Gerdau Ameristeel Reports Profit for Second Consecutive Quarter
TAMPA, FL, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation (NYSE: GNA; TSX: GNA) today reported net income of $46.7 million ($0.11 per share diluted) for the three months ended June 30, 2010, in comparison to a net loss of $52.4 million ($0.12 per share) for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and net income of $25.2 million ($0.06 per share diluted) for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The Company has adopted International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, as of January 1, 2010 and, as such, the comparative periods for fiscal year 2009 have been restated under IFRS.
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, the Company reported net income of $71.9 million ($0.17 per share diluted) compared to a net loss of $83.9 million ($0.19 per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
Net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2010 increased 30% to $1.3 billion from $1.0 billion reported for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 18% from $1.1 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2010. For the three months ended June 30, 2010 weighted average mill selling price increased 15% or $89 per ton in comparison to the three months ended June 30, 2009, and increased 9% or $59 per ton in comparison to the three months ended March 31, 2010. Finished steel shipments were 1.5 million tons for the three months ended June 30, 2010, an increase of 15% in comparison to the three months ended June 30, 2009 and a 4% increase compared to the three months ended March 31, 2010.
Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2010 increased 19% to $2.5 billion from $2.1 billion reported for the six months ended June 30, 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2010 weighted average mill selling price was $672 per ton which was relatively flat as compared to $666 for the six months June 30, 2009. Finished steel shipments were 3.0 million tons for the six months ended June 30, 2010, an increase of 20% in comparison to the six months ended June 30, 2009.
For the three months ended June 30, 2010, metal spread, the difference between mill selling prices and scrap raw material costs, was $409 per ton, a decrease of $31 per ton from the same period in 2009. The decrease in metal spread was primarily due to an increase in scrap raw material costs. Scrap raw material cost used in production for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $292 per ton, an increase of $120 per ton compared to the three months ended June 30, 2009.
For the six months ended June 30, 2010, metal spread was $392 per ton, a decrease of $89 per ton from the same period in 2009. Scrap raw material cost used in production for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was $280 per ton, an increase of $95 per ton compared to the six months ended June 30, 2009.
EBITDA, as adjusted (see EBITDA section herein for an explanation of the EBITDA calculation), was $136.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, compared to EBITDA of $66.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009 and $116.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. For the six months ended June 30, 2010, EBITDA was $253.1 million compared to EBITDA of $107.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
EBITDA was favorably impacted primarily by shipment volume but also by the increase in earnings from joint ventures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to prior year comparative periods. Income from joint ventures was $18.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, an increase of $23.3 million and $10.4 million from the three months ended June 30, 2009 and March 31, 2010, respectively. Income from joint ventures increased $41.3 million for the first half of 2010 as compared to the first half of 2009. Additionally, as a result of the significant increase in the Company's stock price during the second quarter of 2010, EBITDA includes an unfavorable non-cash stock compensation charge of $9.3 million and $10.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, which represents an increase of $8.4 million when comparing the first and second quarter of 2010.
At June 30, 2010, the Company had $540.3 million of cash and short-term investments, a decrease of $116.0 million from December 31, 2009. This decline was primarily the result of the Company's pension contributions, interest payments and increased investment in working capital. In addition to its cash and short-term investments, the Company had approximately $498.4 million available under secured credit facilities which resulted in a total liquidity position over $1.0 billion at June 30, 2010.
As of June 30, 2010, the Company had 433,745,489 common shares outstanding.
CEO Comments
Mario Longhi, President and CEO of Gerdau Ameristeel, commented:
"Our ability to manage costs and maximize efficiency throughout our operations, along with the gradual improvement in business fundamentals, was clearly reflected in our second quarter EBITDA results.
Looking toward the second half of 2010, we remain cautious as unemployment continues to be high and the overall economy remains fragile. We will continue to work closely with our customers and monitor our end markets to ensure that we maximize the opportunities presented to us as well as leverage our business systems and network of mini-mills to optimize productivity and remain globally competitive."
IFRS Conversion
As previously mentioned, the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared under IFRS. The Company previously prepared its Consolidated Financial Statements under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("US GAAP"). In accordance with IFRS 1, First-Time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards, the Company's IFRS transition date was January 1, 2009 and the Company prepared its opening IFRS balance sheet as of that date. The Company has restated its comparative periods under IFRS and the Company's quarterly and annual filings will contain reconciliations between IFRS and previously reported amounts under US GAAP for 2009.
Forward Looking Statements
In this press release, "Gerdau Ameristeel" and "Company" refer to Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation and its subsidiaries and 50%-owned joint ventures. Certain statements in this press release, including, without limitation, the section entitled "CEO Comments" constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements describe the Company's assumptions, beliefs and expectations with respect to its operations, future financial results, business strategies and growth and expansion plans can often be identified by the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," and other words and terms of similar meaning. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently projected by the Company. In addition to those noted in the statements themselves, any number of factors could affect actual results, including, without limitation:
Excess global steel industry capacity and the availability of competitive substitute materials; the cyclical nature of the steel industry and the industries served by the Company and economic conditions in North America and worldwide; increases in the cost of steel scrap, energy and other raw materials; steel imports and trade regulations; a change in China's steelmaking capacity or slowdown in China's steel consumption; the Company's participation in the consolidation of the steel industry; the substantial capital investment and similar expenditures required in the Company's business; unexpected equipment failures and plant interruptions or outages; the Company's level of indebtedness; the cost of compliance with environmental and occupational health and safety laws; the enactment of laws intended to reduce greenhouse gases and other air emissions; the Company's ability to fund its pension plans; the ability to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements and avoid labor disruptions; the Company's ability to successfully implement a new enterprise resource planning system; currency exchange rate fluctuations; actions or potential actions taken by the Company's principal stockholder, Gerdau S.A.; the liquidity of the Company's long-term investments, including investments in auction rate securities; and the Company's reliance on its 50% owned joint ventures that it does not control.
Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current information as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future developments or events, except as required by law.
Notice of Conference Call
Gerdau Ameristeel invites you to listen to a live broadcast of its second quarter conference call on Thursday, August 5, 2010, at 2:30 pm EST. The call will be hosted by Mario Longhi, President and CEO, and Barbara Smith, VP and CFO, and can be accessed via our Web site at www.gerdauameristeel.com or by calling 1-888-231-8191 (1-647-427-7450 if outside the United States) and using the reference number 90661223. Web cast attendees are welcome to listen to the conference in real-time or on-demand at your convenience.
About Gerdau Ameristeel
Gerdau Ameristeel is the second largest mini-mill steel producer in North America, with annual manufacturing capacity of approximately 10 million metric tons of mill finished steel products. Through its vertically integrated network of mini-mills, scrap recycling facilities and downstream operations, Gerdau Ameristeel serves customers throughout the United States and Canada. The Company's products are generally sold to steel service centers, steel fabricators, or directly to original equipment manufacturers for use in a variety of industries, including non-residential, infrastructure, commercial, industrial and residential construction, metal building, manufacturing, automotive, mining, cellular and electrical transmission and equipment manufacturing. Gerdau Ameristeel's majority shareholder is Gerdau S.A.
GERDAU AMERISTEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(US$ in thousands, except earnings per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Three Months Ended
------------------------ ------------------------
June 30, June 30, June 30, June 30,
2010 2009 2010 2009
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
NET SALES $1,327,473 $1,035,964 $2,465,198 $2,073,663
Cost of sales (1,188,836) (966,272) (2,220,664) (1,956,051)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
GROSS PROFIT 138,637 69,692 244,534 117,612
OPERATING EXPENSES
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses 82,816 68,901 143,243 131,310
Facility closure
costs - 43,379 - 43,379
Other operating
(income) expense,
net (862) (1,209) (3,002) 1,189
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
81,954 111,071 140,241 175,878
INCOME (LOSS) FROM
OPERATIONS 56,683 (41,379) 104,293 (58,266)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM 50%
