Luxembourg, February 12, 2015 - Aperam (referred to as “Aperam” or the “Company”) (Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Paris: APAM and NYRS: APEMY), announced today results for the three month and full year periods ending December 31, 2014

Timoteo Di Maulo, CEO of Aperam, commented:
“In 2014, despite a historically high level of stainless steel imports in Europe, we were able to return to positive net result and reduce our net debt level thanks to the contribution of the Leadership Journey® and the Top Line strategy.

Looking ahead, our focus remains on the improvement of our operational performance and balance sheet to be in a good position to capture any potential opportunities.”

Highlights
•Health and Safety frequency rate 2 of 1.1x in 2014 compared to 1.3x in 2013.
•Shipments of 1,813 thousand tonnes in full year 2014, a 5% increase compared to shipments of 1,728 thousand tonnes in full year 2013.
•EBITDA3 of USD 547 million in full year 2014, compared to EBITDA of USD 292 million in full year 2013.
•EBITDA of USD 117 million in Q4 2014, compared to EBITDA of USD 137 million in Q3 2014
•Net income of USD 95 million in full year 2014, compared to net loss of USD 100 million in full year 2013.
•Basic earnings per share of USD 1.21 in 2014.
•Cash flow from operations amounted to USD 240 million in 2014.
•Net debt4 of USD 536 million on December 31, 2014, representing a gearing of 20% compared to a net debt of USD 690 million on December 31, 2013.

Prospects
•EBITDA in Q1 2015 is expected to increase compared to EBITDA in Q4 2014.
•Net debt to slightly decrease in Q1 2015.

Health & Safety results analysis

Health and Safety performance based on Aperam personnel figures and contractors’ lost time injury frequency rate2, was 1.8x in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to 0.3x in the third quarter of 2014.



Financial results analysis for full year period ending December 31, 2014

Sales in the year ended December 31, 2014 increased by 7% at USD 5,482 million compared to USD 5,120 million in the year ended December 31, 2013. Shipments in 2014 increased by 5% at 1,813 thousand tonnes compared to 1,728 thousand tonnes in 2013.

EBITDA was USD 547 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, including USD 57 million positive results from the sale of electricity surplus, compared to EBITDA of USD 292 million in the year ended December 31, 2013. Despite a historically high level of imports in Europein 2014, the company achieved higher EBITDA in the year primarily due to the solid contribution of the Leadership Journey® and the Top Line strategy. The Leadership Journey®5 has continued to progress over the year and has contributed a total amount of USD 428 million to EBITDA since the beginning of 2011.

Depreciation and impairment expense in the year ended December 31, 2014 was USD 251 million.

Aperam had an operating income in the year ended December 31, 2014 of USD 296 million compared to an operating loss of USD 11 million in the year ended December 31, 2013.

The Company recorded a loss from other investments of USD 54 million in the year ended December 31, 2014, related to an impairment loss of USD 51 million booked on the minority stake it holds in Gerdau, a Brazilian steelmaker, and USD 4 million booked on the minority stake it holds in General Moly, a US molybdenum mining company. The Company also received a dividend of USD 1 million from Gerdau.

Net interest expense and other financing costs in the year ended December 31, 2014 were USD 116 million, primarily related to financing costs of USD 73 million and USD 6 million of non-recurring expenses related to the announcement of the early redemption of the USD 250 million Bonds due 2016 on October 1, 2014. Net interest expense and other financing costs also include USD 21 million of amortization of arrangement fees on external debt and option premiums on convertible bonds in the year ended December 31, 2014. Realized and unrealized foreign exchange and derivative losses were USD 3 million in the year ended December 31, 2014.

The Company recorded a net income of USD 95 million, inclusive of an income tax expense of USD 28 million, in the year ended December 31, 2014.

Cash flows from operations in the year ended December 31, 2014 were positive at USD 240 million, with a working capital increase of USD 211 million. CAPEX in the year ended December 31, 2014 was USD 103 million.

As of December 31, 2014, shareholders’ equity was USD 2,676 million and net financial debt4 was USD 536 million (gross financial debt as of December 31, 2014 was USD 733 million and cash & cash equivalents were USD 197 million).

The Company had liquidity of USD 597 million as of December 31, 2014, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of USD 197 million and undrawn credit lines6 of USD 400 million.



Financial results analysis for the three month period ending December 31, 2014

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2014 decreased by 5% at USD 1,291 million compared to USD 1,353 million in the third quarter of 2014. Shipments in the fourth quarter of 2014 increased by 1% at 439 thousand tonnes compared to 433 thousand tonnes in the third quarter of 2014.

EBITDA was USD 117 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to EBITDA of USD 137 million in the third quarter of 2014. This decrease was primarily driven by a more challenging market conditions, especially inEuropeat year end. These factors impacting EBITDA were partially offset by better operational performance inBraziland the continuing progress of the Top Line strategy.

Depreciation and impairment expense in the fourth quarter of 2014 was USD 64 million.

Aperam had an operating income in the fourth quarter of USD 53 million compared to an operating income of USD 82 million in the previous quarter.

The Company recorded a loss from other investments of USD 9 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, related to an impairment loss of USD 8 million booked on the minority stake it holds in Gerdau, a Brazilian steelmaker, and USD 1 million booked on the minority stake it holds in General Moly, a US molybdenum mining company.

Net interest expense and other financing costs in the fourth quarter of 2014 were USD 21 million, primarily related to financing costs of USD 13 million. Net interest expense and other financing costs also include USD 6 million of amortization of arrangement fees on external debt and option premiums on convertible bonds in the fourth quarter of 2014. Realized and unrealized foreign exchange and derivative gains were USD 2 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Company recorded a net income of USD 19 million, inclusive of an income tax expense of USD 6 million, in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Cash flows from operations in the fourth quarter were positive at USD 108 million, with a working capital increase of USD 3 million. CAPEX in the fourth quarter was USD 38 million.



Operating segment results analysis

Stainless & Electrical Steel

The Stainless & Electrical Steel segment had sales of USD 1,008 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. This represents a decrease of 10% compared to sales of USD 1,116 million in the third quarter of 2014. Shipments during the fourth quarter were 412 thousand tonnes. This is a decrease of 2% compared to shipments of 422 thousand tonnes in the previous quarter. In Europe, shipments were 244 thousand tonnes and in South America shipments were 168 thousand tonnes (compared to 250 thousand tonnes in Europe and 172 thousand tonnes inSouth Americain the third quarter of 2014). The volume decrease was mainly due to the lower apparent demand in Europe and the traditional seasonal impact inSouth Americacompared to the third quarter. Overall, average selling prices for the Stainless & Electrical Steel segment were lower for the quarter.

The segment had EBITDA of USD 94 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to USD 109 million in the third quarter of 2014. EBITDA from South America increased in the fourth quarter of 2014 at USD 58 million, including USD 13 million positive results from the sale of electricity surplus (compared to an EBITDA of USD 54 million in Q3 2014 including USD 10 million positive results from the sale of electricity surplus). Despite lower shipments over the quarter, EBITDA inSouth Americaincreased mainly as a result of better operational performance. EBITDA from Europe decreased from USD 55 million in the third quarter of 2014 to USD 36 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. This decrease was primarily driven by a more challenging environment as a result of some customers’ destocking and a continuous high level of imports in Europe.

Depreciation and amortization expense was USD 49 million and impairment loss was USD 8 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Stainless & Electrical Steel segment had an operating income of USD 37 million during the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to an operating income of USD 62 million in the third quarter of 2014.



Services & Solutions

The Services & Solutions segment had a 10% decrease in sales during the quarter, from USD 584 million in the third quarter of 2014 to USD 526 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. In the fourth quarter of 2014, shipments were 165 thousand tonnes compared to 171 thousand tonnes in the previous quarter. The Services & Solutions segment had lower average selling prices during the period.

The segment had EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2014 of USD 13 million compared to EBITDA of USD 21 million in the third quarter of 2014. Overall, the decrease in EBITDA was mainly driven by lower volumes and some negative stock effect related to the nickel price.

Depreciation and amortization expense was USD 5 million in the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Services & Solutions segment had an operating income of USD 8 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to an operating income of USD 15 million in the third quarter of 2014.



Alloys & Specialties

The Alloys & Specialties segment had sales in the fourth quarter of 2014 of USD 165 million, representing an increase of 17% compared to USD 141 million in the third quarter of 2014. Shipments were higher in the fourth quarter of 2014 at 9 thousand tonnes compared to 8 thousand tonnes in the third quarter of 2014. Average selling prices decreased over the quarter.

The Alloys & Specialties segment achieved EBITDA of USD 11 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to USD 12 million in the third quarter of 2014. The EBITDA decrease is mainly due to production issues which have since being resolved.

Depreciation and amortization expense in the fourth quarter of 2014 was USD 1 million.

The Alloys & Specialties segment had an operating income of USD 10 million in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to an operating income of USD 11 million in the third quarter of 2014.



Recent developments



•On November 7, 2014, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services raised Aperam's long-term corporate rating to ‘BB-’ from 'B+'. The outlook is stable
•On November 10, 2014, Aperam announced the appointment of Mr. Frederico Ayres Lima as Chief Operating Officer Stainless & Electrical Steel South America with effective date 1 December 2014, following the resignation of Clenio Guimarães who is pursuing other opportunities.
•On November 14, 2014, Moody’s Ratings Services revised Aperam's corporate family rating to 'Ba3‘ from 'B1’ .The outlook is positive.
•On December 19, 2014, Aperam announced its financial calendar for the year 2015



New developments


•On February 10, 2014, Aperam has obtained an 'in-principle" agreement, subject to satisfactory documentation, to set up a USD 500 million Secured Borrowing Base Revolving Credit Facility with a group of 9 banks. The facility, which will refinance the existing Borrowing Base Facility of USD 400 million, is structured as a 3-year revolving credit facility and includes a one year extension option. It will be used for liquidity and working capital purposes.
•On February 12, 2015, Aperam announces its intention to redeem its High Yield Bond 2018 in the second quarter 2015.


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