating income declined due to a further deterioration in our industrial equipment business in Brazil and our coiled tubing business.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, amounted to $312 million, or 29.8% of net sales in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $342 million, 30.5% in the previous quarter and $382 million, 24.5% in the third quarter of 2015. The sequential decline in SG&A expenses is mainly explained by lower labor costs due to a lower headcount and a lower level of severance charges and lower services and fees, partially offset by an increase in provisions for contingencies and allowance for doubtful accounts.

Other operating results, amounted to a gain of $17 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared with a loss of $4 million in the previous quarter and a loss of $401 million in the third quarter of 2015. The gain of this quarter comes from the sale of land not used in the production process of the Company.

Financial results amounted to a gain of $4 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to a gain of $10 million in the previous quarter and a gain of $5 million in the third quarter of 2015. The sequential decline is mainly explained by lower returns on financial investments due to expectations of interest rates increases, partially offset by lower hedging costs.

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies generated a gain of $27 million in the third quarter of 2016, compared to a gain of $19 million in the previous quarter and a loss of $5 million in the third quarter of 2015. These results are mainly derived from our equity investment in Ternium (NYSE: TX) and Usiminas.

Results attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to $1 million loss in the third quarter of 2016, compared to $4 million gain in the previous quarter and $1 million loss in the third quarter of 2015. These results were mainly attributable to non-controlling interests at our Japanese subsidiary NKKTubes and our pipe coating subsidiary in Nigeria.

Cash Flow and Liquidity of 2016 Third Quarter

Net cash provided by operations during the third quarter of 2016 was $254 million, compared to $380 million in the previous quarter and $586 million in the third quarter of 2015. Working capital decreased by $149 million during the third quarter of 2016, compared to $307 million in the previous quarter and $438 million in the third quarter of 2015. The decrease in working capital in the third quarter of 2016 was mainly due to a decrease in trade receivables and inventories together with an increase in trade payables.

Capital expenditures amounted to $187 million in the third quarter of 2016, mainly associated with the construction of the new greenfield seamless mill in Bay City, Texas.

We maintained a net cash position (cash, other current investments and fixed income investments held to maturity less total borrowings) of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2016.

Analysis of 2016 First Nine Months Results

  9M 2016 9M 2015 Increase/(Decrease)
Net sales ($ million) 3,426 5,681 (40%)
Operating (loss) income ($ million) (11) 171 (107%)
Net income (loss) ($ million) 34 (29) 217%
Shareholders' net income (loss) ($ million) 21 (34) 164%
Earnings (loss) per ADS ($) 0.04 (0.06) 164%
Earnings (loss) per share ($) 0.02 (0.03) 164%
EBITDA* ($ million) 483 1,032 (53%)
EBITDA margin (% of net sales) 14.1% 18.2%  

*EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation, amortization and impairment charges /(reversals).

Tubes Sales volume
(thousand metric tons)
9M 2016 9M 2015 Increase/(Decrease)
Seamless 1,177 1,588 (26%)
Welded 288 460 (37%)
Total 1,465 2,048 (28%)
       
Tubes 9M 2016 9M 2015 Increase/(Decrease)
(Net sales - $ million)      
North America   929   2,051 (55%)
South America   820   1,418 (42%)
Europe   421   576 (27%)
Middle East & Africa   765   882 (13%)
Asia Pacific   98   225 (57%)
Total net sales ($ million)   3,033   5,152 (41%)
Operating (loss) income ($ million)   (76)   132 (158%)
Operating margin (% of sales)   (2.5%)   2.6%  

Net sales of tubular products and services decreased 41% to $3,033 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to $5,152 million in the first nine months of 2015, reflecting a 28% decrease in volumes and an 18% decrease in average selling prices.

Operating result from tubular products and services amounted a loss of $76 million in the first nine months of 2016 compared to a gain of $132 million in the first nine months of 2015. Results have been negatively affected by the decline in sales and a higher ratio of fixed costs resulting from low utilization of production capacity and severance costs to adjust the workforce to current market conditions. Severance charges in the Tubes segment amounted to $60 million in the first nine months of 2016 ($32 million in SG&A and $28 million in cost of sales), compared to $136 million in the same period of 2015 ($55 million in SG&A and $80 million in COS).

Others 9M 2016 9M 2015 Increase/(Decrease)
Net sales ($ million) 394 529 (26%)
Operating income ($ million) 65 39 67%
Operating margin (% of sales) 16.4% 7.3%  

Net sales of other products and services decreased 26% to $394 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to $529 million in the first nine months of 2015, while operating income increased 67% reflecting higher margins.

SG&A amounted to $941 million, or 27.5% of net sales during the first nine months of 2016, compared to $1,255 million, or 22.1% in the same period of 2015. Despite a 25% decline in SG&A expenses, SG&A as a percentage of sales increased mainly due to a higher proportion of fixed costs over lower revenues.

Other operating results amounted to net gain of $12 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared with a loss of $393 million in the same period of 2015 when we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $400 million on our welded pipe business in the United States.

Financial results were a loss of $1 million in the first nine months of 2016 compared to a loss of $5 million in the same period of 2015, mainly explained by higher returns on financial investments partially offset by negative impact from Brazilian Real appreciation against the U.S. dollar on hedging instruments.

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies generated a gain of $57 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to a gain of $7 million in the first nine months of 2015. These results are mainly derived from our equity investment in Ternium (NYSE: TX) and Usiminas.

Income tax charges totalled $10 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to $202 million in the same period of 2015.

Income attributable to non-controlling interests amounted to $13 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to $4 million in the first nine months of 2015. These results were mainly attributable to non-controlling interests at our Japanese subsidiary NKKTubes and our pipe coating subsidiary in Nigeria.

Cash Flow and Liquidity of 2016 First Nine Months

During the first nine months of 2016, net cash provided by operations was $942 million, compared to $2,012 million in the same period of 2015. Working capital decreased by $559 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared to $1,350 million in the first nine months of 2015.

Capital expenditures amounted to $629 million in the first nine months of 2016, compared with $824 million in the same period of 2015. As of September 30, 2016 we had invested $1.2 billion in the ongoing construction of the new greenfield seamless mill in Bay City, Texas, of which $402 million correspond to the first nine months of 2016.

We maintained a net cash position (cash, other current investments and fixed income investments held to maturity less total borrowings) of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2016.

Conference call

Tenaris will hold a conference call to discuss the above reported results, on November 4, 2016, at 08:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Following a brief summary, the conference call will be opened to questions. To access the conference call dial in +1 877 730 0732 within North America or +1 530 379 4676 Internationally. The access number is "96619866". Please dial in 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. The conference call will be also available by webcast at www.tenaris.com/investors.

A replay of the conference call will be available on our webpage http://ir.tenaris.com/ or by phone from 11.00 am ET on November 4, through 11.59 pm on November 12, 2016. To access the replay by phone, please dial +1 855 859 2056 or +1 404 537 3406 and enter passcode "96619866" when prompted.

Some of the statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. These risks include but are not limited to risks arising from uncertainties as to future oil and gas prices and their impact on investment programs by oil and gas companies.

Press releases and financial statements can be downloaded from Tenaris's website at www.tenaris.com/investors.

Consolidated Condensed Interim Income Statement

(all amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)   Three-month period ended September 30,     Nine-month period ended September 30,  
    2016     2015     2016     2015  
Continuing operations   Unaudited     Unaudited  
Net sales   1,048,527     1,559,194     3,426,454     5,680,827  
Cost of sales   (766,574 )   (1,096,539 )   (2,508,814 )   (3,861,608 )
Gross profit   281,953     462,655     917,640     1,819,219  
Selling, general and administrative expenses   (312,481 )   (381,582 )   (941,044 )   (1,255,309 )
Other operating income (expense), net   16,717     (400,532 )   11,943     (392,874 )
Operating (loss) income   (13,811 )   (319,459 )   (11,461 )   171,036  
Finance Income   14,226     2,554     58,333     25,639  
Finance Cost   (6,913 )   (4,721 )   (16,031 )   (20,341 )
Other financial results   (3,456 )   6,754     (43,390 )   (10,234 )
(Loss) income before equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies and income tax   (9,954 )   (314,872 )   (12,549 )   166,100  
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated companies   26,586     (5,375 )   56,925     6,809  
Income (loss) before income tax   16,632     (320,247 )   44,376     172,909  
Income tax   (1,144 )   (35,420 )   (10,115 )   (202,310 )
Income (loss) for the period   15,488     (355,667 )   34,261     (29,401 )
                         
Attributable to:                        
Owners of the parent   16,603     (354,904 )   21,498     (33,508 )
Non-controlling interests   (1,115 )   (763 )   12,763     4,107  
    15,488     (355,667 )   34,261     (29,401 )
                         
                         

Consolidated Condensed Interim Statement of Financial Position

(all amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)   At September 30, 2016   At December 31, 2015
    Unaudited    
ASSETS                
Non-current assets                
  Property, plant and equipment, net   6,026,707       5,672,258    
  Intangible assets, net   1,970,995       2,143,452    
  Investments in non-consolidated companies   548,882       490,645    
  Available for sale assets   21,572       21,572    
  Other investments   285,508       394,746    
  Deferred tax assets   181,467       200,706    
  Receivables   202,368   9,237,499   220,564   9,143,943
Current assets                
  Inventories   1,498,624       1,843,467    
  Receivables and prepayments   116,416       148,846    
  Current tax assets   157,190       188,180    
  Trade receivables   918,814       1,135,129    
  Other investments   1,830,590       2,140,862    
  Cash and cash equivalents   468,613   4,990,247   286,547   5,743,031
Total assets       14,227,746       14,886,974
EQUITY                
Capital and reserves attributable to owners of the parent       11,484,349       11,713,344
Non-controlling interests       136,531       152,712
Total equity       11,620,880       11,866,056
LIABILITIES                
Non-current liabilities                
  Borrowings   32,737       223,221    
  Deferred tax liabilities   629,828       750,325    
  Other liabilities   228,339       231,176    
  Provisions   63,689   954,593   61,421   1,266,143
                 
Current liabilities                
  Borrowings   713,222       748,295    
  Current tax liabilities   94,904       136,018    
  Other liabilities   231,744       222,842    
  Provisions   20,574       8,995    
  Customer advances   40,904       134,780    
  Trade payables   550,925   1,652,273   503,845   1,754,775
Total liabilities       2,606,866       3,020,918
Total equity and liabilities       14,227,746       14,886,974
                 
                 

Consolidated Condensed Interim Statement of Cash Flow

    Three-month period ended September 30,     Nine-month period ended September 30,  
(all amounts in thousands of U.S. dollars)   2016     2015     2016     2015  
Cash flows from operating activities   Unaudited     Unaudited  
                         
Income (loss) for the period   15,488     (355,667 )   34,261     (29,401 )
Adjustments for:                        
Depreciation and amortization   167,520     159,215     494,638     460,416  
Impairment charge   -     400,314     -     400,314  
Income tax accruals less payments   (47,047 )   (24,388 )   (115,778 )   (112,002 )
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies   (26,586 )   5,375     (56,925 )   (6,809 )
Interest accruals less payments, net   (8,165 )   5,616     (38,350 )   3,003  
Changes in provisions   5,676     (8,675 )   13,847     (15,865 )
Changes in working capital   148,955     437,624     559,187     1,350,106  
Other, including currency translation adjustment   (2,330 )   (33,081 )   51,506     (37,447 )
Net cash provided by operating activities   253,511     586,333     942,386     2,012,315  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities                        
Capital expenditures   (187,376 )   (300,895 )   (628,799 )   (824,082 )
Changes in advance to suppliers of property, plant and equipment   7,622     7,417     41,974     23,316  
Investment in non-consolidated companies   -     -     (17,108 )   -  
Net loan to non-consolidated companies   (11,550 )   (6,922 )   (35,398 )   (16,671 )
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets   18,253     1,021     22,232     2,894  
Dividends received from non-consolidated companies   -     -     20,674     20,674  
Changes in investments in securities   93,841     (49,358 )   419,523     (780,045 )
Net cash used in investing activities   (79,210 )   (348,737 )   (176,902 )   (1,573,914 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities                        
Dividends paid   -     -     (354,161 )   (354,161 )
Dividends paid to non-controlling interest in subsidiaries   (24,000 )   -     (28,311 )   -  
Acquisitions of non-controlling interests   (309 )   (23 )   (786 )   (877 )
Proceeds from borrowings   300,029     330,939     795,971     1,454,833  
Repayments of borrowings   (373,324 )   (577,340 )   (1,001,228 )   (1,436,803 )
Net cash used in financing activities   (97,604 )   (246,424 )   (588,515 )   (337,008 )
                         
Increase in cash and cash equivalents   76,697     (8,828 )   176,969     101,393  
Movement in cash and cash equivalents                        
At the beginning of the period   392,643     516,724     286,198     416,445  
Effect of exchange rate changes   (1,217 )   (11,424 )   4,956     (21,366 )
Increase in cash and cash equivalents   76,697     (8,828 )   176,969     101,393  
At September 30,   468,123     496,472     468,123     496,472  
    At September 30,     At September 30,  
Cash and cash equivalents   2016     2015     2016     2015  
Cash and bank deposits   468,613     497,753     468,613     497,753  
Bank overdrafts   (490 )   (1,281 )   (490 )   (1,281 )
    468,123     496,472     468,123     496,472  
                         
                         

Net Financial Position

  At September 30,  
  2016   2015  
Cash and bank deposits 468,123   496,472  
Bank overdrafts 490   1,281  
Other current investments 1,830,590   2,338,772  
Fixed income investments held to maturity 283,833   279,652  
Borrowings (745,959 ) (998,898 )
Net cash / (debt) 1,837,077   2,117,279  

Contact Information:

Giovanni Sardagna
Tenaris
1-888-300-5432
www.tenaris.com