Tenaris Announces 2020 Second Quarter Results

The financial and operational 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. Additionally, this press release includes non-IFRS alternative performance measures i.e., EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Net cash / debt. See exhibit I for more details on these alternative performance measures.

LUXEMBOURG, Aug. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenaris S.A. (NYSE and Mexico: TS and MTA Italy: TEN) (“Tenaris”) today announced its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 in comparison with its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

Summary of 2020 Second Quarter Results

(Comparison with first quarter 2020 and second quarter of 2019)

*EBITDA is defined as operating (loss) income plus depreciation, amortization and impairment charges / (reversals). EBITDA includes severance charges of $54 million in Q2 2020 and $23 million in Q1 2020. If these charges were not included EBITDA would have been $113 million (9.1%) in Q2 2020 and $303 million (17,2%) in Q1 2020.

Our second quarter sales were down 30% sequentially following the rapid decline in economic activity, oil consumption and drilling activity as a result of the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. Sales in North and South America were particularly affected but some areas, like the Middle East and offshore, showed more resilience.

In response to this crisis, which will have a profound and extended impact on our sector, and the severe reduction in our revenues, we have implemented actions to adjust the level of our operations around the world, reset our fixed cost structure, reduce working capital and bolster our financial condition.

EBITDA for the quarter, which includes $54 million of severance charges, remained positive even as it was affected by the low absorption of fixed and semi-fixed costs and inefficiencies related to the steep decline in capacity utilization at our production facilities. We did, however, record a net loss of $50 million as we advanced with our restructuring measures.

Free cash flow remained strong at $402 million, with a further reduction in working capital of $446 million, bringing the reduction in the first half to $763 million. Consequently, our net cash position (i.e., cash, other current and non-current investments less total borrowings) has improved and stood at $670 million as of June 30 2020.

Market Background and Outlook

The collapse in global oil consumption as a result of the measures taken to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a steep build up of inventories around the world. Even though economic activity and oil consumption have recovered to some extent since the low point reached in April, and an exceptional level of production cuts has been coordinated, the level of oil inventories and production capacity will take a long time to rebalance before a recovery in consumption to pre-pandemic levels. This remains distant and beset with uncertainty. In this environment, investments in exploration and production of oil and gas have been severely curtailed and are not expected to recover any time soon.

Demand for tubular products from the oil and gas industry has fallen significantly during the second quarter, following the reduction in rigs, and we expect it will fall further in the second half as a result of lower drilling activity and high inventory levels, particularly in North America. Sales will be further affected by realized pricing declines.

In this uncertain environment, we are anticipating a further significant reduction in sales and margins during the third quarter of 2020, with all regions being affected, before seeing an improvement in the fourth quarter. Our third quarter EBITDA margin, excluding restructuring charges, could fall close to a low single digit level while we expect to continue to reduce working capital and generate positive free cash flow.

Analysis of 2020 Second Quarter Results

Tubes

The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, sales volumes of seamless and welded pipes for the periods indicated below:

The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, net sales by geographic region, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below:

Net sales of tubular products and services decreased 28% sequentially and 34% year on year. While volumes sold declined 34%, average selling prices increased 8% as the mix of products sold was richer than in the previous quarter. Sales decreased everywhere except Europe, particularly in North and South America reflecting declines in drilling activity experienced during the quarter due to COVID-19 disruptions. In North America sales declined 45% due to the steep decline in activity in the United States and Canada where the average rig count declined 57% against the previous quarter. In South America we suffered a steep decline in activity in Argentina and the Andean region. In Europe we had higher sales of line pipe for Hydrocarbon Process Industry projects and of Oil Country Tubular Goods, OCTG, in the North Sea and Russia. In the Middle East and Africa we had a high level of sales in the Caspian area, in Qatar and for an offshore pipeline in West Africa, offset by lower sales in the rest of the region. In Asia Pacific, we had higher shipments in China offset by lower sales to Thailand and Australia.

Operating results from tubular products and services amounted to a loss of $75 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to a loss of $478 million in the previous quarter and a gain of $216 million in the second quarter of 2019. Operating loss for our Tubes segment included severance charges of $52 million in the quarter and $23 million in the previous quarter. The first quarter also included an impairment charge of $582 million. Despite a reduction in input costs, labor costs and SG&A expenses, our operating income suffered a low absorption of fixed and semi fixed costs and inefficiencies related to the steep decline in volumes.

Others

The following table indicates, for our Others business segment, net sales, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below:

Net sales of other products and services halved sequentially and year on year. While all our businesses’ revenues included in the Others segment declined during the quarter, the majority of the decline was on sucker rods. The negative operating margin reflects the lower absorption of fixed costs and the inefficiencies related to the low level of capacity utilization during the quarter.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, amounted to $286 million, or 23.0% of net sales, in the second quarter of 2020, compared to $357 million, 20.3% in the previous quarter and $339 million, 17.7% in the second quarter of 2019. Sequentially SG&A decreased 20%, mainly due to lower selling expenses associated with the decline in shipment volumes, lower depreciation and amortization and a decline in labor costs partially offset by $26 million severance charges included in SG&A.