OWNED JOINT VENTURES 18,086 (5,256) 25,762 (15,500)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
FINANCE COSTS, NET AND
INCOME TAXES 74,769 (46,635) 130,055 (73,766)
FINANCE COSTS, NET
Interest income (426) (1,762) (842) (3,163)
Interest expense -
non-affiliated 23,249 38,582 46,626 80,538
Interest expense -
affiliated 12,180 - 24,360 -
Gain on redeemable
noncontrolling
interest (5,014) (6,062) (4,560) (5,487)
Foreign exchange
(gain) loss, net (4,745) 14,488 (2,996) 11,755
Realized gain on
investments - - (2,528) -
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
25,244 45,246 60,060 83,643
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE
INCOME TAXES 49,525 (91,881) 69,995 (157,409)
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
(BENEFIT) 3,734 (40,274) 26 (72,350)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) 45,791 (51,607) 69,969 (85,059)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCOME (LOSS)
ATTRIBUTABLE TO:
Equity holders of the
Company $46,743 $(52,404) $71,944 $(83,884)
Noncontrolling
interest (952) 797 (1,975) (1,175)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$45,791 $(51,607) $69,969 $(85,059)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
EARNINGS PER SHARE
ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY
HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
Basic earnings (loss)
per share $0.11 $(0.12) $0.17 $(0.19)
Diluted earnings (loss)
per share $0.11 $(0.12) $0.17 $(0.19)
GERDAU AMERISTEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(US$ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
June 30, December 31, January 1,
ASSETS 2010 2009 2009
------------ ------------ ------------
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 340,391 $ 631,293 $ 482,535
Restricted cash 1,700 1,691 -
Short-term investments 199,935 25,000 205,817
Trade accounts receivable, net 606,092 460,066 677,569
Inventories 1,046,141 814,788 1,267,768
Costs and estimated earnings in
excess of billings on
uncompleted contracts 3,512 4,687 14,771
Income taxes receivable 72,165 93,652 28,455
Other current assets 24,592 22,643 23,033
------------ ------------ ------------
Total current assets 2,294,528 2,053,820 2,699,948
Non-current assets
Investments in 50% owned joint
ventures 153,764 148,609 161,901
Long-term investments 25,996 28,538 33,189
Property, plant and equipment,
net 1,541,255 1,620,852 1,801,471
Goodwill 1,961,651 1,962,098 1,957,029
Other intangible assets, net 420,446 450,003 515,736
Deferred tax assets 35,006 29,760 -
Other non-current assets 47,653 23,459 32,305
------------ ------------ ------------
Total non-current assets 4,185,771 4,263,319 4,501,631
------------ ------------ ------------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 6,480,299 $ 6,317,139 $ 7,201,579
------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Trade accounts payable and
accrued liabilities $ 356,172 $ 225,111 $ 199,582
Accrued salaries, wages and
employee benefits 68,012 71,214 127,351
Accrued interest - non-affiliated 13,920 15,344 54,480
Accrued interest - affiliated 28,019 3,772 -
Provisions 38,510 35,126 34,551
Short-term debt - non-affiliated 3,140 3,174 1,893
Billings in excess of costs and
estimated earnings on uncompleted
contracts 21,151 26,212 45,687
Other current liabilities 8,640 12,959 20,932
------------ ------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 537,564 392,912 484,476
Non-current liabilities
Long-term debt - non-affiliated 1,723,364 1,721,806 3,032,824
Long-term debt - affiliated 606,678 606,711 -
Retirement benefit obligations 300,969 348,684 339,055
Deferred tax liabilities 233,690 259,170 269,661
Redeemable noncontrolling
interest 21,531 32,439 46,927
Provisions 20,333 21,203 18,552
Other non-current liabilities 130,925 89,753 116,092
------------ ------------ ------------
Total non-current liabilities 3,037,490 3,079,766 3,823,111
TOTAL LIABILITIES 3,575,054 3,472,678 4,307,587
------------ ------------ ------------
Shareholders' equity
Capital 2,539,827 2,535,883 2,531,516
Retained earnings 259,049 187,105 373,323
Other comprehensive income 79,789 94,893 (37,427)
------------ ------------ ------------
Equity attributable to equity
holders of the Company 2,878,665 2,817,881 2,867,412
Equity attributable to
noncontrolling interest 26,580 26,580 26,580
------------ ------------ ------------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 2,905,245 2,844,461 2,893,992
------------ ------------ ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 6,480,299 $ 6,317,139 $ 7,201,579
------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------
GERDAU AMERISTEEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(US$ in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2010 2009 2010 2009
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Cash flows from
operating activities
Net income (loss) $ 45,791 $ (51,607) $ 69,969 $ (85,059)
Adjustments to
reconcile net income
(loss) to net cash
(used in) provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation 46,702 52,764 93,437 105,093
Amortization of
intangibles 14,900 16,490 29,558 33,098
Income tax expense
(benefit) 3,734 (40,274) 26 (72,350)
Interest expense -
non-affiliated 23,249 38,582 46,626 80,538
Interest expense -
affiliated 12,180 - 24,360 -
Gain on redeemable
noncontrolling
interest (5,014) (6,062) (4,560) (5,487)
Loss on disposition
of property, plant
and equipment 347 533 949 1,467
(Income) loss from
50% owned joint
ventures (18,086) 5,256 (25,762) 15,500
Distributions from
50% owned joint
ventures 5,000 - 20,405 405
Stock compensation
expense 9,314 8,041 10,144 6,138
Realized gain on
investments - - (2,528) -
Facility closure
costs - 43,379 - 43,379
Writedown of inventory - 14,618 - 33,044
Changes in operating
assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (43,440) 37,518 (147,435) 147,443
Inventories (100,833) 181,654 (234,037) 383,176
Other assets 13,843 (2,498) (2,392) 1,868
Liabilities (38,270) (34,563) 71,460 (109,462)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Cash (used in)
provided by operating
activities (30,583) 263,831 (49,780) 578,791
Income tax (paid)
refund (1,301) 22,494 (1,190) 19,309
Interest paid (2,486) (1,699) (41,886) (81,577)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash (used in)
provided by operating
activities (34,370) 284,626 (92,856) 516,523
Cash flows from
investing activities
Purchases of property,
plant and equipment (8,630) (22,816) (18,819) (59,100)
Proceeds from
disposition of
property, plant and
equipment 967 234 1,424 1,413
Change in restricted
cash (4) - (9) -
Purchases of
investments (124,891) (218,169) (289,741) (487,857)
Proceeds from sales
of investments 89,953 290,482 120,016 436,179
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash (used in)
provided by investing
activities (42,605) 49,731 (187,129) (109,365)
Cash flows from
financing activities
Repayments of
non-affiliated debt (28) (1,021) (1,596) (3,647)
Payments of deferred
financing costs (170) (13,921) (1,658) (13,921)
Cash dividends - - - (8,646)
Distributions to
subsidiary's
noncontrolling
interest - - (4,373) (3,593)
Proceeds from
exercise of employee
stock options 209 1,565 803 1,659
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided by
(used in) financing
activities 11 (13,377) (6,824) (28,148)
Effect of exchange rate
changes on cash and
cash equivalents (12,446) 17,011 (4,093) 12,045
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net (decrease) increase
in cash and cash
equivalents (89,410) 337,991 (290,902) 391,055
Cash and cash
equivalents beginning
of period 429,801 535,599 631,293 482,535
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash
equivalents end of
period $ 340,391 $ 873,590 $ 340,391 $ 873,590
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
EBITDA: EBITDA is calculated by adding income (loss) before interest and other expense on debt; taxes; depreciation; amortization of intangibles; gain on redeemable noncontrolling interest; facility closure costs; realized gain on investments; and foreign exchange (gain) loss, net; and deducting interest income. Management believes EBITDA, a non-IFRS measure, is a useful supplemental measure of cash available prior to debt service, capital expenditures and income tax. The Company calculates EBITDA using the equity method, which includes net earnings from 50% owned joint ventures and excludes cash distributions from 50% owned joint ventures. EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with IFRS as a performance indicator or to cash flows from operations as a measure of liquidity and cash flows. The Company's method of calculating EBITDA may differ from the methods used by other companies and, accordingly, it may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 is shown below:
For the Three Months
Ended - Unaudited
June 30, June 30,
2010 2009
------------ ------------
($000s)
Net income (loss) $ 45,791 $ (51,607)
Income tax expense (benefit) 3,734 (40,274)
Interest expense - non-affiliated 23,249 38,582
Interest expense - affiliated 12,180 -
Interest income (426) (1,762)
Gain on redeemable noncontrolling interest (5,014) (6,062)
Depreciation 46,702 52,764
Amortization of intangibles 14,900 16,490
Facility closure costs - 43,379
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net (4,745) 14,488
------------ ------------
EBITDA $ 136,371 $ 65,998
------------ ------------
------------ ------------
For the Six Months
Ended - Unaudited
June 30, June 30,
2010 2009
------------ ------------
($000s)
Net income (loss) $ 69,969 $ (85,059)
Income tax expense (benefit) 26 (72,350)
Interest expense - non-affiliated 46,626 80,538
Interest expense - affiliated 24,360 -
Interest income (842) (3,163)
Gain on redeemable noncontrolling interest (4,560) (5,487)
Depreciation 93,437 105,093
Amortization of intangibles 29,558 33,098
Facility closure costs - 43,379
Foreign exchange (gain) loss, net (2,996) 11,755
Realized gain on investments (2,528) -
------------ ------------
EBITDA $ 253,050 $ 107,804
------------ ------------
------------ ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION - UNAUDITED
THE INFORMATION IN THIS TABLE EXCLUDES 50% OWNED JOINT VENTURES
For the Three Months Ended
June 30, 2010 June 30, 2009
------------------------ ------------------------
Tons Tons
----------- -----------
Production
Melt Shops 1,820,595 1,341,067
Rolling Mills 1,662,677 1,215,710
Tons % Tons %
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Finished Steel Shipments
Rebar 247,805 16% 266,169 20%
Merchant/Special
Sections/Structurals 883,192 57% 652,549 49%
Rod 117,093 8% 123,501 9%
Fabricated Steel 290,184 19% 298,758 22%
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Shipments 1,538,274 100% 1,340,977 100%
$/Ton $/Ton
----------- -----------
Selling Prices
Mill external
shipments $ 701 $ 612
Fabricated steel
shipments 812 941
Scrap Charged 292 172
Metal Spread (Selling
price less scrap)
Mill external
shipments 409 440
Fabricated steel
shipments 520 769
Mill manufacturing cost 275 308
SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION - UNAUDITED
THE INFORMATION IN THIS TABLE EXCLUDES 50% OWNED JOINT VENTURES
For the Six Months Ended
June 30, 2010 June 30, 2009
------------------------ ------------------------
Tons Tons
----------- -----------
Production
Melt Shops 3,570,723 2,491,961
Rolling Mills 3,233,788 2,421,669
Tons % Tons %
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Finished Steel
Shipments
Rebar 512,957 17% 458,669 18%
Merchant/Special
Sections/
Structurals 1,758,287 58% 1,254,435 50%
Rod 226,231 8% 240,668 9%
Fabricated Steel 527,070 17% 572,467 23%
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total Shipments 3,024,545 100% 2,526,239 100%
$/Ton $/Ton
----------- -----------
Selling Prices
Mill external
shipments $ 672 $ 666
Fabricated steel
shipments 799 1,013
Scrap Charged 280 185
Metal Spread (Selling
price less scrap)
Mill external
shipments 392 481
Fabricated steel
shipments 519 828
Mill manufacturing cost 275 333
RECONCILIATIONS BETWEEN IFRS AND US GAAP
IFRS 1 requires an entity to reconcile equity, net loss and cash flows for prior periods. The Company's first time adoption of IFRS did not have a significant impact on the total operating, investing or financing cash flows in prior periods. The following represents the reconciliations from US GAAP to IFRS for the respective periods noted for equity, net loss, and EBITDA:
Reconciliations of net loss ($000s):
Three months Six months
ended ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2009
------------- ------------
Net loss, US GAAP $ (56,783) $ (91,427)
Business combinations - redeemable
noncontrolling interest (a) 6,062 5,487
Pension and postemployment benefits (b) 5,642 8,967
Stock-based compensation (c) (2,770) (2,169)
Provisions (d) 3,548 3,446
Facility closure costs (f) (6,834) (6,834)
Income taxes (e) (472) (2,529)
------------- ------------
Subtotal - IFRS adjustments 5,176 6,368
------------- ------------
Net loss, IFRS $ (51,607) $ (85,059)
------------- ------------
------------- ------------
Reconciliations of EBITDA ($000s):
Three months Six months
ended ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2009
------------- ------------
EBITDA, as previously reported (1) $ 64,834 $ 113,465
Adjustment for equity method (2) (5,256) (15,905)
------------- ------------
EBITDA $ 59,578 $ 97,560
Pension and postemployment benefits (b) 5,642 8,967
Stock-based compensation (c) (2,770) (2,169)
Provisions (d) 3,548 3,446
------------- ------------
Subtotal - IFRS adjustments 6,420 10,244
------------- ------------
EBITDA, as currently reported $ 65,998 $ 107,804
------------- ------------
------------- ------------
(1) EBITDA as reported in the June 30, 2009 quarterly filing.
(2) The Company changed its calculation of EBITDA to the equity method,
which now includes net earnings from 50% joint ventures and excludes
cash distributions from 50% owned joint ventures.
Description of adjustments impacting net loss, EBITDA and/or shareholders' equity
In addition to the exemptions and exceptions discussed above, the following narratives explain the significant differences between the previous historical US GAAP accounting policies and the current IFRS accounting policies applied by the Company. Only the differences having a significant impact on the Company are described below. The following is not a complete summary of all of the differences between US GAAP and IFRS. Relative to the impacts on the Company, the descriptive caption next to each lettered item below corresponds to the same lettered and descriptive caption in the tables above, which reflect the quantitative impacts from each change.
(a) Business combinations - redeemable non-controlling interest
Under US GAAP, a redeemable noncontrolling interest is not required to be separately recognized in the balance sheet as a financial instrument when the redemption value is determined to be at the fair value of the underlying noncontrolling interest. Under IFRS, the Company was required to record a liability for the present value of the expected redemption amount of the written put. As of January 1, 2009 (the Company's transition date), the counterpart was recorded directly in Capital in the Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheet. Subsequent changes to the present value of the expected redemption amount are recognized in the statement of operations in Interest expense - affiliated. Upon exercise, under IFRS, the differential between the amount paid and the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest at the date of exercise would be reclassified to Capital in the Company's unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheet.
(b) Pension and postemployment benefits
Under US GAAP, the Company recognized actuarial gains and in the statement of operations using the corridor approach. Under IFRS, another approach is permitted allowing a company to adopt a policy of recognizing all of its actuarial gains and losses in the period in which they occur in other comprehensive income. Under US GAAP, prior service cost should be recognized in other comprehensive income at the date of the adoption of the plan amendment and then amortized into income over the participants' remaining years of service, service to full eligibility date, or life expectancy, as applicable. Under IFRS, prior service cost should be recognized on a straight-line basis over the average period until the benefits become vested. To the extent that benefits are vested as of the date of the plan amendment, the cost of those benefits should be recognized immediately in the statement of operations. Additionally, under US GAAP, the Company recognized curtailments in accumulated other comprehensive income to the extent that prior actuarial gains (losses) had been recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income and had not yet been recognized in the statement of operations based on the corridor approach. Under IFRS, curtailments are recognized immediately in the statement of operations when they occur.
This adjustment reflects the reclassification of actuarial gains and losses recognized as pension cost in the statement of operations under US GAAP to other comprehensive income for the period and the recognition of curtailments and prior service cost immediately in the statement of operations for vested participants. The Company had $3.7 million of curtailment gains during the three months ended June 30, 2009 which were recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income under US GAAP but were required to be recognized in the statement of operations under IFRS. The curtailment gains resulted primarily from facility closures as well as certain one-time retirement benefit changes implemented by the Company.
(c) Stock-based compensation
Under US GAAP, the Company recognizes compensation expense associated with share-based compensation plans with graded vesting features on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Under IFRS, the Company is required to treat each "tranche" of a share-based compensation arrangement with a graded vesting schedule as several individual grants, which results in the recognition of compensation expense on an accelerated basis by comparison to US GAAP.
(d) Provisions
Under US GAAP, the Company discounted its provisions to reflect the time value of money when the aggregate amount of the liability, and the amount and timing of cash payments for the liability were fixed or reliably determinable. The discount rate used by the Company was one which would have produced an amount at which the liability theoretically could be settled in an arm's-length transaction with a third party. After initial measurement of a liability, no adjustment in the obligation was made if there was a change in the discount rate. Under IFRS, a provision is discounted if the time value of money is material. IFRS requires the use of a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. Where all risk adjustments are reflected in the cash flows, then the cash flows are discounted at a risk-free rate, which means that typically, a government bond "yield" rate should be used. The re-measurement of a provision includes the effect of a change in discount rate. This adjustment is the result of the Company's use of a pre-tax discount rate under IFRS that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability.
(e) Income taxes
This adjustment reflects the deferred income tax effects of the above adjustments. In addition, under US GAAP, the deferred tax benefit associated with share-based compensation awards (equity awards) is recognized over the vesting period based on the grant date fair value of the grant. Any difference between the tax benefit realized on the tax return and the amount previously recognized through the statement of operations is recognized either in equity or income, depending on the Company's prior experience, when the tax deduction is realized on the tax return. Under IFRS, the deferred tax benefit associated with share-based compensation awards (equity awards) is recognized over the vesting period based on the best estimate of the future tax deduction at each balance sheet date.
(f) Facility closure costs
Under US GAAP, the Company recognized certain facility closure obligations when the facilities ceased operations or when the cost was incurred. Under IFRS, these facility closure obligations are recognized when the obligations are unavoidable and are not related to the ongoing activities of the facility. This difference in recognition principles between US GAAP and IFRS creates merely a timing difference in the recognition of these facility closure costs between reporting periods. As such, this adjustment relates to certain obligations which are required to be recognized in the second quarter of 2009 under IFRS but were recognized under US GAAP in the third quarter of 2009.
SOURCE Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation
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