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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

Commission file number 1-14878

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

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Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

The total number of issued shares of each class of stock of GERDAU S.A. as of December 31, 2017 was:

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

x Yes   o No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

o Yes   x No

Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

x Yes   o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

o Yes   o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

†The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

o Item 17   o Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

o Yes   x No

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INTRODUCTION

Unless otherwise indicated, all references herein to:

(i)            the “Company”, “Gerdau”, “we” or “us” are references to Gerdau S.A., a corporation organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil (“Brazil”) and its consolidated subsidiaries;

(ii)           “Açominas” is a reference to Aço Minas Gerais S.A. — Açominas prior to November 2003 whose business was to operate the Ouro Branco steel mill. In November 2003 the company underwent a corporate reorganization, receiving all of Gerdau’s Brazilian operating assets and liabilities and being renamed Gerdau Açominas S.A.;

(iii)          “Gerdau Açominas” is a reference to Gerdau Açominas S.A. after November 2003 and to Açominas before such date. In July 2005, certain assets and liabilities of Gerdau Açominas were spun-off to four other newly created entities: Gerdau Aços Longos, Gerdau Aços Especiais and Gerdau América do Sul Participações. As a result of such spin-off, as from July 2005, the activities of Gerdau Açominas only comprise the operation of the Açominas steel mill;

(iv)          “Preferred Shares” and “Common Shares” refer to the Company’s authorized and outstanding preferred stock and common stock, designated as ações preferenciais and ações ordinárias, respectively, all without par value. All references herein to the “real”, “reais” or “R$” are to the Brazilian real, the official currency of Brazil. All references to (i) “U.S. dollars”, “dollars”, “U.S.$” or “$” are to the official currency of the United States, (ii)  “Euro” or “€” are to the official currency of members of the European Union, (iii) “billions” are to thousands of millions, (iv) “km” are to kilometers, and (vi) “tonnes” are to metric tonnes;

(v)           “Installed capacity” means the annual projected capacity for a particular facility (excluding the portion that is not attributable to our participation in a facility owned by a joint venture), calculated based upon operations for 24 hours each day of a year and deducting scheduled downtime for regular maintenance;

(vi)          “Tonne” means a metric tonne, which is equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.62 pounds;

(vii)         “Consolidated shipments” means the combined volumes shipped from all our operations in Brazil, South America, North America and Asia, excluding our joint ventures and associate companies;

(viii)        “Worldsteel” means World Steel Association, “IABr” means Brazilian Steel Institute (Instituto Aço Brasil) and “AISI” means American Iron and Steel Institute;

(ix)          “CPI” means consumer price index, “CDI” means Interbanking Deposit Rates (Certificados de Depósito Interfinanceiro), “IGP-M” means Consumer Prices Index (Índice Geral de Preços do Mercado), measured by FGV (Fundação Getulio Vargas), “LIBOR” means London Interbank Offered Rate, “GDP” means Gross Domestic Product;

(x)           “Brazil BD” means Brazil Business Division, “North America BD” means North America Business Division, “South America BD” means South America Business Division and “Special Steel BD” means Special Steel Business Division.

(xi)          “proven or probable mineral reserves” has the meaning defined by SEC in Industry Guide 7.

The Company has prepared the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The following investments are accounted following the equity method: Bradley Steel Processor and MRM Guide Rail, all in North America, of which Gerdau Ameristeel holds 50% of the total capital, the investment in the holding company Gerdau Metaldom Corp., in which the Company holds a 45% stake, in the Dominican Republic, the investment in the holding company Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V., in which the Company holds a 49% stake, which in turn holds the capital stock of Aceros Corsa S.A. de C.V., in Mexico, the investment in Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de C.V., in Mexico, in which the Company holds a 50% stake and the investment in Dona Francisca Energética S.A, in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 51.82% stake, the investment in the Diaco S.A., in which the Company holds a 49.87% stake, in Colombia and the investment in Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A., in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 58.73% stake.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this Annual Report is stated as of December 31, 2017.  Subsequent developments are discussed in Item 8.B—Financial Information—Significant Changes.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995.  These statements relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies.

Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements.  Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these statements are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made in light of information currently available to us.

It is possible that our future performance may differ materially from our current assessments due to a number of factors, including the following:

·      general economic, political and business conditions in our markets, both in Brazil and abroad, including demand and prices for steel products;

·      interest rate fluctuations, inflation and exchange rate movements of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar and other currencies in which we sell a significant portion of our products or in which our assets and liabilities are denominated;

·      our ability to obtain financing on satisfactory terms;

·      prices and availability of raw materials;

·      changes in international trade;

·      changes in laws and regulations;

·      electric energy shortages and government responses to them;

·      the performance of the Brazilian and the global steel industries and markets;

·      global, national and regional competition in the steel market;

·      protectionist measures imposed by steel-importing countries; and

·      other factors identified or discussed under “Risk Factors.”

Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements.  As for the forward-looking statements that relate to future financial results and other projections, actual results will be different due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections.  Because of these uncertainties, potential investors should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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PART I

ITEM 1.                IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

ITEM 2.                OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

ITEM 3.                KEY INFORMATION

A.            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial information for the Company included in the following tables should be read in conjunction with the IFRS financial statements of the Company, appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report,  and section “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”. The consolidated financial data of the Company as of and for each of the years ended on December 31, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 are derived from the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and presented in Brazilian Reais.

IFRS Summary Financial and Operating Data

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(1) The information on the numbers of shares presented above corresponds to the weighted average quantity during each year.

(2) The information on the numbers of shares presented above corresponds to the shares at the end of the year.

(1)  Includes held for trading.

(2)  Total current assets less total current liabilities.

(3)  Total assets less total current liabilities and less total non-current liabilities.

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Exchange rates between the United States Dollar and Brazilian Reais

The following table presents the exchange rates, according to the Brazilian Central Bank, for the periods indicated between the United States dollar and the Brazilian real which is the currency in which we prepare our financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Exchange rates from U.S. dollars to Brazilian reais

Dividends

The Company’s total authorized capital stock is composed of common and preferred shares. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 571,929,945 common shares and 1,137,327,184 non-voting preferred shares outstanding (excluding treasury stock).

The following table details dividends and interest on equity paid to holders of common and preferred stock since 2013. The figures are expressed in Brazilian reais and U.S. dollars.  The exchange rate used for conversion to U.S. dollars was based on the date of the resolution approving the dividend.

Dividends per share information has been computed by dividing dividends and interest on equity by the number of shares outstanding, which excludes treasury stock. The table below presents the quarterly dividends paid per share, except where stated otherwise:

(1) Payment of interest on equity.

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Brazilian Law 9,249 of December 1995 provides that a company may, at its sole discretion, pay interest on equity in addition to or instead of dividends (See Item 8 — “Financial Information - Interest on Equity”). A Brazilian corporation is entitled to pay its shareholders interest on equity up to the limit based on the application of the TJLP rate (Long-Term Interest Rate) to its shareholders’ equity or 50% of the net income in the fiscal year, whichever is higher. This payment is considered part of the mandatory dividend required by Brazilian Corporation Law for each fiscal year. The payment of interest on equity described herein is subject to a 15% withholding tax. See Item 10. “Additional Information — Taxation”.

Gerdau has a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP), a program that allows the holders of Gerdau ADRs to reinvest dividends to purchase additional ADRs in the Company, with no issuance of new shares. Gerdau also provides its shareholders with a similar program in Brazil that allows the reinvestment of dividends in additional shares, with no issuance of new shares.

B.            CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

Not required, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

C.            REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not required, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

D.            RISK FACTORS

We are subject to various risks and uncertainties resulting from changing competitive, economic, political and social conditions that could harm our business, results of operations or financial condition. The risks described below could adversely affect our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.    These risks are not the only ones we face.  Other risks that we do not presently know about or that we presently believe are not material could also adversely affect us.

Risks Relating to our Business and the Steel Industry

Demand for steel is cyclical and a reduction in prevailing world prices for steel could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

The steel industry is highly cyclical. Consequently, the Company is exposed to substantial swings in the demand for steel products, which in turn causes volatility in the prices of most of its products and eventually could cause write-downs of its inventories. In addition, the demand for steel products, and hence the financial condition and results of operations of companies in the steel industry, including the Company itself, are generally affected by macroeconomic changes in the world economy and in the domestic economies of steel-producing countries, including general trends in the steel, construction and automotive industries. Since 2003, demand for steel products from developing countries (particularly China), the strong euro compared to U.S. dollar and world economic growth have contributed to a historically high level of prices for the Company’s steel products. However, since the second half of 2008, and especially in the beginning of 2009, the U.S. and European economies experienced a significant slowdown, in turn affecting many other countries. Slow growth in steel consumption was not accompanied by a corresponding slowdown in capacity expansion over the last few years, resulting in an even greater excess of global steel capacity. Since then, the price has experienced a high volatility. A material decrease in demand for steel or exports by countries not able to consume their production could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Global crises and subsequent economic slowdowns may adversely affect global steel demand. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Historically, the steel industry has been highly cyclical and deeply impacted by economic conditions in general, such as world production capacity and fluctuations in steel imports/exports and the respective import duties. After a steady period of growth between 2004 and 2008, the marked drop in demand resulting from the global economic crisis of 2008-2009 once again demonstrated the vulnerability of the steel market to volatility of international steel prices and raw materials. That crisis was caused by the dramatic increase of high risk real of estate financing defaults and foreclosures in the United States, with serious consequences for bank and financial markets throughout the world. Developed markets, such as North America and Europe, experienced a strong recession due to the collapse of real estate financings and the shortage of global credit. As a result, the demand for steel products suffered a decline in 2009, but since 2010 has been experiencing a gradual recovery, principally in the developing economies. The steel sector is experiencing challenges mainly due to excess global steel capacity, the Chinese economic slowdown, and the entry of imported steel into countries with more open economies.

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The economic downturn and turbulence in the global economy can negatively impact the consuming markets, affecting the business environment with respect to the following:

·      Decrease in international steel prices;

·      Slump in international steel trading volumes;

·      Crisis in automotive industry and infrastructure sectors; and

·      Lack of liquidity in the international market.

If the Company is not able to remain competitive in these shifting markets, our profitability, margins and income may be negatively affected. A decline in this trend could result in a decrease in the Company’s shipments and revenues. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Our results and financial condition are affected by global and local market conditions that we do not control and cannot predict.

We are subject to the risks arising from adverse changes in domestic and global economic and political conditions. Our industry is cyclical by nature and fluctuates with economic cycles, including the current global economic instability. The global financial markets experienced significant disruptions in 2008 and the United States, Europe and other economies went into recession. The recovery from the lows of 2008 and 2009 was uneven and is facing new challenges, including the escalation of the European sovereign debt crisis since 2011, the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and increasing political uncertainty in a number of countries. It is unclear whether the European sovereign debt crisis will be contained and what effects it and the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the European Union may have. In addition, on January 20, 2017, Donald Trump became the President of the United States. We cannot predict the effects of Donald Trump’s administration or its trade and other policies. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies that have been adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including China. These policies may have a negative impact on the global and local economy, and consequently our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict if the actions taken in the United States, Europe, China and elsewhere in the world to address this situation will be successful in reducing the duration and impact of the economic instability and political uncertainty. Global economic weakness may prompt banks to limit or deny lending to us or to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, on our operations and on our ability to carry out our announced capital investment programs and may prompt our customers to slow down or reduce the purchase of our products. We may experience longer sales cycles, difficulty in collecting sales proceeds and lower prices for our products. We cannot provide any assurance that any of these events will not have a material adverse effect on market conditions, the prices of our securities, our ability to obtain financing and our results of operations and financial condition.