Financial results amounted to a loss of $14 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared to a loss of $22 million in the previous quarter and a loss of $6 million in the second quarter of 2019. The loss of the quarter corresponds mainly to a non-cash FX loss of $10 million on intercompany balances; $5 million related to the Euro appreciation on Euro denominated intercompany liabilities and $4 million related to the Brazilian Real depreciation on intercompany debt denominated in U.S. dollars at our Brazilian subsidiaries. These results are to a large extent offset by changes to our currency translation reserve.

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies amounted to $4 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared to $2 million in the previous quarter and $26 million in the second quarter of last year. The quarter results are mainly derived from our equity investment in Ternium (NYSE:TX) and Techgen, partially offset by losses from our equity investment in Usiminas.

Income tax was a gain of $49 million in the second quarter of 2020, compared to a loss of $136 million in the previous quarter and a loss of $15 million in the second quarter of last year. Sequentially, the income tax of the quarter is influenced by the lower taxable results attributable to the operating losses incurred and the punctual effect on deferred tax charges recorded in the first quarter related to the devaluation of several currencies against the U.S. dollar, in particular the effect of the 25% devaluation of the Mexican Peso on the tax base used to calculate deferred taxes at our Mexican subsidiaries which have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.

Cash Flow and Liquidity of 2020 Second Quarter

Net cash provided by operating activities during the second quarter of 2020 was $448 million, compared to $516 million in the first quarter of 2020 and $342 million in the second quarter of last year. During the second quarter of 2020 we generated $446 million from the reduction in working capital.

Free cash flow amounted to $402 million after capital expenditures of $46 million and our net cash position increased to $670 million at June 30, 2020, from $271 million at March 31, 2020.

Analysis of 2020 First Half Results

*EBITDA is defined as operating (loss) income plus depreciation, amortization and impairment charges / (reversals). EBITDA includes severance charges of $77 million in 6M 2020. If these charges were not included EBITDA would have been $416 million (13.8%) in 6M 2020.

Our sales in the first half of 2020 decreased 21% compared to the first half of 2019 as volumes of tubular products shipped declined 17% and average selling prices declined 4%. The decline in sales in the first half of 2020 was due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdowns and measures around the world to contain the pandemic, as well as the collapse in global oil demand and in oil prices caused by a situation of oversupply in the market, and therefore in investments by oil and gas companies. EBITDA decreased 55% to $338 million in the first half of 2020 compared to $760 million in the first half of 2019, following the decrease in sales and the lower absorption of fixed costs and the inefficiencies related to the low level of capacity utilization between March and June 2020. In the first half of 2020 we posted a net loss attributable to owners of the parent of $708 million, or ($1.20) per ADS, which compares with a gain of $484 million or $0.82 per ADS in the first half of 2019. The loss reflects the impact of the severe market conditions associated to the pandemic, reflected in the decline in sales, inefficiencies associated to low utilization of our production capacity and an impairment charge of $622 million.

Cash flow provided by operating activities amounted to $964 million during the first half of 2020, including a reduction in working capital of $763 million. Following a payment of $1.1 billion for the acquisition of IPSCO in January 2020 and capital expenditures of $114 million during the first half of 2020, our positive net cash position (i.e., cash, other current and non-current investments, derivatives hedging borrowings and investments less total borrowings) amounted to $670 million at the end of June 2020.

The following table shows our net sales by business segment for the periods indicated below:

Tubes

The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, sales volumes of seamless and welded pipes for the periods indicated below:

The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, net sales by geographic region, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below:

Net sales of tubular products and services decreased 20% to $2,848 million in the first half of 2020, compared to $3,578 million in the first half of 2019 due to a reduction of 17% in volumes and a 4% decrease in average selling prices. The decrease in sales came from all regions, except the Middle East and Africa and was particularly steep in North and South America where drilling activity in average declined 38% compared to the first half of 2019. In the rest of the world the rig count declined in average 6% year on year.

Operating results from tubular products and services amounted to a loss of $553 million in the first half of 2020 compared to a gain of $455 million in the first half of 2019. In addition to the decline in sales following the drop in drilling activity, our results were negatively impacted by lower absorption of fixed costs and the inefficiencies related to the low level of capacity utilization between March and June 2020. Additionally, results in the first six months of 2020 were affected by $75 million of severance charges and by an impairment charge of $582 million, reflecting the difficult business conditions generated by COVID-19 pandemic, with the collapse in oil demand and prices and the impact on drilling activity and on the demand for steel pipe products.

Others

The following table indicates, for our Others business segment, net sales, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below: