Tenaris S.A. Form 6-K Summary
Business Context and Reporting Period
This filing contains the Consolidated Condensed Interim Financial Statements for Tenaris S.A., a global manufacturer of steel pipes and related products, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2019. The statements are unaudited and prepared in accordance with IFRS. The company adopted IFRS 16 "Leases" effective January 1, 2019, utilizing the modified retrospective approach.
Key Financial Metrics
| Metric (Nine Months Ended Sep 30) | 2019 (USD '000) | 2018 (USD '000) |
|---|---|---|
| Net Sales | 5,553,507 | 5,553,611 |
| Gross Profit | 1,690,198 | 1,716,316 |
| Operating Income | 680,624 | 693,130 |
| Net Income (Total) | 582,803 | 648,835 |
| Net Income (Attributable to Owners) | 590,913 | 650,238 |
| Diluted EPS (USD) | 0.50 | 0.55 |
| Operating Cash Flow | 1,263,667 | 371,520 |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents (Sep 30) | 1,537,005 | 428,361 |
| Total Borrowings (Current + Non-current) | 922,872 | 539,007 |
Material Changes vs. Prior Period
- Revenue Stability: Net sales remained virtually flat year-over-year ($5.55 billion), with the Tubes segment accounting for the majority of revenue ($5.24 billion).
- Profitability Decline: Net income attributable to owners decreased by approximately 9% ($591 million vs. $650 million). This was primarily driven by a significant reduction in "Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies," which fell from $142.9 million in 2018 to $68.7 million in 2019.
- Cash Flow Improvement: Operating cash flow surged to $1.26 billion from $372 million in the prior year, largely due to a $503 million positive change in working capital compared to a $659 million outflow in 2018.
- Liquidity and Debt: Cash and cash equivalents increased significantly to $1.54 billion. Total borrowings increased to $923 million, reflecting new financing activities and the adoption of IFRS 16, which recognized lease liabilities of $239 million.
- Acquisitions: The company acquired a 47.79% stake in Saudi Steel Pipe Company (SSP) for approximately $141 million in January 2019. SSP contributed $129 million in revenue for the period.
Outlook, Risks, and Contingencies
- Dividends: The Board approved an interim dividend of $0.13 per share ($0.26 per ADS), payable November 20, 2019. Total dividends paid in the nine-month period were approximately $332 million.
- Legal Proceedings:
- CSN Lawsuit: A Brazilian court appeal regarding the 2012 Usiminas acquisition was declared admissible by the Superior Court of Justice in September 2019. Tenaris believes the claims are groundless.
- Veracel Litigation: Confab (subsidiary) was ordered to pay approximately $21.6 million to insurer Chubb (settled) and faces a separate claim from Veracel for approximately $14.9 million, which is under appeal.
- Investigations: Ongoing investigations by Brazilian, Italian, and Swiss authorities regarding alleged payments linked to Petrobras. In July 2019, the Milan prosecutor included the Company's Chairman and CEO in the investigation; no determination on trial has been made.
- Securities Litigation: Putative class actions in the U.S. regarding the "Notebooks Case" and alleged improper payments related to the Sidor expropriation.
- Delisting: The company voluntarily delisted its shares from the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange, effective October 10, 2019.
- Commitments: Significant long-term commitments exist for natural gas, oxygen/nitrogen, graphite electrodes, and iron ore supply, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars over various terms.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Non-Consolidated Earnings: Verify the sustainability of earnings from associates (Ternium, Usiminas) given the 52% drop in equity earnings year-over-year.
- Legal Exposure: Monitor the status of the CSN lawsuit and the Italian investigation involving senior management, as outcomes could result in material charges or reputational damage.
- Working Capital: Assess the drivers of the $503 million positive working capital change to determine if it is a one-time benefit or indicative of improved operational efficiency.
- Debt Structure: Review the impact of IFRS 16 on leverage ratios, noting the new $239 million in lease liabilities.
- Acquisition Integration: Evaluate the performance of the Saudi Steel Pipe Company (SSP) acquisition and the planned West Siberia plant joint venture.