Gerdau faces significant competition in relation to their steel products, including with regard to prices of other domestic and foreign producers, which may adversely affect its profitability and market share.

The global steel industry is highly competitive with respect to price, quality of products and customer service, as well as in relation to technological advances that allow the reduction of production costs. Brazilian exports of steel products are influenced by several factors, including protectionist policies of other countries, foreign exchange policy of the Brazilian government and growth rate of the world economy. Moreover, continuous advances in material sciences and the resulting technologies facilitate the improvement of products such as plastic, aluminum, ceramics and glass, allowing them to replace steel.

Due to the high initial investment costs, the operation of a steel plant on a continuous basis may encourage mill operators to maintain high production levels, even in periods of low demand, which would increase the pressure on industry profit margins. A competitive pressure that forces the fall in steel prices can also affect the profitability of Gerdau.

The steel industry has historically suffered from excess production capacity, which has recently worsened due to a substantial increase in production capacity in emerging countries, particularly China and India and other emerging markets. China is currently the largest global steel producer. In addition, China and certain steel exporting countries have favorable conditions (excess steel capacity, devalued currency or high market prices for steel products in markets outside these countries) which may significantly impact the price of steel in other markets. If Gerdau is unable to remain competitive with China and other steel-producing countries, its financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected in the future.

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An increase in China’s steelmaking capacity or a slowdown in China’s steel consumption could have a material adverse effect on domestic and global steel pricing and could result in increased steel imports into the markets in which the Company operates.

One significant factor in the global steel market has been China’s high steel production capacity, which has been exceeding its domestic consumption needs. This has made China a net exporter of steel products, increasing its importance in different countries of the transoceanic market and consequently pushing down international steel prices. Moreover, China’s lower growth rate has resulted in a slower pace of steel consumption in the country, consequently reducing demand for imported raw materials and putting pressure on global commodity prices. Any intensification of these factors could adversely affect the Company’s exports, results of operations and financial condition.

Higher steel scrap prices or a reduction in supply could adversely affect production costs and operating margins.

The main metal input for the Company’s mini-mills, which mills accounted for 78.0% of total crude steel output as of and for the year ended on December 31, 2017, is steel scrap. Although international steel scrap prices are determined essentially by scrap prices in the U.S. local market, because the United States is the main scrap exporter, scrap prices in the Brazilian market are set by domestic suppliers and demand. The price of steel scrap in Brazil varies from region to region and reflects demand and transportation costs. Should scrap prices increase significantly without a corresponding increase in finished steel selling prices, the Company’s profits and margins could be adversely affected. An increase in steel scrap prices or a shortage in the supply of scrap to its units would affect production costs and potentially reduce operating margins and revenues. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Increases in iron ore and coal prices, or reductions in market supply, could adversely affect the Company’s operations.

When the prices of raw materials, particularly iron ore and coking coal, increase, and the Company needs to produce steel in its integrated facilities, the production costs in its integrated facilities also increase. The Company uses iron ore to produce hot pig iron at its Ouro Branco, Barão de Cocais and Divinópolis mills located in the state of Minas Gerais.

The Ouro Branco mill is the Company’s largest mill in Brazil, and its main metal input for the production of steel is iron ore. This unit represented 48.8% of the total crude steel output (in volume) of the Brazil Business Division. A shortage of iron ore in the domestic market may adversely affect the steel producing capacity of the Brazilian units, and an increase in iron ore prices could reduce profit margins.

The Company has iron ore mines in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. To mitigate its exposure to the volatility in iron ore prices, the Company invested in expanding the production capacity of these mines, which, commencing in 2012, met 100% of iron ore demand from the Ouro Branco Mill.

All of the Company’s coking coal requirements for its Brazilian units are imported due to the low quality of Brazilian coal. Coking coal is the main energy input at the Ouro Branco mill and is used at the coking facility. Although this mill is not dependent on coke supplies, a contraction in the supply of coking coal could adversely affect the integrated operations at this site. The coking coal used in this mill is imported from Canada, the United States, Australia, Mozambique, Peru, Russia and Colombia. Although the market for the supply of coking coal is relatively balanced at the moment, and we have entered into long-term contracts with negotiable prices periodically to minimize the risks of shortages, a shortage of coking coal in the international market would adversely affect the steel producing capacity of the Ouro Branco mill. In addition, an increase in prices could reduce profit margins. Another related risk is the currency depreciation to which the Ouro Branco Mill is exposed, since all coking coal consumed by the operation is imported.

As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Risks Relating to our Operations

The Company’s projects are subject to risks that may result in increased costs or delay or prevent their successful implementation.

The Company invested to further increase productivity of its operations. These projects are subject to a number of risks that may adversely affect the Company’s growth prospects and profitability, including the following:

·      the Company may encounter delays, availability problems or higher than expected costs in obtaining the necessary equipment, services and materials to build and operate a project;

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·      the Company’s efforts to develop projects according to schedule may be hampered by a lack of infrastructure, including availability of overburden and waste disposal areas as well as reliable power and water supplies;

·      the Company may fail to obtain, lose, or experience delays or higher than expected costs in obtaining or renewing the required permits, authorizations, licenses, concessions and/or regulatory approvals to build or continue a project; and

·      changes in market conditions, laws or regulations may make a project less profitable than expected or economically or otherwise unfeasible.

Any one or a combination of the factors described above may materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Unexpected equipment failures may lead to production curtailments or shutdowns.

Unexpected interruptions in the production capabilities at Gerdau’s principal sites and installations would increase production costs, reducing shipments and earnings for the affected period. These interruptions result from: (i) unpredictable/periodic equipment failures, which are essential to the development of the production processes of Gerdau, such as steelmaking equipment, such as its electric arc furnaces, continuous casters, gas-fired reheat furnaces, rolling mills and electrical equipment, including high-output transformers; and/or (ii) unanticipated events such as fires, explosions or violent weather conditions. As a result, Gerdau has experienced and may in the future experience material plant shutdowns or periods of reduced production. Unexpected interruptions in production capabilities would adversely affect Gerdau’s productivity and results of operations. Moreover, any interruption in production capability may require Gerdau to make additions to fixed assets to remedy the problem, which would reduce the amount of cash available for operations. Gerdau’s insurance may not cover the losses. In addition, long-term business disruption could harm the Company’s reputation and result in a loss of customers, which could adversely affect the business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Failure to obtain the necessary permits and licenses could adversely affect our operations.

We depend on the issuance of permits and licenses from governmental agencies in order to undertake certain of our activities. In order to obtain licenses activities that are expected to have a significant environmental impact, certain investments in conservation are required to offset any such impact. The operational licenses require, among other things, that we periodically report our compliance with emissions standards set by environmental agencies. Failure to obtain, renew or comply with our operating licenses may cause delays in our deployment of new activities, increased costs, monetary fines or even suspension of the affected activity, which may materially adversely affect us.

Climate change may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

A significant number of scientists, environmentalists, international organizations, regulators and other commentators sustain that global climate change has contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the increasing unpredictability, frequency and severity of natural disasters (including, but not limited to, hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, freezes, other storms and fires) in certain parts of the world. As a result, a number of legal and regulatory measures as well as social initiatives have been introduced in numerous countries in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change. Such reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could result in increased energy, transportation and raw material costs and may require us to make additional investments in facilities and equipment. Although we cannot predict the impact of changing global climate conditions, if any, or if legal, regulatory and social responses to concerns about global climate change, any such occurrences may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The Company’s operations are energy-intensive, and energy shortages or higher energy prices could have an adverse effect.

Crude steel production is an energy-intensive process, especially in melt shops with electric arc furnaces. Electricity represents an important production component at these units, as also does natural gas, although to a lesser extent. Electricity cannot be replaced at Gerdau’s mills and power rationing or shortages could adversely affect production at those units. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Layoffs in the Company’s labor force could generate costs or negatively affect the Company’s operations.

A substantial number of our employees are represented by labor unions and are covered by collective bargaining or other labor agreements, which are subject to periodic negotiation. Strikes or work stoppages have occurred in the past and could reoccur in connection with negotiations of new labor agreements or during other periods for other reasons, including the risk of layoffs during a

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down cycle that could generate severance costs. Moreover, the Company could be adversely affected by labor disruptions involving unrelated parties that may provide goods or services to the Company. Strikes and other labor disruptions at any of the Company operations could adversely affect the operation of facilities and the timing of completion and the cost of capital of our projects.

We could be harmed by a failure or interruption of our information technology systems or automated machinery.

We rely on our information technology systems and automated machinery to effectively manage our production processes and operate our business. Advanced technology systems and machinery are nonetheless subject to defects, interruptions and breakdowns. Any failure of our information technology systems and automated machinery to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and result in production errors, processing inefficiencies and the loss of sales and customers, which in turn could result in decreased revenue, increased overhead costs and excess or out-of-stock inventory levels resulting in a material adverse effect on our business results. Although we have procedures in place to prevent and minimize the impact of a potential failure, including a disaster recovery system, a back-up site for our management systems, 24/7 monitoring of our servers and a cybersecurity program, there is no assurance that these will work properly or that there will not be an impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, our information technology systems and automated machinery may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, viruses, cyber-attacks and other security breaches, including breaches of our production processing systems that could result in damage to our automated machinery, production interruptions or access to our confidential financial, operational or customer data. Any such damage or interruption could have a material adverse effect on our business results, including as a result of our facing significant fines, customer notice obligations or costly litigation, harming our reputation with our customers or requiring us to expend significant time and expense developing, repairing or upgrading our information technology systems and automated machinery.

Further, while we have some backup data-processing systems that could be used in the event of a catastrophe or a failure of our primary systems, we do not yet have an integrated disaster recovery plan or a backup data center that covers all of our units. While we endeavor to prepare for failures of our network by providing backup systems and procedures, we cannot guarantee that our current backup systems and procedures will operate satisfactorily in the event of a regional emergency. Any substantial failure of our backup systems to respond effectively or on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We are subject to information technology risks related to breaches of security pertaining to sensitive company, customer, employee and vendor information as well as breaches in the technology used to manage operations and other business processes.

Our business operations rely upon secure information technology systems for data capture, processing, storage and reporting. Despite careful security and controls design, implementation, updating and independent third party verification, our information technology systems, and those of our third party providers, could become subject to employee error or malfeasance, cyber-attacks, or natural disasters. Network, system, application and data breaches could result in operational disruptions or information misappropriation. Access to internal applications required to plan our operations, source materials, manufacture and goods and account for orders could be denied or misused. Theft of intellectual property or trade secrets, and inappropriate disclosure of confidential company, employee, customer or vendor information, could stem from such incidents. Any of these operational disruptions and/or misappropriation of information could result in lost sales, business delays, negative publicity and could have a material effect on our business.

Risks Relating to our Mining Operations

Our mineral resource estimates are based in interpretations and premises and may materially differ from mineral quantities that we may be able to actually extract.

Our mining resources are estimated quantities of ore and minerals. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of resources, including many factors beyond our control. Reserve engineering involves estimating deposits of minerals that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data, engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. In addition, estimates of different engineers may vary. As a result, no assurance can be given that the amount of mining resources will be extracted or that they can be extracted at commercially viable rates, which could adversely affect the financial situation of the Company.

Moreover, when making determinations about whether to advance any projects to development, Gerdau relies upon estimated calculations as to the mineralized material on its properties. Since Gerdau has not conducted a feasibility study demonstrating proven or probable reserves, estimates of mineralized material presented are less certain than would be the case if the estimates were made in accordance with the SEC-recognized definition of proven and probable reserves. Furthermore, until ore is actually mined and processed, any mineral reserves and grades of mineralization must be considered as estimates only. These estimates are imprecise and

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depend on geological interpretation and statistical inferences drawn from drilling and sampling analysis, which may prove to be unreliable. We cannot assure that these mineralized material estimates will be accurate or that this mineralized material can be mined or processed profitably and any decision to move forward with development is inherently risky. Further, there can be no assurance that any minerals recovered in small scale tests will be duplicated in large scale tests under on-site conditions or production scale. Any material changes in estimates of mineralized material will affect the economic viability of placing a property into production and such property’s return on capital. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

The Company has no proven or probable reserves, and the Company’s decision to commence industrial production, in order to supply its steelmaking works as well as sell any surplus volume, is not based on a study demonstrating economical recovery of any mineral reserves and is therefore inherently risky. Any funds spent by the Company on exploration or development could be lost.

The Company has not established any proven or probable mineral reserves at any of its properties. All exploration activities are supported based on mineral resources classified as mineralized materials, as they are not compliant with the definitions established by the SEC of proven or probable reserves. The Company is conducting a comprehensive exploration study to establish, in accordance with SEC definitions, the amount of mineralized material that could be transformed to proven or probable reserves. Thus, part of the volume of mineralized materials informed discussed herein may never reach the development or production stage.

In order to demonstrate the existence of proven or probable reserves, it would be necessary for Company to perform additional exploration to demonstrate the existence of sufficient mineralized material with satisfactory continuity and obtain a positive feasibility study which demonstrates with reasonable certainty that the deposit can be economically and legally extracted and produced. The absence of proven or probable reserves makes it more likely that the Company’s properties may cease to be profitable and that the money spent on exploration and development may never be recovered, which could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Drilling and production risks could adversely affect the mining process.

Once mineral deposits are discovered, it can take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of production may change.  Substantial time and expenditures are required to:

·      establish mineral reserves through drilling;

·      determine appropriate mining and metallurgical processes for optimizing the recovery of metal contained in ore;

·      obtain environmental and other licenses;

·      construct mining, processing facilities and infrastructure required for greenfield properties; and

·      obtain the ore or extract the minerals from the ore.

If a mining project proves not to be economically feasible by the time we are able to profit from it, the Company may incur substantial losses and be obliged to take write-offs.  In addition, potential changes or complications involving metallurgical and other technological processes arising during the life of a project may result in delays and cost overruns that may render the project not economically feasible and could adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

The Company has two mining tailing dams and any accident or defect affecting the structural integrity of either of them could affect its image, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Gerdau has two mining tailing dams in the state of Minas Gerais. The Bocaina Dam has been inactive since 2011 and is practically dry, which is a factor that minimizes the risk. It is periodically monitored and its instrumentation data are within the safety limits. Meanwhile, the Alemães Dam is currently operating at its maximum capacity and is regularly monitored. The instrumentation data are within the safety limits.

Both dams are classified as Class C (low risk) in accordance with the National Mining Dam Registry available on the website of the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM).

Gerdau adopts rigorous standards of engineering control and environmental supervision and conducts an annual Geotechnical Stability Audit to ensure the stability of the two dams. Gerdau has a Mining Dam Emergency Action Plan for each of the dams and both documents are filed at the regulatory agencies, as required by governing law.

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An accident involving a dam could result in serious adverse consequences, including:

·      Temporary/permanent shutdown of mining activities and consequently the need to buy iron ore to supply mills;

·      Large expenditures on contingencies and on recovering the regions and people affected;

·      High investments to resume operations;

·      Payment of fines and damages;

·      Potential environmental impacts.

Any one or more of these consequences could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.

Financial Risks

Any downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings could adversely affect the availability of new financing and increase its cost of capital.

In 2007, the international rating agencies, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s, classified the Company’s credit risk as “investment grade”, enabling the Company to access more attractive borrowing rates. In December 2011, Moody’s assigned the investment grade rating “Baa3” for all of Gerdau’s ratings. With the deterioration of the Brazilian economy, S&P, Fitch and Moody’s downgraded Brazil’s sovereign rating. Despite the loss of Brazil’s investment grade rating in 2015, the Company maintained its investment grade rating by Fitch and Standard & Poor’s. However, the Company lost its investment grade rating by Moody’s.

The loss of any more of Gerdau’s investment grade ratings could increase its cost of capital, impair its ability to obtain capital and adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s level of indebtedness could adversely affect its ability to raise additional capital to fund operations, limit the ability to react to changes in the economy or the industry and prevent it from meeting its obligations under its debt agreements.

The Company’s degree of leverage, together with the change in rating by the credit rating agencies, could have important consequences, including the following:

·      It may limit the ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, additions to fixed assets, product development, debt service requirements, acquisitions and general corporate or other purposes;

·      It may limit the ability to declare dividends on its shares;

·      A portion of the cash flows from operations must be dedicated to the payment of interest on existing indebtedness and is not available for other purposes, including operations, additions to fixed assets and future business opportunities;

·      It may limit the ability to adjust to changing market conditions and place the Company at a competitive disadvantage compared to its competitors that have less debt;

·      The Company may be vulnerable in a downturn in general economic conditions;

·      The Company may be required to adjust the level of funds available for additions to fixed assets; and

As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

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In September 2015, the Company concluded the process of eliminating financial covenants in all of its contracts. Since October 2015, only financial transactions with BNDES include covenants relating to the Company’s indebtedness ratios, but with distinct characteristics in relation to those contained in the contracts with commercial banks (for more information, see Item 5.B.—Liquidity and Capital Resources — Indebtedness Ratios). In the event of a failure to satisfy the annual tests, the Company would have a grace period and a subsequent renegotiation of the security for the financing, and an event of default would not occur.

Variations in the foreign exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies of countries in which the Company operates may increase the cost of servicing its debt denominated in foreign currency and adversely affect its overall financial performance.

The Company’s results of operations are affected by fluctuations in the foreign exchange rates between the Brazilian real, the currency in which the Company prepares its financial statements, and the currencies of the countries in which it operates.

For example, the North America Business Division reports its results in U.S. dollars. Therefore, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian real could affect its results of operations. The same occurs with all other businesses located outside Brazil with respect to the exchange rate between the local currency of the respective subsidiary and the Brazilian real.

Export revenue and margins are also affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar and other local currencies of the countries where the Company produces in relation to the Brazilian real. The Company’s production costs are denominated in local currency but its export sales are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. Revenues generated by exports denominated in U.S. dollars are reduced when they are translated into Brazilian real in periods during which the Brazilian currency appreciates in relation to the U.S. dollar.

The Brazilian real depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 47.0% in 2015, appreciated by 16.5% in 2016 and depreciated by 1.5% in 2017.

The Company held debt denominated in foreign currency, mainly U.S. dollars, in an aggregate amount of R$13.3 billion at December 31, 2017, representing 81.0% of its consolidated gross debt (loans, financings, and debentures). Significant further depreciation in the Brazilian real in relation to the U.S. dollar or other currencies could reduce the Company’s ability to service its obligations denominated in foreign currencies, particularly since a significant part of its net sales revenue is denominated in Brazilian reais. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

We are subject to LIBOR-based risks.

On July 27, 2017, the head of the Financial Conduct Authority, or the FCA, announced the desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. Because the statements made by the head of the FCA are recent in nature, there is no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement rate. As such, the potential effect of any such event on our net investment income cannot yet be determined and, at this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any establishment of alternative reference rates or any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential changes, alternative reference rates or other reforms may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Unfavorable outcomes in judicial, administrative and regulatory litigation may negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We are involved in several tax, civil and labor disputes involving significant monetary claims.

The principal litigations are described more fully in “Legal Proceedings.” Among the material matters for which no reserve has been established are the following:

·      The Company and its subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A., have other lawsuits related to the ICMS (state VAT) which are mostly related to credit rights and rate differences, whose demands totaled R$ 443,137 thousands.

·      The Company and certain of its subsidiaries in Brazil are parties to claims related to: (i) Imposto sobre Produtos Industrializados - IPI, substantially related to IPI credit on inputs, whose demands total the updated amount of R$ 309,581 thousands; (ii) PIS and COFINS, substantially related to non-approval of compensation of credits on inputs totaling R$ 438,843, (iii) social security contributions in the total of R$ 76,866 thousands and (iv) other taxes, which updated total amount is currently R$ 370,175 thousands.

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·      Subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. is a party to an administrative proceeding relating to Withholding Income Tax, in the amount of R$ 122,029 thousands, assessed on the remittance abroad of interest charged on export financings under Export Prepayment or Export Advance Agreements. The Company submitted an administrative claim challenging the tax assessment on January 13, 2017, which was rejected by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Judgment Office (Delegacia de Julgamento da Receita Federal do Brasil), on June 5, 2017, reason for which the Company submitted a voluntary appeal, on July 4, 2017, which is currently pending on  the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals (Conselho Administrativo de Recursos Fiscais — “CARF”, administrative body of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil).

·      The Company (as successor of Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A.) and its subsidiary Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda., are parties to administrative and judicial proceedings relating to IRPJ — Corporate Income Tax and CSLL — Social Contribution Tax, in the current amount of R$ 1,488,989 thousands. Said proceedings relate to profits generated abroad, of which (i) R$ 1,317,381 thousands correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda., of which (i.a.) R$ 951,736 thousands relate to a proceeding that is no longer subject to appeal in CARF and was referred for judicial collection, which collection is being challenged in the competent judicial lower court; and (i.b) R$ 365,645 thousands relate to a voluntary appeal which was partially granted in the lower tribunal of the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals (Conselho Administrativo de Recursos Fiscais — “CARF”, administrative body of the Ministry of Finance of Brazil), and was subject to special appeal which was partially granted in CARF’s superior tribunal with the publication of the judgment on May 25, 2017, and is currently awaiting due diligence by the Internal Revenue Service, as determined by the CARF decision, and new appeals may be filed after the conclusion of such procedure; and (ii) R$ 171,608 thousands correspond to a proceeding involving the Company, whose voluntary appeal in CARF’s lower tribunal was dismissed, for which a special appeal was filed, and currently awaits judgment in CARF’s superior tribunal.

·      The Company (as successor of Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A.) and its subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A. are parties to administrative proceedings relating to the disallowance of the deductibility of goodwill generated in accordance with Article 7 and 8 of Law 9,532/97 — as a result of a corporate restructuring carried out in 2004/2005 — from the tax base of the Corporate Income tax - IRPJ and Social Contribution on Net Income - CSLL. The total updated amount of the proceedings is R$ 6,217,810 thousands, of which (i) R$ 4,963,398 thousands correspond to four proceedings involving the Company and its subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A., for which administrative discussions already ended and are currently in the administrative collection stage; and the Companies obtained injunctive relief to permit it to offer a judicial guarantee using a liability insurance policy, for judicial discussions on Motion to Stay Execution by the subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. were initiated, in their respective proceedings, which total the amount of R$ 3,195,379 thousands, and also by the Company, in its respective lawsuit, which amounts to R$ 364,370 thousands; (ii) R$ 600,101 thousands correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal is currently pending in CARF’s lower tribunal; (iii) R$ 531,138 thousands correspond to two proceeding involving the subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal was dismissed in CARF’s lower tribunal and having been presented Request for Clarification against those decisions, which are pending of judgment; and (iv) R$ 123,172 thousands correspond to one proceeding involving the Company (as successor of Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A.), whose Request for Clarification, which was filed against a decision that dismissed its Voluntary Appeal, was rejected on December 7, 2017, then the Company became aware of that on December 12, 2017 and it is opposing the appropriate appeal.

Some of the decisions obtained at the CARF related to those proceedings along with other matters involving the Company included in the scope of the so-called Operation Zelotes (the “Operation”) are being investigated by Brazilian federal authorities including the Judiciary Branch, with the purpose of verifying the occurrence or not of alleged illegal acts.

Considering the involvement of Gerdau’s name in press reports concerning the Operation, the Board of Directors decided to engage outside counsel, which report to a Special Committee of the Board, to conduct an investigation to determine, among other things: (i) whether, in light of current knowledge, proper protocol was followed in the relationship of the Company with governmental authorities, including CARF, and in the hiring of firms representing the Company in cases before CARF; (ii) whether such firms have remained within the scope of their work/hiring; (iii) whether the engagement terms for such firms included clauses intended to prevent activity that violates ethical codes or laws currently in force; (iv) whether the engagement terms for such firms included the establishment of sanctions for any violations (whether contractual breaches or otherwise); and (v) if there is any evidence of fraud, deceit, bad faith, or any expression of an intent to commit an illegal act on the part of directors and/or officers of the Company in the relationship of the Company with governmental authorities, including CARF, in the negotiation, signing or carrying out of the aforementioned contracts (the “Internal Investigation”).

The Internal Investigation is ongoing, and as of the date of the approval of these interim financial statements, the Company believes it is not possible to predict either the duration or the outcome of the Operation or of the Internal Investigation. Additionally, the Company believes that currently there is not enough information to determine whether a provision for losses is required or disclose any contingency.

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The Company’s legal advisors confirm that the procedures adopted by the Company with respect to the tax treatment of profits abroad and the deductibility of goodwill were strictly legal, and, therefore, the likelihood of loss with respect to said proceedings is possible (but not likely).

The failure to pay by our clients or the non-receipt, by the Company, of the credits held before financial institutions and originated from financial investments could adversely affect the Company’s revenues.

Gerdau may suffer losses from the default of our clients. Gerdau has a broad base of active clients and, in the case of default of a group of clients, Gerdau may suffer an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

This risk arises from the possibility of the Company not receiving the amounts due to it from sales transactions or credits payable by financial institutions, which originated from our financial investments, which could also have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Gerdau.

Regulatory Risks

Restrictive measures on trade in steel products may affect the Company’s business by increasing the price of its products or reducing its ability to export.

Gerdau is a steel producer that supplies both the domestic market in Brazil and a number of international markets. The Company’s exports face competition from other steel producers, as well as restrictions imposed by importing countries in the form of quotas, ad valorem taxes, tariffs or increases in import duties, any of which could increase the costs of products and make them less competitive or prevent Gerdau from selling in these markets. There are no assurances that importing countries will not impose quotas, ad valorem taxes, tariffs or increase import duties, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Costs related to compliance with environmental regulations could increase if requirements become stricter, which could have a negative effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company’s industrial units and other activities must comply with a series of federal, state and municipal laws and regulations regarding the environment and the operation of plants in the countries in which they operate.  These regulations include procedures relating to control of air emissions, disposal of liquid effluents and the handling, processing, storage, disposal and reuse of solid waste, hazardous or not, as well as other controls necessary for a steel company.

Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations could result in administrative or criminal sanctions and closure orders, in addition to the obligation of repairing damage caused to third parties and the environment, such as clean-up of contamination.  If current and future laws become stricter, spending on fixed assets and costs to comply with legislation could increase and negatively affect the Company’s financial situation.  Moreover, future acquisitions could subject the Company to additional spending and costs in order to comply with environmental legislation. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Laws and regulations to reduce greenhouse gases and other atmospheric emissions could be enacted in the near future, with significant, adverse effects on the results of the Company’s operations, cash flows and financial situation.

One of the possible effects of the expansion of greenhouse gas reduction requirements is an increase in costs, mainly resulting from the demand for renewable energy and the implementation of new technologies in the productive chain.  On the other hand, demand is expected to grow constantly for recyclable materials such as steel, which, being a product that could be recycled numerous times without losing its properties, results in lower emissions during the lifecycle of the product.

The Company expects operations overseas to be affected by future federal, state and municipal laws related to climate change, seeking to deal with the question of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other atmospheric emissions.  Thus, one of the possible effects of this increase in legal requirements could be an increase in energy costs. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

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Our operations expose us to risks and challenges associated with conducting business in compliance with applicable anti-bribery anti-corruption and antitrust laws and regulations.

We have operations in Brazil and other countries in South America, North America and Asia. We face several risks and challenges inherent in conducting business internationally, where we are subject to a wide range of laws and regulations such as the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law (Law 12.846/2013), Antitrust Law (Law 12.529/2011), the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and similar anti-bribery, anti-corruption and antitrust laws in other jurisdictions. In recent years there has been an increased focus on corruption in Brazil and also the investigation and enforcement activities of the United States under the FCPA and by other governments under similar laws and regulations. These laws generally prohibit corrupt payments to governmental officials and certain payments, gifts or remunerations to or from clients and suppliers.

Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal penalties and/or other sanctions against us, our officers or our employees, requirements to impose more stringent compliance programs, and prohibitions on the conduct of our business and our ability to participate in public biddings for contracts. We may incur expenses and recognize provisions and other charges in respect of such matters. In addition, the increased attention focused upon liability issues as a result of investigations, lawsuits and regulatory proceedings could harm our brand or otherwise impact the growth of our business. The retention and renewal of many of our contracts depends on creating a sense of trust with our customers and any violation of these laws and regulations may irreparably erode that trust and may lead to termination of such relationships and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If any of these risks materialize, our reputation, strategy, international expansion efforts and our ability to attract and retain employees could be negatively impacted, and, consequently our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

In March 2015, it was reported in the press that the Brazilian Federal Police had started an operation called Zelotes (the “Operation”), to investigate whether a number of corporate taxpayers attempted to influence the decisions of the Administrative Board of Tax Appeals (CARF) through illegal means. On April 6, 2015, the Company received an inquiry from the CVM requesting clarifications regarding news reports linking the Company to the Operation. The Company clarified that, up to that moment, it had not been contacted by any public authority concerning the Operation.

Considering the involvement of Gerdau’s name in press reports concerning the Operation, the Board of Directors decided to engage an external legal, which would report to a Special Committee of the Board, to conduct an investigation.

On February 25, 2016, the Federal Police came to Gerdau’s premises to execute court ordered searches and seizures, taking documents and data for examination. The Federal Police also interviewed certain individuals associated with Gerdau, including its Chief Executive Officer and another current Board member. On that same date, the Company filed a press release with SEC and CVM and informed Bovespa and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The internal investigation is ongoing, and the Company is cooperating with the Federal Police. See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Tax, Civil and Labor Claims and Contingent Assets) for further information.

Although the Company does not presently believe that these matters will have a material adverse effect on its business, given the inherent uncertainties in such situations, the Company can provide no assurance that these matters will not be material to its business in the future.

Our governance and compliance processes may fail to prevent regulatory penalties and reputational harm.

We operate in a global environment, and our activities extend over multiple jurisdictions and complex regulatory frameworks with increased enforcement activities worldwide. Our governance and compliance processes, which include the review of internal control over financial reporting, may not prevent future breaches of legal, accounting or governance standards. We may be subject to breaches of our Code of Ethics and Conduct, anti-corruption policies and business conduct protocols and to instances of fraudulent behavior, corrupt practices and dishonesty by our employees, contractors or other agents. Our failure to comply with applicable laws and other standards could subject us to fines, loss of operating licenses and reputational harm.

Risks Relating to Brazil

Any further downgrading of Brazil’s credit rating could adversely affect the price of our shares.

We can be adversely affected by investors’ perceptions of risks related to Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating. Rating agencies regularly evaluate Brazil and its sovereign ratings, which are based on a number of factors including macroeconomic trends, fiscal and budgetary conditions, indebtedness metrics and the perspective of changes in any of these factors.

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Brazil has lost its investment grade sovereign debt credit rating by the three main U.S.-based credit rating agencies, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch. Standard & Poor’s downgraded Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating from BBB-minus to BB-plus in September 2015, subsequently reduced it to BB in February 2016, and maintained its negative outlook on the rating, citing Brazil’s fiscal difficulties and economic contraction as signs of a worsening credit situation. In December 2015, Moody’s placed Brazil’s Baa3 sovereign debt credit rating on review and downgraded Brazil’s sovereign credit rating in February 2016 to Ba2 with a negative outlook, citing the prospect for further deterioration in Brazil’s indebtedness figures amid a recession and challenging political environment. Fitch downgraded Brazil’s sovereign credit rating to BB-plus with a negative outlook in December 2015, citing the country’s rapidly expanding budget deficit and worse-than-expected recession, and further downgraded Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating in May 2016 to BB with a negative outlook. In January 2018, Standard & Poor’s downgraded Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating from BB to BB-minus, citing that as doubts grew about the result of a presidential election in October and a push to trim its costly pension system, seen as vital to closing a huge fiscal deficit. In February 2018, Fitch downgraded Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating from BB to BB-minus saying the country’s failure to put a social security overhaul to a vote undermines public finances.

Brazil’s sovereign credit rating is currently rated below investment grade by the three main credit rating agencies. Consequently, the prices of securities issued by Brazilian companies have been negatively affected. A prolongation or worsening of the current Brazilian recession and continued political uncertainty, among other factors, could lead to further ratings downgrades. Any further downgrade of Brazil’s sovereign credit ratings could heighten investors’ perception of risk and, as a result, adversely affect the price of our shares.

Brazil continues to experience political instability, which may adversely affect the Company.

Brazil’s political environment has historically influenced, and continues to influence, the performance of the country’s economy. Political crises have affected and continue to affect the confidence of investors and the general public, which have historically resulted in economic deceleration and heightened volatility in the securities issued by Brazilian companies.

Brazil has experienced heightened economic and political instability derived from various currently ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption being conducted by the Office of the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor, including the largest such investigation, known as Lava Jato, which have negatively impacted the Brazilian economy and political environment and contributed to a decline in market confidence in Brazil.

As a result of these investigations, a number of senior politicians, including members of Congress, and high-ranking executive officers of major corporations and state-owned companies in Brazil, have been arrested, convicted of various charges relating to corruption, entered into plea agreements with federal prosecutors and/or have resigned or been removed from their positions as a result of these Lava Jato investigations.

Amidst this background of political and economic uncertainty, President Dilma Rousseff was suspended from office on May 12, 2016, when the Brazilian Senate voted to hold a trial on impeachment charges against her. President Rousseff was replaced by Vice-President Michel Temer, who served as acting President until Ms. Rousseff was permanently removed from office by the Senate on August 31, 2016. President Temer’s term of office is set to end in December 2018.

The potential outcome of Lava Jato as well as other ongoing corruption-related investigations is uncertain, but they have already had an adverse impact on the image and reputation of those companies that have been implicated as well as on the general market perception of the Brazilian economy, political environment and the Brazilian capital markets. The Company has no control over, and cannot predict, whether such investigations or allegations will lead to further political and economic instability or whether new allegations against government officials will arise in the future or will adversely affect the Company.

Inflation and government actions to combat inflation may contribute significantly to economic uncertainty in Brazil and could adversely affect the Company’s business.

If Brazil experiences high levels of inflation once again, the country’s rate of economic growth could slow, which would lead to lower demand for the Company’s products in Brazil. Inflation is also likely to increase some costs and expenses which the Company may not be able to pass on to its customers and, as a result, may reduce its profit margins and net income. In addition, high inflation generally leads to higher domestic interest rates, which could lead the cost of servicing the Company’s debt denominated in Brazilian reais to increase. Inflation may also hinder its access to capital markets, which could adversely affect its ability to refinance debt. Inflationary pressures may also lead to the imposition of additional government policies to combat inflation that could adversely affect our business. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

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Developments and the perception of risks in other countries, especially in the United States and emerging market countries, may adversely affect the market prices of our shares.

The market for securities issued by Brazilian companies is influenced, in some degree, by economic and market conditions in the United States and emerging market countries, especially other Latin American countries. The reaction of investors to economic developments in one country may cause the capital markets in other countries to fluctuate. Developments or adverse economic conditions in other emerging market countries have at times resulted in significant reductions of the investments from investment funds and declines in the amount of foreign currency invested in Brazil.

The Brazilian economy is also affected by international economic and market conditions, especially economic and market conditions in the United States. Share prices on the BM&FBOVESPA, for example, have historically been sensitive to fluctuations in United States interest rates as well as movements of the major United States stocks indexes.

Economic developments in other countries and securities markets could adversely affect the market prices of our shares, which could make it more difficult for us to access the capital markets and finance our operations in the future on acceptable terms, and could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to our Corporate Structure

The interests of the controlling shareholder may conflict with the interests of the non-controlling shareholders.

Subject to the provisions of the Company’s bylaws, the controlling shareholder has powers to:

·      elect a majority of the directors and nominate executive officers, establish the administrative policy and exercise full control of the Company´s management;

·      sell or otherwise transfer the Company´s shares; and

·      approve any action requiring the approval of shareholders representing a majority of the outstanding capital stock, including corporate reorganization, acquisition and sale of assets, and payment of any future dividends.

By having such power, the controlling shareholder can make decisions that may conflict with the interest of the Company and other shareholders, which could adversely affect the financial condition and the results of operations of the Company.

As a foreign issuer, we have different disclosure and other requirements than U.S. domestic registrants.

As a foreign issuer, we may be subject to different disclosure and other requirements than domestic U.S. registrants. For example, as a foreign issuer, in the United States, we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a domestic U.S. registrant under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including the requirements to prepare and issue quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or to file current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events, the proxy rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 14 of the Exchange Act or the insider reporting and short-swing profit rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we intend to rely on exemptions from certain U.S. rules which will permit us to follow Brazilian legal requirements rather than certain of the requirements that are applicable to U.S. domestic registrants.

Furthermore, foreign issuers are required to file their annual report on Form 20-F within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. As a result of the above, even though we are required to file reports on Form 6-K disclosing the information which we have made or are required to make public pursuant to Luxembourg law, or are required to distribute to shareholders generally, and that is material to us, you may not receive information of the same type or amount that is required to be disclosed to shareholders of a U.S. company.

As a foreign issuer, we are permitted to, and we do, rely on exemptions from certain NYSE corporate governance standards, including the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors. This may afford less protection to our shareholders.

The NYSE’s rules require listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of their board members be independent and to have independent director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and corporate governance matters. As a foreign issuer and a controlled Company, we are permitted to, and we will, follow home country practice in lieu of the above

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requirements. Brazilian law, the law of our home country, does not require that a majority of our board consist of independent directors or the implementation of a compensation committee or nominating a corporate governance committee, and our board include fewer, independent directors than would be required if we were subject to the NYSE rules applicable to most U.S. companies. As long as we rely on the foreign issuer exemptions to the NYSE rules, a majority of our board of directors is not required to consist of independent directors, our compensation committee is not required to be comprised entirely of independent directors, and we will not be required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee. Therefore, our board’s approach may be different from that of a board with a majority of independent directors, and, as a result, the management team’s oversight of the Company may be more limited than if we were subject to the NYSE rules applicable to most U.S. companies.

Risks Relating to Our Preferred Shares and ADSs

If we do not maintain a registration statement and no exemption from the Securities Act registration is available, U.S. Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise preemptive rights with respect to our preferred shares.

We may not be able to offer our preferred shares to U.S. holders of ADSs residing in the U.S. pursuant to preemptive rights granted to holders of our preferred shares in connection with any future issuance of our preferred shares unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to such preferred shares and preemptive rights, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file or maintain a registration statement relating to any preemptive rights offerings with respect to our preferred shares, and we cannot assure you that we will file or maintain any such registration statement. If such a registration statement is not filed and maintained and an exemption from registration does not exist, our depositary, will attempt to sell the preemptive rights, and you will be entitled to receive the proceeds of such sale. However, these preemptive rights will expire if the depositary does not sell them, and U.S. holders of ADSs will not realize any value from the granting of such preemptive rights. Even if a registration statement is effective, we may decide and are allowed to not extend any preemptive or subscription rights to U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) that are holders of our preferred shares and ADSs.

Judgments of Brazilian courts with respect to our preferred shares will be payable only in reais.

If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of the preferred shares, we will not be required to discharge its obligations in a currency other than reais. Under Brazilian exchange control limitations, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than reais may only be satisfied in Brazilian currency at the exchange rate, as determined by the Central Bank, in effect on the date the judgment is obtained, and such amounts are then adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations through the effective payment date. The then prevailing exchange rate may not afford non-Brazilian investors with full compensation for any claim arising out of, or related to, our obligations under the preferred shares or the ADSs.

If an ADS holder surrenders its ADSs and withdraws preferred shares, it risks losing the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and certain Brazilian tax advantages.

An ADS holder benefits from the electronic certificate of foreign capital registration obtained by the custodian for our preferred shares underlying the ADSs in Brazil, which permits the custodian to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the preferred shares into non-Brazilian currency and remit the proceeds abroad. If an ADS holder surrenders its ADSs and withdraws preferred shares, it will be entitled to continue to rely on the custodian’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration for only five business days from the date of withdrawal. Thereafter, upon the disposition of or distributions relating to the preferred shares unless it obtain its own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration or qualifies under Brazilian foreign investment regulations that entitle some foreign investors to buy and sell shares on Brazilian stock exchanges without obtaining separate electronic certificates of foreign capital registration, such former holder of ADSs would not be able to remit abroad non-Brazilian currency. In addition, if an ADS holder does not qualify under the foreign investment regulations, it will generally be subject to less favorable tax treatment of dividends and distributions on, and the proceeds from any sale of, our preferred shares.

If an ADS holder attempts to obtain its own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration, it may incur expenses or suffer delays in the application process, which could delay its ability to receive dividends or distributions relating to our preferred shares or the return of its capital in a timely manner. The depositary’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration may also be adversely affected by future legislative changes.

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ITEM 4.                COMPANY INFORMATION

A.            HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

Gerdau S.A. is a Brazilian corporation (Sociedade Anônima) that was incorporated on November 20, 1961 under the laws of Brazil. Its main registered office is located at Av. das Nações Unidas, 8501 - 8º andar, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, and the telephone number is +55 (11) 3094 6300.

History

The current Company is the product of a number of corporate acquisitions, mergers and other transactions dating back to 1901. The Company began operating in 1901 as the Pontas de Paris nail factory controlled by the Gerdau family based in Porto Alegre, who is still the Company’s indirect controlling shareholder. In 1969, Pontas de Paris was renamed Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A., which today is the holding company controlled by the Gerdau family and the parent company of Gerdau S.A.

From 1901 to 1969, the Pontas de Paris nail factory grew and expanded its business into a variety of steel-related products and services. At the end of World War II, the Company acquired Siderúrgica Riograndense S.A., a steel producer also located in Porto Alegre, in an effort to broaden its activities and provide it with greater access to raw materials. In February 1948, the Company initiated its steel operations, which foreshadowed the successful mini-mill model of producing steel in electric arc furnaces using steel scrap as the main raw material. At that time the Company adopted a regional sales strategy to ensure more competitive operating costs. In 1957, the Company installed a second unit in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the city of Sapucaia do Sul, and in 1962, steady growth in the production of nails led to the construction of a larger and more advanced factory in Passo Fundo, also in Rio Grande do Sul.

In 1967, the Company expanded into the Brazilian state of São Paulo, purchasing Fábrica de Arames São Judas Tadeu, a producer of nails and wires, which was later renamed Comercial Gerdau and ultimately became the Company’s Brazilian distribution channel for steel products. In June 1969, the Company expanded into the Northeast of Brazil, producing long steel at Siderúrgica Açonorte in the state of Pernambuco. In December 1971, the Company acquired control of Siderúrgica Guaíra, a long steel producer in the state of Paraná in Brazil’s South Region. The Company also established a new company, Seiva S.A. Florestas e Indústrias, to produce lumber on a sustainable basis for the furniture, pulp and steel industries. In 1979, the Company acquired control of the Cosigua mill in Rio de Janeiro, which currently operates the largest mini-mill in Latin America. Since then, the Company has expanded throughout Brazil with a series of acquisitions and new operations, and today owns 12 steel units in Brazil.

In 1980, the Company began to expand internationally with the acquisition of Gerdau Laisa S.A., the only long steel producer in Uruguay. In 1989, the Company acquired the Canadian company Gerdau Ameristeel Cambridge, a producer of common long rolled steel products located in Cambridge, Ontario. In 1992, the Company acquired control of Gerdau AZA S.A., a producer of crude steel  and long rolled products in Chile. Over time, the Company increased its international presence by acquiring a non-controlling interest in a rolling mill in Argentina, a controlling interest in Diaco S.A. in Colombia, and, most notably, additional interests in North America through the acquisition of Gerdau Ameristeel MRM Special Sections, a producer of special sections, and the former Ameristeel Corp., a producer of common long rolled products. In 2002, through a series of transactions, the Company merged its North American steel production assets with those of the Canadian company Co-Steel, a producer of long steel, to create Gerdau Ameristeel, which is currently the second largest long steel producer in North America based on steel production volume.

In December 2003, Gerdau Açominas S.A., signed a purchase agreement with the Votorantim Group. Under this contract, Gerdau Açominas S.A. has agreed to purchase the real estate and mining rights of Companhia Paraibuna de Metais, a company controlled by Votorantim Group, whose mines were located at Miguel Burnier, Várzea do Lopes and Gongo Soco in the state of Minas Gerais. The assets involved in this transaction include extraction concessions. The price agreed upon for the purchase of the real estate and mineral rights described above was US$ 30 million (R$88.1 million on the date of the acquisition). In 2012, Gerdau guaranteed its iron ore self-sufficiency for the integrated mill (Ouro Branco).

In September 2005, Gerdau acquired 36% of the stock issued by Sipar Aceros S.A., a long steel rolling mill, located in the Province of Santa Fé, Argentina. This interest, added to the 38% already owned by Gerdau represents 74% of the capital stock of Sipar Aceros S.A. In the same month, Gerdau concluded the acquisition of a 57% interest in Diaco S.A., the largest rebar manufacturer in Colombia. In January 2008, Gerdau acquired an additional interest of 40% for US$107.2 million (R$188.7 million on the acquisition date), increasing its interest to 99% of the capital stock, a figure that also takes into consideration the dilution of non-controlling interests, which explains the higher Gerdau share compared with the share in the two major acquisitions made. In June 2017, Gerdau concluded the operation to form a joint venture, based on the sale of its 50% interest in Gerdau Diaco, in Colombia, with Putney Capital Management. The transaction attributes an economic value to the joint venture of US$165 million (R$546 million on the transaction date).

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In January 2006, through its subsidiary Gerdau Hungria Holdings Limited Liability Company, Gerdau acquired 40% of the capital stock of Corporación Sidenor S.A. for US$ 219.2 million (R$ 493.2 million on the acquisition date). In December 2008, Gerdau Hungria Holding Limited Liability Company acquired for US$ 288.0 million (R$ 674.0 million on the acquisition date) a 20% interest in Corporación Sidenor S.A. With this acquisition, Gerdau became the majority shareholder (60%) in Corporación Sidenor. In January 2013, as a result of the settlement of a put option held by the Santander Group, the Company acquired the remaining 40% of Corporación Sidenor S.A., for R$ 599.2 million. In May 2016, the Company closed the sale of Gerdau Holdings Europa S.A. in Spain (the subsidiary which held Corporación Sidenor S.A.). The transaction value was € 155 million (equivalent to R$ 621 million on the completion of the sale), with the possibility of receiving up to an additional  € 45 million (equivalent to R$ 180 million) within five years, depending on future business performance.

In June 2006, Gerdau won the bid for 50% plus one share of the capital stock of Empresa Siderúrgica Del Perú S.A.A. (Siderperú) located in the city of Chimbote in Peru for US$ 60.6 million (R$ 134.9 million on the acquisition date). In November 2006, Gerdau also won the bid for 324,327,847 shares issued by Siderperú, which represented 33% of the total capital stock, for US$ 40.5 million, totaling US$ 101.1 million (R$ 219.8 million on the acquisition date). This acquisition added to the interest already acquired earlier in the year, for an interest of 83% of the capital stock of Siderperú.

In March 2007, Gerdau acquired Siderúrgica Tultitlán, a mini mill located in the Mexico City that produces rebar and profiles. The price paid for the acquisition was US$ 259.0 million (R$ 536.0 million on the acquisition date).

In May 2007, Gerdau acquired an interest of 30% in Multisteel Business Holdings Corp., a holding of Indústrias Nacionales, C. por A. (“INCA”), a company located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, that produces rolled products. This partnership allowed Gerdau to access the Caribbean market. The total cost of the acquisition was US$ 42.9 million (R$ 82.0 million on the acquisition date). In July 2007, Gerdau acquired an additional interest of 19% in Multisteel Business Holdings Corp., bringing its total interest in the Company to 49%. The total cost of this second acquisition was US$ 72.0 million (R$ 135.2 million on the acquisition date). In October 2014, Gerdau and Complejo Metalúrgico Dominicano S.A. confirmed the merger of operations of its companies Industrias Nacionales and METALDOM, becoming denominated Gerdau Metaldom. This merger is aimed at more efficiency and competitiveness in the Caribbean and Central America region and assures the supply of steel products for construction sector in the Dominican Republic.

In June 2007, Gerdau acquired 100% of the capital stock of Siderúrgica Zuliana C.A., a Venezuelan company operating a steel mill in the city of Ojeda, Venezuela. The total cost of the acquisition was US$ 92.5 million (R$ 176.2 million on the acquisition date).

In the same month, Gerdau and the Kalyani Group from India initiated an agreement to establish a joint ventures for an investment in Tadipatri, India. The joint venture included an interest of 45% in Kalyani Gerdau Steel Ltd. The agreement provides for shared control of the joint venture, and the purchase price was US$ 73.0 million (R$ 127.3 million on the acquisition date). In May 2008, Gerdau announced the conclusion of this acquisition. In July 2012, the Company obtained control of Kalyani Gerdau Steel Ltds (KGS), which the Company had an interest of 91.28% as of the control acquisition date. In 2012, until the date Gerdau acquired control over KGS, Gerdau made capital increases in KGS, which resulted in an increase of its shareholder interest, going from 80.57% in December 31, 2011 to 91.28%.

In September 2007, Gerdau concluded the acquisition of Chaparral Steel Company, increasing Gerdau’s portfolio of products and including a comprehensive line of structural steel products. The total cost of the acquisition was US$ 4.2 billion (R$ 7.8 billion on the acquisition date), plus the assumption of certain liabilities.

In October 2007, Gerdau executed a letter of intent for the acquisition of a 49% interest in the capital stock of the holding company Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V., headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. The holding company owns 100% of the capital stock of Aceros Corsa, S.A. de C.V. and its distributors. The acquisition price was US$ 110.7 million (R$ 186.3 million on the acquisition date). In February 2008, the Company announced the conclusion of this acquisition.

In November 2007, Gerdau entered into a binding agreement for the acquisition of the steel company MacSteel from Quanex Corporation. MacSteel operates three mini-mills located in Jackson, Michigan; Monroe, Michigan; and Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Company also operates six downstream operations in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. The purchase price for this acquisition was US$1.5 billion (R$2.4 billion on the acquisition date) in addition to the assumption of their debts and some liabilities. Gerdau concluded the acquisition in April 2008.

In June 2008, the parent company Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. acquired a 29% stake of voting and total capital in Aços Villares S.A. from BNDESPAR for R$ 1.3 billion. As a payment, Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. issued debentures to be exchanged for Gerdau S.A.’s common shares. In December 2009 the Company’s stake in Aços Villares S.A. owned through its subsidiary Corporación

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Sidenor S.A. was transferred to direct control of Gerdau S.A., for US$ 218 million (R$ 384 million on the acquisition date), which then owned a total 59% stake in Aços Villares S.A. On December 30, 2010, Gerdau S.A. and Aços Villares S.A. shareholders approved the merger into Gerdau S.A. of Aços Villares S.A. The transaction was carried out through a share exchange, whereby the shareholders of Aços Villares S.A. received one share in Gerdau S.A. for each lot of twenty-four shares held. The new shares were credited on February 10, 2011. As a result of the transaction, Aços Villares S.A. was delisted from the Brazilian stock exchange.

On August 30, 2010, Gerdau S.A. concluded the acquisition of all outstanding common shares issued by Gerdau Ameristeel that it did not yet hold either directly or indirectly, for US$ 11.00 per share in cash, corresponding to a total of US$ 1.6 billion (R$ 2.8 billion). With the acquisition, Gerdau Ameristeel was delisted from the New York and Toronto stock exchanges.

On July 14, 2015 the Company approved the acquisition of the minority interests described below, in the following companies: Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. (4.77%), Gerdau Açominas S.A. (3.50%), Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. (2.39%) and Gerdau América Latina Participações S.A. (4.90%), with its counterparts Itaú Unibanco S.A. and ArcelorMittal Netherlands BV. The acquisitions of these interests, in a total amount of R$1,986 million, allowed Gerdau to hold more than 99% of the total capital of each of the subsidiaries. On August 10, 2015, the CVM requested clarification from Gerdau and the Company, referring to the statements of a shareholder concerning the transaction for the acquisition of minority stakes in subsidiaries by Gerdau. The shareholder alleged a potential conflict of interest in the transaction. In response, the Company has identified to the CVM that the referenced acquisition had exclusively commercial merits, was properly and unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Gerdau and that the terms and conditions for the acquisition took into account a long term market perspective.

On December 29, 2017, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to sell some of its rebar-producing mills, as well as fabricated rebar units and distribution centers in the United States, to Commercial Metals, for US$600 million (R$2.0 billion on the sale date). The agreement includes mills in Jacksonville (Florida), Knoxville (Tennessee), Rancho Cucamonga (California) and Sayreville (New Jersey). The transaction is subject to authorization from regulatory agencies and typical settlement conditions.

In February 2018, the Company sold its two hydroelectric power plants based in Goias state, in Brazil, for R$835 million, to Kinross Brasil Mineração, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Canadian mining company Kinross Gold Corporation. The hydroelectric power plants Caçu and Barra dos Coqueiros, which commenced operations in 2010, have a total capacity of 155 MW. The transaction is subject to regulatory clearances and customary closing conditions.

B.            BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Steel Industry

The world steel industry is composed of hundreds of steel producing facilities and is divided into two major categories based on the production method utilized: integrated steel mills and non-integrated steel mills, sometimes referred to as “mini-mills”. Integrated steel mills normally produce steel from iron oxide, which is extracted from iron ore melted in blast furnaces, and refine the iron into steel, mainly through the use of basic oxygen furnaces or, more rarely, electric arc furnaces. Non-integrated steel mills produce steel by melting in electric arc furnaces scrap steel, which occasionally is complemented by other metals such as direct-reduced iron or hot-compressed iron. According to World Steel, in 2016 (the most recent year for which information is available), 25.7% of the total crude steel production in the world was through mini-mill process and the remaining 74.3% was through the integrated process.

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Crude Steel Production by Process in 2016*

Source: World Steel/World Steel In Figures

*Most recent year for which information available

Over the past 10 years, according to World Steel, total annual crude steel production has grown from 1,348.1 million tonnes in 2007 to 1,674.7 million tonnes in 2017, for an average annual increase of 2.9%.

The main factor responsible for the increase in the demand for steel products has been China. Since 1993, China has become the world’s largest steel market and currently consumes as much as the United States and Europe combined.

Over the past year, total annual crude steel production increased by 2.8% from 1,628.5 million tonnes in 2016 to 1,674.7 million tonnes in 2017.

Crude Steel Production (in million tonnes)

Source: World Steel/Monthly Statistics

China is rebalancing its economy to move more towards a consumer-driven economy. GDP growth was aligned with the government expectation and despite the injection of credit into the construction and infrastructure sectors, the country showed a reduction in steel consumption for the third year in a row. In 2016, China’s crude steel production was 831.7 million tonnes, an increase of 2.9% compared to 2016. In 2017, China’s share of world steel production was 49.7% of world total crude steel.

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Crude Steel Production by Country in 2017 (million tonnes)

Source: World Steel/Monthly Statistics

Asia produced 1,151.8 million tonnes of crude steel in 2017, an increase of 5.7% compared to 2016, and its share of world steel production amounted to 69.0%. The EU-28 produced 168.7 million tonnes of crude steel in 2017, a increase of 4.1% compared to 2016, representing 10% of the global total. In 2017, crude steel production in North America increased 4.9% when compared to 2016, a total of 116.0 million tonnes. The CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) showed a stable crude steel production with a total of 102.0 million tonnes in 2017.

The Brazilian Steel Industry

In 2017, Brazil was the world’s 9th largest producer of crude steel, with a production of 34.4 million tonnes, a 2.1% share of the world market and 78.7% of the total steel production in South America during the year.

Total sales of Brazilian steel products were 34.4 million tonnes in 2017, 31.3 million tonnes in 2016 and 33.3 million tonnes in 2015, exceeding domestic demand of 19.2 million tonnes in 2017, 18.4 million tonnes in 2016 and 21.3 million tonnes in 2015. In 2017, total steel sales in the domestic market increased 2.3% from 2016, going from 16.5 million tonnes to 16.9 million tonnes.

In 2017, the total of Brazilian steel products sales was 31.6 million tonnes. The breakdown of total sales was 69.1% or 21.8 million tonnes of flat steel products, formed by domestic sales of 10.1 million tonnes and exports of 11.7 million tonnes. The remaining 30.9% or 9.7 million tonnes represented sales of long steel products, which consisted of domestic sales of 6.8 million tonnes and exports of 2.9 million tonnes.

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Breakdown of Total Sales of Brazilian Steel Products (million tonnes)

Source: Instituto Aço Brasil

Domestic demand — Historically, the Brazilian steel industry has been affected by significant variations in domestic steel demand. Although domestic consumption varies in accordance with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), variations in steel consumption tend to be more accentuated than changes in the level of economic growth. In 2017, the Brazilian GDP increased by 1.0% and steel consumption increased by 4.3%.

Exports and imports — Over the past 20 years, the Brazilian steel industry has been characterized by a structural need for exports. The Brazilian steel market has undergone periods of excess capacity, cyclical demand and intense competition in recent years. Demand for finished steel products has lagged total supply (total production plus imports).

In 2017, Brazilian steel exports totaled 14.6 million tonnes, representing 46.4% of total sales (domestic sales plus exports). Brazil has performed an important role in the world export market, principally as an exporter of semi-finished products (slabs, blooms and billets) for industrial use or for re-rolling into finished products. Brazilian exports of semi-finished products totaled 9.5 million tonnes in 2017, 8.4 million tonnes in 2016 and 8.7 million tonnes in 2015, representing 64.9%, 64.3% and 63.5% of Brazil’s total exports of steel products, respectively.

Brazilian Production and Apparent Demand for Steel Products (million tonnes)

Source: Instituto Aço Brasil

Brazil used to be a small importer of steel products. Considering the reduction in the international steel prices during 2010, the appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar and the decrease in demand for steel products in developed countries, the Brazilian levels of imports increased from 2.3 million tonnes in 2009 to 5.9 million tonnes in 2010 (excluding the imports made by the steel mills to avoid double counting), representing 22.0% of apparent domestic consumption. In 2015, imports were 3.2 million tonnes, decreased to 1.9 million tonnes in 2016 and increased to 2.3 million tonnes in 2017. In 2017, imports represented 12.0% of apparent domestic consumption, an increase compared to 2016, which was mainly due to higher prices in the domestic market compared to the international market.

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Raw materials — One of Brazil’s major competitive advantages is the low cost of its raw materials. Brazil has an abundance of high quality iron ore. Various integrated producers are located in the state of Minas Gerais, where some of the world’s biggest iron ore mines are located. The cost of iron ore from small miners in Brazil is very competitive if compared to the cost of iron ore in China, for example.

In Brazil, most of the scrap metal consumed by steel mills comes from Brazil’s southeast and south regions. Mill suppliers deliver scrap metal obtained from obsolete products and industrial scrap directly to the steel mills.

Brazil is a major producer of pig iron. Most of the pig iron used in the steel industry comes from the state of Minas Gerais and the Carajás region, where it is produced by various small and midsized producers. The price of pig iron follows domestic and international markets, with charcoal and iron ore the main components of its cost formation.

North American Steel Industry

The global steel industry is highly cyclical and competitive due to the large number of steel producers, the dependence upon cyclical end markets and the high volatility of raw material and energy prices. The North American steel industry is currently facing a variety of challenges, including volatile pricing, high fixed costs and low priced imports. The future success of North American steel producers is dependent upon numerous factors, including general economic conditions, levels and prices of steel imports and the strength of the U.S. dollar.

Crude Steel Production by North American Countries (million tonnes)

Source: World Steel/Monthly Statistics

Beginning in mid-2000 and continuing through 2002, the North American steel industry experienced a severe downward cycle due to excess global production capacity, high import levels at low prices, including prices that were below the combined costs of production and shipping, and weak general economic conditions.  These forces resulted in lower domestic steel prices and significant domestic capacity closures.  Prices for many steel products reached 10-year lows in late 2001.  As a result of these conditions, over 20 U.S. steel companies have sought protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code since the beginning of 2000.

In response to these conditions, in March 2002, Former President George W. Bush imposed a series of tariffs and quotas on certain imported steel products under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974.  These measures were intended to give the domestic steel industry an opportunity to strengthen its competitive position through restructuring and consolidation.  On November 10, 2003, the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) Appellate Body issued a ruling that upheld an initial WTO panel ruling that declared the Section 201 tariffs on steel imports to be in violation of WTO rules concerning safeguard measures.  On December 4, 2003, Former President Bush signed a proclamation terminating the steel safeguard tariffs, and announced that the tariffs had achieved their purpose and changed economic circumstances indicated it was time to terminate them.  International trade negotiations, such as the ongoing Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development steel subsidy agreement negotiations and the WTO Doha Round negotiations, may affect future international trade rules with respect to trade in steel products.  More recently, in a White House signing ceremony on March 8, 2018,  President Donald Trump announced he was imposing import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum. After invoking a rarely-used Cold War-era law last year, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross concluded imports were a threat, and he recommended the imposition of  these  new restrictions covering an estimated $46.1 billion of imports, or about 2% of total U.S. goods imports in 2017.

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The North American steel industry has experienced a significant amount of consolidation in the last decade.  Bankrupt steel companies, once overburdened with underfunded pension, healthcare and other legacy costs, were relieved of obligations and purchased by other steel producers.  This consolidation, including the purchases of the assets of LTV Corporation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Trico Steel Co. LLC and National Steel Corporation, has created a lower operating cost structure for the resulting entities and a less fragmented industry.  In the bar sector in 2002, the combination of Gerdau North America and Co-Steel in October 2002 and Nucor Corporation’s acquisition of Birmingham Steel Corporation in February 2002 significantly consolidated the market.  Gerdau’s acquisition of the North Star Steel assets from Cargill in November 2004, Sheffield Steel Corporation in 2006 and Chaparral Steel Company in September 2007, have further contributed to this consolidation trend.  Since the beginning of 2007, Tata Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. acquired Corus Group PLC, SSAB Svenskt Staal AB acquired Ipsco Inc., Essar Global Ltd. acquired Algoma Steel Inc., United States Steel Corporation acquired Stelco Inc., and Arcelormittal Inc. acquired Bayou Steel Corporation.

The steel industry demonstrated strong performance through the middle of 2006, resulting from the increased global demand for steel related products and a continuing consolidation trend among steel producers. Beginning in the fall of 2008, the steel industry began feeling the negative effects of the severe economic downturn brought on by the credit crisis.  The economic downturn continued through 2009 and has resulted in a significant reduction in the production and shipment of steel products in North America, as well as reduced exports of steel products from the United States to other parts of the world. Since the beginning of 2010, the economy in North America has been showing signs of upturn, contributing to a gradual recovery in the steel industry, with an important improvement in the non-residential and automotive sector. The Company believes that this trend should continue throughout 2018.

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Company Profile

Gerdau S.A. is mainly dedicated to the production and commercialization of steel products in general, through its mills located in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the United States, India, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Gerdau is the leading manufacturer of long steel in North and South America.  Gerdau believes it is one of the major global suppliers of special steel for the automotive industry.  In Brazil, Gerdau also produces flat steel and iron ore, activities that are expanding Gerdau’s product mix and the competitiveness of its operations. In addition, Gerdau believes it is one of Latin America’s biggest recycler and, worldwide, transforms millions of tonnes of scrap metal into steel every year, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development in the regions where it operates.  Gerdau’s shares are listed on the New York, São Paulo and Madrid stock exchanges.

Gerdau holds significant market share in the steel industries of almost all countries where it operates and was classified by World Steel Association as the world’s 18th largest steel producer based on its consolidated crude steel production in 2016, the most recent year for which information is available.

Gerdau operates steel mills that produce steel by direct iron-ore reduction (DRI) in blast furnaces and in electric arc furnaces (EAF). In Brazil it operates three integrated steel mills, including its largest mill, Ouro Branco, located in the state of Minas Gerais.  Gerdau currently has a total of 41 steel producing facilities globally.

As of December 31, 2017, Gerdau’s total consolidated installed annual capacity, excluding investments in joint ventures and associate companies, was approximately 26.1 million tonnes of crude steel and 21.1 million tonnes of rolled steel products. The Company had total consolidated assets of R$ 50.3 billion, shareholders’ equity (including non-controlling interests) of R$ 23.9 billion, consolidated net sales of R$ 36.9 billion and a total consolidated net loss (including non-controlling interests) of R$338.7 million for the period ended on December 31, 2017.

Gerdau offers a wide array of steel products, which can be manufactured according to the customer’s specifications.  The product mix includes crude steel (slabs, blooms and billets) sold to rolling mills, finished products for the construction industry such as rebars, wire rods, structural, hot rolled coils and heavy plates; finished products for consumer goods industry such as commercial bars, light shapes and mesh wire and products for farming and agriculture such as poles, smooth wire and barbed wire.  Gerdau also produces special steel products, normally with a certain degree of customization, utilizing advanced technology, for the manufacture of tools and machinery, chains, locks and springs, mainly for the automotive and mechanical industries.

A significant portion of Gerdau’s steel production assets are located outside Brazil, particularly in the United States and Canada, as well as in Latin America and Asia. Gerdau currently operates 16 steel production units in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and believes that it is one of the market leaders in North America in terms of production of certain long steel products, such as rebars, wire rods, commercial bars and beams.

Gerdau’s operating strategy is based on the acquisition and/or construction of steel mills located close to its customers and sources of the raw materials required for steel production, such as scrap metal, pig iron and iron ore.  For this reason, most of its production has historically been geared toward supplying the local markets in which it has production operations.  However, Gerdau also exports a substantial portion of its production to other countries.

Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, Gerdau also engages in other activities related to the production and sale of steel products, including the following:  reforestation; electric power generation projects; iron ore and pig iron production; as well as fab shops and downstream operations.

Operations

The Company sells its products to a diversified list of customers for use in the construction, manufacturing and agricultural industries. Shipments by the Company’s Brazilian operations include both domestic and export sales. Most of the shipments by the Company’s business divisions in North and Latin America (except Brazil) are aimed at their respective local markets.

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The Company manages its Business Divisions as follows:

·                  Brazil BD (Brazil Business Division) - includes operations in Brazil (excluding Special Steel) and iron ore operation in Brazil;

·                  North America BD (North America Business Division) - includes all operations in North America (Canada, United States and Mexico), except special steels, in addition to associate and joint ventures, both of which are located in Mexico;

·                  South America BD (South America Business Division) - includes all operations in South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), except the operations in Brazil, in addition to the joint venture in the Dominican Republic and Colômbia; and

·                  Special Steel BD (Special Steel Business Division) - includes the special steel operations in Brazil, the United States and India.

The following tables present the Company’s consolidated shipments in tonnage and net sales by Business Division for the periods indicated:

Shipments

(1) The information does not include data from associate and joint ventures.

Net Sales

(1) The information does not include data from associate and joint ventures.

Production

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Brazil Business Division

Steel information

The Brazil Business Division minimizes delays by delivering its products directly to customers through outsourced companies under Gerdau’s supervision.  Sales trends in both the domestic and export markets are forecasted monthly. The Brazil Business Division uses a proprietary information system to stay up-to-date on market developments so that it can respond swiftly to fluctuations in demand.  Gerdau considers its flexibility in shifting between markets (Brazilian and export markets) and its ability to monitor and optimize inventory levels for most of its products in accordance with changing demand as key factors to its success.

In the Brazil Business Division, sales volume in 2017 fell by 7.6% compared to 2016, mainly influenced by the 15.6% reduction in exports due to the low profitability caused by higher costs. In the domestic market, the reduction of 2.5% was caused by the slowdown in the construction industry.

In 2017, around 15% of the production sold in Brazil was distributed through Gerdau’s distribution channel, with stores throughout Brazil and downstream facilities serving a significant number of customers. Another important distribution channel is the independent distributors’ network, formed by points of sales to which Gerdau sells its products, giving it comprehensive national coverage.  Sales through its distribution network and to final industrial and construction consumers are made by Gerdau employees and authorized sales representatives working on commission. This Business Division has annual crude steel installed capacity of 9.2 million tonnes and 7.1 million tonnes of finished steel products.

Iron ore information

Gerdau’s mineral assets were incorporated to its business through the acquisition of lands and mining rights of Grupo Votorantim, in 2004, encompassing the Miguel Burnier, Várzea do Lopes, and Gongo Soco compounds, located in the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From 2004 to 2010, several geological surveys (drilling and superficial geological mapping) were conducted in order to obtain further information on the acquired resources.

North America Business Division

The North America Business Division has an annual production capacity of 11.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 8.6 million tonnes of finished steel products. It has a vertically integrated network of 16 steel units for the operation of steel units , scrap recycling facilities, downstream operations and rebar fabrication shops. The North America ‘Business Division’s products are generally sold to steel service centers and steel fabricators or directly to original equipment manufacturers for use in a variety of industries, including construction, automotive, mining, cellular and electrical transmission, metal construction fabrication and equipment fabrication.  Most of the raw material feed inventory for the mini-mill operations is recycled steel scrap.

The mills of this business division manufacture and commercialize a wide range of steel products, including steel reinforcement bars (rebar), merchant bars, structural shapes, beams, special sections and coiled wire rod. Some of these products are used by the downstream units to make products with a higher added value, which consists of the fabrication of rebar, railroad spikes, super light beam processing, elevator guide rails, grinding balls, wire mesh and wire drawing.

The downstream strategy is to have production facilities located in close proximity to customers’ job sites so that quick delivery can be provided to meet their reinforcing steel needs and construction schedules.

In general, sales of finished products to U.S. and Canadian customers are centrally managed by the Tampa sales office.  There is also a sales office in Selkirk, Manitoba for managing sales of special sections and one in Texas for managing sales of structural and merchant bar products. Metallurgical service representatives at the mills provide technical support to the sales group.  Sales of the super light beam products are managed by sales representatives located at their respective facilities. Fabricated rebar and elevator guide rails are generally sold through a bidding process in which employees at Gerdau’s facilities work closely with customers to tailor product requirements, shipping schedules and prices.

In the North America Business Division, 2017 shipments were on the level of 6.5 million tonnes.  The increased share of imported products have continued to impact the North American market.

The North America Business Division accounted for 40.4% of overall Gerdau sales volumes. Gerdau’s Canadian operations sell a significant portion of their production in the United States.

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South America Business Division

The South America Business Division comprises of five steel facilities, retail facilities, fab shops (including joint ventures and associate companies) and scrap processing facilities. The entire operation is focused on the respective domestic markets of each country, operating mini-mills facilities with annual manufacturing capacity of 2.2 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.6 million tonnes of finished steel products. The South American operation accounted for 11.5% of overall Gerdau sales volumes, representing 1.7 million tonnes in 2017, a reduction of 17.5% when compared to 2016. The countries in the South America Business Division are Argentina, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay. Gerdau also operates in the markets of Colombia and Dominican Republic through joint ventures.

Special Steel Business Division

The Special Steel Business Division is composed of the operations in Brazil (Charqueadas, Pindamonhangaba and Mogi das Cruzes), in the United States (Fort Smith, Jackson and Monroe) and in India (Tadipatri). This operation produces engineering steel (SBQ), tool steel, rolling mill rolls, large forged and casted engineering pieces. In order to meet the continuous need for innovation, this operation is constantly developing new products, such as high strength steels, clean steel, high temperability steels and steel with improved machining characteristics, among others.

The Special Steel Business Division registered a decrease of 5.9% when compared to 2016, due to the divestment of the units in Spain in 2016. Excluding this factor, shipments increased at the other operations.

In Brazil, Gerdau special steel operations are located in Rio Grande do Sul (Charqueadas) and in São Paulo (Pindamonhangaba and Mogi das Cruzes). The special steel units in Brazil have a combined annual capacity of 1.4 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.9 million tonnes of rolled products. The operation in Brazil has more than 300 customers located mainly in Brazil, although its products are also exported to South America, North America and Europe.

In North America, Gerdau maintains a presence in United States, with three mills located in Jackson (Michigan), Monroe (Michigan) and Fort Smith (Arkansas). The operation also has six downstream operations. The operation has an annual installed capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.5 million tonnes of rolled products and has more than 200 customers located mainly in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In India, the Company has a plant for the production of special steel with capacity of 250 thousand tonnes of crude steel and 300 thousand tonnes of rolled products. The operation is constantly evolving and is achieving better results each year.

There are commercial and operational synergies among the units in this business division.

Exports

In 2017, the international market had two distinct moments, with the first half of the year still affected by the oversupply of steel and low prices at the close of 2016, and the second half impacted by the strong contraction of China’s presence in the international market and the consequent increase in prices.

The difference between the scenarios in the first and second halves of the year is clearly seen when we calculate the volumes exported by China during the year. Chinese exports of finished goods in 2017 decreased 30.5% to 75 million tonnes, based on information from specialized publications. In 2016, exports of finished products amounted to 109 million tonnes. Comparing the month of December of each year, in 2017, Chinese exports amounted to 5.7 million tonnes, compared to 7.8 million tonnes in 2016.

In addition to the contraction in China’s presence in the international market, 2017 was marked by higher production costs, which in turn supported higher prices. The global shortage in electrodes and in the raw material used to make them, needle coke, interruptions in the supply of metallurgical coal and iron ore in Australia due to adverse weather conditions, reductions in obsolete production capacity in China (induction furnaces) and the recent focus on electric furnaces (pressuring scrap prices) were the main factors explaining the increase in costs. Despite the significant increase in costs, the new price levels reached as from the second half ensured historically high spreads and consequently good profitability for mills around the world, especially in China.

In 2017, Gerdau’s Brazilian exports continued to focus on South America, which accounted for 42% of exports, leveraged by supply from the group’s companies. The share of exports destined for Africa and the Middle East increased significantly due to the growth in billet exports to these region.

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The following table presents Gerdau’s exports by destination for selected periods:

Gerdau continues to consolidate its client base around the world, which is essential for expanding its exports portfolio and overcoming the challenges in 2018.

Products

The Company supplies its customers with a wide range of products, including steel products and iron ore:

Semi-finished products (Billets, Blooms and Slabs)

The semi-finished products (billets, blooms and slabs) have relatively low added value compared to other steel products. Billets are bars from square sections of long steel that serve as inputs for the production of wire rod, rebars and merchant bars. They represent an important part of the products from the Ouro Branco mill. Blooms are used to manufacture products such as springs, forged parts, heavy structural shapes and seamless tubes. Slabs are used in the steel industry for the rolling of a broad range of flat rolled products, and mainly used to produce hot and cold rolled coils, heavy slabs, profiles and heavy plates.

The semi-finished products are produced using continuous casting and, in the case of blooms and billets there is subsequent rolling process.

Common Long Rolled Products

Common long rolled products represent a major portion of the Company’s production. The Company’s main long rolled products include rebars, wire rods, merchant bars, light shapes and profiles, which are used mainly by the construction and manufacturing industries.

Drawn Products

Drawn products include barbed and barbless fence wire, galvanized wire, fences, concrete reinforcing wire mesh, nails and clamps. These products are not exported and are usually sold to the manufacturing, construction and agricultural industries.

Special Steel Products

Special steel requires advanced manufacturing processes because they have specific physical and metallurgical characteristics for applications with high mechanical demands. This steel is a key product for the automotive industry, as it is used in auto parts, light and heavy vehicles and agricultural machinery. Special steels also serve other relevant markets, such as oil and gas, wind energy, machinery and equipment, mining and rail, among others.

Flat Products

The Ouro Branco mill produces hot rolled coils and heavy plate, which are sold in the domestic and export markets. The Company distributes these products through its distribution channel and direct sales, and also resells flat steel products manufactured by other Brazilian steel producers to which it adds further value through additional processing at its flat steel service centers.

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Iron Ore

Gerdau operates three mines producing iron ore, all located in the Brazilian state of Minas Gereais (Várzea do Lopes, Miguel Burnier and Gongo Soco). The mines produce the following: sinter feed (featuring low content of contaminants and good metallurgical properties, enabling its use as a base material); pellet feed/concentrated (superior quality enabling its use as a chemical balancer in the synthetizing process, while being also adequate for pelletizing, blast furnace quality - low loss by calcination — PPC); hematite fines (small scale production, used as input in Gerdau’s furnaces); and granulated (high quality, used chiefly for own consumption at the Ouro Branco Mill).

The following table presents the main products and the contributions to net revenue and net income by Business Division for the periods shown: