20-F 1 a16-7487_120f.htm 20-F

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

o | REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015
OR
o | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
o | SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-14878

GERDAU S.A.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
Federative Republic of Brazil
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Av. Farrapos 1811 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil CEP 90220-005
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

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

Title of each class |  | Name of each exchange in which registered
Preferred Shares, no par value per share, each represented by American Depositary Shares |  | New York Stock Exchange

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, 2015 was:

| 573,627,483 Common Shares, no par value per share
| 1,146,031,245 Preferred Shares, no par value per share

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 x No

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

Large accelerated filer x |  | Accelerated filer o |  | Non-accelerated filer o

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

U.S. GAAP o |  | International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board x |  | Other o

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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TABLE OF CONTENTS

|  | Page
INTRODUCTION | 1
PART I |  | 3
ITEM 1. | IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 3
ITEM 2. | OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE | 3
ITEM 3. | KEY INFORMATION | 3
ITEM 4. | COMPANY INFORMATION | 17
ITEM 4A. | UNRESOLVED SEC STAFF COMMENTS | 56
ITEM 5. | OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS | 56
ITEM 6. | DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES | 88
ITEM 7. | MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS | 103
ITEM 8. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION | 106
ITEM 9. | THE OFFER AND LISTING | 110
ITEM 10. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 117
ITEM 11. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES REGARDING MARKET RISK | 132
ITEM 12. | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES | 133
PART II |  | 135
ITEM 13. | DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES | 135
ITEM 14. | MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS | 135
ITEM 15. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES | 135
ITEM 16. | [RESERVED] | 136
ITEM 16A. | AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT | 136
ITEM 16B. | CODE OF ETHICS | 136
ITEM 16C. | PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES | 136
ITEM 16D. | EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES | 137
ITEM 16E. | PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS | 137
ITEM 16F. | CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT | 138
ITEM 16G. | CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 138
ITEM 16H | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE | 139
PART III |  | 139
ITEM 17. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 139
ITEM 18. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 139
ITEM 19. | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS | 140

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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 Europe, excluding our joint venture 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 BO” means Brazil Business Operation, “North America BO” means North America Business Operation, “South America BO” means South America Business Operation and “Special Steel BO” means Special Steel Business Operation.
(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 for 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 the holding company Corporacion Centroamericana del Acero S.A., in which the Company holds a 30% stake, which in turn holds the capital stock of Aceros de Guatemala S.A., in Guatemala, 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.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this Annual Report is stated as of December 31, 2015. 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, and is qualified in its entirety by, the IFRS financial statements of the Company and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. The consolidated financial data of the Company as of and for each of the years ended on December 31, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 are derived from the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and presented in Brazilian Reais.

IFRS Summary Financial and Operating Data

|  | (Expressed in thousands of Brazilian Reais-R$ except quantity of shares and amounts per share) |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
NET SALES |  | 43,581,241 |  | 42,546,339 |  | 39,863,037 |  | 37,981,668 |  | 35,406,780 |
Cost of sales |  | (39,290,526 | ) | (37,406,328 | ) | (34,728,460 | ) | (33,234,102 | ) | (30,298,232 | )
GROSS PROFIT |  | 4,290,715 |  | 5,140,011 |  | 5,134,577 |  | 4,747,566 |  | 5,108,548 |
Selling expenses |  | (785,002 | ) | (691,021 | ) | (658,862 | ) | (587,369 | ) | (603,747 | )
General and administrative expenses |  | (1,797,483 | ) | (2,036,926 | ) | (1,953,014 | ) | (1,884,306 | ) | (1,797,937 | )
Impairment of assets |  | (4,996,240 | ) | (339,374 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |
Gains in joint-venture operations |  | — |  | 636,528 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Other operating income |  | 213,431 |  | 238,435 |  | 318,256 |  | 244,414 |  | 195,015 |
Other operating expenses |  | (116,431 | ) | (150,542 | ) | (140,535 | ) | (180,453 | ) | (85,533 | )
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated companies |  | (24,502 | ) | 101,875 |  | 54,001 |  | 8,353 |  | 62,662 |
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES) AND TAXES |  | (3,215,512 | ) | 2,898,986 |  | 2,754,423 |  | 2,348,205 |  | 2,879,008 |
Financial income |  | 378,402 |  | 276,249 |  | 292,910 |  | 316,611 |  | 455,802 |
Financial expenses |  | (1,780,366 | ) | (1,397,375 | ) | (1,053,385 | ) | (952,679 | ) | (970,457 | )
Exchange variations, net |  | (1,564,017 | ) | (476,367 | ) | (544,156 | ) | (134,128 | ) | 51,757 |
Gains and losses on financial instruments, net |  | 87,085 |  | 36,491 |  | (2,854 | ) | (18,547 | ) | (65,438 | )
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES |  | (6,094,408 | ) | 1,337,984 |  | 1,452,646 |  | 1,559,462 |  | 2,350,672 |
Current |  | (158,450 | ) | (571,926 | ) | (318,422 | ) | (316,271 | ) | (519,843 | )
Deferred |  | 1,656,872 |  | 722,315 |  | 559,478 |  | 253,049 |  | 266,747 |
Income and social contribution taxes |  | 1,498,422 |  | 150,389 |  | 241,056 |  | (63,222 | ) | (253,096 | )
NET INCOME (LOSS) |  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |  | 1,496,240 |  | 2,097,576 |
ATRIBUTABLE TO: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Owners of the parent |  | (4,551,438 | ) | 1,402,873 |  | 1,583,731 |  | 1,425,633 |  | 2,005,727 |
Non-controlling interests |  | (44,548 | ) | 85,500 |  | 109,971 |  | 70,607 |  | 91,849 |
|  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |  | 1,496,240 |  | 2,097,576 |

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|  | (Expressed in thousands of Brazilian Reais-R$ except quantity of shares and amounts per share) |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
Basic earnings (loss) per share — in R$ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |  | 0.84 |  | 1.22 |
Preferred |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |  | 0.84 |  | 1.22 |
Diluted earnings (loss) per share — in R$ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |  | 0.84 |  | 1.22 |
Preferred |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |  | 0.84 |  | 1.22 |
Cash dividends declared per share — in R$ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common |  | 0.15 |  | 0.25 |  | 0.28 |  | 0.24 |  | 0.35 |
Preferred |  | 0.15 |  | 0.25 |  | 0.28 |  | 0.24 |  | 0.35 |
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding during the year (1) |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 550,305,197 |
Weighted average Preferred Shares outstanding during the year (1) |  | 1,117,034,926 |  | 1,132,483,383 |  | 1,129,184,775 |  | 1,130,398,618 |  | 1,092,338,207 |
Number of Common Shares outstanding at year end (2) |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |
Number of Preferred Shares outstanding at year end (2) |  | 1,114,744,538 |  | 1,132,613,562 |  | 1,132,285,402 |  | 1,128,534,345 |  | 1,132,968,411 |

(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.

|  | On December 31, |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
|  | (Expressed in thousands of Brazilian Reais - R$) |
Balance sheet selected information |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |  | 2,099,224 |  | 1,437,235 |  | 1,476,599 |
Short-term investments (1) |  | 1,270,760 |  | 2,798,834 |  | 2,123,168 |  | 1,059,605 |  | 3,101,649 |
Current assets |  | 22,177,498 |  | 20,682,739 |  | 18,177,222 |  | 16,410,397 |  | 17,319,149 |
Current liabilities |  | 7,863,031 |  | 7,772,796 |  | 7,236,630 |  | 7,823,182 |  | 6,777,001 |
Net working capital (2) |  | 14,314,467 |  | 12,909,943 |  | 10,940,592 |  | 8,587,215 |  | 10,542,148 |
Property, plant and equipment, net |  | 23,255,730 |  | 22,131,789 |  | 21,419,074 |  | 19,690,181 |  | 17,295,071 |
Net assets (3) |  | 31,970,383 |  | 33,254,534 |  | 32,020,757 |  | 28,797,917 |  | 26,519,803 |
Total assets |  | 70,094,709 |  | 63,042,330 |  | 58,215,040 |  | 53,093,158 |  | 49,981,794 |
Short-term debt (including “Current Portion of Long-Term Debt”) |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,037,869 |  | 1,810,783 |  | 2,324,374 |  | 1,715,305 |
Long-term debt, less current portion |  | 23,826,758 |  | 17,148,580 |  | 14,481,497 |  | 11,725,868 |  | 11,182,290 |
Debentures - short term |  | — |  | — |  | 27,584 |  | 257,979 |  | 41,688 |
Debentures - long term |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |  | 386,911 |  | 360,334 |  | 744,245 |
Equity |  | 31,970,383 |  | 33,254,534 |  | 32,020,757 |  | 28,797,917 |  | 26,519,803 |
Capital |  | 19,249,181 |  | 19,249,181 |  | 19,249,181 |  | 19,249,181 |  | 19,249,181 |

(1) Includes held for trading and available for sale.

(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

|  | Period- |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period |  | end |  | Average |  | High |  | Low |
March-2016 (through March 28) |  | 3.6408 |  | 3.7183 |  | 3.9913 |  | 3.6073 |
February-2016 |  | 3.9796 |  | 3.9724 |  | 4.0492 |  | 3.8653 |
January-2016 |  | 4.0428 |  | 4.0524 |  | 4.1558 |  | 3.9863 |
December-2015 |  | 3.9048 |  | 3.8711 |  | 3.9831 |  | 3.7476 |
November-2015 |  | 3.8506 |  | 3.7765 |  | 3.8506 |  | 3.7010 |
October - 2015 |  | 3.8589 |  | 3.8801 |  | 4.0010 |  | 3.7386 |
September - 2015 |  | 3.9729 |  | 3.9065 |  | 4.1949 |  | 3.6725 |
2015 |  | 3.9048 |  | 3.3399 |  | 4.1949 |  | 2.5754 |
2014 |  | 2.6562 |  | 2.3547 |  | 2.7403 |  | 2.1974 |
2013 |  | 2.3426 |  | 2.1601 |  | 2.4457 |  | 1.9528 |
2012 |  | 2.0435 |  | 1.9550 |  | 2.1121 |  | 1.7024 |
2011 |  | 1.8758 |  | 1.6746 |  | 1.9016 |  | 1.5345 |
2010 |  | 1.6662 |  | 1.7593 |  | 1.8811 |  | 1.6554 |

Dividends

The Company’s total authorized capital stock is composed of common and preferred shares. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had 571,929,945 common shares and 1,114,744,538 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 2011. 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:

Period |  | Date of Resolution |  | R$ per Share Common or Preferred Stock |  | $ per Share Common or Preferred Stock |
1st Quarter 2011 |  | 05/05/2011 |  | 0.0600 |  | 0.0370 |
2nd Quarter 2011 (1) |  | 08/04/2011 |  | 0.0900 |  | 0.0571 |
3rd Quarter 2011 |  | 11/10/2011 |  | 0.1200 |  | 0.0681 |
4th Quarter 2011 |  | 02/15/2012 |  | 0.0800 |  | 0.0466 |
1st Quarter 2012 |  | 05/02/2012 |  | 0.0600 |  | 0.0313 |
2nd Quarter 2012 |  | 08/02/2012 |  | 0.0900 |  | 0.0440 |
3rd Quarter 2012 |  | 11/01/2012 |  | 0.0700 |  | 0.0345 |
4th Quarter 2012 |  | 02/21/2013 |  | 0.0200 |  | 0.0101 |
1st Quarter 2013 |  | 05/07/2013 |  | 0.0200 |  | 0.0099 |
2nd Quarter 2013 (1) |  | 08/01/2013 |  | 0.0700 |  | 0.0305 |
3rd Quarter 2013 (1) |  | 10/31/2013 |  | 0.1200 |  | 0.0545 |
4th Quarter 2013 |  | 02/21/2014 |  | 0.0700 |  | 0.0296 |
1st Quarter 2014 (1) |  | 05/30/2014 |  | 0.0700 |  | 0.0312 |
2nd Quarter 2014 |  | 08/21/2014 |  | 0.0600 |  | 0.0265 |
3rd Quarter 2014 (1) |  | 11/27/2014 |  | 0.0500 |  | 0.0199 |
4th Quarter 2014 |  | 03/26/2015 |  | 0.0700 |  | 0.0219 |

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Period |  | Date of Resolution |  | R$ per Share Common or Preferred Stock |  | $ per Share Common or Preferred Stock |
1st Quarter 2015 (1) |  | 06/02/2015 |  | 0.0600 |  | 0.0190 |
2nd Quarter 2015 (1) |  | 09/04/2015 |  | 0.0500 |  | 0.0131 |
3rd Quarter 2015 |  | 11/19/2015 |  | 0.0400 |  | 0.0106 |

(1) Payment of interest on equity.

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

The Company may not successfully integrate its businesses, management, operations or products, or achieve any of the benefits anticipated from future acquisitions.

Over the years, the Company has expanded its presence mainly through acquisitions in the North American, Latin American, European and Asian markets. The integration of the business and opportunities stemming from entities recently acquired and those that may be acquired by the Company in the future may involve risks. The Company may not successfully integrate acquired businesses, managements, operations, products and services with its current operations. The diversion of management’s attention from its existing businesses, as well as problems that can arise in connection with the integration of the new operations may have an impact on revenue and operating results. The integration of acquisitions may result in additional expenses that could reduce profitability. Gerdau may not succeed in addressing these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with past and future acquisitions.

A downturn in the steel market could negatively affect the expected results of Gerdau, which could adversely affect our financial condition or operating results.

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 the beginning of December 2011, Moody’s assigned the investment grade rating “Baa3” for all of Gerdau’s ratings, with a stable perspective. S&P and Fitch downgraded Brazil’s sovereign rating from BBB- to BB+ in September 2015 and December 2015, respectively, and also in December 2015, Moody’s downgraded Brazil’s sovereign rating to Baa3. In February 2016, S&P downgraded Brazil’s sovereign rating from BB+ to BB with a negative outlook. Despite the loss of Brazil’s investment grade in 2015, the Company maintained its investment grade by the rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s. However, On February 5, 2016, Moody’s downgraded Gerdau’s credit rating to “Ba3”, with a negative outlook.

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The loss of any additional 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 operating results.

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

· Furthermore, R$23.2 billion of the total indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2015, was subject to cross-default provisions, which could result in the early maturity of obligations, at thresholds varying from US$35.0 million to US$100.0 million, depending on the agreement. Thus, there is a risk that an event of default in one single debt agreement can potentially trigger events of default in other debt agreements.

In September 2015, the Company concluded the process of eliminating the financial covenants in all contracts. Since October, 2015, only financial transactions with BNDES include indebtedness ratios of the Company, but with distinct characteristics in relation to those contained in the contracts with commercial banks. 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.

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

We are involved in numerous 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 subsidiaries, Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., are parties to legal proceedings related to Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (“Imposto sobre a circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços” - ICMS) disputes, mostly related to credit rights and rate differences. The total amount in dispute is R$1,128.0 million as of December 31, 2015.

· The subsidiaries Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., have discussion related to IRPJ — Corporate Income Tax and CSLL — Social Contribution Tax in an updated amount of R$ 1,446.8 million, related to profits generated abroad of which R$ 1,312.0 million correspond to two processes of the subsidiary Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda, which had its voluntary appeals partially provided in the first instance of the CARF (Administrative Board of Tax Appeals, an administrative organ of the Brazilian Ministry of Finance), having been brought Special Features, currently pending of judgment in the Superior Chamber of Tax appeals; and R$ 134.8 million correspond to a process of the subsidiary Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., whose voluntary appeal is still pending in CARF’s lower court. The amounts which are not subject to special appeal pending judgment of Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda were referred for collection by the Federal Revenue Service Bureau and will be subject to judicial litigation by the Company.

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· Subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais 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$ 3,666 million, of which (i) R$ 1,263 million correspond to three proceedings involving subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A., whose voluntary appeals were granted in 2012 and are subject to appeals filed by the Special Prosecutor of the National Treasury, currently pending in CARF’s higher court; (ii) R$ 1,882 million correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal was dismissed by CARF’s lower court in 2014 and is subject to a special appeal currently pending in CARF’s higher court; (iii) R$ 421 million correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal is currently pending in CARF’s lower court; (iv) R$ 100 million correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., the decision of which is currently pending in the Federal Revenue Service Bureau.

Decisions handed down to date in the proceedings relating to profits generated abroad and the deductibility of goodwill, as above mentioned, are being investigated in the context of “Operação Zelotes”, as mentioned in Note 17 and Note 31.

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).

While most of the proceedings described here are presently proceeding at the administrative level, if a definitive unfavorable ruling were to be rendered in one or more of these proceedings and in other proceedings in which the Company and/or its subsidiaries are parties, the result could be an adverse effect on our financial condition. For further discussion of these matters see “Legal Proceedings.”

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 materially adversely affect the business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

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 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 situation of the Company.

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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 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.

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 mining production capacity. See “Item 4D. Property, Plant and Equipment”. 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;

· 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.

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

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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 situation 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, operating results, 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.

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 operating results, cash flow and financial condition.

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

Subject to the provisions of the Company´s By-Laws, 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 operational result of the Company.

Non-controlling shareholders may have their stake diluted in an eventual capital increase.

The Company may, in the future, raise funds through a public or private issuance of shares and or debt securities convertible or not into shares. The raising of additional funds through the issuance of shares and or debt securities could result in the dilution of the interest of the non-controlling shareholder in the current composition of the Company’s capital, since, pursuant to the Corporations Law, the raising of funds may be done with the exclusion of the preemptive right of the Company’s shareholders and, if the investor does not participate in a potential priority offer to the current shareholders of the Company in the proportion of its interest in the Company’s capital stock its current shareholding interest will be diluted.

Participation in other activities related to the steel industry may conflict with the interest of subsidiaries and affiliates.

Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, the Company also engages in other activities related to production and sale of steel products, including reforestation projects; power generation; production of coking coal, iron ore and pig iron; and fab shops and

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downstream operations. Having the management control in these companies, the Company’s interests may conflict with the interest of these subsidiaries and affiliates.

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 December 31, 2015 (in volume), 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 supply 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.

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 liquid pig iron at its mills Ouro Branco, Barão de Cocais and Divinópolis in the state of Minas Gerais, as well as Siderperu mill, in Peru. Iron ore is also used to produce sponge iron at the Usiba mill in the state of Bahia.

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 49.5% of the total crude steel output (in volume) of the Brazil Business Operation. 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 met 100% of iron ore demand from the Ouro Branco Mill at the end of 2012.

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 and Colombia. A shortage of coking coal in the international market would adversely affect the steel producing capacity of the Ouro Branco mill, and an increase in prices could reduce profit margins. Another risk factor in steel production costs is the currency depreciation to which the Ouro Branco Mill is exposed, since all coking coal consumed by the operation is imported. However, the market scenario for the supply of metallurgical coal is currently marked by oversupply, which minimizes the risk of shortages and price increases at this time. For this reason, the Company does not have relevant long-term supply contracts for the raw materials it uses.

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.

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.

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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 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. In 2015, the steel sector experienced challenges due to excess global capacity of approximately 720 million tonnes, the Chinese economic slowdown, and the entry of imported steel, affecting the markets of Brazil, Latin America and North America, where Gerdau operates.

The economic downturn and unprecedented 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, mainly in the U.S. economy.

If 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 Company shipments and revenues.

Brazil’s political and economic conditions and the Brazilian government’s economic and other policies may negatively affect demand for the Company’s products as well as its net sales and overall financial performance.

The Brazilian economy has been characterized by frequent and occasionally extensive intervention by the Brazilian government. The Brazilian government has often changed monetary, taxation, credit, tariff and other policies to influence the course of the country’s economy. The Brazilian government’s actions to control inflation and implement other policies have involved hikes in interest rates, wage and price controls, devaluation of the currency, freezing of bank accounts, capital controls and restrictions on imports.

The Company’s operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected by the following factors and the government responses to them:

· exchange rate controls and fluctuations;

· interest rates;

· inflation;

· tax policies;

· energy shortages;

· liquidity of domestic and foreign capital and lending markets; and

· other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil.

Uncertainty over whether the Brazilian government will change policies or regulations affecting these or other factors may contribute to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in Brazilian securities markets and securities issued abroad by Brazilian issuers. Recently, Brazil was downgraded below investment grade by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings. These and other developments in Brazil’s economy and government policies may adversely affect the Company and its business.

In addition and as a consequence to the above mentioned, since 2011, Brazil has been experiencing an economic slowdown. The Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, rates were -3.8% in 2015, +0.1% in 2014, +2.7% in 2013, +1.8% in 2012 and +3.9% in 2011, compared to a GDP growth of 7.5% in 2010.

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Political instability may adversely affect our business and results of operations and the price of our shares.

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 investor confidence and of the general public, which resulted in economic deceleration and heightened volatility in the securities issued by Brazilian companies.

Currently, Brazilian markets are experiencing heightened volatility due to the uncertainties derived from the ongoing Lava Jato investigation, being conducted by the Office of the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor, and its impact on the Brazilian economy and political environment. Members of the Brazilian federal government and of the legislative branch, as well as senior officers of large state-owned companies have faced allegations of political corruption, since they have allegedly accepted bribes by means of kickbacks on contracts granted by the government to several infrastructure, oil and gas and construction companies. The profits of these kickbacks allegedly financed the political campaigns of political parties of the current federal government coalition that were unaccounted for or not publicly disclosed, as well as served to personal enrichment of the recipients of the bribery scheme.

The potential outcome of these investigations is uncertain, but they have already had an adverse impact on the image and reputation of the implicated companies, and on the general market perception of the Brazilian economy. We cannot predict whether such allegations will lead to further political and economic instability or whether new allegations against government officials will arise in the future. In addition, we cannot predict the outcome of any such allegations nor their effect on the Brazilian economy.

The development of such cases could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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

Brazil has experienced high inflation in the past. Inflation measured by the IPCA index was 5.9% in 2013, 6.4% in 2014 and 10.7% in 2015. If Brazil were to experience 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 its business.

In 2015, Brazil is experiencing higher levels of inflation than in recent years. For the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2015, accumulated inflation measured by the IPCA was 10,7%, the highest rate for a 12-month period since December 2003. The Brazilian government is already introducing policies aimed at reducing inflationary pressures, which could have the effect of reducing the overall performance of the Brazilian economy.

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 operating results 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 Operation 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 operating results. 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 14.6% in 2013, 13.4% in 2014 and 47.0% in 2015.

Further depreciation in the Brazilian real in relation to the U.S. dollar could also result in additional inflationary pressures in Brazil, by generally increasing the price of imported products and services and requiring recessionary government policies to curb demand. In addition, depreciation in the Brazilian real could weaken investor confidence in Brazil.

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The Company held debt denominated in foreign currency, mainly U.S. dollars, in an aggregate amount of R$23.0 billion at December 31, 2015, representing 87.0% 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.

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

The steel industry is highly cyclical. Consequently, 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 operating results 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 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. In 2015, the steel sector experienced challenges due to excess global capacity of approximately 720 million tonnes, the Chinese economic slowdown, and the entry of imported steel, affecting the markets of Brazil, Latin America and North America, where Company operates. Since then, the price has experienced a high volatility in the global market due to the overcapacity in the world steel industry and slow growth in the steel consumption. 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 operations and prospects.

Less expensive imports from other countries into Brazil may adversely affect Company’s operating results.

Competition from foreign steel producers is a threat and may grow due to an increase in foreign installed steel capacity, depreciation of the U.S. dollar and a reduction of domestic steel demand in other markets. Any change in the factors mentioned above, as well as in duties or protectionist measures could result in a higher level of imports into Brazil, resulting in pressures on the domestic prices that could adversely impact Company’s business.

Less expensive imports from other countries into North America and Latin America may adversely affect the Company’s operating results.

Steel imports in North America and Latin America have forced a reduction in steel prices in the last several years, adversely affecting shipments and profit margins. The competition of foreign steel producers is strong and may increase due to the increase in their installed capacity, the depreciation of the U.S. dollar and the reduced domestic demand for steel in other markets, with those factors leading to higher levels of steel imports into North and Latin America at lower prices. In the past, the United States government adopted temporary protectionist measures to control the import of steel by means of quotas and tariffs. Some Latin American countries have adopted similar measures. These protectionist measures may not be adopted and, despite efforts to regulate trade, imports at unfair prices may be able to enter into the North American and Latin American markets, resulting in pricing pressures that may adversely affect the Company’s results.

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 is influenced by several factors, including protectionist policies of other countries, questions of these policies before the World Trade Organization (WTO), 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

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price of steel in other markets. If Gerdau is unable to remain competitive with China and other steel-producing countries, its results may be adversely affected in the future.

Since 2009, the intention of installing new steel production capacity in Brazil has been announced by a number of players in the industry. If effected, these installations could result in a possible loss of market share, reduction of prices and shortage of raw materials with the resulting increase in their prices, which could adversely affect Gerdau’s financial and operational results.

Additionally, since 2010, Brazilian steel mills faced strong competition from imported products, especially due to the overproduction of steel in the world, the reduced demand for steel products in more developed markets, exchange rate valorizarion and some tax incentives in some major exporting countries. Notwithstanding the measures adopted by the Brazilian government to curb the entry of imported products in the market, a substantial volume of steel products is still being imported. These measures have had a favorable effect in 2011, leading to a consistent reduction in imports. In 2012 and 2013, imports, in general, remained at the same level as in 2011. In 2014 steel imports rebounded. If the Brazilian government fails to act against the entry of steel imported and subsidized imports return to growth, the results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. In addition to direct steel imports, the Brazilian industry also faced competition from imports of finished goods, which affects all the steel production chain.

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 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, which too puts pressure on global commodity prices. Any intensification of these factors could adversely affect Company’s exports, results of operations and financial condition.

Restrictive measures on trade in steel products may affect 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. 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 Company’s operations and prospects.

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

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.

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.

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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.

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 down cycle that could generate severance costs. Moreover, 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.

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, Europe, 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, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected.

In March 2015, it was reported in the press that the Brazilian Federal Police had started an operation called Zelotes (“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 outside counsel, 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, filing a press release with SEC and CVM, the Company informed Bovespa and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).The internal investigation is ongoing, and the Company is cooperating with the Federal Police. See Notes 17 and 31 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Tax, Civil and Labor Claims and Contingent Assets and Subsequent Events) 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.

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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, to varying degrees, 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 operations and prospects.

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. Farrapos, 1811, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and the telephone number is +55 (51) 3323 2000.

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 10 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 such as elevator guide rails and super light beams, and the former Ameristeel Corp., a producer of common long rolled products. In October 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. Gerdau Ameristeel itself has a number of operations throughout Canada and the United States, with 15 steel units and 57 fabrication shops and downstream operations.

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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 15 extraction concessions, located in a total area of 7,000 hectares. The original mining and steelworks facilities included in the aforementioned acquisition were decommissioned at that time. The price agreed upon for the purchase of the real estate and mineral rights described above was US$ 30 million (R$88.1 million on the date of the acquisition), with US$ 7.5 million paid at the signing of the agreement, 25% upon completion of the due diligence process and the remaining 50% in June of 2004. Gerdau’s initial focus was to ensure its iron ore self-sufficiency within the state of Minas Gerais. Since the iron ore self-sufficiency on our integrated mill (Ouro Branco) was achieved in 2012, currently, Gerdau is conducting exploration and development studies on its mining operations in order to establish itself as a player in the global iron ore market.

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 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), the largest long special steel producer, forged parts manufacturer and foundry in Spain, and one of the major producers of forged parts using the stamping process in that country. In December 2006, Gerdau announced that its Spanish subsidiary Corporación Sidenor, S.A., had completed the acquisition of all outstanding shares issued by GSB Acero, S.A., a subsidiary of CIE Automotive for US$143.0 million (R$313.8 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. With this acquisition, Gerdau became the majority shareholder (60%) in Corporación Sidenor.

In March 2006, the assets of two industrial units were acquired in the United States. The first was Callaway Building Products in Knoxville, Tennessee, a supplier of fabricated rebar to the construction industry. The second was Fargo Iron and Metal Company located in Fargo, North Dakota, a storage and scrap processing facility and service provider to manufacturers and construction companies.

In June 2006, Gerdau acquired for US$103.0 million (R$224.5 million on the acquisition date) Sheffield Steel Corporation in Sand Springs, Oklahoma in the USA. Sheffield is a mini-mill producer of common long steel, namely concrete reinforcement bars and merchant bars.

In the same month, 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 November 2006, the Company completed the acquisition of a 55% controlling interest in Pacific Coast Steel (“PCS”), for $104.0 million (R$227.4 million on the acquisition date). The company operates rebar fabrication plants in San Diego, San Bernardino, Fairfield, and Napa, California. Additionally, in April, 2008 Gerdau increased its stake in PCS to 84% paying US$82.0 million (R$138.4 million on the acquisition date). The acquisition of PCS expanded the Company’s operations to the West Coast of the United States and also added rebar placing capability.

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 89 efficiency and competitiveness in the Caribbean and Central America region and assures the supply of steel products for construction sector in the Dominican Republic.

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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 venture 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. On July 7, 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 shareholding 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 acquired 100% of Enco Materials Inc., a leading company in the market of commercial materials headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Enco Materials Inc. has eight units located in Arkansas, Tennessee and Georgia. The purchase price for this acquisition was US$46 million (R$84.9 million on the acquisition date) in cash, plus the assumption of certain liabilities of the acquired company.

In the same month, Gerdau executed a letter of intent for the acquisition of an interest of 49% 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. Aceros Corsa, located in the city of Tlalnepantla in the Mexico City metropolitan area, is a mini-mill responsible for the production of long steel (light commercial profiles). 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 is the second largest producer of Special Bar Quality (SBQ) in the United States and 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 agreement did not include the Building Products business of Quanex, which is an operation not related to the steel market. 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 February 2008, Gerdau invested in the verticalization of its businesses and acquired an interest of 51% in Cleary Holdings Corp. for US$73.0 million (R$ 119.3 million on the acquisition date). The Company controls a metallurgical coke producer and coking coal reserves in Colombia. In August 2010, Gerdau S.A. concluded the acquisition of an additional 49% of the total capital of Cleary Holdings Corp. for US$57 million.

In April 2008, Gerdau entered into a strategic partnership with Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A., assuming a 30.0% interest in the capital of this company. The Company owns assets in Guatemala and Honduras as well as distribution centers in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Belize. The price of the acquisition was $180 million (R$ 303.7 million on the acquisition date).

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 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. In 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. Following the issuance of new shares under the merger, on February 28, 2011, the capital stock of Gerdau S.A. was represented by 505,600,573 common shares and 1,011,201,145 preferred shares.

On January 6, 2009, the Company, through its subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., signed an agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Maco Metalúrgica Ltda. for R$4.2 million. The activities of Maco Metalúrgica Ltda. include, among other things, the production and sale of drawn steel wires and electric-welded steel mesh. The acquisition was concluded on June 4, 2009.

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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 October 21, 2010, Gerdau S.A. concluded the acquisition of Tamco, a company based in the state of California. TAMCO is a mini-mill that produces rebar and is one of the largest producers on the West Coast of the United States. The acquisition price was approximately US$ 166.4 million (R$ 283.1 million on the acquisition date).

On October 8, 2014, the Company concluded the sale of its 50% interest in its joint venture entity Gallatin Steel Company (Gallatin) to Nucor Corporation for R$ 937.8 million. The gain on the sale of this interest of R$ 636,528, before taxes was recognized in the income statement during the fourth quarter of 2014.

On November 14, 2014, the Company acquired from its parent company Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. an additional participation of 0.63% in Gerdau Açominas S.A., 0.43% in Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and 0.86% in Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. The amount paid in the transaction came to R$130.2 million. The objective of this operation was to concentrate the operating companies in Gerdau S.A.

On July 13, 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 February 2, 2016, the Company announced that it has signed a technical cooperation agreement with JFE Steel Corporation for the production in Brazil of heavy plates, a value added steel good, to serve the market in the Americas. The agreement will optimize the learning curve of the heavy plate rolling mill, which will have the most modern technological resources, and operations will start in July 2016 at the Ouro Branco Mill in the state of Minas Gerais.

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 2014 (last information available), 25.6% of the total crude steel production in the world was through mini-mill process and the remaining 74.4% was through the integrated process.

Crude Steel Production by Process in 2014*

|  | Crude Steel Production (in million |  | Production by Process (%) |
Country |  | tonnes) |  | Mini-mill |  | Integrated |
World |  | 1,663 |  | 25.6 | % | 74.4 | %
China |  | 823 |  | 6.1 | % | 93.9 | %
Japan |  | 111 |  | 23.2 | % | 76.8 | %
U.S.A. |  | 88 |  | 62.6 | % | 37.4 | %
India |  | 87 |  | 57.6 | % | 42.4 | %
Russia |  | 72 |  | 30.6 | % | 69.4 | %
S. Korea |  | 72 |  | 33.8 | % | 66.2 | %
Germany |  | 43 |  | 30.4 | % | 69.6 | %
Ukraine |  | 27 |  | 6.2 | % | 93.8 | %
Brazil |  | 34 |  | 23.0 | % | 77.0 | %

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Source: Worldsteel/World Steel In Figures

*Last information available

Over the past 15 years, according to worldsteel, total annual crude steel production has grown from 851 million tonnes in 2001 to 1,599 million tonnes in 2015, for an average annual increase of 4.5%.

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 decreased by 2.3% from 1,637.0 million tonnes in 2014 to 1,599.5 million tonnes in 2015, with an 8.7% reduction in North America, 3.6% in the C.I.S and 1.8% in the Middle East.

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Crude Steel Production (in million tonnes)

Source: worldsteel/monthly statistics

China is rebalancing its economy to move more towards a consumer-driven economy. GDP growth was aligned with the government expectation but both construction and manufacturing sectors decelerated, resulting in a reduction of steel consumption for the second year in a row. In 2015, China’s crude steel production was 803.8 million tonnes, a reduction of 2.3% compared to 2014. In 2015, China’s share of world steel production was 50.3% of world total crude steel.

Crude Steel Production by Country in 2015 (million tonnes)

Source: worldsteel/monthly statistics

Asia produced 1,096.3 million tonnes of crude steel in 2015, a decrease of 1.3% compared to 2014, and its share of world steel production amounted to 68.5%. Japan produced 105.2 million tonnes in 2015, a decrease of 5.0% compared to 2014. India’s crude steel production was 89.6 million tonnes in 2015, an increase of 7.7% compared to 2014. South Korea’s production was 69.7 million tonnes in 2015, a decrease of 1.9% compared to 2014.

The EU-28 produced 166.2 million tonnes of crude steel in 2015, a decrease of 1.8% compared to 2014. The United Kingdom showed a decrease of 10.0% compared to 2014, producing 10.9 million tonnes in 2015, while Germany remained relatively stable compared to 2014, and produced 42.7 million tonnes in 2015.

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In 2015, crude steel production in North America was 110.7 million tonnes, a decrease of 8.7% compared to 2014. The United States produced 78.9 million tonnes of crude steel, a decrease of 10.6% compared to 2014.

The CIS showed a crude steel production decrease of 3.6% in 2015. Russia produced 71.1 million tonnes of crude steel, an increase of 0.7% compared to 2014, while Ukraine recorded a decrease of 15.6%, with year-end production figures of 22.9 million tonnes.

The Brazilian Steel Industry

In 2015, Brazil was the world’s 8th largest producer of crude steel, with a production of 33.2 million tonnes, a 2.0% share of the world market and 52.0% of the total steel production in Latin America during the year.

Total sales of Brazilian steel products were 31.9 million tonnes in 2015, 31.5 million tonnes in 2014 and 32.5 million tonnes in 2013, exceeding domestic demand of 21.3 million tonnes in 2015, 25.6 million tonnes in 2014 and 28.0 million in 2013. In 2015, total steel sales in the domestic market decreased 16.1% from 2014, going from 21.7 million tonnes to 18.2 million tonnes.

The breakdown of total sales of Brazilian steel products in 2015 was 70,0% or 22.3 million tonnes of flat steel products, formed by domestic sales of 10.0 million tonnes and exports of 12.3 million tonnes. The other 30.0% or 9.6 million tonnes represented sales of long steel products, which consisted of domestic sales of 8.2 million tonnes and exports of 1.4 million tonnes.

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

(*) Preliminary figures

Source: Instituto Aço Brasil

Domestic demand - Historically, the Brazilian steel industry has been affected by significant variations in domestic steel demand. Although per capita 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 215, the Brazilian GDP decreased by 3.8%, increased by 0.1% in 2014 and increased by 2.3% in 2013.

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, based on apparent domestic consumption, has lagged total supply (total production plus imports).

In 2015, Brazilian steel exports totaled 13.7 million tonnes, representing 43.0% 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 8.7 million tonnes in 2015, 6.3 million tonnes in 2014 and 5.3 million tonnes in 2013, representing 63.5%, 64.4% and 65.2% of Brazil’s total exports of steel products, respectively.

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

(*) Preliminary figures

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 2013, imports were 3.7 million tonnes, increased to 4.0 million tonnes in 2014 and 3,2 in 2015. In 2015, imports represented 15.1% of apparent domestic consumption, a reduction compared to 2014, which was mainly due to the depreciation of the real against the US dollar, beyond lower international steel prices.

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 and in the United States.

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.

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Crude Steel Production by North American Countries (million tonnes)

Source: worldsteel/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 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 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.

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 2008, 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 2016.

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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, Spain, the United States, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

According to 2015 rankings by Steel on the Net, a principal industry publication, Gerdau is the leading manufacturer of long steel in the North and South America. Gerdau believes it is one of the major global suppliers of special steel. 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.

According to information from the Brazilian Steel Institute (Instituto Aço Brasil) from June 2015, Gerdau is Brazil’s largest producer of long rolled steel. Gerdau holds significant market share in the steel industries of almost all countries where it operates and was classified by Worldsteel Association as the world’s 16th largest steel producer based on its consolidated crude steel production in 2014, the year for which the last 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 52 steel producing facilities globally, including joint venture and associate companies.

As of December 31, 2015, Gerdau’s total consolidated installed annual capacity, excluding investments in joint venture and associate companies, was approximately 26.0 million tonnes of crude steel and 22.5 million tonnes of rolled steel products. The Company had total consolidated assets of R$70.1 billion as of December 31, 2015, consolidated net sales of R$43.6 billion as of December 31, 2015, shareholders’ equity (including non-controlling interests) of R$32.0 billion as of December 31, 2015, a total consolidated net loss (including non-controlling interests) R$4.6 billion in the period ended on December 31, 2015. After excluding the impairment of assets and the write-off of the deferred tax assets, which are extraordinary events, the net income for the period ended on December 31, 2015 would be R$684.3 million.

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 rods, structural bars and hot rolled coils, finished products for consumer goods industry such as commercial rolled steel bars and machine 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, Europe and Asia. Gerdau began its expansion into North America in 1989, when consolidation in the global steel market effectively began. Gerdau currently operates 17 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 rods, commercial rolled steel bars, extruded products 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: reforestation; electric power generation projects; coking coal, 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 operations in North and Latin America (except Brazil) are aimed at their respective local markets.

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From the third quarter of 2015, the Company established a new business segmentation, comprising Brazil BO, North America BO, South America BO and Special Steel BO, with the iron ore operation starting to be reported in Brazil BO and Mexico’s operation integrating the North America BO. This change happened in order to obtain greater strategic and operational synergies in serving the markets of South America, North America and Brazil, as follows:

· Brazil BO (Brazil Business Operation) - includes operations in Brazil (excluding Special Steel), the coking coal operation in Colombia and coke and iron ore operation in Brazil;

· North America BO (North America Business Operation) - includes all operations in North America (Canada, United States and Mexico), excluding Special Steels;

· South America BO (South America Business Operation) - includes all operations in South America (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), except the operations in Brazil, metallurgical coal and coke operation in Colombia and iron ore operation in Brazil;

· Special Steel BO (Special Steel Business Operation - includes the special steel operations in Brazil, Spain, the United States and India.

For the purposes of comparative analysis, the years 2013 and 2014 were reclassified according to the new business segmentation.

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

Shipments

Gerdau S.A. Consolidated Shipments by Business Operations (1) |  | Year ended December 31, |
(1,000 tonnes) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
TOTAL |  | 16,970 |  | 17,869 |  | 18,519 |
Brazil(2) |  | 6,457 |  | 6,583 |  | 7,281 |
North America |  | 6,232 |  | 6,500 |  | 6,547 |
South America |  | 2,222 |  | 2,278 |  | 2,405 |
Special Steel |  | 2,621 |  | 2,894 |  | 2,857 |
Eliminations and Adjustments |  | (562 | ) | (386 | ) | (571 | )

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

(2) Does not consider coking coal and coke shipments.

Net Sales

Gerdau S.A. Consolidated Net Sales by Business Operations (1) |  | Year ended December 31, |
(R$ million) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
TOTAL |  | 43,581 |  | 42,546 |  | 39,863 |
Brazil(2) |  | 12,977 |  | 14,813 |  | 15,111 |
North America |  | 17,312 |  | 14,640 |  | 13,164 |
South America |  | 5,477 |  | 5,078 |  | 4,797 |
Special Steel |  | 8,882 |  | 8,644 |  | 8,023 |
Eliminations and Adjustments |  | (1,067 | ) | (629 | ) | (1,232 | )

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

(2) Includes coking coal and coke net sales.

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Brazil Business Operation

Steel information

The Brazil Operation 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 forecast monthly based on historical data for the three preceding months. Brazil Operation 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 Operation, sales volume in 2015 presented a slight reduction (-1.9%) compared to 2014, mainly influenced by the 22.7% reduction in the domestic market demand due to a lower level of activity in the construction and industry sectors, which was caused by economic uncertainty in Brazil. Furthermore, export volumes grew more than two times (+ 108.3%) compared to 2014 due to opportunities in the international market, combined with a favorable exchange rate throughout 2015. The outlook for Brazil’s economy is contraction, according to GDP projections for 2016 (-3.5%).

In 2014, around 16% of the production sold in Brazil was distributed through Gerdau’s distribution channel, with 89 stores throughout Brazil and 38 downstream facilities, serving a significant number of customers. Another important distribution channel is the independent’s 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 operation has annual crude steel installed capacity of 9.1 million tonnes and 6.0 million tonnes of finished steel products.

Metallurgical and coking coal information

The coal mines are located in Tausa, Cucunubá, Samacá, Ráquira and Cúcuta, Colombia. The use of these mineral resources in a customized way as raw material in our integrated mill (Ouro Branco) it is a strategy that will help us to maintain the competitiveness of this unit in the long term by reducing exposure to traditional seaborne market.. Gerdau does not currently consider any of these properties to be a “material” property for purposes of Industry Guide 7 and none of these properties have any known reserves.

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.

Gerdau is considered to be in the exploration stage. The Company is devoting substantially all of its present efforts to exploring and identifying iron mineralized material suitable for development. The properties have no reserves. Based on prior exploration, the Company believes there to be significant mineralization and intends to undertake an exploration program to prove the reserves.

The drilling campaign that the Company has already executed and intends to execute as follows:

· 2004 a 2011: 47,4 mil metros de perfurações;

· 2012 a 2015: 44,0 mil metros de perfurações;

· 2016 a 2018: 68,7 mil metros de perfurações estão planejados para se obter informações adicionais para o modelamento geológico (em análise pela Administração da Companhia).

Current exploration activities as well as the future mining operations planned are conducted and expect to continue to be conducted under the open pit mining modality. The purpose of the planned drilling and mineral survey program, which is now in progress, is to transform mineral resources into reserves, based on global standards and definitions, to an appropriate extent in order to support the business plan established for the future. Additionally, due to current information on the mentioned areas, and their locations within the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, whose specific geology and similar examples of large-scale operations are extremely well-known and correlatable, this particular goal is estimated to be feasible.

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North America Business Operation

The North America Operation has annual production capacity of 10.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 9.5 million tonnes of finished steel products. It has a vertically integrated network of 19 steel units for the operation of a mini-mill (including joint ventures and associate companies), 37 scrap recycling facilities (including joint ventures and associate companies), 58 downstream operations (including three joint ventures) and fabshops. North America Operation’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 stock for the mini-mill operations is recycled steel scrap.

The mills of this business operation 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 value-add, which consists of the fabrication of rebar, railroad spikes, cold drawn products, 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 is provided to meet their reinforcing steel needs and construction schedules.

In general, sales of finished products to U.S. customers are centrally managed by the Tampa sales office while sales to Canadian customers are managed by the Whitby 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 products. Metallurgical service representatives at the mills provide technical support to the sales group. Sales of the cold drawn and 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.

At the North America Operation, shipments in 2015 decreased 4.1% compared to 2014, due to the increasing share of imported products in the region, even with the maintenance of good demand in the non-residential construction sector.

The North America Operation accounted for 35.6% of overall Gerdau sales volumes. Gerdau’s Canadian operations sell a significant portion of their production in the United States.

South America Business Operation

The South America Business Operation comprises 14 steel facilities (including joint ventures and associate companies), 46 retail facilities, 25 fab shops (including joint ventures and associate companies) and 14 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 2.4 million tonnes of crude steel and 2.3 million tonnes of finished steel products. The South American operation accounted for 12.7% of overall Gerdau sales volumes, representing 2.2 million tonnes in 2014, a stability when compared to 2014, even with high volumes of imports in the region. The main representative countries in the South America Business Operation are Chile, Colombia and Peru. Gerdau also operates in the markets of Uruguay, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Guatemala.

Chile - Has installed capacity of 520,000 tonnes of crude steel and 530,000 tonnes of rolled steel. This unit produces rebars, merchant bars and wire rods, which are commercialized, primarily, in the domestic market. Gerdau in Chile sells its products to more than 150 clients, including distributors and end-users.

Colombia - The Company believes to have a market share of 27% of the Colombian common long steel market. The Company believes it to be the largest producer of steel and rebar in Colombia, selling its products through own distributors, third-party distributors and clients (end-users) in civil construction, industry and others. Colombian units have annual installed capacity of 854,000 tonnes of crude steel and 764,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Peru — Is one of the main steel companies in Peru, with more than 50 years of experience in this business. The company sells its products to approximately 500 clients in the construction, manufacturing and mining sectors and has more than 140 distributors. Gerdau in Peru has annual installed capacity of 650,000 tonnes of crude steel and 520,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Special Steel Business Operation

The Special Steel Business Operation is composed of the operations in Brazil (Charqueadas, Pindamonhangaba and Mogi das Cruzes), in the United States (Fort Smith, Jackson and Monroe), in Spain (Basauri, Reinosa, Azkoitia and Vitoria) and in India (Tadipatri). This operation produces engineering steel (SBQ), tool steel, stainless steel, rolling mill rolls, large forged and casted

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engineering pieces. In order to meet the continuous need for innovation, this operation is constantly developing new products, such as high strength steels for suspension springs, clean steel, high temperability steels and steel with improved machining characteristics, among others.

The Special Steel Business Operation recorded a reduction of 9.4% in shipments in 2015 compared to the prior year, due to the strong reduction in the demand from the automotive sector in Brazil and, in a lesser extent, in the US oil and gas sector.

In Brazil, Gerdau special steel operations are located in Rio Grande do Sul (Charqueadas) and in São Paulo (Pindamonhangaba e 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, Europe and Asia.

In Europe, Gerdau special operations are located in Spain (Basauri, Reinosa, Azkoitia and Vitoria), which sells special steel to the entire continent and exports to North America, Africa and Asia. This operation has more than 480 clients located mainly in Spain, France, Germany and Italy, and has an annual installed capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.1 million tonnes of rolled products. The operation also has four downstream operations located in Spain.

In North America, Gerdau maintains a presence in United States, with three mini-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 1.3 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.2 million tonnes of rolled products and has more than 200 customers located mainly in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In India, the Company initiated the operation of a plant for the production of special steel with capacity of 250 thousand tonnes of crude steel and 300 thousand tonnes of rolled products. Important projects were completed in 2015, such as a new coke oven and a power generation plant.

There are commercial and operational synergies among the units in this business operation through centralized marketing and production strategies.

Exports

In 2015, the global steel industry was unable to recover from the difficult conditions that have prevailed since the second quarter of 2014. In addition to the ongoing deceleration in the Chinese economy and the stagnation of the global economy, political conflicts in important exporting and importing regions exerted a strong influence on demand and international prices. In general, international prices, which reached historical lows in late 2014, continued to decline, pressured by oversupply in the industry.

International prices in the first half of 2015 showed a slight downward trend and occasionally registered upward moves. In the second half of the year, international prices for steel goods in general posted sharper drops, but with more aggressive declines in the flat steel segment. Prices for the main long steel products (rebar, wire rod, profiles and structural profiles) fell 30% to 37% in international markets, comparing exports by traditional exporting countries (Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, South Korea and China) in December 2015 in relation to December 2014. Prices for key flat steel products exported by China (hot-rolled coils and heavy plates) fell 42% in international markets, comparing exports in December 2015 in relation to December 2014. Semi-finished products, billets and slabs also posted sharp price drops in the same period. Billet prices were also pressured by China’s growing presence in the market, which intensified competition with Russian and Ukraine, with declines from 37% to 43%. The prices of slabs from Russia and Ukraine fell between 42% and 44%.

The reductions in international prices were leveraged by the economic situation in the world’s main exporting countries and the resulting depreciation in their currencies, particularly in Russia and Ukraine. Softening demand in the respective domestic markets also led producers to boost their exports.

Reductions in the international prices were leveraged by the economic situation of the world’s leading exporters and the consequent devaluation of their currencies, especially Russia and Ukraine. The lower demand in respective domestic markets also led producers to increase export volumes.

In 2015, Brazil remained Gerdau’s main exporting country, accounting for 97% of its total exports by volume. Mexico accounted for 2% of the total and the United States accounted for approximately 1%.

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The main export destination in 2015 was South America, accounting for 27%, due to exports to supply the Group’s companies. North America was another important destination, which was driven by exports of slabs, accounting for 21% by volume in 2015. Other regions have increased their percentage in 2015 due to higher export volume. Europe represented 14% of the total, Africa 14%, Central America 11%, the Middle East 7% and Asia 6%.

The following table presents the Company’s consolidated exports by destination for the periods indicated:

Gerdau S.A. Consolidated |  | Year ended December 31, |
Exports by Destination |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Total including shipments to subsidiaries (1,000 tonnes) |  | 2,231 |  | 1,134 |  | 1,715 |
Africa |  | 14 | % | — |  | 4 | %
Central America |  | 11 | % | 6 | % | 12 | %
North America |  | 21 | % | 43 | % | 23 | %
South America |  | 27 | % | 39 | % | 42 | %
Asia |  | 6 | % | 6 | % | 13 | %
Europe |  | 14 | % | 6 | % | 6 | %
Middle East |  | 7 | % | — |  | — |

In 2015, Gerdau continued to register its highest export volumes in billets and slabs, despite exporting products from almost its entire line.

Gerdau continues to build a diversified client base around the world, which will be fundamental for meeting the challenges ahead in 2016.

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 and profiles.

The semi-finished products are produced using continuous casting and, in the case of blooms 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, merchant bars 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 and normally includes some degree of customization. The Company produces special steel used in automotive components, machinery, road and agricultural parts, mining equipment, tools, rail components and maritime mooring at its Pindamonhangaba, Mogi das Cruzes and Charqueadas units in Brazil, at Basauri, Azkoitia and Vitória units in Spain, at the Fort Smith, Jackson and Monroe units in the United States and in Tadipatri, India.

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Flat Products

The Company’s Ouro Branco mill produces slabs, which are rolled into flat products such as hot- and cold-rolled steel coils, heavy plates and structural profiles. Gerdau also produces hot-rolled coils, which are sold in the domestic and export markets. The Company distributes these hot-rolled coils 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.

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 Operation for the periods shown:

|  | Brazil |  | North America |  | South America |  | Special Steel |  | Eliminations and Adjustments |
Products |  | Rebars, merchant bars, beams, drawn products, billets, blooms, slabs, wire rod, structural shapes, hot rolled coil and iron ore. |  | Rebars, merchant bars, wire rod, light and heavy structural shapes. |  | Rebar, merchant bars and drawn products. |  | Stainless steel, special profiles and wire rod. |  | — |
Year |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Net Sales (R$ million) |  | 12,977.3 |  | 14,813.3 |  | 15,111.0 |  | 17,312.2 |  | 14,640.1 |  | 13,163.6 |  | 5,477.2 |  | 5,078.4 |  | 4,797.3 |  | 8,882.1 |  | 8,643.9 |  | 8,023.1 |  | (1,067.6 | ) | (629.4 | ) | (1,232.0 | )
% of Consolidated Net Sales |  | 29.8 | % | 34.8 | % | 37.9 | % | 39.7 | % | 34.4 | % | 33.0 | % | 12.6 | % | 11.9 | % | 12.0 | % | 20.4 | % | 20.3 | % | 20.1 | % | (2,4 | )% | (1,5 | )% | (3,1 | )%
Net (Loss) Income (R$ million) |  | (671.7 | ) | 1,013.8 |  | 1,705.2 |  | (1,429.6 | ) | 638.3 |  | (16.0 | ) | (192.6 | ) | (110.0 | ) | 138.5 |  | (2,297.4 | ) | 123.1 |  | 156.7 |  | (4.7 | ) | (176.8 | ) | (290.7 | )
% of Consolidated Net (Loss) Income |  | 14.6 | % | 68.1 | % | 100.7 | % | 31.1 | % | 42.9 | % | (0,9 | )% | 4.2 | % | (7,4 | )% | 8.2 | % | 50.0 | % | 8.3 | % | 9.3 | % | 0.1 | % | (11,9 | )% | (17,2 | )%

Production Process

In Brazil, the Company has a decentralized production process, using both mini-mills and integrated facilities. In general, the Company has used the mini-mill model to produce steel products outside of Brazil.

Non-Integrated Process (Mini-Mills)

The Company operates 44 mini-mills worldwide (excluding joint ventures and associate companies). Mini-mills are equipped primarily with electric arc furnaces that can melt steel scrap and produce the steel product at the required specifications. After loading the furnace with a preset mixture of raw material (i.e., steel scrap, pig iron and sponge iron), electric power is applied in accordance with a computer controlled melting profile. The Company’s mini-mill production process generally consists of the following steps: obtaining raw material, melting, casting, rolling and drawing. The basic difference between this process and the integrated mill production process described below is in the first processing phase, i.e., the steelmaking process. Mini-mills are smaller plants than integrated facilities and the Company believes they provide certain advantages over integrated mills, including:

· lower capital costs,

· lower operational risks due to the low concentration of capital and installed capacity in a single production plant,

· proximity of production facilities to raw-material sources,

· proximity to local markets and easier adjustment of production levels, and

· more effective managerial structure due to the relative simplicity of the production process.

Integrated Process

The Company operates five integrated mills, of which three are located in Brazil, one in Peru and one in India. The Ouro Branco mill is the largest integrated facility the Company operates. Although it produces steel using a blast furnace, this mill has some

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of the advantages of a mini-mill since it is located very close to its main suppliers and the ports from which the Company exports most of its production.

The Company’s steelmaking process in integrated facilities consists of four basic processes: raw material preparation, pig-iron production, steel production and production of semi-finished products (billets, blooms and slabs). In the primary stage of steel making, sinter (a mixture of iron ore and fluxes), coke and other raw materials are consumed in the blast furnace to produce pig iron. Coke acts as both a fuel and a reducing agent in this process. The Company’s blast furnaces have installed capacity of 5.9 million tonnes of liquid pig iron per year.

The pig iron produced by the blast furnace is transported by rail to the desulphurization unit to reduce the sulfur content in the steel. After the desulphurization process, the low-sulfur pig-iron is transformed into steel through LD-type oxygen converters. The LD steelmaking process utilizes molten pig iron to produce steel by blowing oxygen over the metallic charge inside the converters. The process does not require any external source of energy, which is fully supplied by the chemical reactions that occur between the oxygen and the molten pig iron impurities. The LD steelmaking process is presently the most widely used in the world. Some mills further refine the LD converters’ output with ladle furnaces and degassing process.

The liquid steel is then sent to the continuous casting equipment, which are solidified in the form of billets, blooms or slabs. These products can be sold directly to customers, be transferred for processing into other Gerdau units or be transformed into rolled finished products in the Company´s own integrated units. Gerdau integrated units in Brazil have rebar, bars and rods, wire rods, structural steel and hot rolled coils rolling mills.

Logistics

Gerdau sells its products through independent distributors, direct sales from the mills and its retail network (Comercial Gerdau).

Logistics costs are an important component of most steel businesses and represent a significant factor in maintaining competitive prices in the domestic and export markets. The Gerdau mills are strategically located in various different geographic regions. The Company believes that the proximity of its mills to raw material sources and important consumer markets gives it a competitive advantage in serving customers and obtaining raw materials at competitive costs. This represents an important competitive advantage in inbound and outbound logistics.

To adequate and reduce logistic costs, Gerdau uses specific solutions, directed to different types of transportation modes (road, rail, sea and cabotage), terminals, technology and equipment. Gerdau continuously seeks to improve its performance to receive raw materials, and to deliver products to its customers or ports of destination. Accordingly, Gerdau develops and maintain long-term relationships with logistic suppliers specialized in delivering raw materials and steel products.

In 1996 Gerdau acquired an interest in MRS Logística, one of the most important rail companies in Brazil, which operates connecting the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, which are Brazil’s main economic centers, and also reaches the main ports of the country in this region. These shares provide the guarantee of using this mode to transport raw materials (scrap and pig iron) as well as final products.

Gerdau uses around 12 ports to deliver products from the entire Brazilian coastline. The majority of exports are shipped from Praia Mole Private Steel Terminal in Vitoria, Espírito Santo. Furthermore, this is Brazil’s most efficient and productive seaport for handling steel products, with more than 20 years of expertise in this business.

Overseas, Gerdau owns a private port terminal in Chimbote (Peru), where the Company has a steel mill, used to deliver inputs, raw material and products for the operation. In addition, the Company, in the second half of the year, lauched an export terminal for coal in Colombia.

Competition

The steel market is divided into manufacturers of long steel products, flat steel products and special steel.

The Company operates in the long steel market, which is the most important market for Gerdau, by supplying to the following customer segments: (i) construction, to which it supplies rebars, merchant bars, nails and meshes; (ii) manufacturing, to which it supplies products for machinery, agricultural equipment, tools and other industrial products; and (iii) other markets, to which it supplies wires and posts for agricultural installations and reforestation projects. In North America, the Company also supplies

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customers with special sections, including elevator guide rails and super light beams. The Company also provides its customers with higher value-added products at rebar fabrication facilities.

The Company operates in the flat steel market through its Ouro Branco mill that produces slabs, which are used to roll flat products such as hot and cold rolled steel coils and heavy plates. Gerdau also produces hot-rolled coils, which are sold in the domestic and export markets. The Company distributes these hot-rolled coils 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.

The Company produces special and stainless steel used in tools and machinery, chains, fasteners, railroad spikes, special coil steel, grader blades, smelter bars, light rails, super light I-beams, elevator guide rails and other products that are made on demand for the Company’s customers at its special steel units in Brazil, United States, Spain and India.

Competitive Position — Brazil

The Brazilian steel market is very competitive. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the ArcelorMittal Brasil was the largest Brazilian crude steel producer, according to the Brazilian Steel Institute (IABr - Instituto Aço Brasil). Meanwhile, Gerdau was the second largest crude steel producer in Brazil during 2015.

The table below presents the Company’s main competitors and market share in Brazil’s crude steel market:

|  | Fiscal year ending December 31, |
Brazilian crude steel producers (%) |  | 2015* |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
ArcelorMittal Brasil |  | 30.0 |  | 25.5 |  | 23.2 |
Gerdau |  | 21.1 |  | 22.0 |  | 23.6 |
Usiminas |  | 15.1 |  | 17.9 |  | 20.1 |
CSN |  | 12.8 |  | 13.2 |  | 13.0 |
CSA |  | 12.7 |  | 12.2 |  | 10.9 |
Others |  | 8.3 |  | 9.2 |  | 9.2 |
Total |  | 100.0 |  | 100.0 |  | 100.0 |

Source: IABr - Instituto Aço Brasil

(*) Preliminary figures

World common long rolled steel demand is met principally by steel mini-mills and, to a much lesser extent, by integrated steel producers. In the Brazilian market, no single company competes against the Company across its entire product range. The Company has been facing some competition from long steel products imports, mainly coming from Turkey, with more extension from 2010. The Company believes that the diversification of its products, the solution developed by its fab shops units and the decentralization of its business provide a competitive edge over its major competitors.

In the domestic market, Gerdau is almost an exclusive supplier of blooms and billets to well-defined and loyal customers that have been purchasing from it regularly for over 15 years. Intense competition exists between the Company and ArcelorMittal in the slab and wire rod markets.

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Competitive Position — Outside Brazil

Outside Brazil, notably in North America, the Company has increased its market share through acquisitions, and believes to be the second largest mini-mill steel producer in North America, with annual nominal capacity of 10.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 9.5 million tonnes of rolled products.

Gerdau’s geographic market in North America encompasses primarily the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Company faces substantial competition in the sale of each of its products from numerous competitors in its markets. Rebar, merchant bars and structural shapes are commodity steel products for which pricing is the primary competitive factor. Due to the high cost of freight relative to the value of steel products, competition from non-regional producers is somewhat limited. Proximity of product inventories to customers, combined with competitive freight costs and low-cost manufacturing processes, are key to maintaining margins on rebar and merchant bar products. Rebar deliveries are generally concentrated within a 350-mile radius of the mini-mills and merchant bar deliveries are generally concentrated within a 500-mile radius. Some products produced by the Selkirk, Midlothian, Jacksonville, Jackson, Cartersville and Petersburg mini-mills are shipped greater distances, including overseas.

The Company’s principal competitors include Commercial Metals Company (CMC), Nucor Corporation, Steel Dynamics Inc., and ArcelorMittal Inc.

Despite the commodity characteristics of the rebar, merchant bar and structural markets, Gerdau believes it distinguishes itself from many of its competitors due to the Company’s large product range, product quality, consistent delivery performance, capacity to service large orders and ability to fill most orders quickly from inventory. The Company believes it produces one of the largest ranges of bar products and shapes. The Company’s product diversity is an important competitive advantage in a market where many customers are looking to fulfill their requirements from a few key suppliers.

In South America, each country has a specific competitive position that depends on conditions in their respective markets. Most compete domestically and face significant competition from imports. Around 80% of shipments from Gerdau’s South American Operation originate from Chile, Peru and Colombia. In this market, the main barriers faced by Gerdau sales are freight and transportation costs and the availability of imports. The main products sold in the South American market are the constructions, mechanic, agriculture and mining markets.

Currently, the Special steel operations in Spain has approximately 7% stake of the special steel market in Europe; in United States, the Company believes to have approximately 19% of the special steel market; in Brazil, Gerdau’s special steel units are combined the biggest player in that market, with a stake of approximately 78%; and, in India the production and commercialization of rolled products began in 2013, and continue to ramp up, providing gradual access in the Indian market.

Business Cyclicality and Seasonality

The steel industry is highly cyclical. Consequently, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in the demand for steel goods that in turn cause fluctuations in the prices of these goods. Furthermore, since the production capacity of Brazil’s steel industry exceeds its demand, it is dependent on export markets. The demand for steel goods and consequently the financial conditions and operating results of steel producers, including the Company, are generally affected by fluctuations in the world economy and in particular the performance of the manufacturing, construction and automotive industries. Since 2003, the good performance of the world economy, especially in developing economies, such as China, has led to strong demand for steel goods, which contributed to historically high prices for Gerdau’s steel goods. However, with the financial crisis that emerged in mid-2008, these prices have become unsupportable, especially given the expansion in world installed production capacity and the recent softening of demand. In the second quarter of 2008 and especially in early 2009, the United States and other European economies showed strong signs of a slowdown, which in turn affected many other countries. Over the past few years, developing economies have shown signs of a gradual recovery, while developed economies still present a challenging demand scenario. The Company believes that, in 2016, the steel industry will remain challenging and continue to present volatility. The reduction in demand for steel goods or exports from countries that are unable to consume their internal production, as was the case in 2008, could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s operations and prospects.

In Gerdau’s Brazilian and South American operations, shipments in the second and third quarters of the year tend to be stronger than in the first and fourth quarters, given the reduction in construction activity. In Gerdau’s North American operations, demand is influenced by winter conditions, when consumption of electricity and other energy sources (i.e., natural gas) for heating increases and may be exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, contributing to increased costs and decreased construction activity, and in turn leading to lower shipments. In Gerdau’s Special Steel Operations, particularly in Spain, the third quarter is traditionally marked by collective vacations that reduce operations in the quarter to only two months.

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Information on the Extent of the Company’s Dependence

The Company is not dependent on industrial, commercial or financial agreements (including agreements with clients and suppliers) or on new production processes that are material to its business or profitability. The Company also has a policy of diversifying its suppliers, which enables it to replace suppliers without affecting its operations in the event of failure to comply with the agreements, except in the case of its energy and natural gas supply.

In addition to the government regulations that apply to its industry in general, the Company is not subject to any specific regulation that materially or adversely affect its business.

In the case of a power outage, there are no alternative supply options available at most Gerdau mills due to the high volume and tension required for the operation of these plants. Some Gerdau small plants may choose, as an alternative, to use generators to compensate for the energy shortage. Moreover, the Ouro Branco mill generates 70% of its power needs internally using gases generated in the steel-making process.

In case of a lack of natural gas, the equipment could be adjusted to use diesel and LPG.

Gerdau’s operations are spread across various geographic regions, which mitigates the risk of any electricity or natural gas supply problems in Brazil.

The distribution of electric power and natural gas is a regulated monopoly in most countries, which leads the distributor to be the only supplier in each geographic region. In some countries, regulations allow for a choice of electrical power or natural gas commodity supplier, allowing Gerdau to diversify its supply agreement portfolio.

Furthermore, since 2012 the Company has been developing energy efficiency actions at all of its industrial units in the country in order to increase its energy savings on its various process.

Production Inputs

Prices volatility

Gerdau’s production processes are based mainly on the mini-mill concept, with mills equipped with electric arc furnaces that can melt ferrous scrap and produce steel products at the required specifications. The main raw material used at these mills is ferrous scrap, which at some plants is blended with pig iron. The component proportions of this mixture may change in accordance with prices and availability in order to optimize raw material costs. Iron, iron ore (used in blast furnaces) and ferroalloys are also important.

Although international ferrous scrap prices suffer high influence by the U.S. domestic market (since the United States is the largest scrap exporter), the price of ferrous scrap in Brazil varies from region to region and is influenced by demand and transportation costs. Gerdau believes to be the largest consumer of ferrous scrap in Brazil.

Brazil and Special Steel Business Operation - The Company’s Brazilian mills use scrap and pig iron purchased from local suppliers. Due to the nature of the raw materials used in its processes, Gerdau has contracts with scrap generators, especially scrap from industrial sources, for its mini-mills in Brazil, acquiring scrap as necessary for the mills’ needs. Scrap for the Brazilian Operation is priced in Brazilian reais, thus input prices are not directly affected by currency fluctuations.

Due to its size, the Ouro Branco mill has developed over the last few years a strategy to diversify its raw materials, which are supplied through various types of contracts and from multiple sources, which include: (i) coking coals developed by Gerdau’s unit in Colombia and other materials imported from the United States, Canada, Russia, Australia, among other origins with lower expression in volumes, as well as petroleum coke purchased from Petrobrás and charcoal chaff also acquired from other domestic suppliers; (ii) ferroalloys, of which 78% are purchased in the domestic market; and (iii) iron ore, which is mainly produced from its own mines and partially supplied by mining companies, most of them strategically located close to the plant.

North America Business Operation - The main input used by the Company’s mills in North America is ferrous scrap, and has consistently obtained adequate supplies of raw materials, not depending on a smaller number of suppliers. Due to the fact that the United States are one of the largest scrap exporters in the world, the prices of this raw-material, in this country, may fluctuate according to supply and demand in the world’s scrap market.

South America Business Operation - The main input used by the Company’s mills in South America is ferrous scrap. This operation is exposed to market fluctuations, varying its prices according to each local market.

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Ferrous Scrap

There are two broad categories of ferrous scrap: (i) obsolete scrap, which is steel from various sources, ranging from cans to car bodies and white goods; and (ii) industrial scrap, which is composed of scrap from manufacturing processes, essentially steel bushings and flashings, steel turnings and even scrap generated by production processes at steel producers, such as Gerdau. The consumption of scrap in electric arc furnaces uses a combination of obsolete scrap and industrial scrap, the proportions of which varies in accordance with the availability of each one and the type of steel to the produced.

In 2015, Gerdau consumed more than 14 million tonnes of scrap, which accounted for significant gains from increasingly competitive operating costs.

Because ferrous scrap is one of its main raw materials in steel production, Gerdau is dedicated to improving its supply chain in various countries, aiming to develop and integrate micro and small suppliers into the Company’s business. In Brazil, the main part of the scrap consumed by the Company comes from small scrap collectors who sell all their material to Gerdau, which provides a direct supply at more competitive costs for the Company. In North America, although smaller, the number is still significant, ensuring the competitiveness of the business in the region.

Brazil and Special Steel Business Operations - The price of steel scrap in Brazil varies by region and reflects local supply, demand and transportation costs. The Southeast is the country’s most industrialized region and generates the highest volume of scrap. Due to the high concentration of players in this region, competition is more intense.

Gerdau has six scrap shredders, including a mega-shredder at the Cosigua mill in Rio de Janeiro that is capable of processing shredded scrap in volumes that exceed 200 car bodies per hour.

In the Special Steel unit located in Europe, the industrial scrap is the main kind of raw-material used in the operation

North America Business Operation - Ferrous scrap is the primary raw material. Although U.S. scrap production exceeds domestic consumption, with the country leading world exports of the product, availability varies in accordance with the level of economic activity, the season of the year and export levels, leading to price fluctuations. Twelve mills in the North America Business Operation have on-site dedicated scrap processing facilities, including shredder operations that supply a significant portion of their scrap requirements. Given that not all of the scrap it consumes is sourced from its own scrap yards, it purchases residual requirements in the market either directly or through dealers that source and prepare scrap.

South America Business Operation - The price of scrap in South America varies widely from country to country in accordance with supply, demand and transportation cost.

Pig Iron and Sponge Iron

Brazil Business Operation - Brazil is an exporter of pig iron. Most of Brazil’s pig iron is produced in the state of Minas Gerais by a number of small producers. Pig iron is a drop-in substitute for scrap and in Brazil it is an important component of the metal mix used to make steel in the mills. The price of pig iron follows domestic and international demand, and its cost production is basically composed by reducers and minerals.

North America Business Operation - Scrap availability imprints a unique characteristic on the use of pig iron and sponge iron, which are used in limited amounts only to produce steels with particular characteristics.

Iron Ore

Iron ore is the main input used to produce pig iron at Gerdau’s blast furnace mills located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The pig iron is used in the melt shops together with scrap, to produce steel.

Iron ore is purchased in its natural form as lump ore, pellet feed or sinter feed, or agglomerated as pellets. The lump ore and pellets are loaded directly into the blast furnace, while the sinter feed and pellet feed need to be agglomerated in the sinter plant and then loaded into the blast furnace, to produce pig iron. The production of 1.0 tonne of pig iron requires about 1.7 tonnes of iron ore.

Iron ore consumption in Gerdau mills in Brazil amounted to 7.6 million tonnes in 2015, partially supplied by mining companies adjacent to the steel plants and partially supplied by Gerdau’s mines.

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Other Inputs

In addition to scrap, pig iron, sponge iron and iron ore, Gerdau’s operations use other inputs to produce steel such as ferroalloys, electrodes, furnace refracting materials, oxygen, nitrogen and other industrial gases and limestone, albeit in smaller amounts. Additional inputs associated with the production of pig iron are thermal-reducer, which is used in blast furnace mills, and natural gas, which is used at the DRI unit.

Ouro Branco mill’s important raw materials and inputs also include solid fuels, comprising the metallurgical coal, used in the production of coke and also for the blast furnace pulverized injecting, this last one providing increase in productivity and consequently reduction in the final cost of pig iron. Besides the metallurgical coal, the Company also uses the anthracite, solid fuel used in the production of sinter. The gas resulting from the production of coke and pig iron are reused for generation of thermal energy that can be converted in electric energy for the mill.

Gerdau has three coke production units in Colombia with annual production capacity of 550,000 tonnes. Two of these operations are currently deactivated due to the current scenario of low prices in the international market. In 2013, it consolidated the supply of Colombian coking coal and began to develop coal for injection processes, with the supply of injection coal currently suspended due to competitiveness reasons, given the low prices of this material in recent years, with both of these materials used by the Ouro Branco Mill. Also in 2013, it started to develop new solid fuels customized at this unit, specific cokes for testing at plants equipped with smaller blast furnaces that traditionally use charcoal as fuel, and coals and cokes for other applications in the market.

The North American operations also use additional inputs. Various domestic and foreign companies supply other important raw materials or operating supplies required for the business, including refractory materials, ferroalloys and graphite electrodes that are available in the national and international market. Gerdau North America Business Operation has obtained adequate quantities of these raw materials and supplies at competitive market prices. The Company is not dependent on any one supplier as a source for any particular material and believes there are adequate alternative suppliers available in the marketplace if the need to replace an existing one arises.

Energy Requirements

Steel production is a process that consumes large amounts of electricity, especially in electric arc mills. Electricity represents an important role in the production process, along with natural gas, which is used mainly in furnaces to re-heat billets in rolled steel production.

In Brazil, electricity is currently supplied to the Company’s industrial units under two types of contracts:

· Contracts in the Regulated Contractual Environment in which the Company is a “Captive Consumer” are used at the following units: Usiba and Açonorte. These involve state-owned companies or holders of government concessions. In these contracts, prices are defined by the National Electric Power Agency (ANEEL).

· Contracts executed in the Free Market Environment, in which Gerdau is a “Free Consumer,” are used by the following units: Araçariguama, Charqueadas, Cosigua, Cearense, Ouro Branco, Divinópolis, Barão de Cocais, Riograndense, São José dos Campos, Pindamonhangaba and Mogi das Cruzes. The load of these units is served by a portfolio of contracts and by self-generation. The power supply contracts are entered into directly with generation and/or distributing companies at prices that are pre-defined and adjusted in accordance with conditions pre-established by the parties.

The Company currently holds the following power generation concessions in Brazil:

· Dona Francisca Energética S.A. (DFESA) operates a hydroelectric power plant with nominal capacity of 125 MW located between Nova Palma and Agudo, Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil). Its corporate purpose is to operate, maintain and maximize use of the energy potential of the Dona Francisca Hydroelectric Plant. DFESA participates in a consortium (Consórcio Dona Francisca) with the state power utility Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica (CEEE). The shareholders of DFESA are Gerdau S.A. (51.8%), COPEL Participações S.A (23.0%), Celesc (23.0%), and Statkraft (2.2%).

· Caçu and Barra dos Coqueiros hydroelectric power plants, located in the state of Goiás (Brazil), with total installed capacity of 155MW and started its operations in 2010, with all power made available to the units located in Brazil’s Southeast.

· Gerdau also holds the concession to implement São João — Cachoeirinha Hydroelectric Plant Complex located in Paraná state. The complex will have total installed capacity of 105 MW. It is currently waiting for the granting of the environmental licenses.

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The terms of the aforementioned generation concession agreements are for 35 years as of the signature of the agreement. As such: UHE Dona Francisca expires in 2033 and UHEs Caçu and Barra dos Coqueiros and UHEs São João - Cachoeirinha expire in 2037.

The supply of natural gas to all Brazilian units is regulated and performed under long-term contracts. Barão de Cocais and Divinópolis units do not have access to natural gas supplies.

In Spain, the energy contract comes into force in January 2016 and is valid until January 2019, 50% of the energy is linked to a fixed price and the other 50% are based on the spot market with the possibility of interruption. The gas contract also comes into force in January 2016 and is valid until 2017, 75% of the energy is linked at a fixed price and the remaining 25% are based to Brent and the exchange rate with the possibility of interruption.

In the United States, there are essentially two types of electricity markets: regulated and deregulated. In the regulated market, contracts are approved by Public Utility commissions and are subject to an approved rate of return. These regulated tariffs are specific to local distributors and generally reflect the average fuel costs of the distributor. In deregulated markets, the price of electricity is set by the marginal resource and fluctuates with demand. Natural Gas in the United States is completely deregulated. The U.S. energy market is benefiting from the increased exploration of shale gas, which is driving down prices of both electricity and natural gas.

In Colombia, the power purchase agreement was renewed in July 2013 at predetermined prices valid for 3 years and 6 months. The natural gas agreements were renewed in late 2013 and are valid in part until 2019 and in part until 2021.

In Chile electricity is purchased under a long-term agreement (7 years). This agreement will finish on 2021, and the transmission electricity agreement will finish in 2034. The plant receives CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), the supply is done through piping lines in Renca and Colina plants.

In Uruguay, electricity is purchased under agreements renewed automatically on an annual basis from the state-owned utility UTE. Natural gas is purchased from Montevideo Gas with prices set by the Argentinean export tariff agreement (fuel oil as substitute). During 2014, the plant operated mostly on fuel oil, due to competitive reasons.

In Peru, has a current electricity contract until December 2025. The plant receives CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) by trucks and then is decompressed and distributed through internal pipeline to production processes.

Argentina uses natural gas (liquefied petroleum gas) as substitute. The natural gas purchase agreement was renewed for another year. In 2008, Gerdau Sipar entered into a long-term agreement to supply the new mill’s power requirements.

In the Dominican Republic, a new power purchase agreement was secured in July 2014 (valid for three years), with new power factor conditions. Since 2011, the unit receives liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivered by truck.

In Mexico, electricity is purchased under agreements regulated by the state-owned utility Companía Federal de Electricidad (CFE). The natural gas agreements are annually and automatically renewed. Electricity and natural gas prices are indexed and adjusted monthly based on the NYMEX prices indices.

In India, electricity is supplied by the distribution company and by self-generation. In the event of rationing, the power deficit may be acquired through power swap agreements (short-term contracts) or bilateral agreements.

Production Output

Gerdau S.A. Consolidated |  | Year ended December 31, |
annual production (million tonnes) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Crude steel production |  | 16,862 |  | 18,028 |  | 18,009 |
Rolled steel production |  | 14,604 |  | 16,026 |  | 15,502 |
Iron Ore production |  | 7,419 |  | 7,623 |  | 5,586 |

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Technology and Quality Management

All Gerdau mills have a Quality Management System supported by a wide array of quality control tools. Product development projects are headed by specialists who use quality tools such as “Six Sigma”, a set of statistical methods for improving the assessment of process variables, and the concept of “Quality Function Deployment”, a methodology through which technicians can identify and implement the customer requirements.

Given this level of quality management, mills are ISO 9001 or ISO TS 16949 certified as well as a sort of products and laboratories certification according demands. In general, production, technical services and quality teams are responsible for developing new products to meet customer and market needs.

Gerdau uses a Quality Management System developed in house that applies tests for product design, manufacturing processes and final-product specifications. A specially trained team and modern technologies also exist to assure the manufactured product high standards of quality. Gerdau’s technical specialists do planned visits, some are randomly selected and some are scheduled visits, to its customers to check on the quality of the delivered products in order to guarantee the final user satisfaction for products purchased indirectly.

The Knowledge Management Portal is used to share information among all steel mills seeking performance improvements and leverage of process knowledge supported by Communities of Practice and technical specialists.

Due to the specialized nature of its business, the Gerdau special steel mills are constantly investing in technological upgrading and in research and development. These mills are active in the automotive segment and maintain a technology department (Research and Development) responsible for new products and the optimization of existing processes.

International machinery manufacturers and steel technology companies supply most of the sophisticated production equipment that Gerdau uses. These suppliers generally sign technology transfer agreements with the purchaser and provide extensive technical support and staff training for the installation and commissioning of the equipment. Gerdau has technology transfer and benchmarking agreements with worldwide recognized performance companies.

As is common with mini-mill steelmakers, Gerdau usually acquires technology in the market rather than develops new technology through intensive process research and development, since steelmaking technology is readily available for purchase.

The Company is not dependent on patents or licenses or new manufacturing processes that are material to its business. See item “Information on the Extent of the Company’s Dependence” for further details.

Sales Terms and Credit Policy

The Company’s Brazilian sales are usually made on a 21/28-day settlement CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) basis. Comercial Gerdau, the retail arm of Gerdau in Brazil, sells on a 30-day settlement basis, mainly CIF. Brazilian customers are subject to a credit approval process. The concession of credit limits is controlled by a corporate-level system (ECC) that can be accessed by all sales channels. The credit and collection department is responsible for evaluating, determining and monitoring credit in accordance with the credit limit policy. This policy includes the active participation of staff from the various sales channels. At Comercial Gerdau, in particular, the criteria for retail sales also include practices such as the use of credit card services. Gerdau exports are guaranteed via letters of credit and/or pre-payment before the product is shipped. Exports to Gerdau’s subsidiaries may be sold on credit at market interest rates.

Gerdau North American credit terms to customers are generally based on customary market conditions and practices. The Company´s North American business is seasonal, with orders in the second and third quarters tending to be stronger than those in the first and fourth quarters, primarily due to weather-related slowdowns in the construction industry.

The Company´s Special Steel Operation in Spain has a Risk Committee that is responsible for analyzing customer credit. The United States and Brazil Special Steel Operations have their own credit departments for costumer’s credit analyses.

As a result of these policies, the Company’s provision for doubtful accounts has been at low levels, however, 2015 showed an increase in provision for doubtful accounts due to the higher default levels recorded in Brazil. On December 31, 2015, provision for doubtful accounts was 4.0% based on gross account receivables as per Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, on December 31, 2014 was 2.2% and on December 31, 2013 this provision was 2.4% of gross account receivables. Gerdau has improved its credit approval controls and enhanced the reliability of its sales process through the use of risk indicators and internal controls.

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Insurance

The Company maintains insurance coverage in amounts that it believes suitable to cover the main risks of its operating activities. The Company has purchased insurance for its integrated mill Ouro Branco to insure against operating losses, which covers amounts up to approximately US$ 5.0 billion (R$ 15.9 billion as of April 30, 2015), including material damage to installations (US$ 4.3 billion) and losses of gross revenues (US$ 760 million), such as halts in production due to business interruptions caused by accidents for a period up to twelve months. The Company’s current insurance policy relating to the Ouro Branco mill remains effective until April 30, 2016. The Company’s mini-mills are also covered under insurance policies which insure against certain operational losses resulting from business interruptions.

Trade Investigations and Government Protectionism

Over the past several years, exports of steel products from various companies and countries, including Brazil, have been subject to antidumping, countervailing duties and other trade-related investigations in importing countries. Most of these investigations resulted in duties limiting the investigated companies’ ability to access such import markets. Until now, however, these investigations have not had a significant impact on the Company’s export volumes.

Material effects of government regulation on the Company’s activities

The Company’s steel production activities are not subject to special authorizations other than the licenses and permits typical to the industry. The Company maintains a good relationship with the government agencies responsible for issuing common authorizations and does not have any history of problems in obtaining them.

Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. holds the concession for the Caçú and Barra dos Coqueiros hydroelectric plants, which have aggregate installed capacity of 155MW and are located in the southeastern region of the State of Goias between the cities of Caçi and Cachoeira Alta, as per concession contract number 089/2002.

Chopim Energia S.A. (50% direct and 50% through Itaguaí Comércio, Importação e Exportação Ltda.) holds the concession for the São João and Cachoeirinha Energy Complex, which corresponds to the São João and Cachoeirinha hydroelectric plants, which have aggregate installed capacity of 105 MW and are located in the southeastern region of the State of Paraná between the cities of Honório Serpa and Clevelândia, as per concession contract number 016/2002.

Gerdau S.A. holds an interest of 51.82% in the company Dona Francisca Energética S.A. - DFESA, which, in consortium with Companhia Estadual de Energia Elétrica — CEEE, holds the concession for the Dona Francisca Hydroelectric Plant located between the cities of Agudo and Nova Palma in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, which has installed capacity of 125 MW, as per concession contract 188/1998.

Gerdau Açominas S.A. is authorized to operate the Açominas Thermo Electric Power Plant (103 MW) located in its industrial complex in the city of Ouro Branco, as authorized by Administrative Rule (Portaria) 275/MME of February 23, 1984 and subsequent resolutions.

Activities involving the generation of electric power are subject to the rules and regulations of the National Electric Power Agency (ANEEL) and to oversight by the agency. Operating Licenses, which are issued by the respective state environmental departments or agencies, are required to operate the hydroelectric plants, which must also comply with the obligations of the respective concession contracts. All projects in which the Company participates are functioning perfectly, with valid licenses and no objections to their operations. The exception is Chopim, whose construction has yet to begin.

The commercial operation of ports is subject to authorization by the federal government, as regulated by Federal Law 12,815 of June 5, 2013. Gerdau has two Private Port Terminals Outside of Organized Port Areas located in Vitória, ES and Salvador, BA, which are known, respectively, as the Praia Mole Private Port and Mixed Use Terminal and the Gerdau Maritime Terminal. The former, with Adhesion Contract 034/95, was signed on February 18, 1995, with duration of 25 years, which may be extended successively for equal periods, as provided for by law. There is no specific description of cargoes, with authorization for the handling and/or storage in the TERMINAL of own and third-party cargo destined or originating from water transportation. The latter, with Adhesion Contract 064/98, was signed on November 17, 1995, with duration of 25 years, which may be extended successively for equal periods, as provided for by law, with the following cargo authorized: pelletized iron ore, natural iron ore, pig iron, scrap metal, manganese ore, coke, copper-alumina concentrate, blast furnace slag, clinker, iron ore, green petroleum coke, fertilizers, anthracite, barite and coal.

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This authorization is subject to oversight by the National Water Transportation Agency (ANTAQ) and, alternatively, by the Special Department of Ports (SEP).

Gerdau’s mining explorations in Brazil are subject to the prevailing rules established by the Brazilian Mining Code (Decreto-Lei nº 227, de 28 de fevereiro de 1967) and un-codified mining legislation, with mining exploration substantiated by mining property rights and titles. Gerdau acquired the surface of the areas corresponding to the respective mining rights, as well as all other mining property rights and titles, through an Asset Sale and Rights Assignment Agreement entered into between Gerdau Açominas S.A. and Companhia Paraibunas de Metais, Siderúrgica Barra Mansa S.A., Votorantim Metais Ltda. and Votorantim International Holding N.V. on May 19, 2004. The Company’s mining explorations are subject to the limitations imposed by Brazil’s Federal Constitution and Mining Code and by the laws and regulations pertaining to exploration activities, which include requirements concerning, among other things, how the mineral deposits are used, workplace health and safety, environmental protection and restoration, pollution prevention and health and safety of local communities where the mines are located. The Brazilian Mining Code also establishes certain requirements for sending notifications and information. The “DNPM - Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral” (National Department of Mineral Production) is responsible for granting, regulating and promoting the planning and activities encouraged for mineral exploration and use of mineral resources as well as for monitoring geological and mineral research, and mineral technologies as well as to ensure, control and monitor mining activities in mining areas). Gerdau holds the ownership of all land and all mining property rights and titles for the mines it currently explores, as well as the respective environmental licenses to commercially operate the mines located in the cities of Miguel Burnier, Várzea do Lopes and Gongo Soco in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Brazil’s Mining Code and Federal Constitution impose on companies that conduct exploration activities, such as us, requirements concerning, among other things, the manner in which mineral deposits are used, worker health and safety, environmental protection and restoration, pollution prevention and the health and safety of the local communities where the mines are located. The Mining Code also imposes certain notification and reporting requirements.

Currently, in the House of Representatives (Câmara dos Deputados), Projeto de Lei nº 5.807/2013 is being discussed, which, if and when approved, will replace the current Brazilian Mining Code. Among the main innovations provided by Projeto de Lei nº 5.807/2013 includes the following: (i) creation of the National Mining Agency - ANM, replacing the DNPM and the creation of the National Council of Mineral Policy - CNPM; (ii) research permit and mining concession in a single process, with permission, or calling public bidding process, depending on the area and substance; (iii) the initial period of 40 years, renewable for 20 years for mineral concessions, which will follow the bidding rules established by Law No. 12.462, of August 4, 2011; (iv) new system for calculating the CFEM; and (v) establishing new fees related to mining activity.

The mineral rights held by Gerdau cover a total of 8,837.19 ha and the period of concessions is until the exhaustion of the deposits, on the condition that we perform legal requirements annually. The table below shows the DNPM processes held by Gerdau:

Mining Rigth DNPM |  | City |  | Location |  | State
1,978/1935 |  | BARÃO DE COCAIS |  | GONGO SOCO |  | MG
724/1942 |  | OURO PRETO / OURO BRANCO |  | MORRO GABRIEL |  | MG
4,575/1935 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
3,613/1948 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
5,303/1948 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
5,514/1956 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
5,975/1956 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
6,549/1950 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
930,600/2009 |  | OURO PRETO |  | GM MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
3,583/1957 |  | ITABIRITO / MOEDA |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
3,584/1957 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
3,585/1957 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
8,141/1958 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
6,255/1960 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
317/1961 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
5,945/1961 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
932,705/2011 |  | ITABIRITO |  | GM VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG
833,209/2006 |  | OURO PRETO / OURO BRANCO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
832,090/2005 |  | OURO PRETO / OURO BRANCO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
832,044/2006 |  | OURO BRANCO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG

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830,158/2007 |  | OURO PRETO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
830,159/2007 |  | OURO PRETO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
830,160/2007 |  | OURO PRETO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
831,640/2003 |  | OURO PRETO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
830,475/2007 |  | OURO PRETO |  | DOM BOSCO |  | MG
832,620/2006 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
830,797/2013 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
830,798/2013 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
832,377/2014 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
832,375/2014 |  | OURO PRETO |  | MIGUEL BURNIER |  | MG
833,018/2015 |  | ITABIRITO |  | VÁRZEA DO LOPES |  | MG

In Colombia there are some mining operations, which concessions are governed by the Government and ruled by regulations contained in the Mining Code (Law 685 of 2001 and Law 1382 of 2010). Under the concession rights given to the Company, exploration and exploitation projects of coking coal can be developed. The mines are located at Tausa, Cundinamarca; Cucunubá, Cundinamarca; Samacá and Ráquira, Boyacá; and Cúcuta, north of Santander. The period of the concessions is 30 years and it can be extended for an additional 30 years. Environmental requirements are also part of the rules that have to be fulfilled in order to develop the projects, in addition to issues relating to the payment of royalties and to the priority security of the personnel (mining).

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C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Company’s operational structure (including its main operating subsidiaries engaged in steel production) was as follows on December 31, 2015:

The table below lists the significant consolidated subsidiaries of Gerdau on December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013:

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Equity Interests |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Total capital (*) |
Consolidated company |  | Country |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Gerdau GTL Spain S.L. |  | Spain |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda |  | Brazil |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation and subsidiaries (1) |  | USA/Canada |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Açominas S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 99.35 |  | 95.85 |  | 95.22 |
Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and subsidiaries (2) |  | Brazil |  | 99.11 |  | 94.34 |  | 93.48 |
Gerdau Steel Inc. |  | Canada |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Holdings Inc. and subsidiary (3) |  | USA |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Paraopeba - Fixed-income investment fund (4) |  | Brazil |  | 65.75 |  | 88.74 |  | 60.09 |
Gerdau Holdings Europa S.A. and subsidiaries (5) |  | Spain |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau América Latina Participações S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 99.12 |  | 94.22 |  | 94.22 |
Gerdau Chile Inversiones Ltda. and subsidiaries (6) |  | Chile |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |
Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 99.56 |  | 97.17 |  | 96.74 |
Gerdau Hungria Holdings Limited Liability Company and subsidiaries (7) |  | Hungary |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
GTL Equity Investments Corp. |  | British Virgin Islands |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |

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|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Equity Interests |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Total capital (*) |
Consolidated company |  | Country |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Empresa Siderúrgica del Perú S.A.A. - Siderperú |  | Peru |  | 90.03 |  | 90.03 |  | 90.03 |
Diaco S.A. and subsidiary (8) |  | Colombia |  | 99.68 |  | 99.71 |  | 99.71 |
Gerdau GTL México, S.A. de C.V. and subsidiaries (9) |  | Mexico |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Seiva S.A. - Florestas e Indústrias |  | Brazil |  | 97.73 |  | 97.73 |  | 97.73 |
Itaguaí Com. Imp. e Exp. Ltda. |  | Brazil |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Laisa S.A. |  | Uruguay |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Sipar Gerdau Inversiones S.A. |  | Argentina |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |
Sipar Aceros S.A. and subsidiary (10) |  | Argentina |  | 99.96 |  | 99.96 |  | 99.96 |
Siderúrgica del Pacífico S.A. |  | Colombia |  | — |  | 98.32 |  | 98.32 |
Cleary Holdings Corp. |  | Colombia |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Sizuca - Siderúrgica Zuliana, C. A. |  | Venezuela |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
GTL Trade Finance Inc. |  | British Virgin Islands |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Trade Inc. |  | British Virgin Islands |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Steel India Private Ltd. |  | India |  | 98.90 |  | 98.83 |  | 98.38 |

(*) The voting capital is substantially equal to the total capital. The interests reported represent the ownership percentage held directly and indirectly in the subsidiary.

(1) Subsidiaries: Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., GNA Partners, Pacific Coast Steel Inc, Gerdau Ameristeel Sayreville Inc., TAMCO Steel, Chaparral Steel Company.

(2) Subsidiary: Gerdau Açominas Overseas Ltd.

(3) Subsidiary: Gerdau MacSteel Inc.

(4) Fixed-income investment fund managed by Banco JP Morgan S.A..

(5) Subsidiaries: Sidenor y Cia, Sociedad Colectiva, Gerdau I+D Europa.., Gerdau Aceros Especiales Europa.

(6) Subsidiaries: Aza Participaciones S.A., Industrias del Acero Internacional S.A., Gerdau Aza S.A., Armacero Matco S.A., Aceros Cox Comercial S.A., Salomon Sack S.A., Matco Instalaciones Ltda.

(7) Subsidiaries: Gerdau Holdings Europa S.A. y CIA, Bogey Holding Company Spain S.L.

(8) Subsidiaries: Cyrgo S.A..

(9) Subsidiaries: Sidertul S.A. de C.V. and GTL Servicios Administrativos México, S.A. de C.V..

(10) Subsidiary: Siderco S.A.

The Company’s investments in Bradley Steel Processor and MRM Guide Rail in North America, in which Gerdau Ameristeel holds a 50% stake in the total capital, the investments in Gerdau Metaldom Corp. in the Dominican Republic in which the Company owns a 45% stake, the investments in Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A. in the Guatemala, in which Gerdau has a 30% stake, the investment in Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico, in which Gerdau has a 49% stake, the investment in Corsa Controladora, S.A.P.I de C.V. in Mexico, in which Gerdau has a 50% stake and the investment in Dona Francisca Energética S.A, in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 51,82% stake are accounted in the Company’s financial statements using the equity method (for further information see Note 3 — Consolidated Financial Statements).

The operating companies that are fully consolidated or accounted according to the equity method in the financial statements of Gerdau S.A. are described below:

Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. - This company produces common long steel and has 10 mills distributed throughout Brazil and annual installed capacity of 4.6 million tonnes of crude steel. This company also sells general steel products and has 89 steel distribution centers located throughout Brazil.

Gerdau Açominas S.A. - Açominas owns the mill located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Ouro Branco mill is Gerdau’s largest unit, with annual installed capacity of 4.5 million tonnes of crude steel, accounting for 49.5% of Gerdau’s crude steel output in the Brazil Business Operation.

Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation - Gerdau Ameristeel has annual capacity of 10.0 million tonnes of crude steel and 9.1 million tonnes of rolled products. The Company is one of the largest producers of long steel in North America. Gerdau Ameristeel subsidiaries are : Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., GNA Partners, Pacific Coast Steel Inc, Gerdau Ameristeel Sayreville Inc., TAMCO Steel and Chaparral Steel Company.

Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. - This company is headquartered in Charqueadas in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul and has consolidated annual installed capacity of 430,000 tonnes of crude steel and 465,000 tonnes of rolled products.

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Gerdau Aceros Especiales Europa — This company is a special steel producer and has four units in Spain with combined annual production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.1 million tonnes of rolled products.

Gerdau MacSteel Inc. — This company is the largest special steel producer in U.S., has three units and combined annual production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.2 million tonnes of rolled products.

Gerdau Laisa S.A. - In 1980, the Company acquired the Laisa mini-mill in Uruguay. Gerdau Laisa is the one of largest long steel producers in Uruguay and has annual installed capacity of 100,000 tonnes of crude steel and 90,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Gerdau Chile Inversiones Ltda. - The company has two units in Chile with combined annual production capacity of 520,000 tonnes of crude steel and 530,000 tonnes of rolled steel.

Sipar Gerdau Inversiones S.A. - Sipar, through its operational subsidiary Sipar Aceros S.A., entered the Argentinean market in December 1997 and has annual installed capacity of 263,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Diaco S.A. - Diaco is one of the largest producers of steel and rebar in Colombia and has annual installed capacity of 854,000 tonnes of crude steel and 764,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Empresa Siderúrgica del Perú S.A.A. - Acquired in 2006, Siderperú is a long steel producer with annual installed capacity of 650,000 tonnes of crude steel and 520,000 tonnes of rolled steel.

Gerdau GTL México, S.A. de C.V. - The subsidiary of this company is a long steel producer located in the metropolitan area of Mexico City with annual installed capacity of 500,000 tonnes of crude steel and 400,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Sizuca - Siderúrgica Zuliana, C. A. - In June 2007, Gerdau acquired Sizuca - Siderúrgica Zuliana located in Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela. Sizuca owns a mini-mill that produces concrete reinforcement bars. Sizuca has annual installed capacity of 250,000 tonnes of crude steel and 170,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V. - In 2008, the Company acquired a 49% stake in Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V. (Mexico). Corsa Controladora owns 100% of the capital of Aceros Corsa, S.A. de C.V. and its distributors. Located in the metropolitan area of Mexico City, Corsa is a mini-mill that produces long steel (light merchant bars).

Gerdau Metaldom Corp. - In 2014, the Company completed the merger of its associate Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. with the Dominican company Metaldom, originating the jointly-controlled entity Gerdau Metaldom Corp., which will produce long and flat steel for the areas of civil construction, industrial and agricultural, and also scrap processing operations and PVC pipes, with over one million tons/year of installed capacity. As a result of the merger, the Company has contributed its interest of 79.97% on the associate Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. into the newly formed entity Gerdau Metaldom, in exchange of 45% interest on Gerdau Metaldom Corp. This transaction was recorded on fair value basis , which was substantially equivalent to the book value of the previous investment.

Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A. - Strategic partnership entered into with Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A., assuming a 30.0% stake in the capital of this company. The Company owns assets in Guatemala and Honduras as well as distribution centers in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Belize.

Gerdau Steel India Private Ltd. - Steel mill in Tadipatri, located in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh state in India. The crude steel capacity of this unit is 250,000 tonnes and 300,000 of rolled steel capacity.

Cleary Holdings Corp. - Cleary Holdings Corp controls a metallurgical coke producer and coking coal reserves in Colombia.

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D. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Facilities

Gerdau’s principal properties are for the production of steel, rolled products and drawn products. The following is a list of the locations, capacities and types of facilities, as well as the types of products manufactured at December 31, 2015:

|  | LOCATION |  | INSTALLED CAPACITY (1,000 tonnes) |  |  |  |
PLANTS |  | COUNTRY |  | STATE |  | PIG IRON/ SPONGE IRON |  | CRUDE STEEL |  | ROLLED PRODUCTS |  | EQUIPMENT |  | PRODUCTS
BRAZIL OPERATION |  |  |  |  |  | 5,252 |  | 9,099 |  | 5,989 |  |  |  |
Açonorte |  | Brazil |  | PE |  | — |  | 265 |  | 242 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill, drawing mill, nail and clamp factory |  | Rebar, merchant bars, wire rod, drawn products and nails
Barão de Cocais |  | Brazil |  | MG |  | 330 |  | 330 |  | 196 |  | Integrated/blast furnace, LD converter and rolling mill |  | Merchant bars
Cearense |  | Brazil |  | CE |  | — |  | 198 |  | 161 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar and merchant bars
Cosigua |  | Brazil |  | RJ |  | — |  | 932 |  | 1,414 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill, drawing mill, nail and clamp factory |  | Rebar, merchant bars, wire rod, drawn products and nails
Divinópolis |  | Brazil |  | MG |  | 430 |  | 570 |  | 460 |  | Integrated/blast furnace, EOF converter and rolling mill |  | Rebar and merchant bars
Guaíra |  | Brazil |  | PR |  | — |  | 540 | * | — |  | EAF mini-mill |  | Billet
Riograndense |  | Brazil |  | RS |  | — |  | 450 |  | 495 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill, drawing mill, nail and clamp factory |  | Rebar, merchant bars, wire rod, drawn products and nails
Usiba |  | Brazil |  | BA |  | — |  | 495 | * | 397 | * | Integrated with DRI, EAF mini-mill, rolling mill, drawing mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars, wire rod and drawn products
São Paulo |  | Brazil |  | SP |  | — |  | 820 |  | 600 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Billets, rebars and coil rebar
Contagem |  | Brazil |  | MG |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | Blast furnace |  | Pig iron
Sete Lagoas |  | Brazil |  | MG |  | 132 |  | — |  | — |  | Blast furnace |  | Pig iron
Ouro Branco |  | Brazil |  | MG |  | 4,360 |  | 4,500 |  | 2,026 |  | Integrated with blast furnace, LD converter and rolling mills |  | Billets, blooms, slabs, wire rod, heavy structural shapes and HRC
NORTH AMERICA OPERATION |  |  |  |  |  | — |  | 10,472 |  | 9,487 |  |  |  |
Mexico |  | Mexico |  | — |  | — |  | 500 |  | 400 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars and beams
Beaumont |  | USA |  | TX |  | — |  | 600 |  | 730 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Wire rod
Calvert City |  | USA |  | KY |  | — |  | — |  | 300 |  | Rolling Mill |  | Merchant bars, medium structural channel and beams
Cambridge |  | Canada |  | ON |  | — |  | 330 | * | 290 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars
Cartersville |  | USA |  | GA |  | — |  | 840 |  | 580 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Merchant bars, structural shapes, beams
Charlotte |  | USA |  | NC |  | — |  | 370 |  | 325 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars
Jackson |  | USA |  | TN |  | — |  | 610 |  | 540 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars
Jacksonville |  | USA |  | FL |  | — |  | 730 |  | 620 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars
Knoxville |  | USA |  | TN |  | — |  | 520 |  | 550 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar
Manitoba - MRM |  | Canada |  | MB |  | — |  | 430 |  | 360 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Special sections, merchant bars, rebar
Sayreville |  | USA |  | NJ |  | — |  | 730 |  | 600 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar
St. Paul |  | USA |  | MN |  | — |  | 620 |  | 420 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars, special bars (SBQ) and round bars

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|  | LOCATION |  | INSTALLED CAPACITY (1,000 tonnes) |  |  |  |
PLANTS |  | COUNTRY |  | STATE |  | PIG IRON/ SPONGE IRON |  | CRUDE STEEL |  | ROLLED PRODUCTS |  | EQUIPMENT |  | PRODUCTS
Whitby |  | Canada |  | ON |  | — |  | 900 |  | 840 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Structural shapes, rebar, merchant bars
Wilton |  | USA |  | IA |  | — |  | 320 |  | 320 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar and merchant bars
Midlothian |  | USA |  | TX |  | — |  | 1,500 |  | 1,449 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars and beams
Petersburg |  | USA |  | VA |  | — |  | 1,000 |  | 700 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Merchant bars and beams
Rancho Cucamonga |  | USA |  | CA |  | — |  | 472 |  | 463 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar
SOUTH AMERICA OPERATION |  |  |  |  |  | 400 |  | 2,374 |  | 2,337 |  |  |  |
Chile |  | Chile |  | — |  | — |  | 520 |  | 530 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars, wire rod, nails, wire and mesh.
Uruguay |  | Uruguay |  | — |  | — |  | 100 |  | 90 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars and mesh
Colombia |  | Colombia |  | — |  | — |  | 854 |  | 764 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars, wire rod, shapes and mesh
Argentina |  | Argentina |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 263 |  | Rolling mill, drawing mill |  | Rebar, merchant bars and mesh
Peru |  | Peru |  | — |  | 400 |  | 650 |  | 520 |  | Blast Furnace, EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar and merchant bars
Venezuela |  | Venezuela |  | — |  | — |  | 250 |  | 170 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill |  | Rebar
SPECIAL STEEL OPERATION |  |  |  |  |  | 275 |  | 4,059 |  | 4,663 |  |  |  |
Pindamonhangaba |  | Brazil |  | SP |  | — |  | 620 |  | 1.188 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill, finishing and foundry |  | Bars, wires, wire rod, finished and rolled bar, rolling mill rolls.
Mogi das Cruzes |  | Brazil |  | SP |  | — |  | 375 | * | 264 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill and finishing |  | Bars, special profiles
Charqueadas |  | Brazil |  | RS |  | — |  | 430 |  | 465 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill and finishing |  | Bars, special profiles, wires, wire rod, cold finished bar
Basauri |  | Spain |  | — |  | — |  | 820 |  | 372 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill and finishing |  | Special bars and cold finished bars
Reinosa |  | Spain |  | — |  | — |  | 240 |  | 161 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill, finishing and foundry |  | Cold finished bars, rolling mill rolls and forged pieces.
Azkoitia |  | Spain |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 397 |  | Rolling mill and finishing |  | Bars, special profiles and cold finished bars
Vitória |  | Spain |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 200 |  | Rolling mill and finishing |  | Wire rod and cold finished bars
Fort Smith |  | USA |  | AR |  | — |  | 474 |  | 550 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill and finishing |  | Special bars and shapes and cold finished bar
Jackson |  | USA |  | MI |  | — |  | 299 |  | 276 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill and finishing |  | Special bars and shapes and cold finished bar
Monroe |  | USA |  | MI |  | — |  | 551 |  | 490 |  | EAF mini-mill, rolling mill and finishing |  | Special bars and shapes and cold finished bar
India |  | India |  | AP |  | 275 |  | 250 |  | 300 |  | Integrated/blast furnace, converter and rolling mill |  | Pig iron, billets and rolled bars
GERDAU TOTAL |  |  |  |  |  | 5,927 |  | 26,004 |  | 22,476 |  |  |  |

*Temporarily not in use.

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While electric arc furnace (EAF) mills produce crude steel from raw materials such as steel scrap or pig iron, a mill with a blast furnace or direct reduction iron (DRI) produces pig iron or sponge iron for use in the production of crude steel, with iron ore and natural gas being the main raw materials.

Mining Assets

Iron ore mines

Gerdau’s activities related to iron ore mines began after the acquisition of the mining rights of Grupo Votorantim, located in the municipalities of Ouro Preto (Miguel Burnier district), Itabirito and Barão de Cocais, in 2004. These areas are located within the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, which is one of the most prominent mineral provinces in Brazil, as illustrated in the figure below.

Ever since this initiative, and with an iron ore consumption rate of approximately 9.0 million tonnes per annum required by its steel production units located in Ouro Branco, Barão de Cocais, Divinópolis and Sete Lagoas, in the State of Minas Gerais, Gerdau’s supply is partially handled by mining companies along with steel plants, and the mines owned by the company.

Focused on ensuring its iron ore self-sufficiency within the state of Minas Gerais, and searching for the opportunity to add value to its business by the use of its own mineral resources, Gerdau until 2014 conducted surveys to assess and implement expansions projects of its mining operations in order to establish itself as a player in the global iron ore market. However, with the current price of iron ore in the international market, Gerdau decided to focus only on the production of iron ore to its self-sufficiency.

Gerdau’s mining location

Current iron ore production units, as well as any future units, are or will be primarily comprised of open pit mines, processing plants, waste piles, tailings dams, and logistics and operational support infrastructure.

Current and future iron ore production units are grouped as follows:

· Miguel Burnier/Dom Bosco Complex: encompasses the mines located in Miguel Burnier, as well as the Dom Bosco mines;

· Várzea do Lopes Complex;

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· Gongo Soco. There are no mining activities in this location.

The table below shows the payments made to the Brazilian government related to resource extractions, related to 2015.

|  | CFEM (Financial Compensation for Exploitation of Mineral Resources) |  | TFRM (Inspection Fee for Mineral Resources) |
Miguel Burnier |  | R$ |  | 2,372 thousand |  | R$ |  | 1,461 thousand |
Várzea do Lopes |  | R$ |  | 13,804 thousand |  | R$ |  | 1,131 thousand |

Financial Compensation for Exploitation of Mineral Resources (CFEM)

As established by the Brazilian Federal Constitution, CFEM is due to the states, the Federal District, the municipalities and agencies of the federal public administration by way of consideration for the economic use of mineral resources in their respective territories, leaving the DNPM to carry out the oversight its collection.

In iron ore trading, the CFEM is calculated based on the net amount obtained from the sale of mineral products. Net sales revenue is understood as the amounts received from the sale of mineral products after deducting the taxes (ICMS, PIS/COFINS) levied on the sale as well as the expenses with transport, insurance and freight.

When the mineral substance is consumed, manufactured or processed, the CFEM is always applicable after the last processing stage adopted and before its manufacturing.

The rate of CFEM applicable to iron ore is 2.0%.

Inspection Fee for Mineral Resources (TFRM)

The event triggering the TFRM is the sale of the extracted mineral or ore or its transfer between facilities owned by the same person in a different state of Brazil or abroad. The fee is paid by the natural or legal persons authorized to research, extract, explore or use mineral resources for any purpose.

In the State of Minas Gerais, the amount of TFRM, according to Article 8 of Law No. 19.976/2011, corresponds to one unit of the Fiscal Unit of the State of Minas Gerais (UFEMG) in force on the due date of the fee per tonne of mineral or crude ore extracted.

The amount payable as TFRM is calculated on a monthly basis based on the amounts of minerals or ore indicated on the tax documents for the sale or transfer to a facility owned by the same person located in a different state of Brazil or abroad. This amount in tonnes is then subjected to deductions consisting of the amounts of mineral or ore acquired, the amounts received from transfers between facilities owned by the same person located in another state of Brazil or abroad, and the amounts extracted from the area of the state of Minas Gerais under the scope of the Northeast Development Superintendence (SUDENE) and received in transfer from facilities owned by the same person.

If the number of tonnes calculated based on the sales and transfers in the period is less than the number of tonnes to be deducted, the difference will be carried forward for deduction in the subsequent calculation periods.

Location and Access

Miguel Burnier/Dom Bosco Complex

Miguel Burnier and Dom Bosco are located in the municipality of Ouro Preto, in the southwestern portion of the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, at approximately 80 km from Belo Horizonte and 5 km from Vila do Pires, on federal highway BR-040. The Dom Bosco Mine is located at approximately 11 km from the Miguel Burnier Mine. Vila do Pires is established off both sides of federal highway BR-040, north from the city of Congonhas. The mines are accessed through a 3 km-long non-paved road from the Miguel Burnier village.

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Várzea do Lopes Complex

Várzea do Lopes is located in the Itabirito municipality, in the western portion of the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and is established at approximately 46 km from downtown Belo Horizonte. Access to the mine from Belo Horizonte is through BR-040, in the direction towards Rio de Janeiro. Várzea do Lopes is located at approximately 20 km from Miguel Burnier, in a straight line.

Gongo Soco

Gongo Soco is located in the municipality of Barão de Cocais, in the northwestern portion of the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, at approximately 110 km from Belo Horizonte, 8 km from the municipality of Barão de Cocais, and 170 km from Miguel Burnier. Access from Belo Horizonte is through BR-381/262 and MG-436 highways.

The figure below displays the locations of current and future iron ore production units and main accesses:

Geology and Mineralization

The iron ore sites owned by Gerdau are located in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero (QF), a large gold, iron, aluminum and manganese metallogenetic district covering approximately 7,000 km² in the southern portion of the São Francisco Craton.

The Quadrilátero Ferrífero consists of Archaean terrains (Rio das Velhas Supergroup) overlain by Proterozoic platform sediments (Minas and Espinhaço Supergroups). The current setting of the Quadrilátero Ferrífero results from two deformational events. The first represents an extensional event of Paleoproterozoic age (2100-1700 My) forming granitic-gneissic domes with syncline cores overlying the strata of the Rio das Velhas and Minas Supergroups. The second is a compressional event associated with the closure of the Africa/Brazil proto-ocean (650-500 My) located east of the QF. A west-oriented folding belt developed during this event.

· Miguel Burnier: The Miguel Burnier Complex is located in the southwestern portion of the QF, Serra do Dom Bosco. Itabirites and rocks of the Gandarela and Cauê Formations and rocks of the Piracicaba Group (Minas Supergroup) outcrop therein. The Serra Dom Bosco area is regionally characterized as a syncline, known as Dom Bosco Syncline. The typologies have been classified according to information collected during field visits, from internal reports, drill cores, thin plates, etc.

· Dom Bosco: The Dom Bosco Mine is also located in the southwestern portion of the QF, Serra do Dom Bosco. Itabirites and rocks of the Cauê Formation and Piracicaba Group (Minas Supergroup) outcrop therein.

· Várzea do Lopes: The Várzea do Lopes Complex is located in the western portion of the QF, Serra da Moeda. Itabirites and rocks of the Cauê Formation and Gandarela Formation (Minas Supergroup) outcrop therein.

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· Gongo Soco: The geological mapping carried out characterized six pre-Cambrian lithologic units and a Tertiary/Quaternary unit. The pre-Cambrian units outcrop as a normal stratigraphic sequence, being the oldest sequence topographically located on the higher portion of the area, and the youngest on the lower portion, is located in the structural framework of the normal limb of the Gandarela Syncline.

Facilities

Gerdau’s mines and facilities are currently operated with the purpose of supplying its steel plants located in the state of Minas Gerais. However, the Company is striving to develop its mineral resources and achieve more significant operations. Planned and ongoing operations are described below. The Run of Mine (ROM) extracted from them is transported to ore treatment plants (OTP). In order to meet processing requirements, the following production units are considered:

· OTP 1: commissioned, in Miguel Burnier, since October 2004, with production capacity of 1.5 Mtpa (natural basis) of sinter feed. (wholly-owned by Gerdau);

· OTP 2: phase 1 started operations (start up and ramp up) in September 2013, in Miguel Burnier, with total production capacity of 5.6 Mtpa (natural basis) of lump ore, small lump ore, sinter feed, and pellet feed (wholly-owned by Gerdau). There are engineering studies (basic engineering) to an expansion of 5.0 Mtpa (natural basis) in order to process itabirites ore and produces fine concentrate (OTP 2 phase 2);

Gerdau total production capacity today is 11.5 Mtpa, considering capacity from OTP 1, OTP 2 (phase 1), dry processing plants (1 and 2) and wet processing plant.

The main processing stages of the production units under operational or implementation phases are set forth in the table below.

OTP 1 |  | OTP 2 (phase 1)
Crushing; |  | Crushing;
Screening classification; |  | Screening classification;
Grinding; |  | Deliming;
Spiral concentrators; |  | Screening dewatering;
Desliming; |  | Tailing thickening;

The table below provides a summary of estimated capital costs for future projects (investments not yet approved by the Executive Committee are not listed), which will support production and logistics activities. This capex will be funded by the Company’s own cash generations and planned bank financing.

Miguel Burnier + Várzea do Lopes |  | US$ (million) |  | Investment Phase |
Mining |  | 86 |  |  |
Investments approved in 2014 |  | 36 |  | Execution |
Investments approved in 2015 |  | 13 |  | Execution |
Investments to be approved in 2016 |  | 37 |  | Feasibility |
Beneficiation |  | 200 |  |  |
Ore Treatment Plant (OTP 2) |  | 200 |  | In Operation |
TOTAL |  | 286 |  |  |

The average monthly electricity consumption of processing plants in 2015 was 1,241 (kW / h).

A summary of the water supply system in 2015 for the processing facilities is provided in the table below. There are sufficient reserves of water to supply all covered facilities, in compliance with applicable legal criteria.

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|  | Total Water with Recirculation (m3) |  | Make up (m3) |
OTPs - Ore Treatment Plants |  | 1,120,000 |  | 559,400 |

Coal mines

The coal mines are located in Tausa, Cucunubá, Samacá, Ráquira and Cúcuta, Colombia. The use of these mineral resources as an input for our integrated mill (Ouro Branco) should contribute to the long term competitiveness of this unit. The Company does not currently consider any of these properties to be a “material” property for purposes of Industry Guide 7 and none of these properties has any known reserves.

Investment Programs

In fiscal year 2015, capital expenditure on fixed assets was R$ 2,324.7 million. Of this total, 46.9% was allocated to the operations in Brazil and the remaining 53.1% was allocated to the other operations among the countries in which Gerdau operates.

Brazil Business Operation — a total of R$ 1,091.2 million was invested in this operation for capital expenditure. The main highlight was the installation work of flat steel rolling mill (heavy plates) at Ouro Branco mill, which will start production at the end of July, 2016.

North America Business Operation — this business operation spent R$ 346.9 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed throughout the units which compose this business operation. This amount was mainly spent for the maintenance of the production units.

South America Business Operation — in 2015, the South American units spent R$ 443.6 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed among the countries in which the units from this business operation are located. Part of this investment is being used to build a new melt shop in Argentina, which will have a capacity of 650,000 tonnes of steel per year and will start production at the end of 2016.

Special Steel Business Operation — the special steel units spent R$ 442.9 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed throughout the units which compose this business operation. This amount was mainly spent on the maintenance of the production units.

The disbursements in fixed assets planned for 2016 are estimated at R$ 1.5 billion, and include both strategic and maintenance investments. The table below shows the main projects for the years to come:

Investment Plan — Main Projects |  | Location |  | Additional rolling capacity (1,000 tonnes) |  | Start-up |
Brazil Business Operation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flat steel rolling mill (heavy plates) at Ouro Branco mill-MG |  | Brazil |  | 1,100 |  | 2016 |
South America Business Operation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New melt shop in Argentina |  | Argentina |  | 650 |  | 2016 |

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Environmental Issues

Gerdau S.A is currently in compliance with environmental regulations. The Company also believes that there are no environmental issues that could affect the use of its fixed assets.

In 2015, Gerdau S.A. invested R$ 262.0 million in the improvement of its eco-efficiency practices and in technologies for the protection of the air, water and soil.

Environmental Regulation

In all of the countries in which the Company operates, it is subject to federal, state and municipal environmental laws and regulations governing air emissions, wastewater discharges and solid and hazardous waste handling and disposal. Its manufacturing facilities have been operating under the applicable environmental rules. The respective permits and licenses require the satisfaction of various performance standards, which are monitored by regulatory authorities. The Company employs a staff of experts to manage all phases of its environmental programs and uses outside experts where needed. The Company works to assure that its operations maintain compliance in all material respects with the applicable environmental laws, regulations, permits and licenses currently in effect. When Gerdau acquires new plants, it conducts an assessment of potential environmental issues and prepares a work plan in compliance with the local authorities.

In most countries, both federal and state governments have the power to enact environmental protection laws and issue regulations under such laws. In addition to those rules, the Company is also subject to municipal environmental laws and regulations. Under such laws, individuals or legal entities whose conduct or activities cause harm to the environment are usually subject to criminal and administrative sanctions, as well as any costs to repair the actual damages resulting from such harm.

Individuals are subject to penalties and sanctions that range from fines to imprisonment and for legal entities the suspension or interruption of its operations and prohibition to enter into any contracts with government agencies.

Government environmental protection agencies may also impose administrative sanctions on individuals and entities that fail to comply with environmental laws and regulations that include:

· fines;

· partial or total suspension of operations;

· obligations to provide compensation for recovery works and environmental projects;

· forfeiture of or restrictions on tax incentives and benefits;

· closing of establishments or enterprises; and

· forfeiture or suspension of participation in credit lines with official credit agencies.

The steel industry uses and generates substances that may damage the environment. The Company’s management performs frequent surveys with the purpose of identifying potentially impacted areas and records based on best cost estimate. The amounts estimated for investigation, treatment and cleaning of potentially affected sites, totaling R$ 163,806 thousands as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 27,736 thousands recorded in Current Liabilities and R$ 136,070 thousands recorded in Non-Current Liabilities) and R$ 116,421thousands as of December 31, 2014 (R$ 23,025 thousands recorded in Current Liabilities and R$ 93,396 thousands recorded in Non-Current Liabilities). The Company used estimates and assumptions to determine the amounts involved, which can vary in the future, due to the final investigations and the determination of the actual environmental impact. See also Note 20 — Environmental Liabilities.

As of December 31, 2015, the updated present value of the total remaining amount of Brazilian Environment Liabilities was estimated at R$ 69.8 million. Some of these areas have already been recovered and some areas are still being evaluated.

Gerdau Ameristeel and Macsteel estimate clean-up costs based on a review of the anticipated remedial activities to be undertaken at each of their respective known contaminated sites. Although the ultimate costs associated with such remedies are not precisely known, the Company has estimated the present value of the total remaining costs as of December 31, 2015 at approximately R$ 95 million, with these costs recorded as a liability in its financial statements.

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Brazilian Environmental Legislation

The Company’s activities are subject to wide-sweeping Brazilian environmental legislation at the federal, state and municipal levels that govern, among other aspects, the dumping of effluents, atmospheric emissions and the handling and final disposal of dangerous waste, as well as the obligation to obtain operating licenses for the installation and operation of potentially polluting activities.

Brazilian environmental legislation provides for the imposition of criminal and administrative penalties on natural persons and legal entities that commit environmental crimes or infractions, as well as for the obligation to repair the environmental damage caused. Although the Company has never suffered any environmental penalties that could have a relevant impact on its business, potential environmental crimes or infractions could subject the Company to penalties that include:

· fines that at the administrative level could reach as high as R$50 million, depending on the violator’s economic capacity and past record, as well as the severity of the facts and prior history, with the amounts potentially doubled or tripled in the case of repeat offenders;

· suspension of or interference in the activities of the respective enterprise; and

· loss of benefits, such as the suspension of government financing and the inability to qualify for public bidding processes and tax breaks.

In addition, strict liability is applicable to environmental crimes for both natural persons and legal entities. Environmental legislation also provides for disregarding the legal status of a company’s controlling shareholder whenever such status represents an impediment to receiving restitution for environmental damages.

In the civil sphere, environmental damage results in joint and several liability as well as strict liability. This means that the obligation to repair the environmental damage may affect all those directly or indirectly involved, regardless of any proof of who is to blame. As a result, the hiring of third parties to intervene in its operations to perform such services as final disposal of solid waste does not exempts the Company from liability for any environmental damage that may occur.

North American Environmental Legislation

The Company is required to comply with a complex and evolving body of Environmental, Health and Safety Laws (EHS Laws) concerning, among other things, air emissions, discharges to soil, surface water and groundwater, noise control, the generation, handling, storage, transportation and disposal of toxic and hazardous substances and waste, the clean-up of contamination, indoor air quality and worker health and safety. These EHS Laws vary by location and can fall within federal, provincial, state or municipal jurisdictions.

Most EHS Laws are of general application but result in significant obligations in practice for the steel sector. For example, the Company is required to comply with a variety of EHS Laws that restrict emissions of air pollutants, such as lead, particulate matter and mercury. Because the Company’s manufacturing facilities emit significant quantities of air emissions, compliance with these laws does require the Company to make investments in pollution control equipment and to report to the relevant government authority if any air emissions limits are exceeded. The government authorities typically monitor compliance with these limits and use a variety of tools to enforce them, including administrative orders to control, prevent or stop a certain activity; administrative penalties for violating certain EHS Laws; and regulatory prosecutions, which can result in significant fines and (in rare cases) imprisonment. The Company is also required to comply with a similar regime with respect to its wastewater. EHS Laws restrict the type and amount of pollutants that Company facilities can discharge into receiving bodies of waters, such as rivers, lakes and oceans, and into municipal sanitary and storm sewers. Government authorities can enforce these restrictions using the same variety of tools noted above.

The Company has installed pollution control equipment at its manufacturing facilities to address these emissions and discharge limits, and has an environmental management system in place designed to reduce the risk of non-compliance.

Environmental Permits

According to Brazilian environmental legislation, the proper functioning of activities considered effectively or potentially polluting or that in some way could cause environmental damage requires environmental licenses. This procedure is necessary for both the activity’s initial installation and operating phases as well as for its expansion phases, and these licenses must be renewed periodically.

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The Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA) has jurisdiction to issue licenses for projects with national or regional environmental impacts. In all other cases, the state environmental agencies have jurisdiction and, in the case of local impact, the municipal agencies have jurisdiction.

Environmental licensing of activities with significant environmental impacts is subject to a Prior Environmental Impact Study and respective Environmental Impact Report (EIA/RIMA), as well as the implementation of measures to mitigate and compensate for the environmental impact of the project.

The environmental licensing process includes the issuance of three licenses: Pre-License (LP), Installation License (LI) and Operational License (LO). These licenses are issued in accordance with each phase of project implementation, and maintaining their validity requires compliance with the requirements established by the environmental licensing agency. The failure to obtain an environmental license, regardless of whether or not the activity is actually harming the environment, is considered an environmental crime and an administrative infraction, subjecting the violator to administrative fines, at the federal level (subject to being doubled or tripled in the case of repeat violations), and the suspension of operations. The Operational License (LO) must be renewed periodically.

The Company’s operations currently comply with all legal requirements related to environmental licenses. However, any delay or refusal on the part of environmental licensing agencies to issue or renew these licenses, as well as any difficulty on its part to meet the requirements established by these environmental agencies during the course of the environmental licensing process, could jeopardize or even impair the installation, operation and expansion of new and current projects.

Areas of permanent forest preservation and legal reserves

Some activities of the Company, mainly those involving reforestation to produce thermal-reducer used in its industrial units, are subject to the Brazilian Forest Code.

The Code determines that certain areas, because of their importance for preserving the environment and water resources, be considered permanent preservation areas (APP). These include areas adjacent to rivers or natural or artificial reservoirs, and hilltops and hillside properties with an incline steeper than 45°. At Gerdau’s forest units, permanent preservation areas are an integral part of the business and are protected in compliance with the law.

Moreover, depending on the region where the property is located, the Code requires rural land owners to restore and preserve between 20%, 35% or 80% of areas containing native vegetation. The maintenance of these percentages of native vegetation is important because it guarantees the preservation of the local natural vegetation, perpetuating the genetic resources and the biodiversity of each Brazilian biome. Gerdau maintains its Legal Reserve areas preserved and in accordance with governing legislation.

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED SEC STAFF COMMENTS

The Company has no unresolved comments from the staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to its periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following discussion of the Company’s financial condition and operating results should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015, included in this Annual Report that have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB) as well as with the information presented under “Presentation of Financial and Other Information” and “Selected Financial and Other Information of Gerdau”.

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The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections and that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those described in the sections “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors”.

The primary factors affecting the Company’s operating results include:

· Economic and political conditions in the countries in which Gerdau operates, especially Brazil and the U.S.;

· The fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Brazilian real and the U.S. dollar;

· The cyclical nature of supply and demand for steel products both inside and outside of Brazil, including the prices for steel products;

· The Company’s level of exports; and

· The Company’s production costs.

Brazilian Economic Conditions

The Company’s results and financial position depend largely on the situation of the Brazilian economy, notably economic growth and its impact on steel demand, financing costs, the availability of financing and the exchange rates between Brazilian and foreign currencies.

Since 2003, the Brazilian economy has become more stable, with significant improvement in the main indicators. The continuity of the macroeconomic policies focused on tax matters, the inflation-targeting system, the adoption of a floating foreign exchange rate, the increase in foreign investment and compliance with international financial agreements, including the full repayment of debt with the International Monetary Fund, contributed to the improved economic conditions in Brazil. Brazil is facing its worst recession in the last quarter of this century, with the end of the commodities super cycle and the exhaustion of the domestic growth model leveraged by credit-driven consumption. Despite the recession, the inflations decline will be slow. The difficult although necessary fiscal adjustment and the tighter monetary policy have intensified the downturn of the economy. Unlike what happened in the 2008-2009 recession, the labor market is being strongly affected and there are no indications that the unemployment rate will stop growing anytime soon. The continuous devaluation of the Brazilian currency against the US dollar might stimulate exports, promoting a relief for the industrial sector.

In 2013, Brazilian GDP grew by 2.3% ($ 4.8 trillion Nominal GDP). Inflation, as measured by the IPCA index, stood at 5.9%. The average CDI rate in the year was 9.8%. The Brazilian real depreciated by 14.6% against the U.S. dollar, ending the year at R$2.34 to $1.00.

In 2014, Brazilian GDP grew by 0.1% ($ 5.5 trillion Nominal GDP). Inflation, as measured by the IPCA index, stood at 6.4%. The average CDI rate in the year was 11.5%. The Brazilian real depreciated by 13.4% against the U.S. dollar, ending the year at R$2.66 to $1.00.

In 2015, Brazilian GDP decreased by 3.8% ($1.8 trillion Nominal GDP). Inflation, as measured by the IPCA index, stood at 10.7%. The average CDI rate in the year was 14.1%. The Brazilian real depreciated by 47.0% against the U.S. dollar, ending the year at R$3.90 to $1.00.

Inflation affects Gerdau’s financial performance by increasing operating expenses denominated in Brazilian reais. A significant portion of its costs of sales and services rendered, however, are linked to the U.S. dollar and are not substantially affected by the Brazilian inflation rate.

Moreover, a significant portion of the Company’s debt denominated in Brazilian reais is subject to interest at the CDI and TJLP rates, which are affected by many factors including inflation in Brazil. Another portion of the Company’s debt, denominated in Brazilian reais, is indexed to general-inflation indexes, generally the IGP-M index. Therefore, higher inflation may result in increases in the Company’s financial expenses and debt service obligations.

The interest rates that the Company pays depend on a variety of factors such as; movements on the interest rates, which can be driven by inflation; ratings given by the credit rating agencies that assess the Company; as well as the Company’s debt securities that are traded in the secondary market, as bonds. The Company’s debt obligations with floating interest rates, exposes the Company

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to market risks from changes in the CDI rate, IGP-M index and LIBOR. To reduce its exposure to interest rate risk, the Company seeks from time to time to enter into hedging arrangements to mitigate fluctuations in these rates, such as LIBOR.

The table below presents GDP growth, inflation, interest rates and the foreign exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian real for the periods shown.

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Actual GDP growth |  | -3.8 | % | 0.1 | % | 2.3 | %
Inflation (IGP-M) (1) |  | 10.5 | % | 3.7 | % | 5.5 | %
Inflation (IPCA) (2) |  | 10.7 | % | 6.4 | % | 5.9 | %
CDI rate (3) |  | 14.1 | % | 11.5 | % | 9.8 | %
6-month LIBOR |  | 0.9 | % | 0.4 | % | 0.3 | %
Depreciation (appreciation) in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar |  | 47.0 | % | 13.4 | % | 14.6 | %
Foreign exchange rate at end of period — $1.00 |  | R$ | 3.9048 |  | R$ | 2.6562 |  | R$ | 2.4326 |
Average foreign exchange rate — $1.00 (4) |  | R$ | 3.3399 |  | R$ | 2.3547 |  | R$ | 2.1601 |

Sources: Getúlio Vargas Foundation, Central Bank of Brazil and Bloomberg

(1) Inflation as measured by the General Market Price index (IGP-M) published by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV).

(2) Inflation as measured by the Board Consumer Price Index (IPCA) measured by Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

(3) The CDI rate is equivalent to the average fixed rate of interbank deposits recorded during the day in Brazil (annualized monthly cumulative figure at end of period).

(4) Average of the foreign exchange rates, according to the Brazilian Central Bank, on the last day of each month in the period indicated.

U.S. Economic Conditions

In view of the size of the Company’s operations in the United States, U.S. economic conditions have a significant effect on the Company’s results, particularly with regard to U.S. economic growth and the related effects on steel demand, financing costs and the availability of credit.

In the United States, Real GDP began to fall in the third quarter of 2008 (down 2.7% annualized) before falling at a 5.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2008 as uncertainty and tight credit conditions led companies to preserve cash, leading to a drawdown in inventories throughout the supply chain. Inventory reduction continued on a much wider scale in the first quarter of 2009, accounting for about one-half of the 6.4% drop in annualized Real GDP. The second quarter of 2009 saw demand begin to stabilize, with Real GDP falling at a 0.7% pace as domestic demand and inventories bottomed out. Supported by the “Cash for Clunkers” program, which drove a sharp rise in auto sales, and first-time homebuyer incentives, which supported improved housing starts, Real GDP in the United States grew by 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009, as re-stocking of inventories outweighed the continued negative impact of rising unemployment on consumption. Throughout the last three years, the United States economy kept showing a gradual recovery, with an increase in the demand for steel products. The improvements in the automotive sector and de recovery in the non-residential construction sector were the drivers of the recovery in demand.

In 2013, according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) the U.S. Real GDP grew by 2.1% ($16.2 trillion Nominal GDP), with a trade deficit of $499.3 billion. Inflation, as measured by the CPI, was 1.8%. The average Fed Funds rate (the interest rate established by the U.S. Federal Reserve) was 0.25%.

In 2014, according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) the U.S. Real GDP grew by 2.4% ($17.4 trillion Nominal GDP), with a trade deficit of $538.1 billion. Inflation, as measured by the CPI, was 1.6%. The average Fed Funds rate (the interest rate established by the U.S. Federal Reserve) was 0.25%.

In 2015, according to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) the U.S. Real GDP grew by 2.4% ($17.9 trillion Nominal GDP), with a trade deficit of $539.8 billion. Inflation, as measured by the CPI, was 0.1%. The average Fed Funds rate (the interest rate established by the U.S. Federal Reserve) was 0.50%.

The table below presents actual U.S. Real GDP growth, inflation and interest rates for the periods indicated.

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|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Actual Real GDP growth (1) |  | 2.4 | % | 2.4 | % | 2.1 | %
Inflation (CPI) (2) |  | 0.1 | % | 1.6 | % | 1.5 | %
Fed Funds (3) |  | 0.50 | % | 0.25 | % | 0.25 | %

Sources: International Monetary Fund and Federal Reserve Statistical Release

(1) Real GDP growth (annual percent change) published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

(2) Consumer price index, average of consumer prices (annual percent change) published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The CPI is a survey of consumer prices for all urban consumers.

(3) Fed Funds corresponds to the interest rate set by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Impact of Inflation and Fluctuations in Exchange Rates

Gerdau’s results and its financial position are largely dependent on the state of the Brazilian economy, notably (i) economic growth and its impact on steel demand, (ii) financing costs and the availability of financing, and (iii) the rates of exchange between the Brazilian real and foreign currencies.

For many years, Brazil experienced high inflation rates that progressively eroded the purchasing power of the vast majority of the population. During periods of high inflation, effective salaries and wages tend to fall because the frequency and size of salary and wage adjustments for inflation usually do not offset the actual rate of inflation. Brazil is facing its worst recession in the last quarter of century, with the end of the commodities super cycle and the exhaustion of the domestic growth model leveraged by credit-driven consumption. Despite the recession, the inflations decline will be slow, with the stagflation scenario preventing earlier and more intense cutting of interest rates. Since the introduction of the Brazilian real in July 1994, the inflation rate in Brazil has decreased dramatically. The Brazilian GDP presented an increase of 2.3% in 2013, 0.1% in 2014 and a decrease of 3.8% in 2015, due to the economic uncertainties.

A portion of Gerdau’s trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and debt is denominated in currencies other than the respective functional currencies of each subsidiary. The functional currency of the Brazilian operating subsidiaries is the Brazilian real. Brazilian subsidiaries have some of their assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, mainly the U.S. dollar.

The foreign exchange effect on translation of foreign subsidiaries is recorded directly in shareholders’ equity. Foreign exchange gains and losses on transactions, including the exchange gains and losses on some non-real denominated debt of the subsidiaries in Brazil are recognized in the statement of income. However, gains and losses from debts contracted for acquisition of overseas investments are designated as a hedge of investment in foreign subsidiaries, and are also recorded directly in shareholders’ equity. The operations of Gerdau in Brazil have both liabilities and assets denominated in foreign currency, with the amount of assets exceeding the amount of liabilities. The effect of the valuation of the Brazilian real versus other currencies (mainly the U.S. dollar) has a net positive effect in our shareholders’ equity.

The cyclical nature of supply and demand for steel products including the prices of steel products

The prices of steel products are generally sensitive to changes in world and local demand, which in turn are affected by economic conditions in the world and in the specific country. The prices of steel products are also linked to available installed capacity. Most of the Company’s long rolled steel products, including rebars, merchant bars and common wire rods, are classified as commodities. However, a significant portion of the Company’s long rolled products, such as special steel, wire products and drawn products, are not considered commodities due to differences in shape, chemical composition, quality and specifications, with all of these factors affecting prices. Accordingly, there is no uniform pricing for these products.

Over the last ten years, annual world crude steel production volume has varied from between approximately 1,235 million tonnes and 1,637 million tonnes. According to the worldsteel, world crude steel production in 2015 was 1,599 million tonnes, 2.4% lower than in 2014. China’s crude steel production in 2015 reached 803.8 million tonnes, a decrease of 2.3% over 2014. In 2015, China’s share of world steel production was 50.3% of total crude steel. According to worldsteel, world demand for finished steel products increased by 3.1% in 2013, 0.7% in 2014 and the forecast for 2015 is a decrease of 1.7%. For 2016, the forecast calls for growth of 0.7%, since the current unfavorable scenario is expected to be partially mitigated, given the expectations of a stabilization of the Chinese economy and recoveries in developing economies, which, despite their current weakness, continue to advance.

International steel prices have declined around 54.4% over the last five years (2011-2015), this is due mainly to excess installed capacity in the world. International steel prices have experienced ups and downs throughout the period from the fourth quarter of 2007 and through the fourth quarter of 2009, when the average price per tonne of CIS export billet at Black Sea/Baltic Sea was an average of $512 in the fourth quarter of 2007, skyrocketing to $1.205 in June 2008, slumping to $295 in March 2009 and

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reaching $415 at the end of 2009. This swing in the steel price was mainly caused by the turmoil in the world economy and the surplus supply of steel products in a scenario of lower demand. During 2015, the average price has decreased 38.2% when compared to 2014, going from $ 397 in 2014 to $ 248 in 2015, due to the decrease in the iron ore prices, which have a strong correlation with the steel prices, and the slowdown in China’s economic growth.

The average price per tonne of the CIS export billet at the Black Sea/Baltic Sea is used as a reference for the international price, and it is possible to see its evolution in the chart below:

Average Price of CIS Export Billet at Black Sea/Baltic Sea ($ per Tonne)

Source: Metal Bulletin and Steel Business Briefing

Export levels - during periods of lower domestic demand for the Company’s products, the Company actively pursues export opportunities for its excess production in order to maintain capacity utilization rates and shipments. During periods of higher domestic demand for its products, export sales volumes may decline as the Company focuses on satisfying domestic demand. Gerdau exports products from Brazil to customers in other continents with whom we have long-established commercial relations. In 2015, exports were 108.3% higher than 2014, more than two times higher when compared with 2014, from to 1,043 million tonnes in 2014 to 2,173 in 2015, which represented 33.7% of all shipments by the Company’s Brazilian units, in 2014 exports represented 15.8% of total shipments from Brazil operations. This increase was due to the opportunities in the international market, linked to favorable exchange rate throughout 2015. Export revenue totaled R$ 3,175 million in 2015 (R$ 1,976 million in 2014).

Production costs - raw materials account for the highest percentage of the Company’s production costs. Metallic inputs, which includes scrap, pig iron, iron ore, coke and metallic alloys, represented approximately 44.3% of production costs in 2015, while Energy and Reducing Agents, which represents the cost of coal, electricity, oxygen, natural gas and fuel oil, accounted for 13.5%. Personnel totaled 17.9% of production costs and Specific Materials, which includes refractories, electrodes, rolling cylinders, rollers, guides, carburants and lime, were 9.4% of total production costs. The table below presents the production costs breakdown by business operation (BO):

Production Costs Breakdown in 2015 (%)

% of costs |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
|  | Consolidated |  | Brazil BO |  | North America BO |  | South America BO |  | Special Steel BO
Personnel |  | 17.9 |  | 16.8 |  | 22.2 |  | 20.4 |  | 14.6 |  | 14.0 |  | 13.6 |  | 11.7 |  | 21.0 |  | 19.6 |
Maintenance |  | 9.2 |  | 7.3 |  | 6.8 |  | 7.1 |  | 13.4 |  | 8.8 |  | 4.5 |  | 6.0 |  | 6.7 |  | 6.0 |
Depreciation |  | 5.7 |  | 4.9 |  | 7.9 |  | 7.2 |  | 4.2 |  | 3.3 |  | 3.7 |  | 3.3 |  | 6.6 |  | 5.2 |
Metallic Inputs |  | 44.3 |  | 50.9 |  | 30.2 |  | 36.9 |  | 50.0 |  | 59.5 |  | 62.2 |  | 64.0 |  | 41.9 |  | 47.3 |
Energy and Reducing Agents |  | 13.5 |  | 12.3 |  | 24.4 |  | 21.4 |  | 7.8 |  | 6.5 |  | 10.0 |  | 9.7 |  | 12.6 |  | 11.9 |
Specific Materials |  | 9.4 |  | 7.8 |  | 8.5 |  | 7.0 |  | 10.0 |  | 7.9 |  | 6.0 |  | 5.3 |  | 11,2 |  | 10 |

Significant events affecting financial performance during 2015

Exchange rate — In accordance with IFRS, the Company has designated a portion of its debt denominated in foreign currency and contracted by companies in Brazil as a hedge for a portion of the net investments in foreign subsidiaries. As a result, the effects from

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exchange variation gains or losses on the portion of debt designated for hedge accounting are also recognized in shareholders’ equity. The subsidiaries that issued the debt are not subject to income taxes and as such there is no income tax effect on the exchange gains and losses on the debt. However the subsidiaries have loaned the proceeds to other entities in Brazil with terms identical to those of the Ten Year Bonds. The payable by the subsidiaries in Brazil to the foreign subsidiaries denominated in US dollars generates exchange gains (losses) that are taxable and results in income tax recognized in the income statement, while these exchange variances are eliminated in consolidation with the offsetting exchange gains (losses) recognized by the foreign subsidiaries.

Starting from April 1, 2012, with the objective of eliminating the tax effect from the exchange variance of these debts, the Company designated the bulk of its debt in foreign currency as a hedge for a portion of the investments in subsidiaries located outside Brazil. As a result, the exchange variation on the amount of US$2.9 billion (US$2.7 billion related to the Ten/Thirty Years Bonds and US$0.2 billion related to other financing operations) was recognized in the statement of comprehensive income, while the exchange variation on the portion of US$ 1.0 billion is now recognized in income.

Impairment of assets — In 2015, R$4,996.2 million in impairment of assets was recorded, which is related to the expectation that certain assets of the Company would not be utilized, as identified through impairment testing. In the third quarter of 2015, the Company concluded the impairment test of goodwill and other long-lived assets, which identified impairment of assets amounting to R$1,867.6 million, of which R$1,161.7 million was due to the impairment test of other long-lived assets at the North America and Special Steel business operations and R$705.9 million was due to the impairment test of goodwill at the North America and South America business operations. During the fourth quarter of 2015, due to the expectation that assets in the Brazil Business Operation would not be utilized, the Company identified the impairment of other long-lived assets in the amount of R$834.7 million. Also in the fourth quarter of 2015, due to deteriorating economic conditions, the Company again performed the goodwill impairment test, which identified goodwill impairment losses in the amount of R$ 1,169.0 million for the North America segment and R$ 1,125.0 million for the Special Steel segment.

Operating Results

The following presentation of the Company’s operating results for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 is based on the Company’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) included in this Annual Report. References to increases or decreases in any year or period are made in relation to the corresponding prior year or period, except where stated otherwise.

The table below presents information for various income statements items and are expressed in both reais and as a percentage of net sales for each of the respective years:

|  | For the year ended December 31, |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | Variation |  | Variation |
|  | R$ |  | % net |  | R$ |  | % net |  | R$ |  | % net |  | 2015/ |  | 2014/ |
|  | million |  | sales |  | million |  | sales |  | million |  | sales |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Net sales |  | 43,581 |  | 100.0 | % | 42,546 |  | 100.0 | % | 39,863 |  | 100.0 | % | 2,4 | % | 6.7 | %
Cost of Sales |  | (39,290 | ) | (90.2 | )% | (37,406 | ) | (87.9 | )% | (34,728 | ) | (87.1 | )% | 5,0 | % | 7.7 | %
Gross profit |  | 4,291 |  | 9.8 | % | 5,140 |  | 12.1 | % | 5,135 |  | 12.9 | % | (16,5 | )% | 0.1 | %
Operating expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Selling expenses |  | (785 | ) | (1.8 | )% | (691 | ) | (1.6 | )% | (659 | ) | (1.7 | )% | 13,6 | % | 4.9 | %
General and administrative expenses |  | (1,797 | ) | (4.1 | )% | (2,037 | ) | (4.8 | )% | (1,953 | ) | (4.9 | )% | (11,8 | )% | 4.3 | %
Other operating income |  | 213 |  | 0.5 | % | 238 |  | 0.6 | % | 318 |  | 0.8 | % | (10,5 | )% | (25.1 | )%
Other operating expenses |  | (116 | ) | (0.3 | )% | (151 | ) | (0.4 | )% | (141 | ) | (0.4 | )% | (23,2 | )% | 7.1 | %
Impairment of assets |  | (4,996 | ) | (11.5 | )% | (339 | ) | (0.8 | )% | — |  | — |  | 1,373.7 | % | — |
Gains in joint ventures operations |  | — |  | — |  | 637 |  | 1,5 | % | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | (25 | ) | (0.1 | )% | 102 |  | 0.2 | % | 54 |  | 0.1 | % | (124.1 | )% | 88.9 | %
Net (loss) Income Before Financial Income (Expenses) and Taxes |  | (3,216 | ) | (7.4 | )% | 2,899 |  | 6.8 | % | 2,754 |  | 6.9 | % | (210.9 | )% | 5.3 | %
Financial income |  | 378 |  | 0.9 | % | 276 |  | 0.6 | % | 293 |  | 0.7 | % | 37,0 | % | (5.8 | )%
Financial expenses |  | (1,780 | ) | (4.1 | )% | (1,397 | ) | (3.3 | )% | (1,054 | ) | (2.6 | )% | 27,4 | % | 32.5 | %
Exchange variations, net |  | (1,564 | ) | (3.6 | )% | (476 | ) | (1.1 | )% | (544 | ) | (1.4 | )% | 228,6 | % | (12.5 | )%
Gains and losses on financial instruments, net |  | 87 |  | 0.2 | % | 36 |  | 0.1 | % | 3 |  | 0.0 | % | 141,7 | % | 1100.0 | %
Income and social contribution taxes |  | 1,498 |  | 3.4 | % | 150 |  | 0.4 | % | 241 |  | 0.6 | % | 898,7 | % | (37.8 | )%
Net income (Loss) |  | (4.596 | ) | (10.5 | )% | 1,488 |  | 3.5 | % | 1,694 |  | 4.2 | % | (408.8 | )% | (12.1 | )%

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Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2014

Net Sales

Net Sales by Business Operations(*) (R$ million) |  | Year ended December 31, 2015 |  | Year ended December 31, 2014 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2015/ Year ended December 31, 2014 |
Brazil |  | 12,977 |  | 14,813 |  | -12.4 | %
North America |  | 17,312 |  | 14,640 |  | 18.3 | %
South America |  | 5,477 |  | 5,078 |  | 7.9 | %
Special Steel |  | 8,882 |  | 8,644 |  | 2.8 | %
Intercompany Eliminations |  | (1,067 | ) | (629 | ) |  |
Total |  | 43,581 |  | 42,546 |  | 2.4 | %

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

Net Sales per tonne by Business Operations(*) (R$/tonne) |  | Year ended December 31, 2015 |  | Year ended December 31, 2014 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2015/ Year ended December 31, 2014 |
Brazil |  | 2,010 |  | 2,250 |  | -10.7 | %
North America |  | 2,778 |  | 2,252 |  | 23.4 | %
South America |  | 2,465 |  | 2,229 |  | 10.6 | %
Special Steel |  | 3,389 |  | 2,987 |  | 13.5 | %
Consolidated(1) |  | 2,568 |  | 2,381 |  | 7.9 | %

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

(1) The information does not include iron ore volumes.

In 2015, consolidated net sales increased 2.4% in relation to 2014, mainly due to the impact of exchange variation on the translation of net sales from foreign companies into Brazilian real mainly related to the U.S. dollar (41.8% average depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2015). Excluding the effects from exchange variation, net sales decreased in the period, mainly due to the decline in shipments (-5.0%).

In the Brazil Business Operation, the 12.4% decline in net sales in 2015 compared to 2014 was mainly due to a less favorable market mix, with lower shipments in the domestic market (from 5,540 thousand tonnes in 2014 to 4,284 thousand tonnes in 2015), which was partially offset by higher shipments to the export market (from 1,043 thousand tonnes in 2014 to 2,173 thousand tonnes in 2015). In addition, the decline in international prices (-38.2% according Metal Bulletin and Steel Business Briefing) led to a decrease in net sales per tonne exported (-22.9%), despite the positive effects from exchange variation. In the domestic market, the reduction in shipments was due to the lower level of activity in the construction and industrial sectors, reflecting the contraction of 3.8% in Brazilian GDP growth in 2015.

In the North America Business Operation, net sales in 2015 increased 18.3% in relation to 2014 due to exchange variation (41.8% average depreciation in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2015), which was offset by the decrease in net sales per tonne sold in U.S. dollar (-11.3%) and lower shipments (-4.1%), reflecting the constant pressure from imported goods the region, even with the continued solid demand from the non-residential construction sextor.

In the South America Business Operation, net sales in 2015 increased 7.9% in relation to 2014, due to the effect from exchange variation caused by the depreciation in the Brazilian real against the currencies of the countries where Gerdau has operations, despite the 2.4% contraction in shipments, from 2,277 thousand tonnes in 2014 to 2,222 thousand tonnes in 2015.

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In the Special Steel Business Operation, net sales increased 2.8% in 2015 compared to 2014, mainly due to the impact from exchange variation (41.8% average depreciation in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2015) on sales at overseas units. Excluding this effect, net sales decreased 14.0%, mainly due to the reduction of 9.4% in shipments (from 2,894 thousand tonnes in 2014 to 2,621 thousand tonnes in 2015) resulting from the sharp drop in demand from the Brazilian automotive industry and, to a lesser extent, from the U.S. oil and gas sector.

Cost of Sales and Gross Profit

|  |  |  | Year ended December 31, |
Net sales, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit(*) |  |  |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2015/ Year ended December 31, 2014 |
Brazil |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 12,977 |  | 14,813 |  | (12.4 | )%
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (11,433 | ) | (12,003 | ) | (4.7 | )%
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 1,544 |  | 2,810 |  | (45.1 | )%
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 11.9 | % | 19.0 | % |  |
North America |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 17,312 |  | 14,640 |  | 18.3 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (15,800 | ) | (13,693 | ) | 15.4 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 1,512 |  | 947 |  | 59.7 | %
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 8.7 | % | 6.5 | % |  |
South America |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 5,477 |  | 5,078 |  | 7.9 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (4,800 | ) | (4,423 | ) | 8.5 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 677 |  | 656 |  | 3.4 | %
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 12.4 | % | 12.9 | % |  |
Special Steel |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 8,882 |  | 8,644 |  | 2.8 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (8,333 | ) | (7,922 | ) | 5.2 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 549 |  | 722 |  | (24.0 | )%
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 6.2 | % | 8.4 | % |  |
Intercompany Eliminations |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | (1,067 | ) | (629 | ) |  |
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | 1,076 |  | 635 |  |  |
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 9 |  | 6 |  |  |
Total |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 43,581 |  | 42,546 |  | 2.4 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (39,290 | ) | (37,406 | ) | 5.0 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 4,291 |  | 5,140 |  | (16.5 | )%
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 9.8 | % | 12.1 | % |  |

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

In 2015, cost of sales increased 5.0% from 2014, mainly due to the effect from exchange variation on the translation to Brazilian real of cost of sales at overseas companies, even though sales volume has reduced of 5.0%. Excluding the effects from exchange variation, cost of sales in the period would have declined 7.0%. Gross margin decreased from 12.1% in 2014 to 9.8% in 2015, due to lower shipments in Brazil’s domestic market, which historically has higher margins in both, the Brazil Business Operation and the Special Steel Business Operation, despite the improvement in gross profit and gross margin at the North America Business Operation.

In the Brazil Business Operation, cost of sales decreased 4.7% in 2015 compared to 2014, due to lower shipments (-1.9%), even with the costs associated with production shutdowns in the amount of R$229.8 million in 2015. The reduction in gross margin, from 19.0% in 2014 to 11.9% in 2015, is mainly explained by net sales falling faster (-12.4%) than shipments (-4.7%), due to the less favorable sales mix, i.e., lower sales in the domestic market and higher exports, which registered a reduction in net sales per tonne.

In the North America Business Operation, cost of sales in 2015 increased 15.4% in relation to 2014 due to the effect from exchange variation, though at a slower rate than the increase in net sales given the cost-cutting efforts in this business operation, and to the lower scrap prices in the comparison period (-32.8% in accordance with the Scrap / Shredded FOB US East Coast prices published in the Steel Business Briefing). The increase in net sales at a faster pace than the increase in cost of sales supported gross margin expansion, from 6.5% in 2014 to 8.7% in 2015.

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In the South America Business Operation, cost of sales increased 8.5% in 2015 compared to 2014, due to the effect from exchange variation caused by the depreciation in the Brazilian real against the currencies of the countries where Gerdau has operations, despite the lower shipments (-2.4%). Gross margin remained relatively stable, going from 12.9% in 2014 to 12.4% in 2015, with similar variations in net sales and cost of sales.

In the Special Steel Business Operation, the 5.2% increase in cost of sales was due to the effect from exchange variation (average depreciation in the Brazilian real against the currencies of countries where Gerdau has operations) on costs at the overseas units and to the costs associated with production shutdowns at the units in Brazil due to the lower capacity utilization rates in the comparison period (from 71% in 2014 to 54% in 2015). These effects led cost of sales to increase at a faster pace than net revenue, due to the decline in gross margin, from 8.4% in 2014 to 6.2% in 2015.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Operating Expenses(*) (R$ million) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2015/ Year ended December 31, 2014 |
Selling expenses |  | 785 |  | 691 |  | 13.6 | %
General and administrative expenses |  | 1,797 |  | 2,037 |  | -11.8 | %
Total |  | 2,582 |  | 2,728 |  | -5.4 | %
Net sales |  | 43,581 |  | 42,546 |  | 2.4 | %
% of net sales |  | 5.9 | % | 6.4 | % |  |

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

The 13.6% increase in consolidated selling expenses was due to the higher allowance for doubtful accounts in 2015 as a result of higher delinquency rates in Brazil and to the effects from exchange variation on the Company’s overseas operations, which were partially offset by the efforts to reduce these expenses. Consolidated general and administrative expenses decreased 11.8% from 2014 to 2015, despite the effects from the exchange variation on overseas operations, which demonstrates the Company’s efforts to streamline these expenses. As a result, selling, general and administrative expenses declined as a ratio of net sales, from 6.4% in 2014 to 5.9% in 2015.

Impairment of assets

In 2015, the line “impairment of assets” recorded the amount of R$4,996.2 million, which is related to the expectation that certain assets of the Company would not be utilized, as identified through impairment testing. In the third quarter of 2015, the Company concluded the impairment test of goodwill and other long-lived assets, which identified impairment of assets amounting to R$1,867.6 million, of which R$1,161.7 million was due to the impairment test of other long-lived assets at the North America and Special Steel business operations and R$705.9 million was due to the impairment test of goodwill at the North America and South America business operations. During the fourth quarter of 2015, due to the expectation that assets in the Brazil Business Operation would not be utilized, the Company identified the impairment of other long-lived assets in the amount of R$834.7 million. Also in the fourth quarter of 2015 due to deteriorating economic conditions, the Company again performed the goodwill impairment test, which was identified goodwill impairment losses in the amount of R$ 1,169.0 million for the North America segment and R$ 1,125.0 million for the Special Steel segment.

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Gain in Joint venture operations

The variation in “Income (loss) in operations with jointly controlled entities” in 2014 is explained by the divestment of the 50% interest in Gallatin Steel Company, on October 8, 2014. With this divestment, the Company ceased to recognize “Equity in earnings” from Gallatin Steel Company as from 4Q14.

Income (loss) before Financial Income (Expenses) and Taxes

Income (loss) before Financial Income (Expenses) and Taxes went from income of R$2,899 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 to a loss of R$3,216 million in 2015. The decline was mainly due to the impairment of assets in 2015, and to the lower gross profit in the comparison period.

Financial Income, Financial Expenses, Exchange Variations, net and Gains and Losses on financial instruments, net

Financial Income, Financial Expenses, Exchange Variations, net and Gain and Losses on derivatives, net(*) (R$ million) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2015/ Year ended December 31, 2014 |
Financial income |  | 378 |  | 276 |  | 37.0 | %
Financial expenses |  | (1,780 | ) | (1,397 | ) | 27.4 | %
Exchange variation, net |  | (1,564 | ) | (476 | ) | 228.6 | %
Gains and Losses on financial instruments, net |  | 87 |  | 36 |  | 141,7 | %
Total |  | (2,879 | ) | (1,561 | ) | 84.4 | %

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

In 2015, as compared to 2014, the increase in the negative financial result mainly reflects higher negative exchange variation on liabilities contracted in U.S. dollar (depreciation in the end-of-period price of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar of 47.0% in 2015 and 13.4% in 2014) and higher financial expenses, which was also affected by exchange variation, since 78.3% of the Company’s gross debt is in U.S. dollar.

Note that, in accordance with IFRS, the Company designated the bulk of its debt in foreign currency as a hedge for a portion of the investments in overseas subsidiaries. As a result, the exchange variation on US$2.9 billion (US$2.7 billion related to the Ten/Thirty Years Bonds plus US$0.2 billion related to other financing operations) was recognized under shareholders’ equity, while the exchange variation on the portion of US$1.0 billion was recognized in the income statement.

Income and Social Contribution Taxes

Provision for income tax amounted to positive R$1,498 million in 2015, compared to positive R$150 million in 2014. This variation was due to higher income and social contribution taxes on the net investment hedge.

Net Income (loss)

Consolidated net income (loss) went from income of R$1,488 million in 2014 to a loss of R$4,596 million in 2015. The reduction was mainly due to the impairment of assets, lower operating income and higher financial expenses, which were affected by exchange variation.

The Brazil Business Operation recorded a net loss of R$672 million in 2015, compared to net income of R$1,014 in 2014, due to the lower operating income and impairment of assets in the amount of R$835 million in 2015.

The North America Business Operation recorded a net loss of R$1,430 million in 2015, compared to net income of R$638 million in 2014, mainly due to the impairment of assets in the amount of R$1,882 million in 2015.

In 2015, the South America Business Operation posted a net loss of R$ 193 million, compared to a net loss of R$ 110 million in 2014. The decline is mainly due to the increase in taxable income at certain units with the resulting recognition of an income tax expense in fiscal year 2015.

In 2015, the Special Steel Business Operation recorded a net loss of R$2,297 million compared to net income of R$123 million in 2014. This variation was mainly due to the impairment of assets in the amount of R$1,925 million in 2015, and to the increase in income tax payable, which refers to the write-off of deferred tax assets in the amount of R$284 million.

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Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2013

Net Sales

Net Sales by Business Operations(*) (R$ million) |  | Year ended December 31, 2014 |  | Year ended December 31, 2013 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2014/ Year ended December 31, 2013 |
Brazil |  | 14,813 |  | 15,111 |  | (2.0 | )%
North America |  | 14,640 |  | 13,164 |  | 11.2 | %
South America |  | 5,078 |  | 4,797 |  | 5.9 | %
Special Steel |  | 8,644 |  | 8,023 |  | 7.7 | %
Intercompany Eliminations |  | (629 | ) | (1,232 | ) |  |
Total |  | 42,546 |  | 39,863 |  | 6.7 | %

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

Net Sales per tonne by Business Operations(*) (R$/tonne) |  | Year ended December 31, 2014 |  | Year ended December 31, 2013 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2014/ Year ended December 31, 2013 |
Brazil |  | 2,250 |  | 2,076 |  | 8.4 | %
North America |  | 2,252 |  | 2,011 |  | 12.0 | %
South America |  | 2,230 |  | 1,995 |  | 11.8 | %
Special Steel |  | 2,987 |  | 2,808 |  | 6.4 | %
Consolidated(1) |  | 2,381 |  | 2,153 |  | 10.6 | %

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

(1) The information does not include iron ore volumes.

In 2014, consolidated net sales increased by 6.7% from 2013, due mainly to the impact of exchange variation on the translation of net sales from foreign companies into Brazilian real (9.0% average depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2014). Excluding the exchange effect, net sales would have been relatively stable.

In the Brazil Business Operation, the 2.0% decline in net sales in 2014 compared to 2013 resulted chiefly from the 5.8% lower shipments in the domestic market, from 5,883 thousand tonnes in 2013 to 5,540 thousand tonnes in 2014, and the 25.4% reduction in exports, from 1,398 thousand tonnes in 2013 to 1,043 thousand tonnes in 2014. The lower shipments were partially offset by higher net sales per tonne sold in the domestic market (+5.5%). In the domestic market, the reduction in shipments was due to the lower level of activity in the construction and industrial sectors, reflecting weak Brazilian GDP growth 0.1% in 2014). Lower exports in the period are explained by lower international prices and global steel oversupply.

In the North America Business Operation, net sales in 2014 were 11.2% higher than in 2013 due to exchange variation (9.0% average depreciation in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2014) and, to a lesser extent, higher net sales per tonne sold, which grew 3.0% in U.S. dollar.

In the South America Business Operation, net sales in 2014 increased 5.9% from 2013, due to the exchange rate effect, with the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the currencies of most countries where Gerdau operates, despite the 5.3% contraction in shipments, from 2,405 thousand tonnes in 2013 to 2,278 thousand tonnes in 2014.

In the Special Steel Business Operation, net sales increased by 7.7% in 2014 compared to 2013, due mainly to the impact of exchange variation (9.0% average depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar in 2014) on sales at foreign units. Excluding this impact, net sales growth would have been similar to the 1.3% increase in shipments (2,857 thousand tonnes in 2013 to 2,894 thousand tonnes in 2014).

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Cost of Sales and Gross Profit

|  |  |  | Year ended December 31, |
Net sales, Cost of Sales and Gross Profit(*) |  |  |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2014/ Year ended December 31, 2013 |
Brazil |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 14,813 |  | 15,111 |  | (2.0 | )%
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (12,003 | ) | (11,894 | ) | 0.9 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 2,810 |  | 3,217 |  | (12.7 | )%
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 19.0 | % | 21.3 | % |  |
North America |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 14,640 |  | 13,164 |  | 11.2 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (13,693 | ) | (12,517 | ) | 9.4 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 947 |  | 646 |  | 46.6 | %
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 6.5 | % | 4.9 | % |  |
South America |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 5,078 |  | 4,797 |  | 5.9 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (4,423 | ) | (4,234 | ) | 4.5 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 656 |  | 563 |  | 16.3 | %
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 12.9 | % | 11.7 | % |  |
Special Steel |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 8,644 |  | 8,023 |  | 7.7 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (7,922 | ) | (7,309 | ) | 8.4 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 722 |  | 714 |  | 1.1 | %
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 8.4 | % | 8.9 | % |  |
Intercompany Eliminations |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | (629 | ) | (1,232 | ) |  |
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | 635 |  | 1,226 |  |  |
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 6 |  | (6 | ) |  |
Total |  | Net sales (R$million) |  | 42,546 |  | 39,863 |  | 6.7 | %
|  | Cost of Sales (R$million) |  | (37,406 | ) | (34,728 | ) | 7.7 | %
|  | Gross Profit (R$million) |  | 5,140 |  | 5,135 |  | 0.1 | %
|  | Gross margin (%) |  | 12.1 | % | 12.9 | % |  |

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

In 2014, cost of sales increased by 7.7% from 2013, due mainly to the impact of exchange variation on the translation of the cost of sales at foreign companies into Brazilian real. Excluding the exchange effect, cost of sales would have increased slightly. Gross margin contracted form 12.9% in 2013 to 12.1% in 2014, due to the reduction in gross profit and gross margin from the Brazil Business Operation, which was partially offset by higher gross profit and gross margin from the North America Business Operation.

In the Brazil Business Operation, cost of sales increased by 0.9% in 2014 compared to 2013, due to higher costs of raw materials (cost of scrap increased by 4% in the compared periods), even with the lower volumes sold (-9.6%). The decrease in net sales (-2.0%) combined with a lower dilution of fixed costs (payroll plus maintenance accounted for 24.9% of production costs in 2013 and 27.6% in 2014), leading to a decline in gross margin, from 21.3% in 2013 to 19.0% in 2014.

In the North America Business Operation, cost of sales in 2014 was 9.4% higher than in 2013 due to exchange variation (9.0% average depreciation in the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar). The higher increase in net sales than in the cost of sales led to gross margin expansion in the period, from 4.9% in 2013 to 6.5% in 2014.

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In the South America Business Operation, cost of sales in 2014 increased 4.5% from 2013, due to the exchange rate effect, with the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the currencies of most countries where Gerdau operates, despite the 6.6% contraction in shipments. Gross margin expansion from 11.7% in 2013 to 12.9% in 2014 resulted from net sales growth outpacing the increase in cost of sales, driven by improved gross margin in the Colombia and Peru units.

In the Special Steel Business Operation, the 8.4% increase in cost of sales was driven by exchange variation (depreciation of the Brazilian real against the currencies of most countries where Gerdau operates) on costs at the foreign units and higher cost per tonne in the units in Brazil, due to lower capacity utilization rates in the comparison periods (from 77% in 2013 to 71% in 2014) and the consequent lower dilution of fixed costs. These effects resulted in a slight gross margin contraction, from 8.9% in 2013 to 8.4% in 2014.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Operating Expenses(*) (R$ million) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2014/ Year ended December 31, 2013 |
Selling expenses |  | 691 |  | 659 |  | 4.9 | %
General and administrative expenses |  | 2,037 |  | 1,953 |  | 4.3 | %
Total |  | 2,728 |  | 2,612 |  | 4.4 | %
Net sales |  | 42,546 |  | 39,863 |  | 6.7 | %
% of net sales |  | 6.4 | % | 6.6 | % |  |

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

The 4.4% increase in the absolute value of selling, general and administrative expenses was mainly due to the exchange variation impact on expenses of foreign operations, while these expenses remained relatively stable as a percentage of net sales, thanks to efforts by the Company’s management, especially in a year when costs were pressured and the Brazilian real lost value, all of which impact the translation of these expenses from our international operations into Brazilian real.

Other operating income (expenses), Impairment of assets, Gain in joint ventures operations and Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies

The reduction in “other operating income (expenses)” in 2014 compared to 2013 is due to the sale of commercial properties in Brazil for R$98.6 million, recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The line “Impairment of assets” recorded in 2014 refers to certain assets of the South American Business Operation that are not expected to be used, identified through impairment tests.

The line “Gain in joint ventures operations” recorded in 2014 includes the sale of the 50% interest held in Gallatin Steel Company on October 8, 2014.

Jointly controlled entities and associate companies, whose results are calculated using the equity method, recorded steel shipments of 1.1 million tonnes in 2014, based on their respective equity interests. These shipments generated net sales of R$2.2 billion, or 12.4% more than in 2013. Based on these companies’ results, equity income was a gain of R$101.9 million in 2014, versus a gain of R$54.0 million in 2013.

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Income before Financial Income (Expenses) and Taxes

Operating Income before Financial Result and Taxes increased from R$2,754 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 to R$2,899 million in 2014 though gross profit remained stable. The increase was chiefly due to the gain from the sale of Gallatin Steel Company, which was partially impacted by impairment of asset losses.

Financial Income, Financial Expenses, Exchange Variations, net and Gains and Losses on financial instruments, net

Financial Income, Financial Expenses, Exchange Variations, net and Gain and Losses on derivatives, net(*) (R$ million) |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | Variation Year ended December 31, 2014/ Year ended December 31, 2013 |
Financial income |  | 276 |  | 293 |  | (5.8 | )%
Financial expenses |  | (1,397 | ) | (1,053 | ) | 32.7 | %
Exchange variation, net |  | (476 | ) | (544 | ) | (12.5 | )%
Gains and Losses on financial instruments, net |  | 36 |  | 3 |  | 1,100.0 | %
Total |  | (1,561 | ) | (1,301 | ) | 20.0 | %

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

The higher financial expense in 2014 of R$ 1.4 billion compared to 2013 in the amount of R$1.1 billion is due to higher financial expenses derived from the increase in gross debt from R$ 16.7 billion on December 31, 2013 to R$ 19.5 billion on December 31, 2014.

Note that, in accordance with IFRS, the Company designated the bulk of its debt in foreign currency as a hedge for a portion of the investments in overseas subsidiaries. As a result, the exchange variation on US$2.9 billion (US$2.7 billion related to the Ten/Thirty Years Bonds plus US$0.2 billion related to other financing operations) was recognized under shareholders’ equity, while the exchange variation on the portion of US$1.0 billion was recognized in the income statement.

Income and Social Contribution Taxes

Income tax had an impact in the net income of R$150 million in 2014, compared to R$241 million in 2013. The change is due mainly to the recognition of the effects of joining the Refis tax amnesty program on profits generated abroad in the net amount of expense of R$87.8 million in 2014, and the reduction in tax benefit due to the lower amounts paid as interest on equity (R$119.8 million in 2013 and R$76.9 million in 2014), netted by the decrease in the net income before taxes .

Net Income (Loss)

Consolidated net income decreased by 12.1% in 2014 compared to 2013, despite higher operating income that includes specific events described in “Other operating income (expenses), Impairment of assets, Gain in joint ventures operations and Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies.”

In the Brazil Business Operation, net income was R$1,014 million in 2014, 40.5% lower than in 2013, due to the lower gross profit and higher financial expenses in the period.

The North America Business Operation recorded net income of R$638 million in 2014, compared to net loss of R$16 million in 2013, as a consequence of the gain from the sale of Gallatin Steel Company (R$415 million, net of income tax) and higher gross profit in the comparison period.

In 2014, the South America Business Operation recorded a net loss of R$110 million, compared to net income of R$139 million in 2013, as a result of the impairment of asset loss of R$339 million, which was partially offset by higher gross profit in the period.

In 2014, the Special Steel Business Operation recorded net income of R$123 million, 21.7% lower than in 2013, due to higher financial expenses and higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

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Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those that are both (a) important to present the financial position and results of operations and (b) require Management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates that impact matters that are inherently uncertain. As the number of variables and assumptions affecting the possible future resolution of the uncertainties increases, those judgments become even more subjective and complex. In the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has relied on variables and assumptions derived from historical experience and various other factors that it deems reasonable and relevant. Although these estimates and assumptions are reviewed by the Company in the normal course of business, the presentation of its financial position and results of operations often requires making judgments regarding the effects of inherently uncertain matters on the carrying value of its assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from estimates based on different variables, assumptions or conditions. In order to provide an understanding of how the Company forms its judgments about future events, including the variables and assumptions underlying the estimates, comments have been included that relate to each critical accounting policy described below:

· deferred income and social contribution tax;

· pension and post-employment benefits;

· environmental liabilities;

· valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations,

· business combination, and

· impairment test of assets with definite and indefinite useful life.

a) Deferred Income and Social Contribution Tax

The liability method of accounting (according to the concept described in IAS 12) for income taxes is used for deferred income and social contribution taxes arising from temporary differences between the book value of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. The amount of the deferred income and social contribution tax asset is revised at each Consolidated Financial Statement date and reduced by the amount that is no longer probable of being realized based on future taxable income. Deferred income and social contribution tax assets and liabilities are calculated using tax rates applicable to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be realized. Future taxable income may be higher or lower than estimates made when determining whether it is necessary to record a tax asset and the amount to be recorded.

The realization of deferred tax assets for tax loss carryforwards are supported by projections of taxable income based on technical feasibility studies submitted annually to the Company’s Board of Directors. These studies consider historical profitability of the Company and its subsidiaries and expectation of continuous profitability and estimated the recovery of deferred tax assets over future years. The other tax credits arising from temporary differences, mainly tax contingencies, and provision for losses, were recognized according to their estimate of realization.

b) Pension and Post-Employment Benefits

Actuarial gains and losses are recorded in the period in which they are originated and are recorded in the statement of comprehensive income.

The Company recognizes its obligations related to employee benefit plans and related costs, net of plan assets, in accordance with the following practices:

i) The cost of pension and other post-employment benefits provided to employees is actuarially determined using the projected unit of credit method and management’s best estimate of expected investment performance for funded plans, salary increase, retirement age of employees and expected health care costs. The discount rate used for determining future benefit obligations is an estimate of the interest rate in effect at the balance sheet date on high-quality fixed-income investments with maturities that match the expected maturity of obligations.

ii) Pension plan assets are stated at fair value.

iii) Gain and losses related to the curtailment and settlement of the defined benefit plans are recognized when the curtailment or settlement occurs and they are based on actuarial evaluation done by independent actuaries.

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In accounting for pension and post-retirement benefits, several statistical and other factors that attempt to anticipate future events are used to calculate plan expenses and liabilities. These factors include discount rate assumptions, return on plan assets, future increases in health care costs, and rate of future compensation increases. In addition, actuarial computations include other factors whose measurement involves judgment such as withdrawal, turnover, and mortality rates. The actuarial assumptions used by the Company may differ materially from actual results in future periods due to changing market and economic conditions, regulatory events, judicial rulings, higher or lower withdrawal rates, or longer or shorter participant life spans.

c) Environmental Liabilities

The Company records provisions for environmental liabilities based on best estimates of potential clean-up and remediation costs for known environmental sites. The Company has a team of professionals to manage all phases of its environmental programs. These professionals develop estimates of liabilities at these sites based on projected and known remediation costs. This analysis requires the Company to make significant estimates and changes in facts and circumstances which may result in material changes to environmental provisions.

The steel industry uses and generates substances that may damage the environment. The Company’s management performs frequent surveys with the purpose of identifying potentially impacted areas and records as ‘current liabilities’ and in non-current liabilities in the account ‘Environmental liabilities’, based on best cost estimate, the amounts estimated for investigation, treatment and cleaning of potentially affected sites. The Company used assumptions and estimates for determining the estimated amount, which may vary in the future depending on the final investigations and determination of the actual environmental impact.

The Company is compliant with all the applicable environmental regulations in the countries where they operate.

d) Valuation of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in Business Combinations

During the last several years the Company has made certain business combinations. According to IFRS 3, for business combinations occurring after the IFRS transition date, the Company allocates the cost of the acquired entity to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair value estimated on the date of acquisition. Any difference between the cost of the acquired entity and the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The Company exercises significant judgment in the process of identifying tangible and intangible assets and liabilities, valuing these assets and liabilities, and estimating their remaining useful life. The valuation of these assets and liabilities is based on assumptions and criteria that, in some cases, include estimates of future cash flow discounted at the appropriate rates. The use of valuation assumptions includes discounted cash flow estimates and discount rates and may result in estimated values that are different from the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

The Company does not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions used to complete the purchase price allocation and estimate the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. However, if actual results are not consistent with estimates and assumptions considered, the Company may be exposed to losses that could be material.

e) Business Combination

Step-acquisitions in which control is obtained

When a business combination is achieved in stages, the interest previously held by the Company in the acquired company is remeasured at fair value at acquisition date (in the date when the Company acquires the control) and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized in profit or loss. Amounts related to the acquired company which were recognized in “Other comprehensive income” before the acquisition date, are reclassified to income, where such treatment would be appropriate in case this interest was sold.

Acquisitions in which control is obtained initially

Acquisitions of subsidiaries and businesses are accounted for under the purchase method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values (at the date of exchange) of assets given and liabilities incurred or assumed and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are recognized at their fair values at the acquisition date. The interest of non-controlling shareholders in the acquiree is initially measured at the non-controlling shareholders’ proportion of the net fair value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognized.

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Under the previous version of the Standard, contingent consideration was recognized at the acquisition date only if payment of the contingent consideration was probable and it could be measured reliably; any subsequent adjustments to the contingent consideration are recognized against goodwill. Under the revised Standard, contingent consideration is measured at fair value at the acquisition date; subsequent adjustments to the consideration are recognized against goodwill only to the extent that they arise from better information about the fair value at the acquisition date, and they occur within the ‘provisional period’ (a maximum of 12 months from the acquisition date). All other subsequent adjustments are recognized in profit or loss.

Increases/decreases in non-controlling interests

In prior years, in the absence of specific requirements in IFRS, increases in interests in existing subsidiaries were treated in the same manner as the acquisition of subsidiaries, with goodwill or a bargain purchase gain being recognized where appropriate.

The impact of decreases in interests in subsidiaries that did not involve loss of control (being the difference between the consideration received and the carrying amount of the share of net assets disposed of) are recognized in profit or loss. Under the revised standards, all increases or decreases in such interests are accounted for within equity, with no impact in goodwill or profit or loss.

Subsequent purchases, after the Company has obtained control, are treated as the acquisitions of shares from non-controlling shareholders: the identifiable assets and liabilities of the entity are not subject to a further revaluation and the positive or negative difference between the cost of such subsequent acquisitions and the net value of the additional proportion of the company is accounted for within equity.

Loss of control of a subsidiary

When control of a subsidiary is lost as a result of a transaction, event or other circumstance, the revised Standard requires that the Company derecognizes all assets, liabilities and non-controlling interests at their carrying amount. Any retained interest in the former subsidiary is recognized at its fair value at the date that control is lost. This fair value is reflected in the calculation of the gain or loss on disposal attributable to the parent, and becomes the initial carrying amount for subsequent accounting for the retained interest.

The Company does not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the future estimates or assumptions used to complete the purchase price allocation and estimate the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities. However, if actual results are not consistent with estimates and assumptions considered, the Company may be exposed to losses that could be material.

f) Impairment Test of Assets with definite and indefinite useful life

There are specific rules to assess the impairment of long-lived assets, especially property, plant and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets. On the date of each Financial Statement, the Company performs an analysis to determine if there is evidence that the carrying amount of long-lived assets is impaired. If such evidence is identified, the recoverable amount of the assets is estimated by the Company.

The recoverable amount of an asset is determined as the higher of: (a) its fair value less estimated costs of sale and (b) its value in use. The value in use is measured based on discounted cash flows (before taxes) derived from the continuous use of the asset until the end of its useful life.

Regardless of whether or not there is any indication that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recovered, the balances of goodwill arising from business combinations and assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment at least once a year, in December.

When the residual carrying value of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the Company recognizes a reduction in this asset’s book balance.

For assets recorded at cost, the reduction in recoverable amount must be recorded in income for the year. If the recoverable amount of an asset is not determined individually, the recoverable amount of the business segment to which the asset belongs is analyzed.

Except for the impairment of goodwill, a reversal of previously recorded impairment losses is allowed. Reversal in these circumstances is limited up to the amount of depreciated balance of the asset at the date of the reversal, determined as if the impairment had not been recorded.

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The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill on investments annually and uses accepted market practices, including discounted cash flow for units with goodwill allocated and comparing the book value with the recoverable amount of the assets.

Recoverability of goodwill is evaluated at each balance sheet reporting date based on the analysis and identification of facts and circumstances that can indicate the necessity to also perform an impairment test at an interim date. If some fact or circumstance indicates that the recoverability of goodwill may be impaired as of an interim period, then the test is performed.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company performed an impairment test of goodwill on its segments. The analysis performed indicated a goodwill impairment loss in the amount of R$ 351.4 million for the North America segment and R$ 354.5 million for the South America segment. The segments Brazil and Special Steel did not presented goodwill impairment losses in the test performed.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company performed a goodwill impairment test for the North America, Special Steel and Brazil segments. The test identified goodwill impairment losses in the amount of R$ 1,169.0 million for the North America segment and R$ 1,125.0 million for the Special Steel segment. The Brazil segment did not presented goodwill impairment losses in the year.

Considering the tests performed in the third and fourth quarter of 2015, the goodwill impairment losses were R$ 2,999.9 million in 2015 (R$ 0 in 2014).

The Company performs goodwill impairment tests for all of its operating segments, which represent the lowest level at which goodwill is monitored by management based on projections for discounted cash flows and that take into consideration the following assumptions: cost of capital, growth rate and adjustments used for perpetual cash flows, methodology for determining working capital, investment plans and long-term economic-financial forecasts.

In the third quarter of 2015, due to the review of the investment plan in certain industrial plants and the shutdown of certain activities due to relevant changes in the economy of the region where these units are located, the tests in other long-lived assets identified impairment losses as follows: a) in fixed assets in certain industrial plants in the Special Steel segment due to the recoverable amount being below the book value in R$ 799.9 million. These losses were determined based on the difference between the carrying amount and the recoverable amount of these assets in the amount of R$ 1,930.8 million representing its value in use (higher between the fair value less cost to sell or its value in use); b) the investment accounted by the equity method of the associate company Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A., belonging to the North America segment due to recoverable amount below the carrying amount in R$ 361.8 million. These losses were determined based on the difference between the carrying amount and the recoverable amount of these assets in the amount of R$ 215.8 million representing its value in use (higher of fair value less cost to sell or its value in use).

Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2015 due to the deteriorating economic conditions in a greater intensity than contemplated in the scenarios of the impairment test performed in the previous quarter and, combined with the lack of expected future use of certain assets of certain industrial plants in the Brazil segment, the tests performed in other long-lived assets identified impairment losses in the fixed assets in the amount of R$ 834.7 million.

Considering the tests performed in the third and fourth quarter of 2015, the impairment losses of the impairment test of other long-lived assets were R$ 1,996.4 million in 2015 (R$ 339.4 million in 2014).

Regarding the impairment loss recognized in 2014 in the amount of R$ 339.4 million, the impairment was recognized at the individual asset level and it relates to one plant closure of its subsidiary in South America, due to rationalization of operations within the region. The impairment amount was determined as the difference between the carrying value of the impaired assets and its scrap value.

The period for projecting the cash flows for the goodwill impairment test was five years. The assumptions used to determine the value in use based on the discounted cash flow method include prepared in dollars: projected cash flows based on Management estimates for future cash flows, exchange rates, discount rates and growth rates on perpetuity. The cash flow projections already reflect a more challenging competitive scenario than projected in previous years, resulting from deterioration in the steel consuming markets and overcapacity in the industry, as well as macroeconomic challenges in certain markets in which the Company operates. The perpetuity was calculated considering stable operating margins, levels of working capital and investments. The perpetuity growth rates considered in the third and fourth quarter testes were: a) North America: 3% (3% in December 2014); b) Special Steel: 3% (3% in December 2014); c) South America: 2.2% (3% in December 2014); d) Brazil: 3% (3% in December 2014).

The pre-tax discount rates used were determined taking into consideration market information available on the date of performing the impairment test. The Company adopted distinct rates for each business segment tested with the purpose of reflecting the differences among the markets in which each segment operates, as well as the risks associated to each of them. The pre-tax discount rates used were: a) North America: 12.3% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 11.7% in the third quarter of 2015 (11.4% in December 2014); Special Steel: 12.8% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 12.4% in the third quarter of 2015 (12.5% in December 2014); c) South

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America: 13.7% in the third quarter of 2015 (11.9% in December 2014) and d) Brazil: 15.5% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 14.2% in the third quarter of 2015 (13.9% in December 2014).

The discounted cash flows are compared to the carrying amount of each segment and result in the recoverable amount as follows: a) North America: below the carrying amount in R$ 1,169 million (exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 1,699 million in December 2014); b) South America: below the carrying amount in R$ 354 million (exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 668 million in December 2014); c) Special Steel: below the carrying amount in R$ 1,125 million (exceeding the carrying amount in R$ 1,591 million in December 2014); and d) Brazil: exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 43 million (exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 3,103 million in December 2014).

The Company performed a sensitivity analysis in the assumptions of discount rate and perpetuity growth rate, due to the potential impact in the discounted cash flows.

An increase of 0.5% in the discount rate to discount the cash flow of each segment would result in recoverable amounts below the book value or exceed the book value as follows: a) North America: below the book value in R$ 1,452 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 394 million in December 2014); b) Special Steel: below the book value in R$ 582 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 785 million in December 2014); c) South America: below the book value in R$ 354 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 186 million in December 2014); and d) Brazil: below the book value in R$ 765 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 2,073 million in December 2014).

On the other hand, a decrease of 0.5% in the perpetuity growth rate used in the discounted cash flow for each segment would result in recoverable amounts below the book value or exceed the book value as follows: a) North America: below the book value in R$ 1,076 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 678 million in December 2014); b) Special Steel: below the book value in R$ 428 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 976 million in December 2014); c) South America: below the book value in R$ 253 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 310 million in December 2014); and d) Brazil: below the book value in R$ 514 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 2,365 million in December 2014).

The Company will maintain over the next year its constant monitoring of the steel market in order to identify any deterioration, significant drop in demand from steel consuming sectors (notably automotive and construction), stoppage of industrial plants or activities relevant changes in the economy or financial market that result in increased perception of risk or reduction of liquidity and refinancing capacity. Although the projections made by the Company provide a more challenging scenario than that in recent years, the events mentioned above, if manifested in a greater intensity than that anticipated in the assumptions made by management, may lead the Company to revise its projections of value in use and eventually result in impairment losses.

Goodwill that forms part of the carrying amount of an investment in an associate or in a joint venture is not separately recognized and it is not tested for impairment separately. Instead, the entire carrying amount of the investment in an associate or in a joint venture is tested for impairment as a single asset, by comparing its recoverable amount (higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell) with its carrying amount. An impairment loss recognized in those circumstances is not allocated to any asset, including goodwill that forms part of the carrying amount of the investment in the associate or joint venture. Accordingly, any reversal of that impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the recoverable amount of the investment subsequently increases.

Goodwill originated in a business combination is evaluated for recoverability on an annual basis, and also when events or circumstances indicate the necessity. The test considers accepted market practices, including cash flows and compares the book value with its fair value. The reversal of goodwill impairment losses previously recognized from business combinations is not allowed.

The recoverability review process is subjective and requires significant judgments through analysis performed. The determination of fair value for the Company’s operating segments, based on projected cash flows, may be negatively impacted if the economic global recovery happens slower than what management expected during the preparation of financial statements in December 2015.

Additional information related to impairment of goodwill and other long lived assets are described at note 28 of Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein.

B. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Gerdau’s usual main source of liquidity is the cash generated by its operating activities. Moreover, the Company counts on committed credit facilities. The Company expects to meet its cash needs for 2016 primarily through a combination of operating cash flow, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments.

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Cash Flow

The table below presents information for the cash flow of the respective years:

GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

In thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Variation |  | Variation |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015/2014 |  | 2014/2013 |
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (losses) for the year |  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |  | (408.8 | )% | (12.1 | )%
Adjustments to reconcile net income for the year to net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 2,607,909 |  | 2,227,396 |  | 2,029,507 |  | 17.1 | % | 9.8 | %
Impairment of Assets |  | 4,996,240 |  | 339,374 |  | — |  | 1,372.2 | % | 100.0 | %
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | 24,502 |  | (101,875 | ) | (54,001 | ) | (124.1 | )% | 88.7 | %
Exchange variation, net |  | 1,564,017 |  | 476,367 |  | 544,156 |  | 228.3 | % | (12.5 | )%
Gains on financial instruments, net |  | (87,085 | ) | (36,491 | ) | (2,854 | ) | 138.6 | % | 1,178.6 | %
Post-employment benefits |  | 233,287 |  | 200,699 |  | 95,514 |  | 16.2 | % | 110.1 | %
Stock based remuneration |  | 48,589 |  | 39,614 |  | 38,223 |  | 22.7 | % | 3.6 | %
Income tax |  | (1,498,422 | ) | (150,389 | ) | (241,056 | ) | 896.4 | % | (37.6 | )%
Gains on disposal of property, plant and equipment and investments |  | (3,971 | ) | (48,639 | ) | (133,593 | ) | (91.8 | )% | (63.6 | )%
Gains in Joint ventures operations |  | — |  | (636,528 | ) | — |  | (100.0 | )% | 100.0 | %
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  | 127,701 |  | 49,890 |  | 47,345 |  | 156.0 | % | 5.4 | %
Provision for tax, labor and civil claims |  | 323,314 |  | 281,876 |  | 205,167 |  | 14.7 | % | 37.4 | %
Interest income on investments |  | (153,631 | ) | (144,723 | ) | (135,040 | ) | 6.2 | % | 7.2 | %
Interest expense on loans |  | 1,471,526 |  | 1,178,034 |  | 901,273 |  | 24.9 | % | 30.7 | %
Interest on loans with related parties |  | (2,712 | ) | (2,743 | ) | (1,573 | ) | (1.1 | )% | 74.4 | %
(Reversal) Provision for net realisable value adjustment in inventory |  | 17,536 |  | (6,062 | ) | (4,701 | ) | (389.3 | )% | 29.0 | %
|  | 5,072,814 |  | 5,154,173 |  | 4,982,069 |  | 1.6 | % | 3.5 | %
Changes in assets and liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease (Increase) in trade accounts receivable |  | 1,219,605 |  | (36,468 | ) | (23,790 | ) | (3,444.3 | )% | 53.3 | %
Decrease (Increase) in inventories |  | 1,977,361 |  | (173,191 | ) | 1,018,398 |  | (1,241.7 | )% | (117.0 | )%
Decrease in trade accounts payable |  | (768,527 | ) | (251,911 | ) | (128,942 | ) | 205.1 | % | 95.4 | %
(Increase) Decrease in other receivables |  | (270,391 | ) | (701,550 | ) | 120,645 |  | (61.5 | )% | (681.5 | )%
(Decrease) Increase in other payables |  | (509,227 | ) | 280,187 |  | 162,863 |  | (281.7 | )% | 72.0 | %
Dividends from jointly-controlled entities |  | 52,769 |  | 95,600 |  | 63,073 |  | (44.8 | )% | 51.6 | %
Purchases of trading securities |  | (1,958,522 | ) | (3,028,974 | ) | (3,360,144 | ) | (35.3 | )% | (9.9 | )%
Proceeds from maturities and sales of trading securities |  | 3,929,971 |  | 2,544,895 |  | 2,481,935 |  | 54.4 | % | 2.5 | %
Cash provided by operating activities |  | 8,745,753 |  | 3,882,761 |  | 5,316,107 |  | 125.2 | % | (27.0 | )%
Interest paid on loans and financing |  | (946,041 | ) | (859,821 | ) | (810,362 | ) | 10.0 | % | 6.1 | %
Income and social contribution taxes paid |  | (637,394 | ) | (452,079 | ) | (407,333 | ) | 41.0 | % | 11.0 | %
Net cash provided by operating activities |  | 7,162,318 |  | 2,570,861 |  | 4,098,412 |  | 178.6 | % | (37.3 | )%
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additions to property, plant and equipment |  | (2,324,718 | ) | (2,266,702 | ) | (2,598,265 | ) | 2.6 | % | (12.8 | )%
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment, investments and other intangibles |  | 90,942 |  | 1,067,938 |  | 237,203 |  | (91.5 | )% | 350.2 | %
Additions to other intangibles |  | (126,428 | ) | (141,956 | ) | (158,395 | ) | (10.9 | )% | (10.4 | )%
Advance for capital increase in jointly-controlled entity |  | — |  | — |  | (77,103 | ) | — |  | — |
Payment for business acquisitions, net of cash of acquired entities |  | (20,929 | ) | — |  | (55,622 | ) | 100.0 | % | — |
Increase in controlling interest in associated companies |  | — |  | — |  | (51,383 | ) | — |  | — |
Capital increase in jointly-controlled entity |  | (40,524 | ) | — |  | — |  | 100.0 | % | — |
Net cash used in investing activities |  | (2,421,657 | ) | (1,340,720 | ) | (2,703,565 | ) | 80.6 | % | (50.4 | )%
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Reduction) Increase of capital by non-controlling interests |  | — |  | (550,000 | ) | 383,788 |  | (100.0 | )% | 243.3 | %
Purchase of treasury shares |  | (189,071 | ) | — |  | — |  | 100.0 | % | — |
Proceeds from exercise of shares |  | — |  | 5,483 |  | 35,465 |  | (100.0 | )% | (84.5 | )%
Dividends and interest on capital paid |  | (358,226 | ) | (455,139 | ) | (426,988 | ) | (21.3 | )% | 6.6 | %
Proceeds from loans and financing |  | 3,042,783 |  | 2,771,048 |  | 5,011,654 |  | 9.8 | % | (44.7 | )%
Repayment of loans and financing |  | (5,028,386 | ) | (2,173,555 | ) | (5,223,100 | ) | 131.3 | % | (58.4 | )%
Intercompany loans, net |  | 30,126 |  | 8,939 |  | 46,933 |  | 237.0 | % | (81.0 | )%
Increase in controlling interest in subsidiaries |  | (339,068 | ) | (130,199 | ) | (33,090 | ) | 160.4 | % | 293.5 | %
Put-Options on non-controlling interest |  | — |  | — |  | (599,195 | ) | — |  | -100.0 | %
Net cash used in financing activities |  | (2,841,842 | ) | (523,423 | ) | (804,533 | ) | 442.9 | % | (34.9 | )%
Exchange variation on cash and cash equivalents |  | 699,290 |  | 244,029 |  | 71,675 |  | 186.6 | % | 240.5 | %
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |  | 2,598,109 |  | 950,747 |  | 661,989 |  | 173.3 | % | 43.6 | %
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  | 3,049,971 |  | 2,099,224 |  | 1,437,235 |  | 45.3 | % | 46.1 | %
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |  | 2,099,224 |  | 85.2 | % | 45.3 | %

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Cash and cash equivalents totaled R$ 5,648 million , R$ 3,050 million and R$ 2,099 million on December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, as analyzed below:

Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided from operating activities totaled R$ 7,162 million, R$2,571 million and R$4,098 million in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

In 2015, net cash provided from operating activities increase 178.6% compared to 2014, mainly due to the lower working capital and higher proceeds from the redemption of financial investments. In working capital, the decrease of R$1,220 million in trade accounts receivable, the decrease of R$1,977 million in inventories and the decrease of R$769 million in trade accounts payable had a positive impact of R$2,428 million on the Company’s cash from operating activities in the year. In 2014, this impact was negative R$461 million, due to the increase of R$36 million in trade accounts receivable, the increase of R$173 million in inventories and the decrease of R$252 million in accounts payable. The main factor leading to the positive impact of R$2,428 million in the Company’s cash from operations in 2015 was the reduction in inventories, especially in the North America Business Operation, due to the adjustment of inventories to the lower shipments, which were affected by the continued pressure from imported products in the region, despite the continued good demand from the non-residential construction sector. The higher proceeds from financial investments refer substantially to securities held for trade, which include bank certificates of deposit and securities.

In 2014, net cash provided from operating activities decreased 37.3% from 2013, largely due to the increase in working capital and “Increase in other receivables”. With regard to working capital, the increase of R$36 million in trade accounts receivable and of R$173 million in inventories, and the reduction of R$252 million in trade accounts payable had a negative impact of R$461 million on the Company’s cash from operating activities in 2014. In 2013, this impact was positive in the amount of R$865 million due to the increase of R$24 million in trade accounts receivable, as well as the reduction of R$1,018 million in inventories and of R$129 million in trade accounts payable. The main factor behind the negative impact of R$461 million in the Company’s cash from operations in 2014 was the increase in inventories, especially in the North America Business Operation, driven by the adjustment of inventory levels to better meet client needs, given the continued strong demand from the non-residential construction and industrial sectors. The item “Increase in other receivables” largely refers to higher judicial deposits and advances to suppliers in 2014.

Cash conversion cycle

In 2015, as a result of the decrease in working capital(1) (-3.3%) in comparison with the decrease in net sales (-3.6%) in the last three months of 2015 in relation to the last three months of 2014, the cash conversion cycle and working capital(2) remained stable at 84 days (from 37 days sales outstanding in 2014 to 40 days in 2015, 74 days inventory outstanding in 2014 to 76 in 2015 and 27 days payable outstanding in 2014 to 32 days in 2015), with the changes in the length of time of working capital realizations/requirements offsetting each other.

In 2014, as a result of the increase in working capital (+8.2%), compared to the increase in net sales (+5.1%) in the last three months of 2014 in relation to the last three months of 2013, the cash conversion cycle increased three days, from 81 days on December 31, 2013 (36 days of trade accounts receivable, 74 days of inventories and 29 days of trade accounts payable) to 84 days on December 31, 2014 (37 days of trade accounts receivable, 74 days of inventories and 27 days of trade accounts payable).

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased 80.6%, from R$1,341 million in the year ended December 31, 2014 to R$2,422 million in 2015, mainly due to the fact that 2014 was affected by the cash received from divestments (particularly the sale of the 50% interest in Gallatin Steel Company).

Net cash used in investing activities decreased by 50.4%, from R$2,704 million in the year ended December 31, 2013 to R$1,341 million in 2014, chiefly by cash received through divestments (mainly the sale of 50% interest in Gallatin Steel Company), in addition to the reduction in investments in fixed assets in 2014.

(1) Working capital: trade accounts receivable, plus inventories, less suppliers (based on the balance at end of period for all accounts).

(2) Cash conversion cycle: working capital, divided by net sales (in last three months), multiplied by 90.

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Net cash used in financing activities

Cash flow from financing activities went from the use of R$ 523 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 to the use of R$ 2,842 million in 2015. This variation was mainly due to the net amount of contributions and amortizations of loans and financing, which in 2014 amounted to R$ 597 million in contributions and in 2015 amounted to R$ 1,986 million in amortizations. The amortizations made in 2015 refer mainly to settlements of working capital lines and of other long-term financings.

Net cash from financing activities decreased from R$ 805 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 to R$ 523 million in 2014. The change reflects the following factors: in 2014, there was a reduction of R$ 550 million in the capital of non-controlling shareholders invested in a fixed-income investment fund; in 2014, the company obtained net loans and financing of R$ 597 million, compared to a net payment of loans and financing of R$ 211 million in 2013; and in 2013, the Company settled an obligation for stock purchase of R$ 599 million, related to the acquisition of a 40% interest in Sidenor, held by the Santander Group.

Indebtedness

The Company’s debt is used to finance investments in fixed assets, including the modernization and technological upgrade of its plants and the expansion of installed capacity, as well as for working capital, acquisitions and, depending on market conditions, short-term financial investments.

The following table profiles the Company’s debt in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands of Brazilian reais):

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
SHORT TERM: |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,037,869 |  | 1,838,367 |
Total short-term debt |  | 2,225,925 |  | 1,356,450 |  | 1,367,414 |
Debt denominated in Brazilian reais |  | 467,666 |  | 78,815 |  | 463,996 |
Debt denominated in foreign currency |  | 1,758,259 |  | 1,277,635 |  | 903,418 |
Current portion of long-term debt |  | 161,312 |  | 681,419 |  | 443,369 |
Debentures |  | — |  | — |  | 27,584 |
LONG TERM: |  | 24,073,620 |  | 17,483,616 |  | 14,868,408 |
Total long-term debt |  | 23,988,070 |  | 17,829,999 |  | 14,924,866 |
Debt denominated in Brazilian reais |  | 2,756,897 |  | 3,402,545 |  | 2,539,761 |
Debt denominated in foreign currency |  | 21,231,173 |  | 14,427,454 |  | 12,385,105 |
Current portion of long-term debt |  | (161,312 | ) | (681,419 | ) | (443,369 | )
Debentures |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |  | 386,911 |
TOTAL DEBT: |  | 26,460,857 |  | 19,521,485 |  | 16,706,775 |
Short and long-term investments, cash and cash equivalents |  | 6,918,840 |  | 5,848,805 |  | 4,222,392 |
NET DEBT(1) |  | 19,542,017 |  | 13,672,680 |  | 12,484,383 |

(1) The calculation of net debt is made by subtracting short-term investments, cash and cash equivalents from total debt. Net debt is not a GAAP measure recognized under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation from other financial measures. Other companies may calculate net debt differently and therefore this presentation of net debt may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The total debt was R$ 26,461 million, R$ 19,521 million and R$ 16,707 million in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The R$6.9 billion increase in gross debt between December 2014 and December 2015 is mainly explained by the effects from exchange variation in the comparison periods (depreciation in the end-of-period price of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar of 47.0% in 2015). The R$1.1 billion increase in cash from December 2014 to December 2015 is mainly due to the effect from exchange variation in the comparison periods on the cash held by Gerdau companies abroad. On December 31, 2015, 66.9% of cash was held by Gerdau companies abroad and denominated mainly in U.S. dollar. The net debt (Net debt is a non-GAAP metric defined as short-term debt and long plus debentures and less short and long-term investments and cash and cash equivalents, widely used by investors to measure the indebtedness of the Company) increased 42.9%, from R$ 13,673 million in 2014 to R$ 19,542 million in 2015, due to the increase in gross debt, which was partially offset by the higher cash position. The increase in total debt from 2013 to 2014 is explained by the exchange variation in the period on debt denominated in foreign currencies (mainly the 13.4% depreciation in the closing rate of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar) and by new debt contracted in Brazilian real to meet investment. The cash position, on the other hand, increased 38.5%, mainly due to the proceeds received from the divestment of

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Gallatin Steel Company (sales price of R$ 937.8 million). Net debt increased 9.5% from R$ 12,484 million in 2013 to R$ 13,673 million in 2014, due to an increase in total debt, partially offset by an increase in the cash position.

Of the total debt on December 31, 2015, short term debt corresponded to 9.0% and long-term debt to 91.0% (on December 31, 2014, 10.4% was short-term debt and 89.6% was long-term debt, and on December 31, 2013, 11.0% was short-term debt and 89.0% was long-term debt ).

On December 31, 2015, the total short-term debt amounted to R$ 2,226 million, representing an increase of 64.1% compared to 2014. This increase in short-term debt was mainly due to the effect of exchange variation on debt denominated in foreign currency, further the transfer of debt denominated in Brazilian reais from long-term to short-term. On December 31, 2014, the total short-term debt amounted to R$1,356 million, relatively stable compared to 2013, due to the offsetting effects between real-denominated and foreign-denominated debt. Short-term debt in Brazilian real decreased as a result of the extension of the debt average payment terms. On the other hand, the short-term debt denominated in foreign currencies increased 37.6%, due to debt of companies abroad maturing in 2015, which were previously classified as long-term debt, and to exchange variation effects in the period.

On December 31, 2015, the total long-term debt amounted to R$ 23,988 million, an increase of 34.5% from 2014, mainly due to the exchange variation in the period on debt denominated in foreign currencies in 2015. On December 31, 2014, the Company’s total long-term debt amounted to R$ 17,830 million, an increase of 19.5% from 2013. The long-term term denominated in Brazilian real increased due to the extension of the debt average payment terms and to new debt contracted to meet investment needs. In addition, the long-term debt denominated in foreign currencies increased due to the effect of exchange variation (13.4% depreciation in the closing rate of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar) and to the issue of the 2044 Bond in April 2014.

As of December 31, 2015, the maturity profile of the Company’s long-term debt with financial institutions, including debentures, was as follows:

Gerdau S.A. Consolidated Long-Term Amortization |  | (R$ thousands) |
2017 |  | 4,636,764 |
2018 |  | 1,530,746 |
2019 |  | 968,992 |
2020 |  | 3,862,871 |
2021 and After |  | 13,074,246 |
Total |  | 24,073,619 |

Financial Agreements

We highlight the material financial agreements outstanding at year end 2015:

ECGD - Export Credits Guarantee Department

During 2015, the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas S.A. borrowed US$ 23.5 million under a financing agreement signed in 2011 covered by ECGD (Export Credits Guarantee Department), the English Export Credit Agency (ECA), with the banks Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, HSBC Limited, Tokyo Branch, Citibank Europe plc and BNP Paribas. On December 31, 2014, the outstanding balance of this facility was US$ 176 million (R$ 687.5 million as of December 31, 2015).

Bonds

The Company, through its subsidiaries GTL Trade Finance Inc., Gerdau Holdings Inc. and Gerdau Trade Inc., concluded in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014, the issuance of bonds each with maturity of 10 and 30 years (collectively “Ten/Thirty Years Bond”). The following companies guaranteed these transactions: Gerdau S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. On December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of these bonds was R$ 18.8 billion.

Tokyo Loan Agreement

In June 2013 the subsidiary Gerdau Steel India entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 40 million, denominated in INR, with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, with a tenor of five years. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 40 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 156.2 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

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NCE Banco do Brasil (R$ 660 MM)

In September 2013, the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas issued an Export Credit Note worth R$ 660 million, maturing on August 18, 2020, with Banco do Brasil S.A. acting as the creditor. On December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of the facility was R$ 610 million.

JPMorgan Loan Agreement

In October 2013, the subsidiary Diaco S.A. entered into a loan agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank in the total amount of US$ 40 million, denominated in Colombian Pesos (COP). The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 23.8 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 93.2 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

HSBC Loan Agreement

In December 2013, the subsidiary Gerdau Steel India entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 25 million with HSBC, with a tenor of five years. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 25 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 97.6 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

EXIM PSI — BNDES

In December 2013 the Company raised R$ 91.8 million through the BNDES Program EXIM PSI, with a tenor of three years.

In July and August 2014 the Company raised R$ 100 million through the BNDES Program EXIM PSI, with a tenor of three years.

In December 2015, the Company raised R$ 50 million through the BNDES Program EXIM PSI, with a tenor of three years.

Sumitomo — Credit Agreement

In March 2014, the associated company Gerdau Corsa entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 75 million, denominated in Mexican Pesos, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, with a tenor of five years. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 57.6 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 224.8 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

NCE Banco do Brasil (R$ 500 MM)

In March 2014, the subsidiaries Gerdau Açominas and Gerdau Aços Especiais issued an Export Credit Note worth R$ 500 million, maturing on February 16, 2020, with Banco do Brasil S.A. acting as the creditor. On December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of the facility was R$ 500 million.

Scotiabank — Credit Agreement

In August 2014, the associated company Gerdau Corsa entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 110 million, denominated in Mexican Pesos, with Scotiabank with a tenor of eighteen months. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 83.1 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 324.5 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

HSBC — Loan Agreement

In September 2014, the associated company Gerdau Corsa entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 100 million, denominated in Mexican Pesos, with HSBC with a tenor of eighteen months. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 76.7 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 299.6 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

Tokyo Credit Agreement

In March 2015, the subsidiary Siderperú concluded the renewal of a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 100 million with maturity of three years with Bank of Tokyo. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 100 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 390.5 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

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Citi Loan Agreement

In August 2015, the subsidiary Diaco entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 40 million with Citibank and a tenor of three years. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 36.7 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 143.2 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

4131 Citi

In October 2015, the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas entered into a 4131 loan agreement in the amount of US$ 170 million, denominated in reais, with a tenor of five years and the Company guarantees this transaction.

BBVA — Credit Agreement

In December 2015, the associated company Gerdau Corsa entered into a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 150 million, denominated in Mexican Pesos, with BBVA with a tenor of five years. The outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 145.3 million as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 567.3 million as of December 31, 2015) and the Company guarantees this transaction.

NCE Compulsória

In December, 2015 the Company raised R$ 50 million with Banco Santander through an Export Credit Note with maturity in five years.

All loans contracted under the FINAME/BNDES program, totaling R$ 121.2 million, on the balance sheet date are secured by the assets being financed.

Indebtedness Ratios

All ratios described below, calculated based on the Consolidated Financial Statements under accounting practices adopted in Brazil and IFRS of Gerdau S.A., are related to BNDES (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social), but with distinct characteristics in relation to those contained in the contracts with commercial banks. In the event of a failure to satisfy the annual tests, Gerdau S.A. would have a grace period and a subsequent renegotiation of the security for the financing, and an event of default would not occur.

I) Net Interest Coverage Ratio — measures the net interest expense payment capacity in relation to EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) and gains in joint venture operations. The ratio in the agreement requires that the EBITDA for the last 12 months should represent at least 3.5 times of the interest expense of the same period. As of December 31, 2015 such ratio was 3.5 times in USD and 3.4 times in R$.

II) Net Leverage Ratio — measures the level of net debt in relation to EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) and gains in joint venture operations. The agreed ratio requires that the net debt should not surpass 4 times the EBITDA for the last 12 months. As of December 31, 2015 such ratio was 3.6 times in USD and 4.2 times in R$.

III) Current Ratio — measures the company’s ability to fulfill its short term obligations. The contractual terms requires that the ratio of Current Assets divided by Current Liabilities must be greater than 0.8 times. As of December 31, 2015 the current ratio was 2.8 times in USD and R$.

Credit Lines

In June 2009, certain subsidiaries of the Company (Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and Gerdau S.A.) entered into a credit line with BNDES in the total amount of R$ 1.5 billion bearing an interest rate of TJLP + 2.16% per annum when drawn. On December 31, 2015 the outstanding amount was R$ 881.8 million.

In December 2012 the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas S.A. obtained a committed credit line with BNDES in the total amount of R$776.6 million for the Plate and Steckel Mill project. The funds are provided as the subsidiary carries out its own investment plans and submit to BNDES the evidences of completion. The interest rate for this credit line is determined at the time of each disbursement and is composed by TJLP and exchange rate + 2.16% a year. The outstanding balance of this transaction was R$449.8 million as of December 31, 2015.

In September 2015, the Company prepaid and cancelled the Global Working Capital Facility and in October 2015, the Company entered into a new senior unsecured working capital facility in the amount of US$ 1 billion. The new global line is divided

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into two tranches, US$ 250 million for Gerdau’s North American subsidiaries and US$ 750 million for Gerdau’s Latin American and Spanish subsidiaries. The outstanding loans under this line totaled US$ 365 million (R$ 1.4 billion as of December 31, 2015).

Derivatives, Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

For more details see item 5-E “OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS”

Guarantees Granted

The Company has guaranteed the financing contracts of Gerdau Açominas S.A. in the total amount of R$ 2.2 billion on December 31, 2015.

Empresa Siderúrgica del Perú S.A.A.

The Company is also the guarantor for the subsidiary Siderperu for a loan agreements in the amount of US$ 100 million (R$ 390.5 million as of December 31, 2015) with Bank of Tokyo and US$ 7.5 million (R$ 29.3 million as of December 31, 2015) with Banco Safra.

Gerdau Steel India Limited

The Company is the guarantor for Gerdau Steel India for a loan agreements in the amount of US$ 40 million, denominated in INR, (R$ 156.2 million as of December 31, 2015) with The Bank of Tokyo, US$ 25 million (R$ 97.6 million as of December 31, 2015) with HSBC issued in December, 2013, with a tenor of five years, US$ 45.4 million, denominated in INR, (R$ 177 million as of December 31, 2015) with Citi and a tenor of five years.

Bonds Guarantees

The Company and the subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. are guarantors for GTL Trade Finance Inc., Gerdau Holdings Inc. and Gerdau Trade Inc. for the issuance of bonds with maturity of 10 and 30 years. On December 31, 2015 the outstanding balance of these facilities was R$ 18.8 billion.

Diaco S.A.

The Company is the guarantor for the subsidiary Diaco S.A. for a working capital facility with BBVA in the total amount of US$ 40 million, denominated in Colombian Pesos (COP). On December 31, 2015, the outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 5 million (R$ 19.4 million as of December 31, 2015).

The Company is the guarantor for the subsidiary Diaco S.A, Co-Borrower of the global credit line, for a working capital financing in the amount of US$ 90 million (R$ 371 million as of December 31, 2015).

The Company is the guarantor for the subsidiary Diaco S.A for loan agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank in the amount of US$ 60 million, denominated in Colombian Pesos (COP. On December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of this facility was US$ 23.9 million (R$ 93.2 million as of December 31, 2015).

Comercializadora Colombiana de Carbones y Coques S.A. C.I.

The Company is the guarantor for the subsidiary Comercializadora Colombiana de Carbones y Coques S.A. C.I. (Coquecol), Co-Borrower of the global credit line, for working capital financing in the amount of US$ 11 million (R$ 43 million as of December 31, 2015).

The Company is the guarantor for the subsidiary Coquecol for a loan agreement with Mizuho Bank in the amount of US$ 15 million. On December 31, 2015 the outstanding amount of this facility was US$ 15 million (R$ 58.6 million as of December 31, 2015).

Gerdau Corsa, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

The Company is the guarantor for the associated Gerdau Corsa, S.A.P.I. de C.V., Co-Borrower of the global credit line, for working capital financing in the amount of US$ 255 million (R$ 995.7 million as of December 31, 2015).

The Company is the guarantor for the associated Gerdau Corsa, S.A.P.I. de C.V. and the subsidiary Sidertul S.A. de C.V. for a working capital facility with HSBC in the amount of US$ 140 million, denominated in Mexican Pesos (MXN). As of December 31, 2015 the outstanding balance of this facility with Gerdau Corsa was US$ 107.5 million (R$ 439.7 million as of December 31, 2015).

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The Company is the guarantor for the associated Gerdau Corsa for loan agreements with Sumitomo in the amount of US$ 57.6 million (R$ 224.9 million as of December 31, 2015), US$ 145 million (R$ 567.3 million as of December 31, 2015) with BBVA, US$ 83.1 million (R$ 324.5 million as of December 31, 2015) with Scotiabank and US$ 76.7 million (R$ 300 million as of December 31, 2015) with HSBC

Sidertul, S.A. de C.V.

The Company is the guarantor for the associated Gerdau Corsa, S.A.P.I. de C.V. and the subsidiary Sidertul S.A. de C.V.for working capital facilities with HSBC in the amount of US$ 140 million, denominated in Mexican Pesos (MXN) and US$ 80 million, also denominated in MXN, with BBVA. As of December 31, 2015 the outstanding balance of these facilities with Sidertul were US$ 12.5 million (R$ 48.8 million as of December 31, 2015) and US$ 21.2 million (R$ 82.8 million as of December 31, 2015), respectively

Sipar

Gerdau S.A. is the guarantor for the subsidiary Sipar for loan agreements in the amounts of US$ 2.6 million with Citibank (R$ 10 million as of December 31, 2015), US$ 22.2 million with BBVA (R$ 86.6 million as of December 31, 2015) and US$ 105 million for a credit line with Banco de La Nación (R$ 410 million as of December 31, 2015).

Sizuca

Gerdau S.A. is the guarantor for the subsidiary Sizuca for a loan agreement in the amount of US$ 30 million with Citibank (R$117 million as of December 31, 2015).

Derivatives

Risk management objectives and strategies: The Company understands that it is subject to different market risks, such as fluctuations in exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. In order to carry out its strategy for profitable growth, the Company implements risk management strategies with the objective of mitigating such market risks.

The Company’s objective when entering into derivative transactions is always related to mitigation of market risks as stated in our policies and guidelines. All outstanding derivative financial instruments are monthly reviewed by the Financial Risk Management Committee, which validates the fair value of such financial instruments. All gains and losses in derivative financial instruments are recognized by its fair value in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

Policy for use of derivatives: according to internal policy, the financial result must arise from the generation of cash from its business and not gains from the financial market. The Company uses derivatives and other financial instruments to reduce the impact of market risks on its financial assets and liabilities or future cash flows and earnings. Gerdau has established policies to assess market risks and to approve the use of derivative financial instruments transactions related to those risks. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage the above mentioned market risks and never for speculative purposes.

Policy for determining fair value: the fair value of the derivative financial instruments is determined using models and other valuation techniques, which involve future prices and curves discounted to present value as of the calculation date. Amounts are gross before taxes. Due to changes in market rates, these amounts can change up to the maturity or in situations of anticipated settlement of transactions.

The derivative financial instruments may include: interest rate swaps, cross currency swaps and currency forward contracts.

Dollar forward contracts: the Company entered into NDF operations (Non Deliverable Forward) in order to mitigate the foreign exchange risk on liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, mainly U.S. dollar. The counterparties of these transactions are financial institutions with low credit risk.

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Swap Contracts: the Company entered into cross currency swap, designated as a cash flow hedge, contract whereby it receives a variable interest rate based on LIBOR in US dollars and pays a fixed interest rate based in the local currency. The counterparties to these transactions are financial institutions with low credit risk.

|  |  |  | Notional value |  | Amount receivable |  | Amount payable |
Contracts |  | Position |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Forward |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity at 2015 |  |  |  | long in USD |  |  | — |  | US$ | 80.0 million |  | — |  | 41,751 |  | — |  | — |
Maturity at 2016 |  |  |  | long in USD |  | US$ | 108.0 million |  |  | — |  | 37,981 |  |  |  | — |  | — |
Cross currency swap |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity at 2017 |  | receivable under the swap |  | Libor 6M + 2.25% |  | US$ | 25.0 million |  | US$ | 25.0 million |  | 1,756 |  | — |  | — |  | (2,349 | )
|  | payable under the swap |  | INR 11.02% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity at 2018 |  | receivable under the swap |  | Libor 6M + 2% |  | US$ | 40.0 million |  | US$ | 40.0 million |  | 3,864 |  | — |  | — |  | (6,650 | )
|  | payable under the swap |  | INR 10.17% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total fair value of financial instruments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43,601 |  | 41,751 |  | — |  | (8,999 | )

The effects of financial instruments are classified as follow:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  |  |  |  |
Current assets |  | 37,981 |  | 41,751 |
Non-current assets |  | 5,620 |  | — |
|  | 43,601 |  | 41,751 |
Unrealized losses on financial instruments |  |  |  |  |
Non-current liabilities |  | — |  | (8,999 | )
|  | — |  | (8,999 | )

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Net Income |  |  |  |  |
Gains on financial instruments |  | 129,917 |  | 43,692 |
Losses on financial instruments |  | (42,832 | ) | (7,201 | )
|  | 87,085 |  | 36,491 |
Other comprehensive income |  |  |  |  |
Gains (Losses) on financial instruments |  | 17,283 |  | (5,989 | )
|  | 17,283 |  | (5,989 | )

For further information regarding swap contracts (interest rate swap and cross currency swap) refer to Note 15 — Financial Instruments, item e) Operations with Derivative Financial Instruments.

Capital Expenditure

2015 — Capital Expenditure

In fiscal year 2015, capital expenditure on fixed assets was R$ 2,324.7 million. Of this total, 46.9% was allocated to the operations in Brazil and the remaining 53.1% was allocated to the other operations among the countries in which Gerdau operates.

Brazil Business Operation — a total of R$ 1,091.2 million was invested in this operation for capital expenditure. The main highlight was the installation work of flat steel rolling mill (heavy plates) at Ouro Branco mill, which will start production at the end of July, 2016.

North America Business Operation — this business operation spent R$ 346.9 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed throughout the units which compose this business operation. This amount was mainly spent for the maintenance of the production units.

South America Business Operation — in 2015, the South American units spent R$ 443.6 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed among the countries in which the units from this business operation are located. Part of this investment is being used to build a new melt shop in Argentina, which will have a capacity of 650,000 tonnes of steel per year, which will start production at the end of 2016.

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Special Steel Business Operation — the special steel units spent R$ 442.9 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed throughout the units which compose this business operation. This amount was mainly spent for the maintenance of the production units.

2014 — Capital Expenditure

In fiscal year 2014, capital expenditure on fixed assets was R$ 2,266.7 million. Of this total, 40.0% was allocated to the operations in Brazil and the remaining 60.0% was allocated to the other operations among the countries in which Gerdau operates.

Brazil Business Operation — a total of R$ 1,068.5 million was invested in this operation for capital expenditure. The main highlight was the installation work of flat steel rolling mill (heavy plates) at Ouro Branco mill. Currently, the project is in the phase of installation of the metal structures of the buildings and electromechanical installation of the equipment. In the mining project, the investment was mainly spent on the maintenance of the operation.

North America Business Operation — this business operation spent R$ 308.7 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed throughout the units which compose this business operation. This amount was mainly spent for the maintenance of the production units.

South America Business Operation — in 2014, the South American units spent R$ 320.5 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed among the countries in which the units from this business operation are located. Part of this investment is being used to build a new melt shop in Argentina, which will have a capacity of 650,000 tonnes of steel per year.

Special Steel Business Operation — the special steel units spent R$ 569.0 million in 2014 for capital expenditure. Part of this investment was to finalize the installation of the new special steel rolling mill at Monroe mill in the USA. Additionally, the Company concluded the installation of a new continuous casting in St. Paul in Minnesota (USA).

2013 — Capital Expenditure

In fiscal year 2013, capital expenditure on fixed assets was R$ 2,598.3 million. Of this total, 62.4% was allocated to the operations in Brazil and the remaining 37.6% was allocated to the other operations among the countries in which Gerdau operates.

Brazil Business Operation — a total of R$ 1,530.3 million was invested in this operation for capital expenditure. Part of this investment was for the startup of the hot rolled coil rolling mill, which happened in August 2013, and also for the new heavy plate rolling mill, both investments in the Ouro Branco mill. Another investment was the development of the mining project, leading the Company to achieve the production capacity of 11.5 million tonnes of iron ore per year. Moreover, the Company continued its investment for the new wire rod and rebar rolling mill at the Cosigua mill.

North America Business Operation — this business operation spent R$ 370.4 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed throughout the units which compose this business operation. This amount was mainly spent for the maintenance of the production units.

South America Business Operation — in 2013, the South American units spent R$ 173.3 million for capital expenditure on fixed assets distributed among the countries in which the units from this business operation are located. A major part of this investment was for the capacity expansion of crude and rolled steel in Colombia.

Special Steel Business Operation — the special steel units spent R$ 524.3 million in 2013 for capital expenditure. Part of this investment was to finalize the installation of the new special steel rolling mill at the Pindamonhangaba mill. Additionally, the Company continued to invest in India and in its Monroe mill in the USA.

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Main Capital Expenditure Currently in Progress

The disbursements in fixed assets planned for 2016 are estimated at R$ 1.5 billion, and include both strategic and maintenance investments. The table below shows the main projects for the years to come:

Investment Plan — Main Projects |  | Location |  | Additional rolling capacity (1,000 tonnes) |  | Start-up |
Brazil Business Operation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Flat steel rolling mill (heavy plates) at Ouro Branco mill-MG |  | Brazil |  | 1,100 |  | 2016 |
South America Business Operation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
New melt shop in Argentina |  | Argentina |  | 650 |  | 2016 |

C. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENCES, ETC.

System supported by a wide array of quality control tools. Product development projects are headed by specialists who use quality tools such as “Six Sigma”, a set of statistical methods for improving the assessment of process variables, and the concept of “Quality Function Deployment”, a methodology through which technicians can identify and implement the customer requirements.

Given this level of quality management, mills are ISO 9001 or ISO TS 16949 certified as well as a sort of products and laboratories certification according demands. In general, production, technical services and quality teams are responsible for All Gerdau mills have a Quality Management developing new products to meet customer and market needs.

Gerdau uses a Quality Management System developed in house that applies tests for product design, manufacturing processes and final-product specifications. A specially trained team and modern technologies also exist to assure the manufactured product high standards of quality. Gerdau’s technical specialists do planned visits, some are randomly selected and some are scheduled visits, to its customers to check on the quality of the delivered products in order to guarantee the final user satisfaction for products purchased indirectly.

The Knowledge Management Portal is used to share information among all steel mills seeking performance improvements and leverage of process knowledge supported by Communities of Practice and technical specialists.

Due to the specialized nature of its business, the Gerdau special steel mills are constantly investing in technological upgrading and in research and development. These mills are active in the automotive segment and maintain a technology department (Research and Development) responsible for new products and the optimization of existing processes.

International machinery manufacturers and steel technology companies supply most of the sophisticated production equipment that Gerdau uses. These suppliers generally sign technology transfer agreements with the purchaser and provide extensive technical support and staff training for the installation and commissioning of the equipment. Gerdau has technology transfer and benchmarking agreements with worldwide recognized performance companies.

As is common with mini-mill steelmakers, Gerdau usually acquires technology in the market rather than develops new technology through intensive process research and development, since steelmaking technology is readily available for purchase.

Gerdau works continuously to monitor and anticipate the needs of its customers. For this, has research and development centers in Brazil, the United States and Spain used to meet the market demands for special steel, especially for the automotive industry. The Company invested in Technological Innovation projects and research and development the amount of R$ 268.7 million in 2013, R$ 95,3 million in 2014 and R$ 117.9 million in 2015.

The Company is not dependent on patents or licenses or new manufacturing processes that are material to its business.

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D. TREND INFORMATION

The outlook for the world steel industry continues to call for weak consumption growth and overcapacity. In the countries in which we operate, it is the developed markets that present a positive outlook.

The U.S. economy should continue to improve in 2016, driving steel consumption in the country. The non-residential construction sector should continue to grow, given the expansion in private investment in the United States. Investments in infrastructure, however, will be more moderate, in line with weak growth in the availability of public-sector financing. Nevertheless, continued growth in steel imports should continue to pressure the margins and results of companies in the industry.

Brazil’s outlook for 2016 remains challenging, considering the potential impact of negative economic growth on consumption levels and the political scenario. The situation is further aggravated by the country’s systemic issues, such as a high tax burden, high interest rates, cumulative taxation, electricity costs and weak local currency - factors that have been affecting key production segments.

Moreover, South America’s other economies, in general, are expected to grow at varying rates in 2016, influencing apparent steel consumption in the region.

In relation to the special steel segment in particular, outlook calls for weak growth in Brazil’s automotive industry, with a direct impact on special steel demand. On the other hand, North America should continue to grow its auto industry by expanding the production of light and heavy vehicles, driving demand for special steels in the region. However, falling oil prices will continue impacting the oil and gas sector, another major consumer of special steels. In the European market, the slow and gradual economic recovery should support an increase in light and heavy vehicle production in 2016. In India, estimates point to an increase in the production of vehicles, consequently expanding the consumption of special steels in the country.

We are also working with the expectation of continued margin pressure on export markets and the possibility of higher steel imports in virtually all markets in which we operate, which is a point for the industry to monitor. Furthermore, geopolitical conflicts are curbing economic growth in certain regions of the globe and consequently impacting steel consumption and sales. In light of this scenario, Gerdau will continue to adjust its operations to developments in the world steel industry, while continuing to work to capture operating efficiency gains and ensure the sustainability of its business.

E. OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources other than the ones described below.

The Company provides a guarantee for the line of credit of its joint venture Gerdau Corsa SAPI de C.V., with HSBC bank, in the amount of US$ 280 million (R$ 768,003 as of December 31, 2015).

The Company provides a guarantee for the line of credit of its joint venture Gerdau Corsa SAPI de C.V., with BBVA bank, in the amount of US$ 150 million (R$ 567,344 as of December 31, 2015).

The Company provides a guarantee for the line of credit of its joint venture Gerdau Corsa SAPI de C.V., with Scotiabank, in the amount of US$ 110 million (R$ 324,521 as of December 31, 2015).

The Company provides a guarantee for the line of credit of its joint venture Gerdau Corsa SAPI de C.V., with Sumitomo, in the amount of US$ 75 million (R$ 224,838 as of December 31, 2015).

The Company is the guarantor of the joint venture Gerdau Corsa SAPI de C.V., co-borrower of a global credit line to finance working capital in the amount of US$ 255 million (R$ 995,724 as of December 31, 2015).

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F. DISCLOSURE OF CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The next table sets forth the Company’s contractual obligations on December 31, 2015 (in thousands of reais).

Contractual obligations |  | Payments due by period |
(R$ thousands) |  | Total |  | Less than 1 year |  | 1-3 years |  | 4-5 years |  | More than 5 years |
Short-term debt obligations (1) |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,387,237 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Long-term debt obligations (1) |  | 23,826,758 |  | — |  | 6,167,510 |  | 4,782,062 |  | 12,877,186 |
Debentures (1) |  | 246,862 |  | — |  | — |  | 49,801 |  | 197,061 |
Interest payments |  | 10,192,926 |  | 1,593,932 |  | 2,540,412 |  | 1,825,477 |  | 4,233,105 |
Operating lease obligations (2) |  | 486,522 |  | 91,216 |  | 145,356 |  | 102,278 |  | 147,672 |
Capital expenditures (3) |  | 1,178,745 |  | 1,007,888 |  | 170,857 |  | — |  | — |
Unconditional purchase obligations (4) |  | 321,076 |  | 321,076 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Pension funding obligations (5) |  | 68,649 |  | 54,173 |  | 3,637 |  | 3,424 |  | 7,415 |
Total |  | 38,708,775 |  | 5,455,522 |  | 9,027,772 |  | 6,763,042 |  | 17,462,439 |

(1) Total amounts are included in the December 31, 2015 consolidated balance sheet. See Note 13 - Loans and Financing and Note 14 - Debentures in the consolidated financial statements.

(2) Includes minimum lease payment obligations for equipment and real property leases in effect as of December 31, 2015.

(3) Purchase obligations for capital expenditures are related to capital projects. The full amount relates to capital project agreements where Gerdau has irrevocably committed with suppliers to acquire equipment. As the equipment had not been received by December 31, 2015, the corresponding liability has not yet been recorded in its financial statements.

(4) The majority of other purchase obligations are for inventory and operating supplies and expenses used in the ordinary course of business.

(5) Pension funding obligations are included as per actuarial computations made by third party actuaries.

G. SAFE HARBOR

See the disclaimer with respect to Forward-Looking Statements.

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ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

The Directors, Senior Management and Employees of the Company at December 31, 2015 and as of the date hereof are as follows:

CLAUDIO JOHANNPETER (born in 1963)

· Education: Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). He completed courses in Operations Management at University of London (Canada), Executive Development at Penn State (United States) and Advanced Management Program at Harvard (United States).

· Experience: He has worked at Gerdau since 1982. In 2007, he was elected Chief Operating Officer (COO), a position he held until August 2012. He was Director of Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias, company that is part of the same economic group of Gerdau SA and whose main activity is the participation in the capital of other companies, until August 2012. He is currently (i) Chairman of the Board of Directors, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Risk Committee, Corporate Governance Committee Coordinator, member of the Succession and Compensation Committee and member of the Risk Committee of Gerdau SA, a company whose the main activity is the production and sale of steel products; (ii) member of the Board and Vice President of Metalúrgica Gerdau SA; (iii) member of the Board Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias; and (iv) coordinates in CEG the North America Long Steel Business Operation and Engineering and Industrial Global Processes.

ANDRÉ BIER GERDAU JOHANNPETER (born in 1963)

· Education: Degree in Business Administration from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUC — RS). Studied General Business Administration at the University of Toronto (Canada), Marketing at the Ashridge Business School (UK), and Advanced Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (United States).

· Experience: He has worked at Gerdau for over 30 years. (i) since January 2007 is Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Board member, member of the Executive Committee, member of the Risk Committee, member of the Corporate Governance Committee and member of the Compensation and Succession Committee of Gerdau SA; (ii) is Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias, company that is part of the Gerdau economic group; (iii) Chairman of the Board of Metalúrgica Gerdau SA, a listed company, holding of Gerdau SA; (iv) a board member of the Instituto Aço Brasil (Brazilian Steel Institute), Executive Committee Director of the Associação Latino-Americana de Aço - ALACERO (Latin American Steel Association) and the Worldsteel Association.

RICHARD CHAGAS GERDAU JOHANNPETER — (born in 1974)

· Education: Degree in Law and Social Sciences from from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (United States)

· Experience: He began his career as an intern in 1993. In 1995 he was hired as a salesman of Civil Construction Steel Area and was promoted in 1996 to Administration Manager, also passing through Sales and Marketing of the same area. In 1997 he was transferred to the financial area at Gerdau as Technical Advisor, and later was transferred to São Paulo as Metallic Purchase Manager. In 2003 he returned to Porto Alegre to be Technical Advisor in Banco Gerdau. In 2005 he resigned his position to attend an MBA program in the United States, returning in 2007 as Investment Manager for Brazil and foreign operations. In 2010, he became the Investment Director of the holding company that controls Metalúrgica Gerdau SA, position he keeps so far. He is currently member of the Board of Directors and member of the Corporate Governance Committee in Gerdau SA.

EXPEDITO LUZ (born in 1951)

· Education: Degree in Law from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 1975 and a master’s degree in Law from Columbia Law School in New York (United States) in 1980.

· Experience: He began working for Gerdau SA in 1976. In 1989 he became Legal Executive Director. In 2009 he became Executive Vice-President of Legal and Compliance, at which time he became a member of the Company’s Executive Committee. In 2001 he became General Secretary of the Board of Directors. In April 2015, he left his executive positions at Gerdau SA and Metalúrgica Gerdau SA and on May 1, 2015, he joined the Board of Directors of both companies. He is also a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Risk Committee of Gerdau SA.

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AFFONSO CELSO PASTORE (born in 1939)

· Education: Degree in Economics from the University of São Paulo and has a PhD in Economics from the same university.

· Experience: He was Treasury Secretary of São Paulo State and President of the Central Bank of Brazil. He is (I) an Independent Member of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA and Metalúrgica Gerdau SA, listed company, holding of Gerdau SA whose the activity is the manufacture of general steel products since February 2002 and also a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and member of the Compensation and Succession Committee of Gerdau SA; (ii) Member of the Board of Directors of M. Dias Branco SA - Industria e Comércio de Alimentos, listed company whose activity is the manufacturing and trade food products wheat derivatives, especially biscuits, crackers, pasta and wheat flour since July 2010. He was member of the Board of Directors of Even Construtora e Incorporadora SA, listed company whose activity is the construction of buildings since February 2010 until April 2013; member of the Board of Directors of Klabin Segal SA, a company whose activity is promotion, construction and real estate developments of any kind, own or third party from May 2006 until May 2008 and Engevix Engenharia SA, leading company whose activity is elaborate studies, projects and integration and project management in Energy, Industry and Infrastructure areas, from March 2008 until August 2009. Pastore is the founder partner of AC Pastore & Associados SS Ltda, a consulting company, specializing in economics analysis of the Brazilian and International Economy. In addition, in the last 5 years he worked as an economist, analyst and economic adviser, writing articles, reports and studies. He participated in national and international seminars, and has given lecture on topics related to the Brazilian and World Economies.

FERNANDO FONTES IUNES (born in 1962)

· Education: Degree in Civil Engineering from the Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade Mackenzie and obtained the title of MS and PhD from the University of London (UK).

· Experience: Fernando was Senior Advisor, Partner and Executive Director, being responsible for the Global Investment Banking of Banco Itaú BBA SA from 2010 to 2015, during which helped to establish a leader platform for Investment Banking in Latin America, with operations in Brazil , Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. Previously he held various positions in Banco Itaú BBA SA, where he was Director responsible for the areas of Capital Markets 2003-2010, Itaú Banco de Investimento SA, where he served as Executive Officer from 2001 to 2003, Banco BBA Creditantalt SA and Creditanstalt in New York in 1994. During that period, Fernando participated in some of the major capital markets transactions, mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations held in Latin America. Fernando also worked in research on Infrastructure and Urban Development of the World Bank in Washington. He was a professor of the Instituto Brasileiro de Mercado de Capitais - IBMEC (Insper). Currently, Fernando is a fellow at Harvard University in the 2016 Advanced Leaders Initiative in Cambridge, United States and is Vice-President of the Self Regulatory Capital of the Associação Brasileira das Entidades dos Mercados Financeiro e de Capitais (ANBIMA). On September 28, 2015, he joined the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA.

HARLEY LORENTZ SCARDOELLI (born in 1963)

· Education: Degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), graduated in Business Administration from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, and holds a CFA certification.

· Experience: He began his career at Gerdau in May 1988, during which he has worked for Gerdau’s operations in Canada, United States, Spain and Brazil. Harley Lorentz Scardoelli was elected Statutory Director on July 15, 2015. On September 3, 2015, he was elected Vice President, responsible for Finance, Planning, Accounting, Tax and Legal. He also holds the position of Investor Relations Director of the companies Gerdau SA, Metalúrgica Gerdau SA and Seiva SA — Florestas e Indústrias. He is also board member of Abrasca.

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GUILHERME CHAGAS GERDAU JOHANNPETER (born in 1971)

· Education: Degree in Law from the Unisinos in 1995 and has a Marketing and Finance MBA from Kellogg School of Management, Illinois (United States).

· Experience: He started his career at Gerdau in October 1985, as Administrative Assistant, and was promoted to Scrap Purchaser at Gerdau Riograndense in 1992 and then to Legal Assistant in Porto Alegre in 1994. In 1996, he was promoted to Sales Manager of the São Paulo subsidiary of Commercial Gerdau. In 2000, after he concluded his MBA and returned to Brazil, Guilherme was promoted to the position of Marketing and Planning Manager of Commercial Gerdau based in São Paulo. In 2002, he was promoted to the position of Executive Manager of the Industrial Wire Business Area (GPM); in 2003, he was promoted to the position of Executive Director of the Gerdau Industrial Products Business area (GI) and to the position of Executive Director of the Civil Construction Business Area and Rebar Fabrication (GC) in 2005. In 2006 Guilherme was appointed to the position of Marketing Director for Gerdau Long Steel North America (GLN), then called Gerdau Ameristeel and he relocated to Tampa, United States. In 2007 he was promoted to Vice Director for the Manitoba, Bright Bar and Duluth Grinding Balls facilities of the same Business Division. By this time, he also joined GLN Executive Committee. In 2009 Guilherme was appointed to Regional Director for Special Bar Quality and Wire Rod Operations at GLN which included the locations of Manitoba, St. Paul, Beaumont, Perth Amboy, Joliet and Duluth Grinding Balls. In 2010 Guilherme was promoted to Executive Director of Gerdau Special Steel North America (GSN) and in 2011 he was promoted to the position of Long Steel North America Business Division Leader, position hold until April, 4th, 2014 when he became member of the Gerdau Executive Committee, as Executive Vice President, coordinating the Special Steel Business Operation and the Gerdau 2022 Project - Strategy , shifting its base to the office in São Paulo, Brazil. Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter currently accumulates the functions as (i) member of the Board of Directors, Vice President Director and member of the Executive Committee of Metalurgica Gerdau SA; (ii) a member of the Board, member of the Succession and Compensation Committee and member of the Risk Committee of Gerdau SA; (iii) member of the Board of Directors of Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias.

MANOEL VITOR DE MENDONÇA FILHO (born in 1957)

· Education: Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in 1982. Attended the Total Quality Management from the Union of Japanese Scientist and Engineers, in 1997 he completed a Business Management MBA from the Fundação Getúlio Vargas in 1999 and an Advanced Management MBA from the Fundação Dom Cabral and INSEAD - European Institute of Business Administration in 2001.

· Experience: He works in Gerdau since 1983. He has worked as a director in several Gerdau Brazilian units and, until April 30, 2015, on the Executive Committee of Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A., listed company, Gerdau holding whose principal activity is the manufacture of steel products in general, contributing to the conduct of their business in the world. He is the Executive Vice President of Gerdau Brazilian and South America Business Operations and a member of the Executive Committee of Gerdau SA. He is member of the Strategic Council of the Federação das Indústrias do Estado de Minas Gerais - FIEMG (Association of the Estate of Minas Gerais Industries), Director member of the Intituto Aço Brasil (Brazilian Steel Institute) and Council member of the Instituro Brasileiro de Mineração - IBRAM (Brazilian Mining Institute).

FRANCISCO DEPPERMANN FORTES (born in 1963)

· Education: Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 1985 and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the same University in 2001. In 2008, he completed the Gerdau Business Program and in 2010, he attended the Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University in the United States.

· Experience: He started his career in 1984 as an intern in the Engineering area at Gerdau being, subsequently, hired as Technical Advisor in this same area. In 1992, after a period in wich he studied and worked in Germany, he took the responsibility for coordinating the area of Management Systems of Aços Especiais Piratini, until 2000, also he accumulated the responsibility for the Human Resources of the unit. In 2001 he served as Manager of the Management System Area of Integrated Regional Unit of Long Steel Brazil. In 2003 he was transferred to the city of Porto Alegre where he started coordinating the global implementation and structuring of Gerdau Business System and Total Safety System, where he was promoted to Director of Management Systems in 2004. In January, 2006, he was promoted to the position of Executive Director of Gerdau Riograndense and Guaíra and in 2007 he was promoted to the position of Corporate Director of Human Resources, the position in which he added, over time, the processes of Organizational Development, Management Systems, Environment, Health and Safety and Information Technology. Since 2011, he is the Vice President of Human Resources, Organizational Development, Management Systems, Environment, Health and Safety and Information Technology and member of the Executive Committee of Gerdau S.A. Since April 1, 2015 he is a member of the Executive Committee of Gerdau SA, Metalurgica Gerdau SA and Seiva SA — Florestas e Indústrias.

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Find below the summary of the structures of the Board of Directors and of the Statutory Board of Executive Officers:

Board of Directors

Chairman:

Claudio Johannpeter

Board members:

André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter

Richard Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter

Expedito Luz

Affonso Celso Pastore

Fernando Fontes Iunes

Statutory Board of Executive Officers

Chief Executive Officer (CEO):

André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter

Vice-Presidents:

Claudio Johannpeter

Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter

Manoel Vitor de Mendonça Filho

Francisco Deppermann Fortes

Vice-President, Chief Financial officer (CFO) and Investor Relations Officer

Harley Lorentz Scardoelli

Family Relationships

Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter, Germano Hugo Gerdau Johannpeter, Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter and Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter are brothers. André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter is Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter’s son, Claudio Johannpeter is Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter’s son, and Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter and Richard Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter are sons of Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter. Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter and Richard Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter are brothers.

Arrangements

Gerdau has no agreement of any kind with shareholders, clients, suppliers or other parties with respect to the election of its officers or directors. There are no pending legal proceedings to which any Company Board Member, Executive Officer or Advisory Council is a party against the Company. Apart from statutory severance benefits, none of the Board Members, Executive Officers or Advisory Council is entitled to any contractual benefits upon termination of employment.

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B. COMPENSATION

The employees’ compensation system is divided into two portions: a fixed salary and a variable pay linked to performance.

The fixed portion of the compensation is constantly monitored and compared to market benchmarks in order to maintain parity with the best market practices as adopted by other companies. The variable portion of the compensation package is tied to annual goals. These goals are measured against standards clearly specified that are intended to support and motivate overachievement of individual and teams results.

The human resources policy states and recognizes co-workers as being strategic to the business.

The Company conducts evaluations based on several different methodologies, including competence mapping, to track the managerial skills of its executives. Competence mapping aims to identify the degree of alignment of executives with the Company’s strategies and business management and to monitor individual development.

In 2015, the Directors and Executive officers of Gerdau were paid a total of R$ 62.2 million in total remuneration as salary, variable remuneration, benefits, social charges, and termination. The variable remuneration for executives is based on the overall performance of Gerdau, using as performance metrics, actual EBITDA versus planned EBITDA and on individual performance. The first factor influences 60% and the second factor 40% of the amount of the variable remuneration.

Gerdau Group sponsors Pension Plans for its subsidiaries in Brazil and abroad. About 18% of participants are in the Defined Benefit plans and 82% in a Defined Contribution plan.

During 2015, Gerdau’s contribution to the Gerdau Plan with respect to the executive officers amounted to R$ 1,4 million to the Defined Contribution Plan. This sum includes only that portion of contributions for executives who do not currently receive retirement benefits. These benefits are in no way different from those offered to the other employees of the Company.

On April 30, 2003, Gerdau’s shareholders approved a new compensation program for strategic employees in the Company known as the Long Term Incentive Program. This program foresees the grant of options of the Company’s Preferred Shares, on an annual basis, representing 20% of the annual base salary of each executive and, for the Directors and Executive Offices, an additional entrance bonus equivalent to 30% of the annual salary which latter was eliminated as of April 28, 2005. From 2005 on, in order to align their potential total compensation to market measures, the Board members were granted a number of shares representing 120% of their base salary. This modification of the long term incentive program was approved by the Compensation and Succession Committee in February 2006. In 2007, the Compensation and Succession Committee approved a change in the grant to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) to the equivalent of 50% of their annual base salaries. In order to align the potential total compensation to market measures, the Compensation and Succession Committee approved respectively in 2012 and in 2013, to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) a change to the grant to 75% and then to 120% of their annual base salaries and to the Vice-Presidents to 30% and then to 40%.

The intent of such Program to attract and assure the long-term commitment of executives by allowing them to share in the growth of the Company, thereby enhancing the sense of participation in the business. (See Item 10. Additional Information — B. Memorandum and Articles of Association).

To meet the effort of aligning globally both the compensation programs and the business needs, the Human Resources team supported by the HAY Group Consultancy, expert in compensation related matters, reviewed the Long Term Compensation Program in order to tie significant part of this compensation to a long term financial metric, in this case the ROCE (Return on Capital Employed), which was submitted to and approved by the Gerdau Compensation and Succession Committee during the meeting held on April 28, 2010.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board Members and Director positions and higher will have part of their Long Term Compensation tied to ROCE (Return on Capital Employed) calculated on a yearly basis by comparing the actual ROCE against the one foreseen in the Strategic Plan.

In a shareholders meeting, held on September 19, 2013, changes to the Program were approved to better support the fulfillment of long term goals. These changes consisted of the inclusion of new “vehicles” such as Restricted Shares, Performance Shares, Differed Shares and also allowed participants to convert voluntarily until November 17, 2013, their Stock Options or Share Appreciation Rights to Restricted Shares, through a calculation methodology that assured that there would be equivalent fair value.

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The fair value calculation was determined by a specialized external consultancy and the trinomial evaluation method was used. The Restricted Shares resulting from the conversion will be exercised in five equal instalments on the following schedule: December 9, 2013, March 20, 2015, March 20, 2016, March 20, 2017 and March 20, 2018.

The Compensation and Succession Committee has approved all stock option grants since the program begun. Share figures have been retroactively adjusted for all periods to reflect the bonus issue of one share for each share held in April 2004, the bonus issue of one share for every two shares held in April 2005, the bonus issue of one share for every two shares held in April 2006 and the bonus issue of one share for each share held in June 2008.The stock option grants distributed to the Directors and Executive Officers are as follows (see Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 24 for a complete summary of the stock option plans):

Exercise Price: |  | R$ 6,78 |  | R$ 10,58 |  | R$ 10,58 |  | R$ 12,86 |  | R$ 17,50 |  | R$ 26,19 |  | R$ 14,91 |  | R$ 29,12 |  | R$ 22,61 |  | R$ 14,42 |  | R$ 18,58 |
Grant Date: |  | 30-dez-03 |  | 30-dez-04 |  | 30-dez-04 |  | 30-dez-05 |  | 30-dez-06 |  | 30-dez-07 |  | 30-dez-08 |  | 30-dez-09 |  | 30-dez-10 |  | 30-dez-11 |  | 30-dez-12 |
Vesting Date: |  | 2-jan-09 |  | 2-jan-10 |  | 2-jan-08 |  | 2-jan-11 |  | 2-jan-12 |  | 2-jan-13 |  | 2-jan-14 |  | 2-jan-15 |  | 2-jan-16 |  | 2-jan-17 |  | 2-jan-18 |
Expiration Date: |  | 30-dez-13 |  | 30-dez-14 |  | 30-dez-14 |  | 30-dez-15 |  | 30-dez-16 |  | 30-dez-17 |  | 30-dez-18 |  | 30-dez-19 |  | 30-dez-20 |  | 30-dez-21 |  | 30-dez-22 |
Total Options Granted to Directors and Executive Officers |  | 619.667 |  | 544.624 |  | 279.270 |  | 1.113.331 |  | 840.764 |  | 662.035 |  | 1.219.361 |  | 993.300 |  | 655.089 |  | 944.351 |  | 895.133 |
Exercised Options |  | 619.667 |  | 524.473 |  | 279.270 |  | 56.286 |  | 6.981 |  | 0 |  | 16.494 |  | 1.825 |  | 2.953 |  | 4.560 |  | 3.378 |
Cancelled Options |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 329.942 |  | 295.417 |  | 328.972 |  | 274.418 |
Balance Options |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 115.358 |  | 203.507 |  | 227.805 |
Options converted to Restricted Share |  | 0 |  | 20.151 |  | 0 |  | 1.057.045 |  | 833.783 |  | 662.035 |  | 1.202.867 |  | 661.533 |  | 241.361 |  | 407.312 |  | 389.532 |

Grant Price: |  | R$16,58 |  | R$18,36 |  | R$9,65 |
Grant Date: |  | 1-set-13 |  | 1-jan-14 |  | 1-jan-15 |
Vesting Date: |  | 31-mar-14 |  | 31-mar-15 |  | 31-mar-16 |
Expiration Date: |  | 31-mar-18 |  | 31-mar-19 |  | 31-mar-20 |
Total Restricted Share (Conversion) |  | 2.829.512 |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Exercised Restricted Share (Conversion) |  | 2.551.955 |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Cancelled Restricted Share (Conversion) |  | 25.027 |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Balance Restricte Share (Conversion) |  | 252.530 |  | 0 |  | 0 |
Grant Restricted Share |  | 0 |  | 226.818 |  | 413.343 |
Exercised Restricted Share |  | 0 |  | 45.363 |  | 0 |
Cancelled Restricted Share |  | 0 |  | 19.439 |  | 51.803 |
Balance Restricte Share |  | 0 |  | 162.016 |  | 361.540 |
Grant Performance Share |  | 0 |  | 807.452 |  | 1.556.375 |
Exercised Performance Share |  | 0 |  | 77.110 |  | 875.428 |
Cancelled Performance Share |  | 0 |  | 410.881 |  | 106.937 |
Balance Performance Share |  | 0 |  | 319.461 |  | 574.010 |

Note 1: Ricardo Giuzeppe Mascheroni retired on July 1, 2015 and no longer serves the Company.

Note 2: The Vice President André Pires de Oliveira Dias resigned his duties on July 15, 2015.

Note 3: On the date of September 24, 2015 the Board Member Oscar De Paula Bernardes Neto resigned as Independent Board Member function of Gerdau S.A.

Note 4: The Director Harley Lorentz Scardoelli was elected Statutory Director from July 15, 2015. As of September 3, 2015 Harley Lorentz Scardoelli was elected Vice President accumulating the functions of Director of Investor Relations, and in addition, part of the Executive Committee of the Company, with a mandate until April 30, 2016.

Note 5: Dr. Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter as President, Dr. Germano Hugo Gerdau Johannpeter, Dr. Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter and Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter as Vice Presidents served as members of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA until April 30, 2015.

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C. BOARD PRACTICES

Gerdau has a historical commitment to good corporate governance practices and to strengthening the stock markets, which is why it takes part in Level 1 of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) Differentiated Corporate Governance program (since 2001 in the case of Gerdau S.A. and since 2003 for Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A.).

Furthermore, the Gerdau S.A and Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A also have an information disclosure policy that defines the criteria guiding investor relations, including the announcement of relevant acts and facts. The aim is to maintain a fast and efficient flow of data while respecting the rules of secrecy and confidentiality. This policy covers controlling shareholders, officers and managers, members of the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors and any organizations or persons with technical or consultative functions which, as a result of their responsibilities, function or position, have access to information concerning the Gerdau Companies.

The structure is composed of three levels and has maintained the existing governing bodies: the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the Board of Officers.

Board of Directors: The Board of Directors is responsible for determining the broad direction of the Gerdau’s business. The Board may have up to eleven (11) members; currently there are two independent Board members. The Board has three (3) Committees: Corporate Governance; Compensation and Succession; and Risks. According to the Ordinary General Shareholders Meeting, held on April 28, 2015 and the Extraordinary General Shareholders Meeting held on September, 24, 2015, the members of the Board of Directors, whose terms of office expire on April 30, 2016, are:

Chairman

Claudio Johannpeter (1), (2) and (3)

Member

André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter (1), (2) and (3)

Richard Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter (1)

Affonso Celso Pastore (1) and (2)

Expedito Luz (1) and (3)

Fernando Fontes Iunes

(1) Member of the Corporate Governance Committee

(2) Member of the Compensation and Succession Committee

(3) Member of the Risk Committee

The Committees created to support the Board of Directors are:

Corporate Governance Committee: responsible for, among other functions, keeping the members updated about the trends and benchmarks of Corporate Governance; evaluating the recommendations of the agents of capital markets and financial and specialized agencies, to recommend to the Board principles and guidelines of Corporate Governance; reviewing and commenting on the information relating to Corporate Governance contained in the official documents of the Company for dissemination to the market and evaluating the performance of the Board as a whole.

Succession and Compensation Committee: its main functions are: recommend policies for selection, retention and succession of directors and strategic executives of the company; evaluate compensation plans, benefits and pensions of directors and strategic executives; review of general wage increases; general definition of global values of variable remuneration and grant of stock options; and the review and monitoring of the training programs for strategic managers and executives, suggesting alternatives to their professional development, review general HR strategies and its compensation policies; participate in the evaluation process of the members of the Executive Committee of the Company.

Risk Committee: its main duties are monitoring relevant topics, such as reviews of the status of the Sarbanes Oxley controls, adequacy of risk controls associated with each macro process and / or operation, including, but not limited to, environmental risks, enterprise security, information security, the work of internal audit on operational risks, statistics, as well as relevant Ethic and Compliance issues and legal contingencies, subject to the provisions of Policy on Risk Management published on the Company website.

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Board of Executive Officers: Statutory Board whose members are responsible for the representation of the company and performance of the acts needed for the company’s standard operations.

The members of the Statutory Board of Executive Officers are:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO):

André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter

Vice-Presidents:

Claudio Johannpeter

Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter

Manoel Vitor de Mendonça Filho

Francisco Deppermann Fortes

Vice-President, Chief Financial officer (CFO) and Investor Relations Officer:
Harley Lorentz Scardoelli

Gerdau Executive Committee: The Gerdau Executive Committee is responsible for coordinating the activities of the executive officers and managing the Company’s business, the purpose being to build on the Company’s relationship with the market and ensure best corporate governance practices. This structure provides an administrative link between the Board of Directors and the Company’s business operations. Its activities are divided into business operations (BOs), defined by product line and/or geographical location: BO - Brazil, BO - Special Steel Products, BO - North America and BO - South America. The Gerdau Executive Committee is also responsible for the main corporate areas that operate vertically throughout the Gerdau companies, such as finance, accounting, human resources, planning and legal. Committee members work together to encourage a greater synergy among operations, and individually with a focus on the management of each business and corporate areas in order to maximize results.

Other Committees created to Support the Management: In order to provide support to the Executive Committee several committees were created and are responsible for advising on specific matters, as such the Disclosure Committee.

The members of the Gerdau Executive Committee are:

André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter

Claudio Johannpeter

Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter

Francisco Deppermann Fortes

Harley Lorentz Scardoelli

Manoel Vitor de Mendonça Filho

Assigned member of the Gerdau Executive Committee (section 9, paragraph 9th of the Company’s By-laws).

Peter John Campo

PETER JOHN CAMPO (born in 1962)

· Education: Degree in Science from Rice University (United States), holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (United States) and is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

· Experience: He joined Gerdau in 2008. Within the company’s North American Long Steel business division, he has served as the Vice President of Procurement, Sales and Operations Planning, Vice President and General Manager of Downstream Operations, and the Vice President of Supply Chain. He was named the President of the North American Long Steel business division in April 2014, and in 2015 was promoted to Executive Vice President of North America BO and assigned member of the Gerdau Executive Committee.

Corporate Structure: Gerdau’s corporate structure evolved to help the business by adding value in three ways: being guardian of the governance and brand, image and values; optimizing the efficiency of Gerdau’s activities through optimization of scale and leveraging capabilities to deliver value above what individual businesses could generate autonomously. The Governance Guardian areas , such as Finance and Planning; Accounting; Com., Public Affairs, Gerdau Institute; Legal, Compliance, Corp. Security; Internal Audit and Environment, Health and Safety, protects shareholders’ interests and manages relevant risks to long-term sustainability. The Scale Optimizer areas, such as Information Technology; Procurement; Shared Services and Gerdau International Trade, optimize resources and achieve economies of scale. The Advantage Accelerators areas, such as Metallics; Marketing and Sales; Industrial, Engineering; People; Innovation and Management System, exploit Gerdau´s differentiating capabilities in the Business Divisions.

All members of the Board of Directors and the Gerdau Executive Committee are elected for one-year terms, with re-election or re-appointment permitted. Members of the Board of Directors are appointed at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders while members of the Gerdau Executive Committee are elected at meetings of the Board of Directors.

Advisory Board

At the Extraordinary and Ordinary General Meeting of April 29, 2015, given that the changes in the Company’s Bylaws were approved, the Board of Directors installed and elected the Advisory Board (“Conselho Consultivo”) that began its duties on May 1, 2015.

The Advisory Board is responsible for issuing an opinion on the matters submitted thereto by the Board of Directors.

Chairman

Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter

Members

Germano Hugo Gerdau Johannpeter

Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter

Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter

Dr. Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter as Chairman, Dr. Germano Hugo Gerdau Johannpeter, Dr. Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter and Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter as Vice Presidents served as members of the Board of Directors of Gerdau until April 30, 2015.

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JORGE GERDAU JOHANNPETER (born in 1936)

· Education: Degree in Law from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 1961.

· Experience: In May 2015, he became the Chairman of the Advisory Board of Gerdau SA and Metalúrgica Gerdau SA. He has worked at Gerdau since 1954. He became an Executive Officer in 1971 and was appointed Board of Directors member in 1973. From 2002, after the implementation of new corporate governance structure, until December 2006, Jorge Johannpeter also held the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). From 1983 to April 2015 served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA and its parent company Metalurgica Gerdau SA, a listed company, Gerdau holding company whose core business is the manufacture of steel products in general; and Seiva S.A. - Florestas e Indústrias, company that is part of the same group of Gerdau SA and whose main activity is the participation in the capital of other companies. On January 2, 2007, Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter retired from the Gerdau Executive Committee and, since then and until April 2015, he served exclusively as a member of the Board of Directors as its President.

· Other activities: Member of the Board of the Instituto Aço Brasil (Brazil Steel Institute) and Board member of Federação das Indústrias de São Paulo — FIESP. Founded of the Gaucho Quality and Productivity Program and Brazil Competitive Movement. He is a member of the International Quality Academy, of the Brazilian Quality Academy and member of the board of the Fundação Nacional da Qualidade (National Quality Foundation). In education and culture areas, heads the Governance Council of the movement “Todos pela Eduação” (All for Education) and member of the Board of Directors of Parceiros Voluntários.

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FREDERICO CARLOS GERDAU JOHANNPETER (born in 1942)

· Education: Degree in Business Administration from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and has a master’s degree in Business, Finance, Costs and Investments from the University of Cologne, Germany.

· Experience: In May 2015, he became a member of the Advisory Board of Gerdau SA and Metalurgica Gerdau SA. He has worked at Gerdau since 1961. He became an Executive Officer in 1971, and from 1973 to 2002 served as a member of the Board of directors. In 2002, under the new corporate governance structure, he became Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee of Gerdau SA, a position he held until December 2006. From January 2007 until April 2015, he served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA, its parent company Metalurgica Gerdau SA and Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias.

GERMANO HUGO GERDAU JOHANNPETER (born in 1932)

· Education: Degree in Business Administration from the Fundação Getúlio Vargas.

· Professional experience: In May 2015, he became a member of the Advisory Board of Gerdau SA and Metalúrgica Gerdau SA He has worked at Gerdau in since 1951. He became an Executive Officer in 1971, and from 1973 to 2015, he served as a member of the Board of Directors. From 2002 until April 2015, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA, Metalúrgica Gerdau SA and Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias.

KLAUS GERDAU JOHANNPETER (born in 1935)

· Education: Degree in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering for the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 1958.

· Professional experience: In May 2015, he became a member of the Advisory Board of Gerdau SA and Metalúrgica Gerdau SA. He has worked for Gerdau since 1954. He became an Executive Officer in 1971 and from 1973 to 2015, he served as a member of the Board of Directors. Until his retirement from the Executive Committee in 2007, he was the main coordinator of the technical development of Gerdau’s industrial operations. From 2002 until April 2015, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA, Metalúrgica Gerdau SA, and Seiva SA - Florestas e Indústrias. In addition, he has been the Chairman of the Gerdau Institute, the governing body of Gerdau’s social projects, since it was founded in 2005.

Board of Auditors

Under Brazilian Corporate Law, the board of auditors (“Conselho Fiscal”) is a shareholder nominated audit board and an independent corporate body of the board of directors, management and the company’s external auditors. The board of auditors has not typically been equivalent to or comparable with a U.S. audit committee; its primary responsibility has been to monitor management’s activities, review the financial statements, and report its findings to the shareholders.

Pursuant to an exemption under Section 10A-3 of the SEC rules concerning the audit committees of listed companies, a foreign private issuer (such as the Company) doesn’t need to have a separate audit committee composed of independent members if it has a Board of Auditors established and selected pursuant to its home country’s legal or listing provisions expressly requiring or permitting such a board and if such a board meets certain requirements. Pursuant to this exemption, a board of auditors can exercise the required duties and responsibilities of an U.S. audit committee to the extent permissible under Brazilian Corporate Law. To comply with the SEC rules, the Board of Auditors must meet the following standards: it must be separate from the full board of directors, its members must not be elected by management, no executive officer may be a member, and Brazilian law must set forth standards for the independence of the members. In order to qualify for exemption, the Board of Auditors must, to the extent permitted by Brazilian law:

· be responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the external auditors (including the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding financial reporting);

· be responsible for establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;

· have the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisors as deemed necessary, to carry out its duties; and

· receive appropriate funding from the Company for payment of compensation to the external auditors, for any advisors and ordinary administrative expenses.

As a foreign private issuer, the Company decided to modify its Board of Auditors to comply with the exemption requirements. Accordingly, the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on April 28, 2005, amended the Company’s by-laws to modify the duties of the Board of Auditors and the Board of Directors, and, on the same date approved the delegation of certain

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additional responsibilities to the Board of Auditors. The Board of Auditors operates pursuant to a charter (“regimento interno”) that contemplates the activities described above to the extent permitted by Brazilian Law and is compliant with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the pertinent regulations, and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the Board of Auditors.

Because Brazilian Corporate Law does not permit the board of directors to delegate responsibility for the appointment, retention and compensation of the external auditors and does not provide the board or the board of auditors with the authority to resolve disagreements between management and the external auditors regarding financial reporting, the board of auditors cannot fulfill these functions. Therefore, in addition to its oversight responsibilities, the board of auditors may only make recommendations to the board of directors with respect to the appointment, retention and compensation of the external auditors. Likewise, the board of auditors may only make recommendations to management and the board with regard to the resolution of disagreements between management and the external auditors. This limited scope of authority is a key difference between the board of auditors and the customary authority of an audit committee as a full committee of the board of directors.

Under Brazilian Corporate Law, members of the board of auditors of a company are not allowed to be members of the board of directors, hold executive office, or be employed in any other position within that of the company or its subsidiaries or controlled companies. In addition, a member of the board of auditors cannot be spouse or relative of any member of the company’s management. The Brazilian Corporate Law requires that members of the board of auditors receive a remuneration at least 10% of the average amount paid to each executive officer; and, also, that a board of auditors be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members and their respective alternates.

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As part of the adaptation of its Board of Auditors to the regulations, the Company has installed a permanent (standing) Board of Auditors currently composed of five members and their alternates who are elected at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders with term of office to run until the next Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders following their election, reelection being permitted. Under Brazilian Corporate Law, holders of Preferred Shares have the right to elect through a separate vote, one member of the board of auditors to represent their interests. Likewise, minority groups of shareholders with voting shares also have the right to elect one member of the board of auditors through a separate vote. However, irrespective of circumstances, the common shareholders have the right to elect the majority of the members of the board of auditors. Set forth below are the names, ages and positions of the members of the Company’s Board of Auditors and their respective alternates, since April 29, 2015.

Name |  | Birthday |  | Member Position |  | Year First Elected
Bolívar Charneski |  | 08/22/1950 |  | Effective |  | 2011
Geraldo Toffanello |  | 10/12/1950 |  | Effective |  | 2014
Carlos Roberto Schröder |  | 02/19/1940 |  | Effective |  | 2015
Célio de Melo Almada Neto |  | 06/03/1975 |  | Effective |  | 2015
Tomás Junqueira de Camargo |  | 09/15/1978 |  | Effective |  | 2015
Artur Cesar Brenner Peixoto |  | 09/29/1942 |  | Alternate |  | 2014
Domingos Matias Urroz Lopes |  | 11/26/1937 |  | Alternate |  | 2015
Pedro Floriano Hoerde |  | 07/16/1937 |  | Alternate |  | 2015
Mauricio de Araujo |  | 08/08/1971 |  | Alternate |  | 2015
Adilson Serrano Silva |  | 10/14/1948 |  | Alternate |  | 2015

The Shareholder’s Ordinary Meeting has determined that Bolívar Charneski is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules adopted by the SEC concerning the disclosure of financial experts. Each member of the Board of Auditors has acquired significant financial experience and exposure to accounting and financial issues.

BOLÍVAR CHARNESKI (born in 1950)

· Education: Degree in Accounting in 1974 and participation in a professional exchange program in Atlanta, USA.

· Experience: He is the founder and partner of Charneski Assessoria e Consultoria since 1988, and since 2009 dedicates to advising companies and organizations in the fields of Governance, Boards, Management, Accounting and Tax. Fiscal Council member (designated as Financial Expert for SOX purposes) of Gerdau SA since 2011; Fiscal Council member of Grendene SA from 2011 to 2013; He was member of the Coordination Committee of the South Chapter of the Instituto Brasileiro de Governaça Corporativa-IBGC (Brazilian Corporate Governance Institute); Fiscal Council member of Forjas Taurus SA from 1998 to 2007, Fiscal Council member of Plascar Participações Industriais SA. from April to September 2009, Board Member certified by IBGC; He was acting Partner (1st elected in Brazil) of Price Waterhouse (1971-1988), where he was also one of the founders of the Accounting and Audit Commission; He was director in various administrations of the Instituto dos Auditores Independentes do Brasil IBRACON (Brazilian Institute of Independent Auditors), having presided over the 6th Regional Section and serving twice as Director of IBRACON; Advisory Board Member of family-owned businesses. Author of articles about business and economic scenarios.

GERALDO TOFFANELLO (born in 1950)

· Education: Degree in accounting from Faculdade Porto-Alegrense de Ciências Contábeis e Administrativas and Postgraduate education in Accounting from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS).

· Experience: He started his career at Gerdau in 1970, as tax bookkeeping assistant, promoted later to manager of the Tax Accounting area. He also served as manager of Accounting and Bookkeeping in Sapucaia do Sul. In 1980, he was transferred to Gerdau Açonorte, as the Accountant responsible for the northeast region companies, being promoted to Accounting Manager of this regional office in 1981. In 1983, he returned to Gerdau in Porto Alegre/RS to work at the Accounting department and also at the holding company. In 1984, he was promoted to General Manager of Accounting and Internal Audit, serving in the corporate areas of these two processes. In 1988, he was promoted to Accounting Director and later served as Accounting Director a position he held until retiring in 2012. In 2013, he became a Fiscal Council member of Dimed S.A., member of the Board of Directors of Puras FO and Founding Partner of Empresa Luzes do Mundo Ltda.

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CARLOS ROBERTO SCHRODER (born in 1940)

· Education: Degree in Accounting from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 1968.

· Experience: He worked in the following companies: (i) Petróleo Brasileiro SA - PETROBRAS, a listed company whose main activity is the prospecting, extraction, refining, processing, trade and transport of oil from wells, shale and other rocks, its derivatives, natural gas and other fluid hydrocarbons, as Head of Cost Sector from 1966 to 1971; (ii) Siderúrgica Riograndense SA, from 1971 to 1973 as Assistant at Cost Department, and from 1973 to 1976 as Chief Accountant; (Iii) Metalurgica Gerdau SA, from 1973 to 1976 as Chief Accountant; (Iv) Companhia Siderurgica da Guanabara - Cosigua, former name of Gerdau SA from 1977 to 1981 as Accounting Manager; (v) Gerdau Group and Siderúrgica Laisa SA - Uruguay from 1981 to 1983 as Accounting Manager; (vi) Siderúrgica Riograndense SA and Siderurgica Guaira SA, from 1983 to 1989 as Administrative and Accounting Director; (vii) Usina Siderúrgica da Bahia SA - Usiba, 1989-1996, as Executive Director; (viii) Siderrúrgica Açonorte SA, Usina Siderúrgica da Bahia SA - Usiba and Usina Siderúrgica Cearense SA, from 1996 to 1998, as Executive Director.

CÉLIO DE MELO ALMADA NETO (born in 1975)

· Education: Degree in Law and Social Sciences at the Centro Universitário das Faculdades Metropolitanas Unidas and specialization in Civil Procedural Law from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of São Paulo.

· Experience: Partner of the Law Firm “Melo Almada Advogados Associados”, board member of the company Bombril SA, member of the Supervisory Board of the following companies: Azevedo Travassos S.A. (substitute) and Julio Simões Logística SA (effective).

TOMÁS JUNQUEIRA DE CAMARGO (born in 1978)

· Education: Degree in Law and Social Sciences for the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and a master’s degree in law at the University of Pennsylvania (USA).

· Experience: Worked in “Machado, Meyer, Sendacz and Opice Advogados”, is currently Counsel at the Office “Camargo Sociedade de Advogados” and a member of the Alumni Association Board.

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D. EMPLOYEES

Direct |  | Brasil |  | Overseas |  | Total |
2011 |  | 23.516 |  | 19.304 |  | 42.820 |
2012 |  | 22.658 |  | 19.211 |  | 41.869 |
2013 |  | 22.278 |  | 19.337 |  | 41.615 |
2014 |  | 20.169 |  | 19.892 |  | 40.061 |
2015 |  | 16.495 |  | 18.650 |  | 35.145 |

Outsourced* |  | Brasil |  | Overseas |  | Total |
2011 |  | 7.734 |  | 3.799 |  | 11.186 |
2012 |  | 8.147 |  | 3.303 |  | 11.450 |
2013 |  | 7.637 |  | 4.128 |  | 11.765 |
2014 |  | 6.583 |  | 4.201 |  | 10.784 |
2015 |  | 5.406 |  | 3.461 |  | 8.867 |

*Outsourced corresponds to employees of third-party service providers of Gerdau which provide, as employees of those providers, services directly to Gerdau in areas that are not the core business of Gerdau.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company employed 35,145 at its industrial units excluding joint ventures. 47% of this total is based in Brazil and the remainder in South America, North America, Europe and India, which have 5,218, 10,284, 2,276 and 872 employees, respectively.

As labor unions in Brazil and other Countries in Latin America and Europe are organized on a regional basis, the Company has no nationwide agreements with its employees. Gerdau believes that its employee pay and benefits structure is comparable to that of the general market. In North America, 32% of Gerdau employees are unionized.

Gerdau maintains good working conditions at its mills and consequently has what it believes to be a comparatively low employee turnover rate.

Gerdau maintain good relations with employees. To maintain such good working environment, the company provides development and training opportunities, team-building programs and transparent management system. Compensation programs are designed to meet employee’s financial interests with those of Gerdau shareholders.

E. STOCK OWNERSHIP

The following table shows the individual holdings of shares in preferred and common stock in Gerdau S.A. for each director and executive officer as of January 31, 2016.

Shareholder |  | Common Shares (with voting rights) |  | % |  | Preferred Shares (with restricted voting rights) |  | % |
Claudio Johannpeter |  | 38,435 |  | 0.01 |  | 158,858 |  | 0.01 |
André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter |  | 23,885 |  | 0.00 |  | 348,395 |  | 0.03 |
Richard Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter |  | — |  | — |  | 2,250 |  | 0.00 |
Expedito Luz |  | — |  | — |  | 18,783 |  | 0.00 |
Affonso Celso Patore |  | — |  | — |  | 20,948 |  | 0.00 |
Fernando Fontes Iunes |  | — |  | — |  | 324 |  | 0.00 |
Guilherme Chagas Gerdau Johannpeter |  | — |  | — |  | 97,246 |  | 0.01 |
Harley Lorentz Scardoelli |  | — |  | — |  | 9,571 |  | 0.00 |
Francisco Deppermann Fortes |  | — |  | — |  | 40,841 |  | 0.00 |
Manoel Vitor de Mendonça Filho |  | — |  | — |  | 81,235 |  | 0.01 |
TOTAL |  | 62,320 |  | 0.01 |  | 778,451 |  | 0.70 |

The Company has different employee stock option plans for each of its subsidiaries. See NOTE 24 — Long-Term Incentive Plans in its consolidated financial statements included herein for further details.

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The following table shows the remaining vested options, the restricted shares resulted from the stock option conversion and 2013, 2014 and 2015 awards (all Gerdau S.A. preferred shares) to each director and executive officer until January 31, 2015.

|  | Stock Options |  | Restricted Share Units |  | Performance Share Units |
Names |  | Grant |  | Exercised |  | Cancelled |  | Balance |  | Grant |  | Exercised |  | Cancelled |  | Balance |  | Grant |  | Exercised |  | Cancelled |  | Balance |
Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter |  | 320.386 |  | 0 |  | 320.386 |  | 0 |  | 634.776 |  | 634.776 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 463.850 |  | 335.814 |  | 128.036 |  | 0 |
Germano H G Johannpeter |  | 191.881 |  | 0 |  | 191.881 |  | 0 |  | 544.672 |  | 544.672 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 226.236 |  | 163.847 |  | 62.389 |  | 0 |
Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter |  | 191.881 |  | 0 |  | 191.881 |  | 0 |  | 544.672 |  | 544.672 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 226.236 |  | 163.847 |  | 62.389 |  | 0 |
Frederico C G Johannpeter |  | 281.485 |  | 0 |  | 281.485 |  | 0 |  | 607.488 |  | 607.488 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 391.180 |  | 283.216 |  | 107.964 |  | 0 |
Claudio Johannpeter |  | 185.976 |  | 0 |  | 53.208 |  | 132.768 |  | 284.699 |  | 59.344 |  | 0 |  | 225.355 |  | 245.280 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 245.280 |
Affonso Celso Pastore |  | 28.929 |  | 0 |  | 3.705 |  | 25.224 |  | 50.729 |  | 20.292 |  | 0 |  | 30.437 |  | 48.049 |  | 0 |  | 653 |  | 47.396 |
Oscar de P Bernardes Neto |  | 28.929 |  | 0 |  | 28.929 |  | 0 |  | 36.755 |  | 36.755 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 48.049 |  | 5.814 |  | 42.235 |  | 0 |
Andre Bier Johannpeter |  | 231.158 |  | 0 |  | 55.805 |  | 175.353 |  | 329.152 |  | 60.544 |  | 0 |  | 268.608 |  | 319.861 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 319.861 |
Manoel Vitor de M Filho |  | 43.555 |  | 0 |  | 3.264 |  | 40.291 |  | 79.145 |  | 15.538 |  | 0 |  | 63.607 |  | 72.408 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 72.408 |
Expedito Luz |  | 41.319 |  | 0 |  | 3.966 |  | 37.353 |  | 64.099 |  | 13.138 |  | 0 |  | 50.961 |  | 56.229 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 56.229 |
Francisco D Fortes |  | 33.027 |  | 0 |  | 2.351 |  | 30.676 |  | 58.735 |  | 11.562 |  | 0 |  | 47.173 |  | 53.436 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 53.436 |
Guilherme Gerdau Johannpeter |  | 109.759 |  | 12.716 |  | 7.415 |  | 89.628 |  | 96.814 |  | 22.358 |  | 0 |  | 74.456 |  | 83.505 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 83.505 |
André Pires de Oliveira Dias |  | 19.236 |  | 0 |  | 19.236 |  | 0 |  | 50.361 |  | 9.045 |  | 41.315 |  | 1 |  | 49.098 |  | 0 |  | 49.098 |  | 0 |
Ricardo G Mascheroni |  | 39.365 |  | 0 |  | 39.365 |  | 0 |  | 67.453 |  | 12.499 |  | 54.954 |  | 0 |  | 65.054 |  | 0 |  | 65.054 |  | 0 |
Harley Lorentz Scardoelli |  | 16.987 |  | 0 |  | 1.610 |  | 15.377 |  | 20.123 |  | 4.635 |  | 0 |  | 15.488 |  | 15.356 |  | 0 |  | 0 |  | 15.356 |
Total |  | 1.763.873 |  | 12.716 |  | 1.204.487 |  | 546.670 |  | 3.469.673 |  | 2.597.318 |  | 96.269 |  | 776.086 |  | 2.363.827 |  | 952.538 |  | 517.818 |  | 893.471 |

Note 1: Ricardo Giuzeppe Mascheroni retired on July 1, 2015 and no longer serves the Company.

Note 2: The Vice President André Pires de Oliveira Dias resigned his duties on July 15, 2015.

Note 3: On the date of September 24, 2015 the Board Member Oscar De Paula Bernardes Neto resigned as Independent Board Member function of Gerdau S. A.

Note 4: The Director Harley Lorentz Scardoelli was elected Statutory Director from July 15, 2015. As of September 3, 2015 Harley Lorentz Scardoelli was elected Vice President accumulating the functions of Director of Investor Relations, and in addition, part of the Executive Committee of the Company, with a mandate until April 30, 2016.

Note 5: Dr. Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter as President, Dr. Germano Hugo Gerdau Johannpeter, Dr. Klaus Gerdau Johannpeter and Frederico Carlos Gerdau Johannpeter as Vice Presidents served as members of the Board of Directors of Gerdau SA until April 30, 2015.

The information of exercise price, grant date, vesting date and expiration date are available in the stock option table in the item 6.B — Compensation.

The Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting held on September 19, 2013 approved the amendment to the Preferred Stock Option Plan, allowing participants to convert their Stock Options already granted but not yet exercised into “Restricted Shares” in which restriction in this case is the vesting period. Said conversion was based on the fair value of the option calculated by an independent consulting firm. Bloomberg was contracted to perform the equivalence calculation.

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ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

As of January 31, 2016, Gerdau S.A. had 571,929,945 common shares and 1,114,805,752 non-voting preferred shares outstanding (excluding treasury stock). Of the two classes of stock traded in the market, only the common stock carries voting rights. Under the terms of the Company’s bylaws, however, specific rights are assured to the non-voting preferred stock. See the bylaws of Gerdau S.A. attached to this Annual Report.

The table below presents certain information as of January 31, 2016, regarding (i) any person known to the Company as the owner of more than 5% of Gerdau S.A.’s outstanding common stock, (ii) any person known to the Company as the owner of more than 5% of Gerdau S.A.’s outstanding preferred stock, and (iii) the total amount of the common and preferred stock owned by the members of the board of directors and executive officers of the Gerdau S.A. as a group.

Shareholder |  | Common Shares |  | % |  | Preferred Shares |  | % |
Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. |  | 439,481,675 |  | 76.61 |  | 252,841,484 |  | 21.86 |
Banco BTG Pactual S.A. |  | 34,209,522 |  | 5.96 |  | — |  | 0.00 |
BlackRock, Inc. |  | — |  | — |  | 58,411,207 |  | 5.10 |
Members of the board of directors and executive officers as a group (10 members) |  | 62,320 |  | 0.01 |  | 778,451 |  | 0.70 |

Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. is a holding company that directly and indirectly controls all Gerdau companies in Brazil and abroad. Metalúrgica Gerdau and its subsidiaries hold 76.61% of the voting capital stock of Gerdau S.A. and thus have the ability to control the Company’s Board of Directors as well as its management and operations.

On January 31, 2016 there were 380,915,170 ADRs outstanding, representing 33.2% of Gerdau S.A. preferred shares and the number of record holders were 39.

B. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company’s transactions with related parties consist of (i) loans, (ii) commercial operations and (iii) the payment of guarantees to some controlling companies. See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Related Party Transactions) for further information.

(i) Gerdau S.A. maintains loans with some of its subsidiaries and other affiliates through loan contracts, which are repaid under conditions similar to those prevailing in the open market. Loan agreements between Brazilian companies are adjusted by the monthly variation in the CDI (interbank deposit rate). The agreements with foreign companies are adjusted by contracted charges plus foreign exchange variation, when applicable.

(ii) Commercial operations between Gerdau S.A. and its subsidiaries or related parties basically consist of transactions involving the purchase and sale of inputs and products. These transactions are carried out under the terms and conditions established in the contract between the parties and under prevailing market conditions. The commercial operations include payments relating to loan guarantees.

(iii) The Company holds marketable securities in investment funds managed by a related-party bank. These marketable securities comprise time deposits and debentures issued by major Brazilian banks and treasury bills issued by the Brazilian government.

(iv) The Company pays a fee of 0.95% per year for debt guaranteed by a controlling related-party company.

The Company’s transactions with related parties are presented below:

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|  | INTRA-GROUP AGREEMENTS |  |  |  | Original Amount |  |  |  |  |  | Outstanding Amount |
Item |  | Purpose of the Agreement |  | Relationship with issuer |  | In thousands of R$ |  | Date |  | Maturity or Deadline |  | Termination or extinction conditions |  | December 31, 2015 |  | Largest amount during the period covered |
1 |  | Guarantee for company Sidertul, AS de CV and GTL Mexico, AS de CV with BBVA for financing working capital in the amount of up to US$80 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 212,496 |  | 11/21/13 |  | 01/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 82,832 |  | 187,032 |
2 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Gerdau Steel India Ltd. in a financing working capital with Citibank in the amount of up to US$20 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 53,124 |  | 12/24/14 |  | 01/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 26,417 |  | 26,417 |
3 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Corsa S.AP.I de C.V. in a loan with Scotiabank in the amount of up to MXN 1,430,000,000.00, equivalent to US$110 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Jointly-controlled entity |  | 250,470 |  | 08/12/14 |  | 02/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 324,521 |  | 335,448 |
4 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Corsa S.AP.I de C.V. in a loan with HSBC in the amount of up to MXN 1,320,000,000.00, equivalent to US$100 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Jointly-controlled entity |  | 223,130 |  | 09/03/14 |  | 02/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 299,557 |  | 309,645 |
5 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Corsa S.AP.I de C.V. in a global credit line for financing working capital in the amount of up to US$255 million. |  | Jointly-controlled entity |  | 953,675 |  | 11/27/15 |  | 02/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 995,724 |  | 995,724 |
6 |  | Guarantee for company Empresa Siderurgica Del Peru S.A.A. in a loan with Banco Safra in the amount of up to US$75,000.00 on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 90,986 |  | 09/17/12 |  | 04/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 29,286 |  | 60,150 |
7 |  | Guarantee for Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. in an electricity purchase and sale agreement with Duke Energy International, Geração Paranapanema S.A., in the current value of up to R$35.4 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 30,889 |  | 05/04/15 |  | 05/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 35,405 |  | 35,405 |
8 |  | Guarantee for company Siderurgica Zuliana, C.A., in a loan with Citibank in the amount of up to US$30 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 12,132 |  | 06/15/15 |  | 06/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 117,144 |  | 119,187 |
9 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Corsa S.AP.I de C.V. and Sidertul, in a loan with HSBC in the amount of up to MXN 2,802,168,000.00, equivalent to US$180 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Jointly-controlled entity |  | 333,013 |  | 06/26/14 |  | 06/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 468,446 |  | 684,809 |
10 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A. in a loan with BNDES in the amount of up to R$900 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 900,000 |  | 12/16/15 |  | 07/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 7,167 |  | 23,522 |
11 |  | Guarantee for company DIACO S.A., in a loan with JPMorgan in the amount of up to COP 75,168,000,000.00 equivalent to US$40 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 92,996 |  | 10/22/13 |  | 10/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 93,195 |  | 100,098 |
12 |  | Guarantee for company Comercial Gerdau Bolivia in a global credit line for financing working capital in the amount of up to US$4 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 15,075 |  | 11/04/15 |  | 11/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 15,619 |  | 15,619 |
13 |  | Guarantee for company Coquecol S.A.C.I., co-borrower of a global credit line for financing working capital in the amount of up to US$11 million |  | Subsidiary |  | 41,456 |  | 11/04/15 |  | 11/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 42,953 |  | 42,953 |
14 |  | Guarantee for company DIACO S.A., co-borrower of a global credit line for financing working capital in the amount of up to US$95 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 358,027 |  | 11/04/15 |  | 11/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 370,956 |  | 370,956 |
15 |  | Guarantee for Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. in an electricity purchase and sale agreement with Copel Geração e Transmissão S.A., in the current value of up to R$2,413,085.66. |  | Subsidiary |  | 2,413 |  | 11/14/14 |  | 12/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 2,413 |  | 2,413 |
16 |  | Guarantee for Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. in an electricity purchase and sale agreement with Companhia energética de São Paulo, CESP, in the current value of up to R$6,494,845.68. |  | Subsidiary |  | 6,495 |  | 12/14/15 |  | 12/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 6,495 |  | 6,495 |
17 |  | Guarantee for Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. in an electricity purchase and sale agreement with Tractebel Energia Comercializadora Ltda., in the current value of up to R$11,119,593.60. |  | Subsidiary |  | 11,120 |  | 11/13/14 |  | 12/2016 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 11,120 |  | 11,120 |
18 |  | Guarantee for Diaco S.A. in a financing granted by Banco BBVA Colômbia of up to US$40 million on the agreement’s date. No remuneration. |  | Subsidiary |  | 55,832 |  | 05/03/15 |  | 06/2017 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 19,367 |  | 93,608 |
19 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Sipar Aceros S.A., in a financing granted by Citibank in the amount of up to ARS 50,000,000.00 equivalent to US$6,2 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 15,154 |  | 06/27/14 |  | 06/2017 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 10,065 |  | 18,182 |
20 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Gerdau Steel India Ltd. in a loan with HSBC in the amount of US$25 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 58,565 |  | 12/19/13 |  | 08/2017 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 97,620 |  | 99,323 |
21 |  | Co-guarantee for GTL Trade Finance Inc. in the 10-year Bond issued in October/2007 in an amount of up to US$1,5 billion. No remuneration. |  | Subsidiary |  | 1,744,000 |  | 10/22/07 |  | 10/2017 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 3,379,741 |  | 3,458,632 |
22 |  | Guarantee for company Empresa Siderurgica del Peru S.A.A., in a loan with Tokyo Bank in the amount of up to US$100 milion on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 242,630 |  | 03/30/15 |  | 03/2018 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 390,480 |  | 397,290 |
23 |  | Guarantee for company Diaco S.A., in a loan with Citibank in the amount of up to US$40 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 137,700 |  | 08/03/15 |  | 08/2018 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 143,175 |  | 153,779 |
24 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Sipar Aceros S.A., in a financing granted by Banco de la Nación in the amount of US$105 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 229,808 |  | 10/04/13 |  | 09/2018 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 410,004 |  | 417,155 |
25 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Gerdau Steel India Ltd. in a loan with Tokyo Bank in the amount of INR 2,505,600,000.00 equivalent to US$40 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 92,996 |  | 09/06/13 |  | 09/2018 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 156,192 |  | 158,916 |
26 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Gerdau Steel India Ltd. in a loan with Citibank in the amount of up to INR 3,000,000,000.00, equivalet to US$50 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 143,910 |  | 02/03/15 |  | 02/2019 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 177,142 |  | 182,020 |
27 |  | The Company is the guarantor of Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de C.V. in a loan with Sumitomo in the amount of MXN 990,750,000,000.00 equivalent to US$75 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Jointly-controlled entity |  | 176,145 |  | 03/13/14 |  | 03/2019 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 224,838 |  | 232,409 |
28 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Coquecol S.A.C.I., co-borrower of a loan with Riverport-Mizuho in the amount of up to US$15 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 59,594 |  | 04/01/14 |  | 04/2019 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 58,572 |  | 59,594 |
29 |  | Guarantee for Sipar Aceros S.A. in a financing granted by BBVA in the amount of US$34 million, equivalents to ARS. |  | Subsidiary |  | 83,241 |  | 10/30/14 |  | 09/2019 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 86,642 |  | 126,499 |
30 |  | Co-guarantee for Gerdau Holdings Inc. in the 10-year Bond issued in November/2009 in an amount of up to US$1,25 billion. No remuneration. |  | Subsidiary |  | 2,188,125 |  | 11/24/09 |  | 01/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 2,364,520 |  | 2,497,377 |

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31 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Açominas S.A. in a loan with BNDES in the amount of up to R$776,616,380.00 on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 776,616 |  | 12/04/12 |  | 01/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 449,809 |  | 481,526 |
32 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Açominas S.A. in a loan with NCE Banco do Brasil in the amount of up to R$430 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 430,000 |  | 03/19/14 |  | 02/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 430,000 |  | 430,000 |
33 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. in a loan with NCE Banco do Brasil in the amount of up to R$70 million on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 70,000 |  | 03/19/14 |  | 02/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 70,000 |  | 70,000 |
34 |  | Gerdau S.A. usually trades its own debentures for the parent owners. These transactions are carried out at the present unit price of the paper, which pays the CDI variation. |  | Subsidiary |  | — |  | — |  | 06/2020 |  | Maturity |  | 73,485 |  | 590,810 |
35 |  | Gerdau S.A. usually trades its own debentures on behalf of Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. These transactions are carried out at the present unit price of the paper, which pays the CDI variation. |  | Subsidiary |  | — |  | — |  | 06/2020 |  | Maturity |  | 362,129 |  | 362,129 |
36 |  | Gerdau S.A. usually trades its own debentures on behalf of Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A.. These transactions are carried out at the present unit price of the paper, which pays the CDI variation. |  | Subsidiary |  | — |  | — |  | 06/2020 |  | Maturity |  | 112,413 |  | 112,413 |
37 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Gerdau Açominas S.A. in a loan with Banco do Brasil in the amount of R$660 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 660,000 |  | 09/24/13 |  | 08/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 610,000 |  | 660,000 |
38 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Gerdau Açominas S.A. in a financing working capital with Citibank in the amount of R$656,200,000.00 for a period of 5 years. |  | Subsidiary |  | 656,200 |  | 10/30/15 |  | 10/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 656,200 |  | 656,200 |
39 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Corsa S.AP.I de C.V. in a loan with BBVA in the amount of US$150 million equivalent to MXN. |  | Jointly-controlled entity |  | 580,665 |  | 12/14/15 |  | 12/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 567,344 |  | 567,344 |
40 |  | The Company is the guarantor of subsidiary Sipar Aceros S.A., in a financing granted by Banco Patagônia in the amount of US$21,023,641.08 equivalent in ARS. |  | Subsidiary |  | 81,575 |  | 10/30/15 |  | 12/2020 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 50,973 |  | 50,973 |
41 |  | Co-guarantee for Gerdau Trade Inc. in the 10-year Bond issued in September/2010 in an amount of up to US$1,25 billion |  | Subsidiary |  | 2,117,750 |  | 10/01/10 |  | 01/2021 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 4,441,222 |  | 4,713,846 |
42 |  | Guarantee for Gerdau Açominas S.A. in financings and the opening of a letter of credit for expansion projects and the acquisition of equipment in an amount of up to US$291,959 thousand. No remuneration. |  | Subsidiary |  | 437,387 |  | 06/16/11 |  | 02/2021 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 687,548 |  | 687,548 |
43 |  | Co-guarantee for Gerdau Trade Inc. in the 10-year Bond issued in April/2013 in an amount of up to US$750,000,000.00. |  | Subsidiary |  | 1,501,275 |  | 04/15/13 |  | 04/2023 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 2,341,060 |  | 2,381,889 |
44 |  | Co-guarantee for GTL Trade Finance Inc. and Gerdau Holdings Inc. in the 10-year Bond issued in April/2014 in an amount of up to US$1,165,629,000.00. No remuneration. |  | Subsidiary |  | 2,606,346 |  | 04/10/14 |  | 04/2024 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 4,289,681 |  | 4,444,598 |
45 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. in a loan with BNDES in the amount of up to R$543,413,000.00 on the agreement’s date. |  | Subsidiary |  | 413,264 |  | 07/08/08 |  | 10/2024 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 340,807 |  | 374,821 |
46 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. in a loan with BBRB Pró DF II. |  | Subsidiary |  | 12,834 |  | 08/05/09 |  | 12/2030 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 12,216 |  | 12,398 |
47 |  | Co-guarantee for Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc. in the 25-year Bond issued in October/2012 in an amount of US$51 million. |  | Subsidiary |  | 103,596 |  | 10/18/12 |  | 10/2037 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 199,145 |  | 202,618 |
48 |  | Co-guarantee for GTL Trade Finance Inc. in the 30-years Bond issued in April/2014 in an amount of US$500 million. No remuneration. |  | Subsidiary |  | 1,118,000 |  | 04/16/14 |  | 04/2044 |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 1,952,400 |  | 1,986,450 |
49 |  | Guarantee received from the company Indac Ind. Adm. E Com. S.A. for debentures from the7°, 8°, 9° and 11° issuances, with no restriction of amounts and dates. Remuneration rate of 0.95% on the due amount. |  | Parent company |  | — |  | — |  | Undetermined |  | Maturity |  | 182,678 |  | 182,678 |
50 |  | Current account (liability balance) with Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A.. Pays the monthly variation of the CDI. |  | Parent company |  | — |  | 12/01/15 |  | Undetermined |  | No maturity |  | 26 |  | 566 |
51 |  | Current account (liability balance) with Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. Pays the monthly variation of the CDI. |  | Subsidiary |  | — |  | 07/31/05 |  | Undetermined |  | No maturity |  | 5,640 |  | 5,640 |
52 |  | Current account (asset) with Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. Pays the monthly variation of the CDI. |  | Subsidiary |  | — |  | 12/01/14 |  | Undetermined |  | No maturity |  | 605 |  | 1,515 |
53 |  | Current account (liability balance) with Gerdau Trade Inc. Pays the contracted charges plus exchange variance. |  | Subsidiary |  | — |  | 09/17/10 |  | Undetermined |  | No maturity |  | 7,432,136 |  | 7,552,061 |
54 |  | Gerdau S.A. has accounts receivable derived from sales to subsidiaries (Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais Brasil, Gerdau Açominas, Gerdau Aços Especiais Europa Gerdau AZA S.A., Sidenor Villares Rolling Mill Rolls SL and Villares Corporation of America). Sales in the period amounted to R$22,877 |  | Subsidiaries |  | — |  | — |  | Undetermined |  | Maturity |  | 61,781 |  | 61,781 |
55 |  | Gerdau S.A. has accounts payable derived from purchases to subsidiaries (Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais Brasil, Gerdau Açominas S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais Europa). Purchases in the period amounted 7.874. |  | Subsidiaries |  | — |  | — |  | Undetermined |  | Maturity |  | 3,090 |  | 14,929 |
56 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Steel India Ltd., with BOFA in a working capital loan in the amount of up to US$15 million, equivalents to INR. |  | Subsidiary |  | 32,732 |  | 10/11/13 |  | Undetermined |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 46,392 |  | 46,392 |
57 |  | Guarantee for company Gerdau Steel India Ltd., with JPMorgan in a working capital loan in the amount of US$25 million, equivalents to INR. |  | Subsidiary |  | 56,065 |  | 11/04/13 |  | Undetermined |  | Settlement of the agreement |  | 42,623 |  | 48,905 |
58 |  | Renting agreement of commercial room of area of 840 m2 of buuilding placed on Av. Farrapos, 1811 - Porto Alegre/RS, Lessor: Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. Lessee: Grupo Gerdau Empreendimentos Ltda: Amount per month R$57 thousand |  | Subsidiary |  | 50 |  | 01/01/13 |  | Undetermined |  | Maturity |  | 57 |  | 74 |

C. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Not applicable.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company’s financial statements are included in Item 18.

Legal Proceedings

General

Like other Brazilian companies, Gerdau and its subsidiaries are party to proceedings with respect to tax, labor and civil matters, most of them arising in the regular course of business. Based on advice from legal counsel, management believes that the reserve for provisions is sufficient to meet probable and reasonably estimable losses in the event of unfavorable rulings, and that the ultimate resolution will not have a significant effect on its consolidated financial position of December 31, 2015.

The most significant legal and administrative disputes are detailed below. The amount disclosed for each dispute is as of December 31, unless otherwise stated. For further information on the reserve for contingencies, see Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.

The following table summarizes the balances of provisions recorded for tax, civil and labor liabilities and related judicial deposits as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 (in thousands of reais):

Claims

|  | Reserve for Contingencies |  | Judicial Deposits |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Tax |  | 1,569,802 |  | 1,308,087 |  | 1,057,697 |  | 1,521,206 |  | 1,286,651 |  | 1,093,517 |
Labor |  | 287,613 |  | 228,475 |  | 214,501 |  | 82,005 |  | 66,608 |  | 57,456 |
Other |  | 47,315 |  | 39,793 |  | 22,400 |  | 100,156 |  | 77,606 |  | 4,434 |

Tax Provisions

Part of these provisions correspond to tax matters. The most significant provisions of contingencies are related to:

· R$ 27 million related to Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (“Imposto sobre a circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços” - ICMS), the majority of which is related to credit rights involving the Finance Secretariat and the State Courts.

· R$ 37 million related to discussions on Social Contribution Tax on Profits (“Contribuição Social sobre o Lucro” - CSLL ) and Income Tax (“Imposto de Renda Pessoa Jurídica — IRPJ).

· R$ 35 million related to the Emergency Capacity Charge (“Encargo de Capacidade Emergencial” — ECE), and the Extraordinary Tariff Recomposition (“Recomposição Tarifária Extraordinária — RTE), which are charges included in the electric energy bills. The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the ECE, and for this reason, once the lawsuits are terminated, the judicial deposit made will be used to settle the provision. As to the RTE, the Company understands the charge as of a tax nature and, as such, incompatible with the National Tax System. For this reason the constitutionality of this charge is being challenged in court. The lawsuits are outstanding before the First and Second Instances of the Federal Justice. The Company has made a full deposit in court for the amount of the disputed charge.

· R$ 1.424 million related to (i) compensation of Contribution to the Social Integration Plan (“Contribuição ao Programa de Integração Social” - PIS) and Social Security Financing Contribution (“Contribuição para o Financiamento da Seguridade Social” - COFINS) credits, (ii) taxation of those Contributions over income in excess of sales, and (iii) exclusion of the Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (“Imposto sobre a circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços” - ICMS) from the basis of calculation of the Contributions.

· R$ 48 million related to other taxes, discussed in cases, for which the probability of loss is more likely than not.

Considering the opinion of our legal advisors and the assessment by management, the likelihood of loss in connection with the lawsuits and proceedings listed below is deemed possible (but not likely), and, according to the accounting principles currently in force, no accounting reserves were made in connection with said proceedings.

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· The Company and its subsidiary, Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A. are parties in legal proceedings related to Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (“Imposto sobre a circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços” - ICMS) — state VAT — discussions, which essentially relate to tax credit and rate differences, and aggregately amount to R$ 1,128 million.

· The Company and its subsidiaries, Gerdau Açominas S.A.; Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., are part in discussions related to other taxes for which no reserve for contingency was established, as the probability of loss is less likely than not. The total amount involved is R$ 441 million.

· Subsidiaries Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., are parties to administrative proceedings relating to IRPJ — Corporate Income Tax and CSLL — Social Contribution Tax. Said proceedings relate to profits generated abroad and currently amount to R$ 1,447 million, of which (i) R$ 1,312 million correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda., whose voluntary appeals were partially granted in CARF’s lower court and are subject to special appeals currently pending in CARF’s higher court; and (ii) R$ 135 million correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., whose voluntary appeal is still pending in CARF’s lower court. The amounts which are not subject to special appeal pending judgment of Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda were referred for collection by the Federal Revenue Service Bureau and will be subject to judicial litigation by the Company.

· Subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais 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$ 3,666 million, of which (i) R$ 1,263 million correspond to three proceedings involving subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A., whose voluntary appeals were granted in 2012 and are subject to appeals filed by the Special Prosecutor of the National Treasury, currently pending in CARF’s higher court; (ii) R$ 1,882 million correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal was dismissed by CARF’s lower court in 2014 and is subject to a special appeal currently pending in CARF’s higher court; (iii) R$ 421 million correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal is currently pending in CARF’s lower court; (iv) R$ 100 million correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., the decision of which is currently pending in the Federal Revenue Service Bureau.

Labor Provisions

The Company is also defending labor proceedings, for which there is a provision as of December 31, 2015 of R$ 288 million. None of these lawsuits refers to individually significant amounts, and the lawsuits mainly involve claims due to overtime, hazardous and risk additional, among others. The balance in judicial deposits relate to labor provisions as at December 31, 2015, totaling R$ 82 million.

Other Provisions

The Company is also defending civil proceedings related to other provisions arising from the normal course of its operations. Such provisions for these claims amount as of December 31, 2015 to R$ 47 million. On the same date, judicial deposits related to these provisions amount to R$ 100 million. Other contingent liabilities for which chances of loss are not more likely than not, involving uncertainties as to their occurrence (and therefore, not included in the provision for contingencies), are comprised of:

Antitrust Proceedings

The antitrust process involving Gerdau S.A. is related to the representation of two civil construction syndicates in the state of São Paulo that alleged that Gerdau S.A. and other long steel producers in Brazil divide customers among them, violating the antitrust legislation. After investigations carried out by the National Secretariat of Economic Law (“Secretaria de Direito Econômico”or “SDE”) and based on public hearings, the SDE is of the opinion that a cartel existed. The process was sent to the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (“Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica”or “CADE”), for judgment.

The CADE judgment was put on hold by an injunction obtained by Gerdau S.A., which aimed at annulling the administrative process, due to formal irregularities. This injunction was cancelled by appeals made by CADE and the Federal Government, and CADE proceeded with the judgment. On September 23, 2005, CADE issued a rule condemning the Company and the other long steel producers, determining a fine of 7% of gross revenues less excise taxes of each company, based on the year before the commencement of the process, due to cartel practices. The Company has appealed from this decision, and the appeal is pending of judgment.

The Company has proposed a judicial proceeding aiming to cancel the administrative process due to the above mentioned formal irregularities. A judgment in the first degree was given, dismissing the action. The proceeding is in the appeal stage. If the Company is successful in this proceeding, the CADE decision can be annulled in the future.

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On July 26, 2006, due to a reversal of decision terms pronounced by CADE, the Company appealed to the Justice using a new ordinary lawsuit which point out irregularities in the administrative procedures conducted by CADE. The federal judge designated for the analysis of the fact decided, on August 30, 2006 to suspend the effect of the CADE decision until a final decision is taken with respect to this judicial process and requested a guarantee through a stand-by letter amounting to 7% of gross revenue less taxes in 1999 (R$ 245 million). This ordinary lawsuit proceeds together with the injunction originally proposed on CADE. An order was announced on June 28, 2007, which made the parties aware of the decision from the lower court judge about the maintenance of the legal protection granted, after it was contested by CADE. On August 1, 2013, the Judicial Accounting (“Contadoria Judicial”) updated the fine amount to R$ 417.8 million. A judgment in the first degree was given, dismissing the action. The proceeding is in the appeal stage.

Prior to the CADE decision, the Federal Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (“Ministério Público Federal de Minas Gerais”) had presented a Public Civil Action, based on SDE opinion, without any new facts, accusing the Company of involvement in activities that breach antitrust laws. The Company presented its defense on July 22, 2005.

Gerdau S.A. denies having engaged in any type of anti-competitive behavior and understands, based on information available that the administrative process until now includes many irregularities, some of which are impossible to resolve. The Company believes it has not committed any violation of anti-trust regulation, and based on opinion of its legal advisors believes in a reversion of this unfavorable outcome.

Other Civil Litigation

The Company is involved as a defendant, either directly or through its affiliates, in other disputes for which chances of loss are not more likely than not. The aggregate amount involved in such disputes is R$ 170.9 million.

No Material Effect

Management believes that the probability of losses as a consequence of other contingencies is not more likely than not. There can, however, be no assurance that a final judicial decision will be favorable to us in any of these or other proceedings, and that were they to arise, they would not have a materially adverse effect on the consolidated financial position of the Company, its consolidated results of operations or its future cash flows.

Dividend Distribution Policy

Brazilian Corporate Law generally requires the by-laws of each Brazilian corporation to specify a minimum percentage of the profits for each fiscal year that must be distributed to shareholders as dividends. The law requires a minimum payout of 25% of adjusted net income. Under the Company’s bylaws, this percentage has been fixed at no less than 30% of the adjusted net income (according the section 19 of the Company’s bylaws) for distribution for each fiscal year.

Dividends for a given fiscal year are payable from (i) retained earnings from prior periods and (ii) after-tax income for the same period, after the allocation of income to the legal reserve and to other reserves (“Adjusted Net Income”). In order to convert the dividends paid by the Company from reais into U.S. dollars, the institution providing the Company with custodial services (“Custodian”) will use the relevant commercial market exchange rate on the date that these dividends are made available to shareholders in Brazil. Under Brazilian Corporate Law, a Brazilian company is required to maintain a legal reserve, to which it must allocate 5% of net income determined in accordance with the Law for each fiscal year until such reserve reaches an amount equal to 20% of the company’s paid-in capital. On December 31, 2015, in accordance with Brazilian GAAP, Gerdau S.A.’s legal reserve amounted to R$ 628.2 million or 3.3 % of total paid-in capital of R$ 19,249.1 million.

According to Law 9,457, holders of Preferred Shares in a Brazilian corporation were entitled to dividends at least 10% greater than the dividends paid on Common Shares, unless one of three exceptions described in the Law holds. Gerdau S.A.’s executive directors presented a proposal at the 2002 shareholders’ meeting, to grant both Common and Preferred shares 100% tag-along rights. Shareholders approved this measure and the right was extended to all shareholders, even though the new Brazilian Corporate Law only requires that such rights be granted to the common minority shareholders (and only for 80% of the consideration paid to the controlling shareholders).

Under the amendments to the Brazilian Corporate Law, by extending the tag along rights to minority shareholders, the Company no longer needs to comply with the requirement to pay an additional 10% premium on dividends paid to preferred shareholders. Following the approval and implementation of the amendments to the Company’s bylaws to provide for the tag-along rights as described above, the Company now pays the stated minimum dividend of 30% of adjusted net profit (according the section

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19 of the Company’s articles of association) to all shareholders, from January 1, 2002 dividends paid to preferred shareholders no longer being subject to a minimum 10% premium over those paid to holders of common shares.

As a general requirement, shareholders who are non-resident in Brazil must have their Brazilian company investments registered with the Central Bank in order to be eligible for conversion into foreign currency of dividends, sales proceeds or other amounts related to their shares for remittance outside Brazil. Preferred Shares underlying the ADRs will be held in Brazil by the Custodian as agent for the Depositary Bank (“Depositary”). The holder of Preferred Shares will be the registered holder recorded in the preferred shares register.

Payments of cash dividends and distributions, if any, will be made in Brazilian currency to the Custodian, on behalf of the Depositary, which will then convert such proceeds into U.S. dollars and deliver the same U.S. dollars to the Depositary for distribution to holders of ADRs. If the Custodian is unable to convert the Brazilian currency received as dividends into U.S. dollars immediately, the amount of U.S. dollars payable to holders of ADRs may be adversely affected by any devaluation or depreciation of the Brazilian currency relative to the U.S. dollar that may occur before such dividends are converted and remitted. Dividends in lieu of the Preferred Shares paid to holders who are not resident in Brazil, including holders of ADRs, are not subject to Brazilian withholding tax.

Interest on Capital Stock

Law 9,249 of December 1995, provides that a company may, at its sole discretion, pay interest on capital stock in addition to, or instead of, dividends. A Brazilian corporation is entitled to pay its shareholders interest on capital stock up to the limit of an amount computed as the TJLP (Long-Term Interest Rate) rate of return on its interest on capital stock or 50% of the net income (according BR GAAP) for the fiscal year, whichever is the lower. The payment of interest as described herein is subject to a 15% withholding income tax. See Item 10. Additional Information — Taxation.

Dividend Policy

The Company currently intends to pay dividends on its outstanding Preferred Shares at its mandatory distribution rates for any particular fiscal year, subject to any determination by the Board of Directors that such distributions would be inadvisable in view of the Company’s financial condition. On March 31, 2003, the Board of Directors approved a new policy for paying dividends and interest on capital stock on a quarterly basis.

Since 1999, dividends have been paid to holders of the Company’s Common and Preferred Shares in reais and in U.S. dollars translated from reais at the commercial exchange rate on the date of payment. Relevant amounts are described in Item 3 - Key Information - Selected Financial Data.

B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Board of Auditors.

Since September 24, 2015, Oscar de Paula Bernardes is no longer a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

On September 24, 2015, Fernando Fontes Iunes was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

On April 29, 2015, Expedito Luz was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and since May 5, 2015 is no longer an Officer of the Company.

Since July 1, 2015, Ricardo Giuzeppe Mascheroni is no longer an Officer of the Company and member of any Committee.

Since July 15, 2015, André Pires de Oliveira Dias is no longer an Officer of the Company and member of any Committee.

Buyback Program

On January 19, 2015, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to acquire shares of its own issuance, within a period of up to 3 months from the date of the authorization, respecting the limit of 30,000,000 preferred shares (GGBR4) or American Depositary Receipts — ADRs (GGB). 19,923,200 preferred shares were acquired for the total of R$ 186.0 million. This authorization has the purpose to attend the (i) Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) keeping in Treasury, (iii) cancelling or (iv) further selling in the market.

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ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

A. OFFER AND LISTING DETAILS

Price Information

Preferred Stock

The following table presents high and low market prices in Brazilian reais for Gerdau S.A. preferred stock (GGBR4) listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) for the periods shown, as well as the high and low market prices in U.S. dollars for the same period.

Closing Price GGBR4 — Annual Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | Brazilian reais per Share |  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low |
2011 |  | 23.47 |  | 10.49 |  | 14.00 |  | 6.53 |
2012 |  | 20.35 |  | 14.16 |  | 10.37 |  | 7.51 |
2013 |  | 19.07 |  | 11.74 |  | 9.35 |  | 5.23 |
2014 |  | 17.92 |  | 8.12 |  | 7.47 |  | 3.02 |
2015 |  | 10.94 |  | 4.53 |  | 3.75 |  | 1.16 |

Source: Bloomberg

Closing Price GGBR4 — Quarterly Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | Brazilian reais per Share |  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low |
2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1Q |  | 17.89 |  | 13.45 |  | 7.47 |  | 5.73 |
2Q |  | 14.43 |  | 12.82 |  | 8.13 |  | 5.13 |
3Q |  | 14.04 |  | 11.72 |  | 6.31 |  | 4.77 |
4Q |  | 11.93 |  | 8.12 |  | 4.94 |  | 3.02 |
2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1Q |  | 10.94 |  | 8.44 |  | 3.75 |  | 3.01 |
2Q |  | 10.43 |  | 7.36 |  | 3.47 |  | 2.37 |
3Q |  | 7.05 |  | 4.54 |  | 2.25 |  | 1.27 |
4Q |  | 6.66 |  | 4.64 |  | 1.77 |  | 1.16 |

Source: Bloomberg

Closing Price GGBR4 — Monthly Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | Brazilian reais per Share |  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low |
2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
January |  | 10.11 |  | 8.44 |  | 3.75 |  | 3.10 |
February |  | 10.01 |  | 9.16 |  | 3.57 |  | 3.35 |
March |  | 10.94 |  | 9.55 |  | 3.45 |  | 3.01 |
April |  | 10.30 |  | 9.04 |  | 3.47 |  | 2.95 |
May |  | 10.43 |  | 8.52 |  | 3.41 |  | 2.68 |
June |  | 8.90 |  | 7.36 |  | 2.84 |  | 2.37 |
July |  | 7.05 |  | 5.51 |  | 2.25 |  | 1.64 |
August |  | 6.14 |  | 4.54 |  | 1.76 |  | 1.27 |
September |  | 6.67 |  | 5.43 |  | 1.74 |  | 1.37 |
October |  | 6.66 |  | 5.39 |  | 1.77 |  | 1.35 |
November |  | 6.25 |  | 5.04 |  | 1.67 |  | 1.32 |
December |  | 6.02 |  | 4.64 |  | 1.61 |  | 1.16 |
2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
January |  | 4.54 |  | 3.28 |  | 1.12 |  | 0.80 |
February |  | 4.22 |  | 3.49 |  | 1.07 |  | 0.87 |
March, 28 |  | 6.22 |  | 3.60 |  | 1.74 |  | 0.91 |

Source: Bloomberg

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The common and preferred stock are traded in the market, but only the common stock has voting rights. According to the Company’s bylaws, however, specific rights are assured to the non-voting preferred shares. See Gerdau’s bylaws, which are provided as an exhibit of this document.

American Depositary Receipts

The following table presents high and low market prices for Gerdau S.A.’s American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) for the periods shown:

Closing Price GGB — Annual Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |
2011 |  | 14.22 |  | 6.53 |
2012 |  | 10.43 |  | 7.49 |
2013 |  | 9.51 |  | 5.32 |
2014 |  | 7.51 |  | 2.99 |
2015 |  | 3.72 |  | 1.17 |

Source: Bloomberg

Closing Price GGB — Quarterly Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |
2014 |  |  |  |  |
1Q |  | 7.51 |  | 5.74 |
2Q |  | 6.50 |  | 5.83 |
3Q |  | 6.31 |  | 4.78 |
4Q |  | 4.91 |  | 2.99 |
2015 |  |  |  |  |
1Q |  | 3.72 |  | 2.99 |
2Q |  | 3.55 |  | 2.37 |
3Q |  | 2.37 |  | 1.28 |
4Q |  | 1.78 |  | 1.17 |

Source: Bloomberg

Closing Price GGB — Monthly Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |
2015 |  |  |  |  |
January |  | 3.72 |  | 3.13 |
February |  | 3.62 |  | 3.36 |
March |  | 3.45 |  | 2.99 |
April |  | 3.55 |  | 2.98 |
May |  | 3.44 |  | 2.72 |
June |  | 2.84 |  | 2.37 |
July |  | 2.25 |  | 1.66 |
August |  | 1.76 |  | 1.28 |
September |  | 1.72 |  | 1.36 |
October |  | 1.78 |  | 1.37 |
November |  | 1.68 |  | 1.36 |
December |  | 1.58 |  | 1.17 |
2016 |  |  |  |  |
January |  | 1.15 |  | 0.80 |
February |  | 1.14 |  | 0.87 |
March, 28 |  | 1.72 |  | 0.91 |

Source: Bloomberg

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Common Stock

The following table presents high and low market prices in Brazilian reais for Gerdau S.A. common stock (GGBR3) listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) for the periods shown, as well as the high and low market prices in U.S. dollars for the same period.

Closing Price GGBR3 — Annual Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | Brazilian reais per Share |  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low |
2011 |  | 17.43 |  | 8.91 |  | 10.39 |  | 5.36 |
2012 |  | 16.24 |  | 12.01 |  | 8.42 |  | 6.25 |
2013 |  | 16.63 |  | 10.75 |  | 8.19 |  | 4.81 |
2014 |  | 14.73 |  | 7.00 |  | 6.22 |  | 2.60 |
2015 |  | 8.27 |  | 3.35 |  | 3.05 |  | 0.83 |

Source: Bloomberg

Closing Price GGBR3 — Quarterly Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | Brazilian reais per Share |  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low |
2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1Q |  | 14.73 |  | 10.80 |  | 6.22 |  | 4.58 |
2Q |  | 11.61 |  | 10.24 |  | 5.25 |  | 4.63 |
3Q |  | 11.36 |  | 9.98 |  | 5.10 |  | 4.06 |
4Q |  | 10.29 |  | 7.00 |  | 4.25 |  | 2.60 |
2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
1Q |  | 8.27 |  | 6.85 |  | 3.05 |  | 2.27 |
2Q |  | 7.89 |  | 5.92 |  | 2.60 |  | 1.90 |
3Q |  | 5.80 |  | 3.95 |  | 1.85 |  | 1.10 |
4Q |  | 5.11 |  | 3.35 |  | 1.36 |  | 0.83 |

Source: Bloomberg

Closing Price GGBR3 — Monthly Basis (adjusted for dividends and events)

|  | Brazilian reais per Share |  | U.S. dollars per Share |
Year |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low |
2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
January |  | 8.21 |  | 6.85 |  | 3.05 |  | 2.60 |
February |  | 8.22 |  | 7.45 |  | 2.89 |  | 2.68 |
March |  | 8.27 |  | 7.32 |  | 2.72 |  | 2.27 |
April |  | 7.59 |  | 6.87 |  | 2.55 |  | 2.24 |
May |  | 7.89 |  | 7.05 |  | 2.60 |  | 2.22 |
June |  | 7.15 |  | 5.92 |  | 2.29 |  | 1.90 |
July |  | 5.80 |  | 4.59 |  | 1.85 |  | 1.36 |
August |  | 5.04 |  | 3.95 |  | 1.43 |  | 1.11 |
September |  | 5.43 |  | 4.38 |  | 1.42 |  | 1.10 |
October |  | 5.11 |  | 4.00 |  | 1.36 |  | 1.04 |
November |  | 4.50 |  | 3.91 |  | 1.21 |  | 1.02 |
December |  | 4.22 |  | 3.35 |  | 1.13 |  | 0.83 |
2016 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
January |  | 3.33 |  | 2.48 |  | 0.82 |  | 0.60 |
February |  | 3.29 |  | 2.70 |  | 0.84 |  | 0.68 |
March, 28 |  | 4.55 |  | 2.76 |  | 1.27 |  | 0.70 |

Source: Bloomberg

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B. DISTRIBUTION PLAN

Not required.

C. MARKETS

São Paulo Stock Exchange - Brasil

Trading on the BOVESPA

The São Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) is the only stock trade center in Brazil and Latin America’s largest stock exchange. Until August, 2007, BOVESPA was a non-profit association owned by its member brokerage firms and trading on the BOVESPA was limited to these member brokerage firms and a limited number of authorized nonmembers. On August 28, 2007, BOVESPA was subject to a corporate restructuring process that resulted in the creation of BOVESPA Holding S.A., a public corporation which had, as fully-owned subsidiaries, the São Paulo Stock Exchange S.A. (Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo S.A. — BVSP) — responsible for the operations by the stock exchange and the organized over-the-counter markets — and the Brazilian Clearing and Depositary Corporation (Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia) — responsible for the settlement, clearing and depositary services. Such corporate restructuring has consolidated a demutualization process, thereby causing the access to the trading and other services rendered by the BOVESPA not conditioned to a stock ownership. On May 8, 2008, BOVESPA was subject to another corporate restructuring process that resulted in the creation of BM&F BOVESPA S.A. - Bolsa de Valores, Mercadorias e Futuros, a public corporation which merged the operations of BOVESPA Holding S.A. and BM&F S.A. On November 28, 2008, Brazilian Clearing and Depositary Corporation (Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia), fully-owned subsidiary of BM&F BOVESPA S.A., was merged into BM&F BOVESPA S.A.

The BOVESPA’s trading is conducted between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the BOVESPA automated system. There is also trading on the so-called After-Market, a system that allows for evening trading through an electronic trading system. Trades are made by entering orders in the Mega Bolsa electronic trading system, created and operated by BOVESPA. The system places a ceiling on individual orders of R$ 100,000 and price variations are limited to 2% (above or below) the closing quote of the day.

In order to better control volatility, the BOVESPA adopts a “circuit breaker” system pursuant to which trading sessions may be suspended for a period of 30 minutes or one hour whenever the index of the BOVESPA falls below the limits of 10% or 15%, respectively, in relation to the index registered in the previous trading session. If any circuit breaker takes place during the day, trading sessions thereafter may be suspended by a period of time to be determined as per BOVESPA’s own discretion whenever the index of the BOVESPA falls below the limit of 20% in relation to the index registered in the trading session of the day before.

Since March 17, 2003, market making activities have been allowed on the BOVESPA. The CVM (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários) and the BOVESPA have discretionary authority to suspend trading in shares of a particular issuer under certain circumstances. Trading of securities listed on the BOVESPA may be effected off the stock exchange market under certain circumstances, although such trading is very limited.

Although any of the outstanding shares of a listed company may trade on the BOVESPA, in most cases less than half of the listed shares are actually available for trading by the public, the remainder being held by small groups of controlling shareholders that rarely trade their shares. For this reason, data showing the total market capitalization of the BOVESPA tends to overstate the liquidity of the Brazilian equity market, which is relatively small and illiquid compared to major world markets.

Settlement of transactions is effected three business days after the trade date without adjustment of the purchase price for inflation. The seller is ordinarily required to deliver the shares to the exchange on the second business day following the trade date.

Trading on the BOVESPA by non-residents of Brazil is subject to certain limitations under Brazilian foreign investment legislation. See specific regulation for foreign investments in Brazil.

Corporate Governance Practices in Brazil

In 2000, the BOVESPA introduced three special listing segments, known as Level 1 and 2 of Differentiated Corporate Governance Practices and the Novo Mercado, aimed at encouraging Brazilian companies to follow good corporate governance practices and higher levels of transparency, as required by Brazilian Corporate Law. The listing segments were designed for the trading of shares issued by companies voluntarily undertaking to abide by corporate governance practices and disclosure requirements in addition to those already imposed by Brazilian law. These rules generally increase shareholders’ rights and enhance the quality of information provided to shareholders.

The Company is listed on the Level 1 segment of the BOVESPA. To become a Level 1 company, in addition to the obligations imposed by current Brazilian law, an issuer must agree to (i) ensure that shares of the issuer representing at least 25% of its

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total capital are effectively available for trading; (ii) adopt offering procedures that favor widespread ownership of shares whenever making a public offering; (iii) comply with minimum quarterly disclosure standards, including cash flow statements; (iv) follow stricter disclosure policies with respect to transactions made by controlling shareholders, directors and officers; (v) disclose the terms of the transactions with related parties; (vi) make a schedule of corporate events available to shareholders; and (vii) at least once a year, hold public meetings with analysts and investors.

On March 21, 2011, CVM approved the new text of the Corporate Governance Level 1 Listing Rules of BM&FBOVESPA that became effective on May 10, 2011. As of the effective date aforementioned, therefore, the companies listed on Level 1segment of BM&FBOVESPA are subject to what has been laid out in the Corporate Governance Level 1 Listing Rules, in accordance with the changes.

In order to be adapted to the changes to the Listing Rules, the companies listed in Level 1 segment must adopt, in addition to the rules, aforementioned, the following provisions within the terms informed below:

a) Inclusion in the company bylaws of the mandatory minimum clauses set out by BM&FBOVESPA no later than: (i) the first Extraordinary General Meeting held 90 (ninety) days after the new Rules entered into force; or (ii) the date on which the company holds its general meeting to approve the financial statements; what happens first.

b) The preparation and publication of the Policy on Trading Securities and the Code of Conduct, which should occur within the deadline of one year as from the date on which the new Listing Rules came into force;

c) Compliance, as from May 10, 2014, with the rule contained in item 4.3 of the new Corporate Governance Level 1 Listing Rules, which consists of a prohibition on the accumulation in a Company of the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer or lead executive by the same person.

Regulation of the Brazilian Securities Market

The Brazilian securities markets are regulated by the CVM, which has authority over stock exchanges and the securities markets generally, and by the Brazilian Central Bank, which has, among other powers, licensing authority over brokerage firms and regulates foreign investment and foreign exchange transactions. The Brazilian securities market is governed by the Brazilian Securities Law (Law N. 6,385 of December 7, 1976, as amended) and the Brazilian Corporate Law (Law N. 6,404 of December 15, 1976, as amended).

Law 11,638, of December 28, 2007, and Law N. 11,941, of May 27, 2009 (which resulted from the conversion into law of Provisional Decree (MP) N. 449, of December 3, 2008), amended a number of provisions of Law N. 6,385/76 and Law N. 6,404/76, related to accounting rules and financial statements of Brazilian corporations. The new changes aim to bring Brazilian accounting rules/financial statements closer to international standards.

Under the Brazilian Corporate Law, a company is either publicly held, such as Gerdau S.A., or closely held. All publicly held companies must apply for registration with the CVM and are subject to ongoing reporting requirements. A publicly held company may have its securities traded either on the BOVESPA or on the Brazilian over-the-counter markets (Brazilian OTC). The shares of a publicly held company, including Gerdau S.A., may also be traded privately subject to certain limitations established in CVM regulations.

CVM has issued Instruction N. 480, of December 7, 2009, that provides for the requirements for the registration of publicly held companies and companies that intend to trade securities in regulated securities markets. The referred CVM Instruction N. 480/09 significantly modified the reporting requirements applicable to publicly held companies and set forth the obligation to such companies to present annually to CVM a Reference Form (“Formulário de Referência”) containing all of the company’s relevant information and to update the information contained therein as soon as any relevant changes occur.

In addition to such reporting requirements, the occurrence of certain events also requires disclosure of information to the CVM, the BOVESPA, or even the public. These include (i) the direct or indirect acquisition by an investor of at least 5% (five percent) of any class or type of shares representing the share capital of a publicly held company, (ii) the sale of shares representing the transfer of control of a publicly held company and (iii) the occurrence of a material event to the corporation. On March 5, 2002, the CVM issued Instruction N. 361, which regulates tender offers if one of the following events occurs: (i) delisting of companies; (ii) an increase in the equity interest of the controlling shareholder; or (iii) the transfer of control of a public held company.

The Brazilian OTC market consists of direct trades between individuals in which a financial institution registered with the CVM serves as intermediary. No special application, other than registration with the CVM, is necessary for securities of a publicly

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held company to be traded on the Brazilian OTC. The CVM must be notified of all trades carried out on the Brazilian OTC by the company’s respective intermediaries. The trading of a company’s securities on the BOVESPA may be suspended in anticipation of a material announcement. Trading may also be suspended at the initiative of the BOVESPA or the CVM on the basis of a belief that a company has provided inadequate information regarding a material event, has not provided an adequate response to the inquiries by the CVM or the stock exchange, or for other reasons.

The laws and regulations regarding the Brazilian Securities Market provide for disclosure requirements, restrictions on insider trading and price manipulation, and protection of minority shareholders. Although many changes and improvements have been introduced, the Brazilian securities markets are not as highly regulated and supervised as the U.S. securities markets or those in certain other jurisdictions.

Regulation of Foreign Investment in Brazil

Foreign investors may either register their investments in the Company’s shares as a foreign direct investment under Law N. 4,131/62 and CMN (Conselho Monetário Nacional) Resolution N. 3,844/10 or as a portfolio investment under CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14 and CVM Instruction N. 325/00, both as amended. Foreign investors, regardless of whether their investments are made as foreign direct investments or portfolio investments, must be enrolled with the RFB (Receita Federal do Brasil, the Brazilian internal revenue service) pursuant to its Regulatory Instruction N. 1,470, of May10, 2014, as amended. This registration process is undertaken by the investor’s legal representative in Brazil.

Law N. 4,131/62 and CMN Resolution N. 3,844/10 provide that, after a foreign direct investment is made, an application for its registration with the Central Bank must be submitted by the investee and the non-resident investor, through its independent representatives in Brazil, within 30 days. The registration of the foreign direct investment with the Central Bank allows the foreign investor to remit abroad resources classifiable as capital return, resulting either from: (i) the transfer of corporate interests to Brazilian residents, (ii) capital reduction, or (iii) the liquidation of a company, as well as funds classified as dividends, profits or interest on shareholders’ equity. Foreign investors with foreign direct investments may also divest those investments through private transactions or transactions conducted through the stock exchange or the over-the-counter market. See “Taxation — Brazilian Tax Considerations” for information regarding the taxation of such transactions.

There are no restrictions on ownership of the Company’s shares by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil. With certain limited exceptions, under CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14 investors are permitted to carry out any type of transaction in the Brazilian financial and capital markets involving a security traded on a stock, futures or organized over-the counter markets. Investments and remittances outside of Brazil of gains, dividends, profits or other payments for common and preferred shares are made through the exchange market. See “Exchange Controls” for further information regarding non-Brazilian holders who qualify under CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14.

Securities and other financial assets held by non-Brazilian investors pursuant to CMN Resolution N. 2,689/00 must be registered or maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or the CVM. In addition, securities trading is restricted to transactions carried out in the stock exchanges or through organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM, except for transfers resulting from a corporate reorganization, or occurring upon the death of an investor by operation of law or will.

Trading on Exchanges outside Brazil

In addition to the BOVESPA, Gerdau shares are traded on two other stock exchanges:

New York Stock Exchange

On March 10, 1999, Gerdau S.A. obtained registration for the issuance of Level II ADRs, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange the same day. Under the GGB symbol, these Level II ADRs have been traded in virtually every session since the first trading day. In 2015, 1.4 billion ADRs were traded, a figure 3.1% lower than in 2014, representing a trading volume of $3.5 billion, equivalent to a daily average of $13.9 million.

On February 4, 2016, Gerdau received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange that the average closing trading price of its ADRs was below $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period, which is below the New York Stock Exchange’s listing criteria. Gerdau has six months from the date it received such notice to regain compliance with the listing criteria. During this period, Gerdau’s ADRs will continue to be listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to compliance with other continued listing requirements. The Company has been working on a number of initiatives to unlock short term value, and it believes these initiatives will raise the average share price above $1.00 during the cure period. However, if the share price does not recover during the cure

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period, management will propose that the Board of Directors adjust the GGBR4:GGB ratio from 1:1 to 3:1 or 4:1 before the end of the cure period.

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Latibex — Madrid Stock Exchange

Since December 2, 2002, Gerdau S.A.’s preferred shares have been traded on the Latibex, the segment of the Madrid Stock Exchange devoted to Latin American companies traded in Euros. Following approval by the CVM and the Brazilian Central Bank, this date marked the beginning of the Depositary Receipts (DR) Program for preferred shares issued by the Company in Spain. The shares are traded in Spain under the symbol XGGB in the form of DRs, each corresponding to one preferred share. This participation in the Latibex boosted the Company’s visibility in the European market. In 2015, a total of 867 thousand Gerdau preferred shares were traded on the Madrid Stock Exchange (Latibex), a figure 8.3% higher than in 2014, representing a trading volume of $1.9 million, equivalent to a daily average of $10 thousand.

ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A. SHARE CAPITAL

Not applicable.

B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Gerdau’s bylaws have been registered with the Public Registry of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Junta Comercial do Rio de Janeiro) under company number (NIRE) 33.3.0003226-6.

The consolidated By-laws are incorporated by reference hereto as Exhibit 1.1.

The last amendment of the Company By-laws was made on April 29, 2015, as follows:

· Section 1, § 2: As the securities issued by the Company are admitted to trading on the over-the-counter markets organized by BM&FBOVESPA S.A. — Securities, Commodities and Futures Exchange (“BM&FBOVESPA”), the Company, its managers and shareholders must comply with the provisions in the Regulation for Issuer Listing and for Admission to Trading of Securities, including the rules related to withdrawal and exclusion of trading of securities admitted to trading on the over-the-counter markets organized by BM&FBOVESPA.

· Section 4, § 6, “a”: Right to participate proportionally in the mandatory dividends, corresponding to, at least, thirty percent (30%) of the net income for the year, calculated in accordance with § 4º Article 20 herein; and

· Section 5, § 2: The compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee will be fixed by the Shareholders Meeting, and may be approved as an individual or an overall amount, in which case the Board of Directors will be responsible for deciding on its allocation.

· Section 14 — The Company will have an Advisory Board to be elected by the Board of Directors and composed of up to four (4) members, one (1) of whom shall act as Chairman and the others as members without a specific title.

§ 1 — When the Advisory Board is installed, its members shall serve a fixed term determined by the Board of Directors.

§ 2º — The Advisory Board will be responsible for issuing an opinion on the matters submitted thereto by the Board of Directors.

§ 3º — The recommendations and opinion reports will be issued by the Advisory Board after approval by the majority of its members. In case of tie, the Chairman will have the casting vote.

§ 4º — The compensation of the Advisory Board members will be determined by the Board of Directors, within the amounts approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting related to management compensation.

Objects and Purposes

According to the consolidated By-laws of the Company, its objects and purposes are described in the article 2, as stated below:

Art. 2 - The Company, which will have an unlimited lifetime, has the following purposes: a) interests in the capital of companies actuating in the industry and trade of steel and/or metallurgical products, with plants integrated to ports or not, as well as other companies and industrial consortia, including activities of research, mining, ore industrialization and trading, elaboration, execution and administration of forestation and reforestation, as well as the trade, export and import of goods, conversion of forests into charcoal, transport of goods of its own manufacture and port operator activities, referred to in Law

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8.630, of February 8, 1993; and b) industry and trade exploitation, including representation, importing and exporting of steel, iron and related products.

Summary of Special Conditions Relating to Directors and Officers

Although the bylaws do not specifically address this matter, the Company, its directors and officers are obliged to adhere the provisions of Law 6.404/76 (Corporate Law), which regulates corporations in Brazil, and also observes the rules of the Brazilian Stock Exchange Commission (CVM) and the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA).

In general terms, Section 153 of the Corporate Law establishes that in exercising his/her duties, a company director or officer shall employ the care and diligence, which a person normally employs in the administration of his/her own affairs.

In addition, Section154, paragraph 2 of the Corporate Law, states that directors and officers shall not: a) perform an act of liberality at the expense of the company; b) borrow money or property from the company or use company’s property, services or credits for his/her own advantage or for the advantage of any entity in which he/she/any third party has an interest, without the prior approval of a general shareholders’ meeting or the board of directors; c) by virtue of his/her position, receive any type of direct or indirect personal benefit unless according to the Company’s bylaws or a general shareholders’ meeting.

Finally, Section 156 of the Corporate Law states that: An administrator (member of the board of directors and executive officers) shall not take part in any corporate transaction in which he/she has an interest which conflicts with an interest of the corporation, nor in the decisions made by the other officers on the matter.

Regarding the decision on director’s compensation, the bylaws of the Company state that the shareholders are in charge of defining the global remuneration of the administrators (member of the board of directors and executive officers) and the board of directors is in charge of fixing the individual remuneration of directors and officers (article 6, letter “j” of the bylaws).

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With regard to “borrowing powers exercisable by the directors”, the bylaws state that:

· Article 6, letter “u”: The Board of Directors should set on a periodic basis, value criteria, time of duration, extension of effects, etc., for which certain company acts, including loans by and to the Company, may only be effected by one or more Executive Officers or after prior authorization by the Executive Committee;

· Article 6, § 7º: The Board may decide to create specific committees linked to itself, which shall include one or more of its members, with or without the participation of Executive Officers, Company employees or contracted third-parties with the aim of coordinating or orienting certain corporate processes or operations.

Rights, preferences and restrictions attaching to each class of the shares

Gerdau’s capital stock is divided into common and preferred shares.

Rights to dividends

All common and preferred shares enjoy the same rights to dividends, which are established by the Company’s bylaws as a minimum mandatory percentage of 30% of net income, with the following adjustments:

a) the addition to the following amounts:

· amounts arising during the fiscal year from the reversal of previous contingency reserves;

· amounts resulting from the realization, during the fiscal year, of profits that have previously been transferred to the unrealized profit reserve line;

· amounts arising from the realization during the fiscal year of increases in the value of assets, as a result of new valuations, recorded as revaluation reserve.

b) the subtraction of amounts assigned during the fiscal year for the constitution of legal reserves, the reserve for contingencies, the unrealized profit reserve and the tax incentive reserve.

For additional information, please see the item Dividend Policy above.

Voting rights

According to Gerdau´s bylaws, the common shares have voting rights and the preferred shares have no voting rights although the holders of preferred share are entitle to attend to shareholders’ meetings and to participate in the discussions.

Note, however, that the Company’s bylaws state, in Article 19, Paragraph 11, that the preferred shares shall acquire the right to vote if the Company, for three consecutive fiscal years, fails to pay the minimum dividends to which they are entitled, a right that the shares will hold until the first subsequent payment of dividends that the Company makes.

Shareholders representing the majority of a) holders of preferred shares without voting rights (or with restricted voting rights) representing 10% of the total capital stock; and b) holders of at least 15% of the voting capital stocks; shall have the right to elect and remove from office a member and his substitute from the board of directors, in a separate election at the general meeting, being excluded from such election the majority shareholder.

If neither the holders of shares with voting rights nor the holders of preferred shares without voting rights or with restricted voting rights are sufficient to achieve the quorum above, they shall be allowed to aggregate their shares in order to jointly elect a member and his substitute for the board of directors, in this case considering the quorum of 10% of the capital.

Shareholders representing at least one-tenth of the voting capital may also request that the election of directors be subject to cumulative voting, if present this request to the company up to 48 hours prior to the general shareholders meeting.

Notwithstanding the provisions aforementioned, the controlling shareholders shall always have the right to elect the majority of the members of the board of directors of a Brazilian company.

Based upon section 161, paragraph 4 th of Corporate Law, the holders of preferred shares without voting rights or with restricted voting rights shall be entitled to elect one member of the board of auditors and his alternate in a separate election. The minority shareholders shall have the same right, provided that they jointly represent ten per cent or more of the voting shares.

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Rights to the reimbursement of capital

The preferred shares enjoy preference in the reimbursement of capital, up to the value of their respective interest in the capital stock, in the event of the Company’s dissolution, after which the common shares are reimbursed up to the value of their respective fractional participation in the capital stock, with the remaining balance distributed on equal conditions among the holders of the common and preferred shares.

Liability to further capital calls and Shareholders owning a substantial number of shares

There are no specific provisions in the bylaws of liability to further capital calls by the Company or provisions discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of such securities as a result of such shareholder owning a substantial number of shares.

Changes to the rights

The Brazilian Corporate Law states, in its Section 109, that neither the bylaws nor a general meeting may deprive a shareholder of the right:

a) to participate in the corporate profits;

b) to participate in the assets of the corporation in the case of liquidation;

c) to supervise the management of the corporate business as provided for in the Corporate Law;

d) of first refusal in the subscription of shares, founders’ shares convertible into shares, debentures convertible into shares and subscription bonuses, and

e) to withdraw from the corporation in the cases provided for in the Corporate Law.

Furthermore, Section 16, sole paragraph of Corporate Law set forth that, unless expressly provided for, an amendment to that part of the bylaws which regulates the different classes of shares shall require the approval of the shareholders of all shares thereby affected.

On the same hand, Section 136, paragraph1 st of Corporate Law states that any changes in the preferences or rights of the preferred shares, or the creation of a class of shares having priority in relation to the existing preferred shares, unless the change is authorized by our bylaws, would require the approval of the preferred shareholders in a special shareholders meeting, in addition to approval by the majority of the holders of the outstanding voting shares.

Annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings of shareholders

The call for the annual general meeting and extraordinary general meeting of Gerdau shall be made by a notice published on at least three occasions in the Valor Econômico, Rio de Janeiro edition, Valor Econômico, São Paulo edition, and Diário Oficial do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. The call shall contain, in addition to the place, date and time of the general meeting, the agenda and, in the case of an amendment to the bylaws, an indication of the subject-matter.

The first call of the general meeting shall occur fifteen (15) days in advance, and the second call eight (8) days in advance.

Apart from the exceptions provided by law, the opening of a general meeting shall occur on first call with the presence of shareholders representing at least one-quarter of the voting capital; and on the second call, with any number.

The investors attending a general meeting shall produce proof of their shareholder status. According to Gerdau’s bylaws, the Company may require, within a period established in the notice of calling, the depositing of proof of ownership of shares, submitted by the financial institution acting as depositary for the same shares, as well as to suspend, for the same period, transfer and stock split services.

A shareholder may be represented at a general meeting by a proxy, appointed less than one year before, who shall be a shareholder, a corporation officer, a lawyer or a financial institution. A condominium shall be represented by its investment fund officer.

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A request for the appointment of a proxy, made by post or by public notice, shall satisfy the following requirements:

a) contain all information necessary to exercise the requested vote;

b) entitle the shareholder to vote against a resolution by appointing another proxy to exercise the said vote;

c) be addressed to all shareholders whose addresses are kept by the corporation.

Subject to the requirements aforementioned, any shareholder whose shares with or without voting rights represent one-half percent or more of the capital shall be entitled to request a list of the addresses of the shareholders

The legal representative of a shareholder shall receive an authorization to attend general meetings.

Limitations on the rights of non-residents and foreign shareholders to own securities

There are no limitations on the rights to own securities by non-residents or foreign shareholder set forth in the Bylaws of Gerdau S.A. The Brazilian Corporate Law neither establishes limitation. Note that some procedures shall be observed by the foreign companies for the remittance of funds (see item 10.D, below).

A shareholder resident or domiciled abroad must maintain a representative in Brazil empowered to accept service of process in proceedings brought against him under this Law.

Change in control of the company

Brazilian Corporate Law states that the direct or indirect transfer of control of a publicly held corporation can only be effective under the condition that the purchaser agrees to conduct a public offer to acquire the voting shares owned by the remaining shareholders.

Our bylaws attribute to all shares the right to be included in any public offering involving the transfer of control, guaranteeing the same price paid per share with voting rights that are part of the controlling block.

Disclosure of shareholders ownership

With regard to the disclosure of ownership, shareholders hall observe the rule 358 enacted by the Brazilian Exchange Commission, which sets forth that:

Article 12. The direct or indirect controlling shareholders and the shareholders that elected members of the Board of Directors and the Board of Auditors, as well as any person or company or group of people acting together or representing the same interest that have either direct or indirect participation corresponding to 5% (five percent) or more in type or class of shares representing the capital of a publicly held company, shall send to the company the following information:

I - the announcers’ name and qualification, indicating their National Register of Legal Persons or the Register of Natural Persons;

II - objective of the participation and quantity envisaged, if it is the case, including a declaration of the buyer that purchases will not alter the composition of the control or administrative structures of the company; III - number of shares, subscription bonus, as well as rights to subscribe to shares and options to buy shares, by sort and type, already held, directly or indirectly, by the assignor or linked person.

IV - number of convertible debentures into shares, already held, directly or indirectly, by the assignor or linked person, explaining the quantity of shares intended to the converted, by sort and type;

V - indication of any agreement or contract regulating the right to vote or purchase and sale securities issued by the company; and

VI — if the shareholder has its residence or domicile abroad, the name or social denomination and the Brazilian Tax Payer Number of its attorney or legal representative in the country, in compliance with section 119 of law 6.404 of 1976.

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Paragraph 1. Individuals or groups of individuals representing a common interest are also under the obligation to disclose the same information, given they are shareholders holding shares of equal or higher stockholdings percentages stated in this article, every time this participation increases 5% (five per cent) of the sort or type of representative share of the company’s share capital.

Paragraph 2. The obligations provided for in the caput and paragraph 1 are also extended to the acquisition of any rights over shares and further securities stated there.

Paragraph 3. The communication referred to in the caput shall be performed immediately after the mentioned participation is accomplished.

Paragraph 4. The people mentioned in the caput of this article shall also communicate the alienation or extinction of shares and other securities mentioned in this article, or of rights over them, every time the participation of the owner in type or class of the securities mentioned reaches 5% (five percent) of the total of such type or class, and every time such participation is reduced by 5% (five percent) of the total in type or class.

Paragraph 5.In cases when the acquisition results or has been carried out with the objective of changing the control’s composition or the governance structure of the company, as in case when the acquisition generates the obligation of making a public offer, according to the applicable regulation, the acquirer must promote the disclosure, at least, in the same communication channels regularly adopted by the company, in compliance with section 3, paragraph 4, of a notice with the information predicted in line I to V of this article caput.

Paragragh 6. The Investor Relations Director is responsible for transmitting the information, as soon as they are received by the company, to CVM and, if applicable, to the stock exchange or organized over-the-counter market entities in which the company trades is shares, as update the IAN form in the correspondent field.”

Conditions more stringent governing changes in the capital than is required by law

There are no conditions imposed by the bylaws more stringent than is required by Law governing changes in the capital.

C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS

For information concerning material contracts regarding the acquisition of assets, see Item 4 — Company Information, Item 5 — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects and Item 8 — Financial Information. Gerdau S.A. has entered into financial agreements in order to finance its expansion projects and improve its debt profile. Although some of these contracts entail significant amounts, none exceeds 10% of the Company’s consolidated total assets. The most significant financial agreements are described below, with the Company agreeing to provide a copy of the debt instruments described herein to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

Bonds - The Company, through its subsidiaries GTL Trade Finance Inc., Gerdau Holdings Inc. and Gerdau Trade Inc., concluded in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014, the issuance of bonds each with maturity of 10 and 30 years (collectively “Ten/Thirty Years Bond”). The following companies guaranteed these transactions: Gerdau S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. On December 31, 2014, the outstanding balance of these bonds was R$ 18.8 billion.

GGWCF - In September 2015, the Company prepaid and cancelled the Global Working Capital Facility in October 2015, the Company entered into a new senior unsecured working capital facility in the amount of US$ 1 billion. The new global line is divided into two tranches, US$ 250 million for Gerdau’s North American subsidiaries and US$ 750 million for Gerdau’s Latin American and Spanish subsidiaries. The outstanding loans under this line totaled US$ 355 million (R$ 1.4 billion as of December 31, 2015).

BNDES - In June 2009, certain subsidiaries of the Company (Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and Gerdau S.A.) entered into a credit line with BNDES in the total amount of R$ 1.5 billion bearing an interest rate of TJLP + 2.16% per annum when drawn. On December 31, 2015 the outstanding amount was R$ 881.8 million.

In December 2012 the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas S.A. obtained a committed credit line with BNDES in the total amount of R$776.6 million for the Plate and Steckel Mill project. The funds are provided as the subsidiary carries out its own investment plans and submit to BNDES the evidences of completion. The outstanding balance of this transaction was R$449.8 million as of December 31, 2015.

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D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS

There are no restrictions on ownership or voting of the Company’s paid-in capital by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil. The right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of the Company’s paid-in capital into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to restrictions under foreign investment legislation which generally require, among other things, the prior registration of the relevant investment with the Central Bank.

In Brazil, a mechanism is available to foreign investors interested in trading directly on the BOVESPA. Until March 2000, this mechanism was known as Annex IV Regulations, in reference to the Annex IV of CMN Resolution N. 1,289/87 (“Annex IV Regulations”). Currently, this mechanism is regulated by CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14.

CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14, which took effect on March 30, 2014, establishes rules for foreign investments in Brazilian equities. Such rules allow foreign investors to invest in almost all types of financial asset and to engage in almost all transactions available in the Brazilian financial and capital markets, provided that certain requirements are fulfilled.

Pursuant to CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14, foreign investors are defined as individuals, legal entities, mutual funds and other collective investments resident, domiciled or headquartered abroad. CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14 prohibits the offshore transfer or assignment of title to the securities.

Pursuant to CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14, foreign investors must: (i) appoint at least one representative in Brazil with powers to perform actions relating to the foreign investment; (ii) obtain registration as a foreign investor with the CVM; (iii) appoint an authorized custodian in Brazil for its investment and (iv) register the foreign investment with the Central Bank. The securities and other financial assets held by the foreign investor pursuant to CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14 must be registered or maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or by the CVM or be registered in registration, clearing and custody systems authorized by the Central Bank or by the CVM. In addition, securities trading are restricted to transactions carried out on exchanges or organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM. All investments made by a foreign investor under CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14 will be subject to electronic registration with the Central Bank.

CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14, that revoked CMN Resolution N. 1,927/92 of the National Monetary Council (which was the Amended and Restated Annex V to CMN Resolution N. 1,289/87), provides for the issuance of depositary receipts in foreign markets in respect of shares of Brazilian issuers. Since ADRs have been approved under the applicable law by the Central Bank and the CVM, the proceeds from the sale of the ADRs by ADR holders outside Brazil are free of Brazilian foreign investment controls and holders of the ADRs will be subject to a specific tax treatment. According to CMN Resolution N. 4,373/14, are subject to concurrent exchange operations or international transfers in Brazilian Reais, without effective delivery of resources and whether prior authorization of the Central Bank of Brazil, the application of non-resident investor through the mechanism of Depositary Receipts may be transferred to other foreign investments mechanisms, with due regard to the conditions set forth by the Central Bank and by the CVM.

A foreign investment registration has been made in the name of The Bank of New York Mellon, as Depositary for the Preferred ADRs, and is maintained by Itaú Unibanco S.A. (“Custodian”) on behalf of the Depositary. Since July 1, 2013, JPMorgan Chase Bank is the Depositary for the Preferred ADRs (“Depositary”) and is also maintained by Itaú Unibanco S.A. (“Custodian”) on behalf of the new Depositary. Pursuant to the registration, the Custodian and the Depositary are able to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the Preferred Shares represented by Preferred ADRs into foreign currency and remit the proceeds abroad. Subject to the provisions set forth in Annex V Regulations, holders of preferred ADRs may exchange such ADRs for the underlying Preferred Shares. In this event, such a holder will be entitled to continue to rely on the Depositary’s registration of foreign investment for only five business days after such exchange, after which time, the same holder must seek its own registration with the Central Bank.

The Registered Capital for Preferred Shares that are withdrawn upon surrender of Preferred ADRs will be the U.S. dollar equivalent to (i) the average price of the Preferred Shares on the BOVESPA on the day of withdrawal, or (ii) if no Preferred Shares were sold on such day, the average price of Preferred Shares that were sold in the fifteen trading sessions immediately preceding the same withdrawal. The U.S. dollar value of the Preferred Shares is determined on the basis of the average Foreign Exchange rates quoted by the Central Bank on the same date (or, if the average price of Preferred Shares is determined under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, the average of such average quoted rates on the same fifteen dates used to determine the average price of the Preferred Shares). A non-Brazilian holder of Preferred Shares may experience delays in effecting the registration of Registered Capital, which may delay remittances abroad. Such a delay may adversely affect the amount, in U.S. dollars, received by the non-Brazilian holder.

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Thereafter, unless the Preferred Shares are held pursuant to CMN Resolution No. 2,689/00 or to Law N. 4,131/62 by a foreign investor, the same holder may not be able to convert into foreign currency and remit the proceeds outside Brazil from the disposal of, or distributions with respect to, such Preferred Shares, and will generally be subject to less favorable Brazilian tax treatment than a holder of Preferred ADRs.

Restrictions on the remittance of foreign capital overseas could hinder or prevent the Custodian, as custodian for the Preferred Shares represented by Preferred ADRs, or holders who have exchanged Preferred ADRs for Preferred Shares, from converting dividends, distributions or the proceeds from any sale of Preferred Shares into U.S. dollars and remitting such U.S. dollars abroad. Holders of Preferred ADRs could be adversely affected by delays in, or refusal to grant any required government approval for conversions of Brazilian currency payments and remittances abroad of the Preferred Shares underlying the Preferred ADRs.

Exchange Rates

Before March 2005, there were two legal foreign exchange markets in Brazil, the commercial market and the floating market. The difference between these two markets was the type of transaction that could be performed through each market.

On March 4, 2005, through CMN Resolution N. 3,265 (revoked and replaced by CMN Resolution N. 3,568, of May 29, 2008), CMN introduced a single foreign exchange market and abolished the legal differences between the referred Commercial and Floating Markets. Among the modifications to foreign exchange market rules is a greater freedom to remit funds abroad through the foreign exchange market. On the other hand, the so-called “CC5-Accounts”, which are bank accounts in reais held in Brazil by foreign entities, may no longer be used to transfer funds on behalf of third parties.

On March 24, 2010, the CMN approved Resolution No. 3,844, adopting a series of measures to consolidate and simplify the Brazilian foreign exchange regulations. These changes are expected to reduce the effective cost of foreign exchange transactions and the related administrative expenses for both the public and private sectors as well as to provide more legal certainty to the parties to such transaction.

In the past, the Central Bank has intervened occasionally to control unstable movements in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Central Bank or the Brazilian government will continue to let the real float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market through the return of a currency band system or otherwise. The real may depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar.

The current exchange rates from U.S Dollar to Brazilian Reais are demonstrated in the table of item 3.A, “Exchange rates between the United States Dollar and Brazilian Reais”.

ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

E. TAXATION

The following summary contains a description of the main Brazilian and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of common shares, preferred shares and ADRs. It does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase these securities. In particular, this summary deals only with holders of common shares, preferred shares or ADRs as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) and does not address the tax treatment of a holder that may be subject to special tax rules, like a bank, an insurance company, a dealer in securities, a person that will hold common shares, preferred shares or ADRs in a hedging transaction or as a position in a “straddle”, “conversion transaction” or other integrated transaction for tax purposes, a person that has a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar, a person liable for alternative minimum tax, a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or a person that owns or is treated as owning 10% or more of the voting shares of the Company. Prospective purchasers of common shares, preferred shares or ADRs should consult their own tax advisors as to the personal tax consequences of their investment, which may vary for investors in different tax situations. The summary is based upon tax laws of Brazil and the United States and applicable regulations, judicial decisions and administrative pronouncements as in effect on the date hereof. Such authorities are subject to change or new interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. Although there is no income tax treaty between Brazil and the United States at this time, the tax authorities of the two countries have had discussions that may culminate in a treaty. No assurance can be given, however, as to whether or when a treaty will enter into force or how it will affect the U.S. holders of common shares, preferred shares or ADRs. This summary is also based upon the representations of the Depositary (as defined below) and on the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreement relating to the ADRs and any related documents will be performed in accordance with its terms.

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Brazilian Tax Considerations

The following discussion summarizes the main Brazilian tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares, preferred shares or ADRs by a holder that is not resident or domiciled in Brazil for purposes of Brazilian taxation (“Non-Resident Holder”).

The following is a general discussion only. It does not specifically address all of the Brazilian tax considerations applicable to any particular Non-Resident Holder. The discussion does not address the effects of any tax treaties or reciprocity of tax treatment entered into by Brazil and other countries. This discussion also does not address any tax consequences under the laws of any state or municipality of Brazil.

Income tax

Dividends

Dividends derived from profits generated on or after January 1, 1996, paid by a Brazilian corporation such as our company, including stock dividends and other dividends paid to a Non-Resident Holder of common shares, preferred shares or ADRs, are currently exempt from income tax in Brazil, as provided by art. 10 of Federal Law no. 9,249, of December 26, 1995.

Interest Attributable to Shareholders’ Equity

As from the enactment of Federal Law no. 9,249/95, a Brazilian corporation, such as our company, is allowed to make distributions to shareholders of interest on shareholders’ equity and to treat such payments as a deductible expense for purposes of calculating Brazilian corporate income tax and social contribution on net profits, as far as the limits described below are observed.

For tax purposes, this interest is currently limited to the daily pro rata variation of the Brazilian long-term interest rate (Taxa de Juros de Longo Prazo — “TJLP”), as determined by the Brazilian Central Bank from time to time, and the amount of the deduction could not exceed the greater of:

· 50% of net income (after the deduction of social contribution on net profits and before taking into account the provision for corporate income tax and the amounts attributable to interest on shareholders’ equity) for the period in respect of which the payment is made; and

· 50% of the sum of retained profits and profit reserves as of the date of the beginning of the period in respect of which the payment is made.

Such payments of interest on shareholders’ equity made to a Non-Resident Holder are generally subject to withholding income tax at the rate of 15%, being such rate increased to 25% if the Non-Resident Holder is resident or domiciled in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction (please refer to “—Tax Favorable Jurisdictions” for a definition of this concept).

Provisional Measure (“PM”) no. 694, of September 30, 2015, was set to promote two changes with regard to the rules above: (i) the limitation on the amount of interest on shareholders’ equity to be paid would be set at the lesser of daily pro rata variation of said TJLP rate or 5% per annum; and (ii) the general withholding income tax rate applicable to payments made to a Non-Resident Holder would be increased from 15% to 18% (the 25% rate remaining applicable to payments made to a Non-Resident Holder resident or domiciled in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction). Said PM, however, was not timely converted into law by Congress, so the proposed changes did not become effective, and the tax rules described in the previous paragraphs remain applicable. Notwithstanding, the Federal Government may enact a new PM to readdress the issue in the coming months.

Payments of interest on shareholders’ equity may be included, at their net value, as part of any mandatory dividend. To the extent a payment of interest on shareholders’ equity is so included, the corporation is required to distribute to shareholders an additional amount to ensure that the net amount received by such shareholders, after payment of the applicable withholding income tax, plus the amount of declared dividends, is at least equal to the mandatory dividend (“gross-up method”).

Capital Gains

According to Federal Law no. 10,833, of December 29, 2003, gains deriving from the transfer of assets located in Brazil by a Non-Resident Holder, whether to another non-Brazilian resident or to a Brazilian resident, may be subject to withholding income tax in Brazil.

With respect to a disposition of common or preferred shares, as these are assets considered to be located in Brazil, the Non-

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Resident Holder will be subject to withholding income tax on the realized gains, according to the rules described below.

As far as ADRs are concerned, although the matter is not entirely clear, arguably the gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder on the disposition of ADRs are not taxed in Brazil, based on the argument that ADRs are not “assets located in Brazil” for purposes of Article 26 of Federal Law no. 10,833/03. We cannot assure you, however, that Brazilian tax authorities or Brazilian tax courts will agree with this interpretation. Accordingly, in the event that ADRs are deemed to be “assets located in Brazil” for purposes of Article 26 of Federal Law no. 10,833/03, gains realized on a disposition of ADRs by a Non-Resident Holder will be subject to withholding income tax in Brazil, according to the rules described below.

In general, gains realized on the disposition of common or preferred shares (or ADRs, in case they are deemed to be “assets located in Brazil”) correspond to the positive difference between the amount realized on the disposition, and the cost of acquisition of the shares disposed of, measured in Brazilian reais (without any correction for inflation), in line with the views expressed by the Brazilian tax authorities on the matter (see, e.g., Normative Ruling no. 1,455, issued on March 06, 2014). There are grounds, however, for maintaining that the gains realized should be calculated taking into consideration the cost of the relevant investments in foreign currency, as so registered before the Brazilian Central Bank.

The rules related to whether or not withholding income tax must be levied on such gains will vary depending on the domicile of the Non-Resident Holder, the type of registration of the investment that must be made by the Non-Resident Holder before the Brazilian Central Bank, and how the disposition is carried out.

Gains realized on a disposition of common or preferred shares carried out on the Brazilian stock exchange are:

· exempt from income tax when assessed by a Non-Resident Holder that (1) has invested in Brazil under the rules set forth by the Brazilian Central Bank — “Qualified Portfolio Investor” (in particular the National Monetary Council Resolution no. 2,689, of January 26, 2000, in force until March 30, 2015, and Resolution no. 4,373, of September 29, 2014, which replaced Resolution no. 2,689/00 as from March 31, 2015) and (2) is not domiciled or resident in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction. Please refer to “—Tax Favorable Jurisdictions” for a definition of this concept; or

· subject to income tax at a rate of 15% in any other case, including a case of gains assessed by a Non-Resident Holder that is not a Qualified Portfolio Investor, and of a Non-Resident Holder that is domiciled or resident in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction. In these cases, a withholding income tax of 0.005% on the sale value will be applicable and can be later offset against income tax due on any capital gain realized on the transaction.

Gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder on a disposition of common or preferred shares (or ADRs, in case they are deemed to be “assets located in Brazil”) that is not carried out on a Brazilian stock exchange are subject to income tax at the same rate applicable to resident individuals, which is currently set at 15%. In case, however, the Non-Resident Holder is resident or domiciled in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction, the rate is increased to 25% (please refer to “—Tax Favorable Jurisdictions” below for a definition of this concept).

PM no. 692, of September 22, 2015, was set to render capital gains realized by resident individuals no longer taxable at the fixed rate of 15%, but rather taxable at progressive rates that varied from 15% to 30%, depending upon the amount of gain realized on the transaction. While under discussion in Congress, such PM was amended and the range of progressive rates was reduced from 15% to 22.5% (15% on gains realized up to R$ 5 million; 17.5% on gains exceeding R$ 5 million but not R$ 10 million; 20% on gains exceeding R$ 10 million but not R$ 30 million; and 22.5% on gains exceeding R$ 30 million). Said new rates are expected to be sanctioned and set forth by law in the first semester of 2016, but it is still unclear when they will enter into force. Assuming such increase will be approved as proposed, it shall also become applicable on the disposition of common or preferred shares (or ADRs, in case they are deemed “assets located in Brazil”) that is not carried out on a Brazilian stock exchange. Such increase, however, shall have no impact as regards transactions carried out (i) on the Brazilian stock exchange, as well as (ii) by a Non-Resident Holder resident or domiciled in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction (whether or not on the Brazilian stock exchange).

Gains related to transactions carried out outside the Brazilian stock exchanges, but on a Brazilian non-organized over-the-counter market with intermediation, are also subject to the withholding income tax of 0.005%, which can be offset against income tax due on any capital gain realized on the transaction.

In the event of a redemption of common or preferred shares (or ADRs, in case they are deemed to be “assets located in Brazil”) or of a capital reduction by a Brazilian corporation, such as our company, the positive difference between the amount received by the Non-Resident Holder and the acquisition cost of the respective common or preferred shares (or ADRs, in case they are deemed to be “assets located in Brazil”) will be treated as a capital gain derived from a disposition that is not carried out on a Brazilian stock exchange market, and therefore will be subject to income tax at a rates described in the previous paragraphs.

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Any exercise of preemptive rights relating to the common or preferred shares or ADRs will not be subject to Brazilian income tax. Gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder on the disposition of preemptive rights relating to common shares, preferred shares or ADRs will be subject to Brazilian income tax according to the same rules described above.

A Non-Resident Holder of ADRs may cancel such ADRs and exchange them for common or preferred shares. Income tax may not be levied on such exchange, as long as the appropriate rules are complied with in connection with the registration of the investment before the Brazilian Central Bank, and as long as ADRs are not deemed “assets located in Brazil”.

The deposit of common or preferred shares by a Non-Resident Holder in exchange for ADRs may trigger Brazilian income tax on the capital gain presumably realized, currently at a rate of 15%, or 25% in the case of a Non-Resident Holder that is domiciled or resident in a Tax Favorable Jurisdiction. Please refer to the paragraphs above for a discussion on the potential future increase in the taxation of capital gains to be established by PM no. 692/15. There are grounds to sustain, however, that such transaction should not trigger Brazilian income tax, provided that the appropriate rules are complied with in connection with the registration of the transaction before the Brazilian Central Bank.

There can be no assurance that the current favorable tax treatment granted to Qualified Portfolio Investors will continue in the future.

Tax Favorable Jurisdictions

The concept of “Tax Favorable Jurisdiction” is defined by Federal Law 9,430, of December 27, 1996, and included the countries or locations (1) that do not impose income tax, (2) where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 20% (such percentage may be reduced or restored by the Executive branch) or (3) whose laws do not allow access to information regarding the shareholding composition of legal entities, their ownership, or the identity of the beneficial owners of earnings attributable to non-residents. Normative Ruling no. 1,037, of June 04, 2010, as amended, expressly lists the countries or locations that fit into such definition.

The same Federal Law no. 9,430/96, as amended by Federal Law no. 11,727, of June 23, 2008, also sets forth the concept of “Privileged Tax Regimes”; said regimes are also expressly listed by Normative Ruling no. 1,037/10. Notwithstanding, the mentioned concept does not seem relevant for purposes of determining the tax treatment applicable to investments made by Non-Resident Holders of common shares, preferred shares and ADRs, although one cannot completely disregard the risk that tax authorities argue otherwise.

Ordinance (“Portaria”) no. 488, issued by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance on November 28, 2014, lowered the threshold at which countries or locations are deemed to be “Tax Favorable Jurisdictions” (see item (2), above), from 20% to 17%.

Tax on Foreign Exchange Transactions

Brazilian law imposes a Tax on Foreign Exchange Transactions (“IOF/FX”) due on the liquidation of foreign exchange agreements related to the conversion of Brazilian reais into foreign currency and on the conversion of foreign currency into Brazilian reais.

Currently, as a general rule, IOF/FX is levied at the rate of 0.38%. There are, however, a number of exceptions to such general rule (as provided by Article 15-B of Decree no. 6,306, of December 14, 2007, as amended).

Foreign exchange transactions for the inflow of funds into Brazil in connection with investments made by foreign investors in the Brazilian financial and capital markets are currently subject to IOF/FX at a zero percent rate.

Foreign exchange transactions for the outflow of funds in connection with the return of investments made in the Brazilian financial and capital markets are also subject to IOF/FX at a zero percent rate. The same rate applies on the outflow of funds in connection with payments of dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity made by Brazilian companies.

The Brazilian government is permitted to increase the rate of the IOF/FX at any time up to 25%. However, any increase in rates will only apply to transactions carried out after this increase in rates enters into force.

Tax on Transactions Related to Bonds and Securities

Brazilian law imposes a Tax on Transactions Related to Bonds and Securities (“IOF/Bonds”) due on transactions involving bonds and securities, including those carried out on a Brazilian stock exchange. Currently, IOF/Bonds is levied at the rate of 0% in

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most transactions involving common or preferred shares, including the transfer of shares traded in Brazilian stock exchanges with the specific purpose of enabling the issuance of depositary receipts to be traded outside Brazil.

The Brazilian government is allowed to increase the rate of the IOF/Bonds at any time up to 1.5% per day of the transaction amount. However, any increase in rates may only apply to transactions carried out after this increase in rates enters into force.

Other Brazilian Taxes

There are no specific Federal Brazilian inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer or disposition of common or preferred shares or ADRs, except for gift and inheritance taxes that may be imposed by Brazilian states. There are no Brazilian stamp, issue, registration, or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of common or preferred shares or ADRs.

United States Tax Considerations

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following discussion summarizes the principal U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of Preferred Shares or Preferred ADRs by a U.S. holder (as defined below) holding such shares or ADRs as capital assets (generally, property held for investment). This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury regulations, administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and judicial decisions, all as in effect on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive effect) and to differing interpretations.. This summary does not the federal tax laws other than those pertaining to U.S. federal income taxation (such as estate or gift tax laws), nor does it address any aspects of U.S. state or local or non-U.S. taxation. U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding such matters.

This summary does not purport to address all material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a U.S. holder of a Preferred Share or Preferred ADR, and does not take into account the specific circumstances of any particular investors, some of which (such as tax-exempt entities, banks or other financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, U.S. expatriates, investors liable for the alternative minimum tax, partnerships and other pass-through entities, investors that own or are treated as owning 10% or more of the Company’s voting stock, investors that hold the Preferred Shares or Preferred ADRs as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion or constructive sale transaction or other integrated transaction, and U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar) may be subject to special tax rules.

As used herein, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a Preferred Share or Preferred ADR that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen or resident alien individual of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or an entity taxable as a corporation) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its source, or (iv) a trust if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust, and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. For purposes of this discussion, a “non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a Preferred Share or Preferred ADR that is not a U.S. holder or a partnership.

If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of a Preferred Share or Preferred ADR, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A holder of a Preferred Share or Preferred ADR that is a partnership and partners in that partnership are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Preferred Shares or Preferred ADRs.

Nature of Preferred ADRs for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes

The following summary assumes that the representations contained in the deposit agreement among us, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, and the holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADRs issued thereunder are true and that the obligations in the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be complied with in accordance with their terms. In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a holder of a Preferred ADR will be treated as the owner of the underlying Preferred Shares. Accordingly, except as specifically noted below, the tax consequences discussed below with respect to Preferred ADRs will be the

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same for Preferred Shares in the Company, and exchanges of Preferred Shares for Preferred ADRs, and Preferred ADRs for Preferred Shares, generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

For purposes of the following summary, any reference to Preferred Shares shall be understood to also include reference to the Preferred ADRs, unless otherwise noted.

Taxation of Distributions

U.S. holders

In general, subject to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, a distribution on a Preferred Share will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent that it is made from the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles (regardless of whether it is considered a dividend for Brazilian income tax purposes). If a distribution exceeds the amount of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, it will be treated as a non-taxable reduction of basis to the extent of the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Preferred Share on which it is paid, and to the extent it exceeds that basis it will be treated as capital gain. The Company does not intend to calculate its earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, a U.S. holder should expect that a distribution on a Preferred Share generally will be treated as a dividend even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital gain under the rules described above.

The gross amount of any dividend on a Preferred Share (which will include the amount of any Brazilian taxes withheld) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax as foreign source dividend income and will not be eligible for the corporate dividends received deduction. In the case of a Preferred Share, but not a Preferred ADR, the amount of a dividend paid in Brazilian currency will be its value in U.S. dollars based on the prevailing spot market exchange rate in effect on the day that the U.S. holder receives the dividend. In the case of a dividend received in respect of a Preferred ADR, the amount of a dividend paid in Brazilian currency will be its value in U.S. dollars based on the prevailing spot market exchange rate in effect on the date the Depositary receives it, whether or not the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars. A U.S. holder will have a tax basis in any distributed Brazilian currency equal to its U.S. dollar amount on the date of receipt, and any gain or loss realized on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the Brazilian currency generally will be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss. If dividends paid in Brazilian currency are converted into U.S. dollars on the date they are received by a U.S. holder or the Depositary or its agent, as the case may be, the U.S. holder generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the treatment of any foreign currency gain or loss if any Brazilian currency received by the U.S. holder or the Depositary or its agent is not converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt.

Subject to certain exceptions for hedged positions, any dividend that a non-corporate U.S. holder receives on a Preferred Share will generally be subject to a maximum Federal income tax rate of 20% if the dividend is a “qualified dividend.” A dividend on a Preferred Share will be a qualified dividend if (i) the Preferred Shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, (ii) the U.S. holder meets the holding period requirement for the Preferred Share (generally more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins 60 days before the ex-dividend date), and (iii) the Company was not, in the year prior to the year the dividend was paid, and is not, in the year the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”).

The Preferred ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will qualify as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as they are so listed. Based on existing guidance, it is not entirely clear whether a dividend on a preferred share will be treated as a qualified dividend, because the preferred shares themselves are not listed on a U.S. exchange. As discussed below under “PFIC Rules,” the Company does not believe that it was a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for its 2015 taxable year, nor does it anticipate being classified as a PFIC in its current taxable year or future taxable years. Given that the determination of PFIC status involves the application of complex tax rules, and that it is based on the nature of the Company’s income and assets from time to time, no assurances can be provided that the Company will not be considered a PFIC for the current (or any past or future) taxable year.

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced its intention to promulgate detailed rules pursuant to which holders of stock of non-U.S. corporations, and intermediaries through whom the stock is held, will be permitted to rely on certifications from issuers to establish that dividends are treated as qualified dividends. Because those detailed procedures have not yet been issued, it is not clear whether the Company will be able to comply with them. Special limitations on foreign tax credits apply to dividends subject to the reduced rate of tax for qualified dividends. U.S. holders of Preferred Shares are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in the light of their own particular circumstances.

Any Brazilian withholding tax will be treated as a foreign income tax eligible for credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. federal income tax law. For purposes of computing those

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limitations separately for specific categories of income, a dividend generally will constitute foreign source “passive category income” or, in the case of certain holders, “general category income”. A U.S. holder will be denied a foreign tax credit with respect to Brazilian income tax withheld from dividends received with respect to the underlying Preferred Shares to the extent the U.S. holder has not held the Preferred Shares for at least 16 days of the 31-day period beginning on the date which is 15 days before the ex-dividend date or to the extent the U.S. holder is under an obligation to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property. Any days during which a U.S. holder has substantially diminished its risk of loss on the Preferred Shares are not counted toward meeting the 16-day holding period required by the statute. Alternatively, any Brazilian withholding tax may be taken as a deduction against taxable income, provided the U.S. holder takes a deduction and not a credit for all foreign income taxes paid or accrued in the same taxable year. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisers to determine whether and to what extent they will be entitled to foreign tax credits as well as with respect to the determination of the foreign tax credit limitation.

U.S. holders should be aware that the IRS has expressed concern that parties to whom ADRs are transferred may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by U.S. holders of ADRs. Accordingly, the discussion above regarding the credibility of Brazilian withholding taxes could be affected by future actions that may be taken by the IRS.

Non-U.S. holders

A dividend paid to a non-U.S. holder on a Preferred Share will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless the dividend is effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base the non-U.S. holder maintains in the United States). A non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to tax on an effectively connected dividend in the same manner as a U.S. holder. A corporate non-U.S. holder may also be subject under certain circumstances to an additional “branch profits tax,” the rate of which may be reduced pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty.

Taxation of Capital Gains

U.S. holders

Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, on a sale or other taxable disposition of a Preferred Share, a U.S. holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. holder’s adjusted basis in the Preferred Share and the amount realized on the sale or other taxable disposition, each determined in U.S. dollars. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition the Preferred Share has been held for more than one year. In general, any adjusted net capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. holder is subject to a maximum Federal income tax rate of 20%. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Any gain a U.S. holder recognizes generally will be U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, and, subject to certain exceptions, any loss will generally be a U.S. source loss. If a Brazilian tax is withheld on a sale or other disposition of a Preferred Share, the amount realized will include the gross amount of the proceeds of that sale or other disposition before deduction of the Brazilian tax. The generally applicable limitations under U.S. federal income tax law on crediting foreign income taxes generally precludes a U.S. holder from obtaining a foreign tax credit for any Brazilian income tax withheld on a sale of a Preferred Share. Alternatively, any Brazilian withholding tax may be taken as a deduction against taxable income, provided the U.S. holder takes a deduction and not a credit for all foreign income taxes paid or accrued in the same taxable year. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisers regarding the application of such rules.

Non-U.S. holders

A non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a gain recognized on a sale or other disposition of a Preferred Share unless (i) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of trade or business by the non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base the non-U.S. holder maintains in the United States), or (ii) in the case of a non-U.S. holder who is an individual, the holder is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale or other taxable disposition and certain other conditions apply. Any effectively connected gain of a corporate non-U.S. holder may also be subject under certain circumstances to an additional “branch profits tax,” the rate of which may be reduced pursuant to an applicable income tax treaty.

PFIC Rules

A special set of U.S. federal income tax rules applies to a foreign corporation that is a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Based on the Company’s audited financial statements and relevant market and shareholder data, as well as the Company’s current and projected income, assets and activities, the Company believes it was not a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for

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its 2015 taxable year, nor does it anticipate being classified as a PFIC in its current taxable year or future taxable years. However, because the determination of whether the Company is a PFIC is based upon the composition of its income and assets from time to time, and because there are uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules, it is possible that the Company will become a PFIC in a future taxable year (and no assurance can be provided that the Company will not be considered a PFIC for its current (or any past) taxable year).

If the Preferred Shares were shares of a PFIC for any taxable year, U.S. holders (including certain indirect U.S. holders) will generally be subject to adverse tax consequences, including the possible imposition of ordinary income treatment for gains or “excess distributions” (generally a distribution in excess of 125% of the average distributions received during the past three years or, if shorter, the U.S. holder’s holding period) that would otherwise be taxed as capital gains or dividends, along with an interest charge on gains or “excess distributions” allocable to prior years in the U.S. holder’s holding period during which the Company was determined to be a PFIC. If the Company is deemed to be a PFIC for a taxable year, dividends on a Preferred Share would not constitute “qualified dividends” subject to preferential rates of U.S. federal income taxation. In addition, if the Company is deemed to be a PFIC for a taxable year, U.S. holders would be subject to increased reporting requirements. U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of the PFIC rules.

Medicare Tax

A U.S. holder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of (1) the United States holder’s “net investment income” (or undistributed “net investment income” in the case of estates and trusts) for the relevant taxable year and (2) the excess of the United States holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals will be between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). A holder’s net investment income will generally include its dividend income and its net gains from the disposition of the Preferred Shares, unless such dividend income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are a U.S. holder that is an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the applicability of this Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in our common stock.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Under U.S. federal income tax law and the Treasury regulations, certain categories of U.S. holders must file information returns with respect to their investment in, or involvement in, a foreign corporation. For example, recently enacted legislation generally imposes new U.S. return disclosure obligations (and related penalties) on U.S. holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets in excess of $50,000. The definition of specified foreign financial assets includes not only financial accounts maintained in foreign financial institutions, but also, unless held in accounts maintained by a financial institution, any stock or security issued by a non-U.S. person, any financial instrument or contract held for investment that has an issuer or counterparty other than a U.S. person and any interest in a foreign entity. U. S. holders may be subject to these reporting requirements unless their Preferred Shares are held in an account at a domestic financial institution. Penalties for failure to file certain of these information returns are substantial. U.S. holders should consult with their own tax advisers regarding the requirements of filing information returns, and, if applicable, filing obligations relating to the PFIC rules.

Dividends paid on, and proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of, a Preferred Share to a U.S. holder generally may be subject to information reporting requirements and may be subject to backup withholding (currently at the rate of 28%) unless the U.S. holder provides an accurate taxpayer identification number or otherwise demonstrates that it is exempt. The amount of any backup withholding collected from a payment to a U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the U.S. holder to a refund, provided that certain required information is timely submitted to the IRS. A non-U.S. holder generally will be exempt from these information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax but may be required to comply with certain certification and identification procedures in order to establish its eligibility for exemption.

F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS

Not applicable.

G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS

Not applicable.

H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

The Company makes its filings in electronic form under the EDGAR filing system of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Its filings are available through the EDGAR system at www.sec.gov. The Company’s filings are also available to the public through the Internet at Gerdau’s website at www.gerdau.com. Such filings and other information on its website are not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report. Interested parties may request a copy of this filing, and any other report, at no cost,

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by writing to the Company at the following address: Av. Farrapos, 1811 — Porto Alegre-RS — 90.220-005 — Brazil or calling 55-51-3323 2703 or by e-mail at inform@gerdau.com.br. In compliance with New York Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Rule 303A.11, the Company provides on its website a summary of the differences between its corporate governance practices and those of U.S. domestic companies under the New York Stock Exchange listing standards.

I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION

Not applicable.

ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES REGARDING MARKET RISK

Gerdau is exposed to various market risks, which involve the fluctuation of exchange rates and interest rates. The Company uses derivatives and other financial instruments to reduce the impact of such risks on its financial assets and liabilities or future cash flows and earnings. Gerdau has established policies to assess market risks and to approve the use of derivate financial instruments transactions related to those risks. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage the above mentioned market risks and never for speculative purposes.

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk

This risk is related to the possibility of fluctuations in exchange rates affecting the value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities or future cash flows and earnings. The Company assesses its exposure to such risk by measuring the difference between the value of its assets and the value of its liabilities in foreign currency. The Company understands that its receivables originated from exports, its cash and cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies and its investments abroad are more than equivalent to its liabilities denominated in foreign currency. Since the management of these exposures occurs at each operation level, if there is a mismatch between assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency, the Company may employ derivative financial instruments in order to mitigate the effect of exchange rate fluctuations.

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis: as of December 31, 2015, the Company is mainly exposed to variations between the Brazilian real and US Dollar. The sensitivity analysis made by the Company considers the effects of an increase or a reduction of 5% between the Brazilian real and the US Dollar on debts that do not have hedge operations. The impact calculated considering such variation in the foreign exchange rate totals R$ 217.492 thousands and R$ 114.735 thousands after the effects of changes in the net investment hedge described in note 15.g, as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 185.571 thousands and R$ 107.659 thousands of December 31, 2014, respectively) and represents income if appreciation of the Brazilian real against the US Dollar occurs or an expense in the case of a depreciation of the Brazilian real against the US Dollar, however due to the investment hedge these effects would be mitigated when considered the income tax and exchange rate variance accounts.

The net amounts related to accounts receivable and accounts payable in foreign currency do not represent relevant risks related to exchange rates fluctuation.

Interest rate risk

This risk is related to the possibility of fluctuations in interest rates affecting the value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities or future cash flows and earnings. The Company assesses its exposure to such risk by (i) comparing financial assets and liabilities denominated in fixed and floating interest rates and (ii) monitoring the movements in interest rates, such as LIBOR and CDI. Therefore, the Company may enter into an interest rate swap in order to mitigate this risk.

Interest rate sensitivity analysis: the interest rate sensitivity analysis made by the Company considers the effects of an increase or reduction of 10 basis point (bps) on the average interest rate applicable to the floating part of its debt. The impact calculated, considering this variation in the interest rate totals R$ 99,147 thousands as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 91,736 thousands as of December 31, 2014) and would impact the Financial expenses account in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The specific interest rates to which the Company is exposed are related to the loans, financing, and debentures presented in Notes 13 and 14, and are mainly comprised by Libor and CDI — Interbank Deposit Certificate.

Commodity prices risk

This risk is related to the possibility of fluctuations in prices of products sold by the Company or in prices of raw material and other inputs used in the production process. Since the Company operates in a commodity market, its sales revenues and cost of sales may be affected by changes in the international prices of the products it sells or the raw materials it purchases. In order to minimize this risk, the Company constantly monitors the price variations in the domestic and international markets.

The sensitivity analysis made by the Company considers the effects of an increase or of a reduction of 1% on both prices. The impact measured considering this variation in the price of products sold, considering the net income and costs of the year ended

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on December 31, 2015, totals R$ 435,812 thousands (R$ 425,463 thousands as of December 31, 2014) and the variation in the price of raw materials and other inputs totals R$ 271,264 thousands as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 249,120 thousands as of December 31, 2014). The impact in the price of products sold and raw materials would be recorded in the accounts Net Sales and Cost of Sales, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company does not expect to be more vulnerable to a change in one or more specific product or raw material.

Credit risk

This risk arises from the possibility of the Company not receiving amounts arising from sales to customers or investments made with financial institutions. In order to minimize this risk, the Company adopts the procedure of analyzing in detail the financial position of their customers, establishing a credit limit and constantly monitoring their balances. In relation to cash investments, the Company invests solely in financial institutions with low credit risk, as assessed by rating agencies. In addition, each financial institution has a maximum limit for investment, determined by the Company’s Credit Committee.

Capital management risk

This risk comes from the Company’s choice in adopting a financing structure for its operations. The Company manages its capital structure, which consists of a ratio between its financial debts and its own capital (Shareholders’ Equity, retained earnings, and profit reserves) based on internal policies and benchmarks. The BSC (Balance Scorecard) methodology was used in the last 5 years to elaborate strategic maps with objectives and indicators of the main processes. The KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) related to the objective “Capital Structure Management” are: WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital), Total Indebtedness/EBITDA, Interest Coverage Ratio, and Indebtedness/Shareholders’ Equity Ratio. Total Debt is composed of loans and financing (see Note 13 — Consolidated Financial Statements) and debentures (see Note 14 - Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company can change its capital structure depending on economic-financial conditions in order to optimize its financial leverage and its debt management. At the same time, the Company tries to improve its ROCE (Return on Capital Employed) by implementing a working capital management process and an efficient fixed asset investment program.

Liquidity risk

The Company’s management policy of indebtedness and cash on hand is based on using the committed lines and the currently available credit lines with or without a guarantee in export receivables for maintaining adequate levels of short, medium, and long-term liquidity.

ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

A. DEBT SECURITIES

Not applicable.

B. WARRANTS AND RIGHTS

Not applicable.

C. OTHER SECURITIES

Not applicable.

D. AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES

On March 10, 1999, Gerdau S.A. obtained registration for the issuance of Level II ADRs, which began trading on the New York Stock Exchange the same day. Under the GGB symbol, these Level II ADRs are equivalent to one preferred share of Gerdau S.A (GGBR4).

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, as depositary, has agreed to reimburse the Company for expenses it incurs that are related to the maintenance of the ADS program. The depositary has agreed to reimburse the Company for its continuing and annual stock exchange listing fees. It has also agreed to pay the standard out-of-pocket maintenance costs for the ADRs, and to reimburse the Company annually for certain investor relations programs or special promotional activities. In certain instances, the depositary has agreed to provide additional payments to the Company based on any applicable performance indicators relating to the ADR facility. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse the Company, but the amount of reimbursement available to the Company is not necessarily tied to the amount of fees the depositary collects from investors. During calendar year 2015, the depositary reimbursed the Company in the amount of US$ 1.2 million.

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The depositary collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADRs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADRs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions or by directly billing investors or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them.

The fees that ADR holders may be required to pay or incur are the following:

Depository Service |  | Fee payable by ADR holder
Transferring, splitting or grouping receipts |  | $1.50 per transfer of ADRs
Depositary services |  | $0.05 or less per ADR
Withdrawal or deposit/issuance and cancellations of shares underlying ADRs |  | $5.00 or less per 100 ADRs
Cash distributions |  | $0.05 or less per ADR

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PART II

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

Not applicable.

ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not applicable.

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure control and procedures

The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. And such information is accumulated and made known to the officers who certify the Company’s financial reports and to other members of senior management and the Disclosure Committee as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system will be met. Based on their evaluation as of December 31, 2015, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

The Disclosure Committee is composed of the Chief Executive Officer, Andre Bier Gerdau Johannpeter, the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Harley Lorentz Scardoelli, the Legal General Manager, Andre Areno, the Accounting Director Clemir Uhlein and the Corporate Communication & Public Affairs Director, Renato Gasparetto Junior. This Committee oversees and reviews all materials for which there is a legal disclosure requirement, together with all data required to support the documents mentioned above. This committee meets at regular intervals in order to review all data.

There have been no changes in our internal controls over Financial Reporting during the fiscal year 2015, which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

In addition, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their most recent evaluation.

Please see Exhibit 12.01 and 12.02 for the certifications required by this Item.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

The management of Gerdau S.A. is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over Financial Reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management has documented and evaluated the effectiveness of the internal control over Financial Reporting of the Company as of December 31, 2015, in accordance with the criteria established in the Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”).

Based on the above evaluation, management has concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, has audited and issued their report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

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ITEM 16. [RESERVED]

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

The Shareholder’s General Meeting has determined that Bolívar Charneski, a member of its Board of Auditors, is a “financial expert” and independent within the meaning of the SEC rules applicable to disclosure of such expertise.

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

In 2011, Gerdau S.A. integrated its three previous codes - Gerdau Ethical Guidelines, Gerdau Ameristeel’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and Gerdau Ameristeel Code of Ethics for Senior Executives — into one single Code of Ethics applicable to all of Gerdau’s business units around the world and periodically revised to improve suitability, adequacy and effectiveness as appropriate.

The provisions of the Code are thus binding on Gerdau’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Compliance Officer and other persons performing similar functions.

The Code of Ethics is focused on the ethics and compliance issues most important to a publicly-held company and meets all applicable legal requirements.

The code is organized according to the Company’s values which are: (a)Be the Customer’s choice, (b)Safety above all, (c)Respected, engaged and fulfilled Employees, (d)Pursuing excellence with simplicity, (e)Focus on results, (f)Integrity with all stakeholders and, (g) Economic, social and environmental sustainability.

The code instructs all employees to follow a number of steps when reporting suspected breaches or violations with no fear of demotion, reprisal or retaliation. The company has implemented an Ethics Helpline to which all employees may refer in the case of any violations of the code, assuring confidentiality, anonymity and two-way communication for any needed follow-up.

The purpose and the contents of the current Code of Ethics have been made public to all employees and board of directors and have been the object of periodically in-company training.

In the same manner as the three previous codes mentioned in the first paragraph, the actual Code of Ethics meets the definition contemplated by applicable SEC and New York Stock Exchange rules, covering wrongdoing related to business conduct, conflicts of interest, disclosure in reports and other documents, as well as compliance with legislation.

The Gerdau Code of Ethics is filed herewith as exhibit 11.01 and also may be accessed through our Internet website (www.gerdau.com).

The Company did not grant any waiver from the Code provisions in the last fiscal year.

ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The following table provides information on fees billed to Gerdau for professional services rendered by the external auditors responsible for auditing the financial statements included in this Annual Report (in thousands of Brazilian Reais) which were PricewaterhouseCoopers for the year ended December 31, 2015 and 2014:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Audit fees |  | 13,673 |  | 12,876 |
Audit-related fees |  | 1,720 |  | 2,019 |
All other fees |  | 787 |  | 3,254 |
Total |  | 16,180 |  | 18,149 |

Audit fees are related to professional services rendered in the auditing of Gerdau’s consolidated financial statements, quarterly reviews of Gerdau’s consolidated financial statements and statutory audits and interim reviews of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and affiliates as required by the appropriate legislation. Those amounts also include fees related to the audit of internal controls over financial reporting of Gerdau and of Gerdau Ameristeel.

Audit-related fees are for assurance and related services, such as due diligence services traditionally performed by an external auditor related to acquisitions, as well as consulting on accounting standards and transactions.

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Other fees are mainly related to services provided to subsidiaries relating to tax compliance and tax services. The Company included as other fees in 2014 a service agreement, dated February 17, 2014, between its subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Strategy&, formerly Booz & Company, a company acquired on April 1, 2014 by PwC. The agreement had an approximate duration of 4 months and the services consisted of project consulting. The fees under said agreement amounted to R$ 2.8 million in 2014. Given the impartiality, objectiveness and independence demonstrated by the independent auditor with regard to its activities and to the subject-matter of the service agreement between Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Strategy&, the Board of Directors of Gerdau S.A. evaluated the merits of the potential conflict of interest in a meeting held on June 6, 2014, and, after considering the matter, decided that there was no reason to terminate the agreement.

ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

On April 28, 2005, the Company elected its Board of Auditors duly adapted to ensure compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requirements and exemptions from the listing standards. The Board of Auditors (“Conselho Fiscal”) has been operating in accordance with Brazilian Corporate Law 6,404/76, since April 2000. The customary role of this board is to monitor and verify the actions of company directors and executive officers and the compliance with their legal duties, providing opinions and official statements on the annual management report and the proposals of members of the Board of Directors, denouncing errors or fraud, calling meetings whenever necessary and analyzing financial statements. In establishing a permanent Board of Auditors, the Company has availed itself of paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which provides a general exemption from the audit committee requirements for a foreign private issuer (such as the Company) with a board of auditors, subject to certain requirements which continue to be applicable under Rule 10A-3.

NYSE rules require that listed companies have an audit committee that (i) is composed of a minimum of three independent directors who are all financially literate, (ii) meets the SEC rules regarding audit committees for listed companies, (iii) has at least one member who has accounting or financial management expertise and (iv) is governed by a written charter addressing the committee’s required purpose and detailing its required responsibilities. However, as a foreign private issuer, the Company needs only to comply with the requirement that the audit committee, or Board of Auditors in its case, meet the SEC rules regarding audit committees for listed companies. The Brazilian Corporate Law requires companies to have a non-permanent Board of Auditors composed of three to five members who are elected by the shareholders at the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders. The Board of Auditors operates independently from management and from a company’s external auditors. Its main function is to monitor the activities of the management of the company, examine the financial statements of each fiscal year and provide a formal report to its shareholders.

The Company has a permanent Board of Auditors that consists of three up to five members and three up to five alternates and which has ordinary meetings every two months. The members of the Gerdau S.A.’s Board of Auditors are all financially literate and one member has accounting expertise that qualifies him as an audit committee financial expert. Gerdau S.A. believes that its Board of Auditors, as modified, meets the requirements for the exemption available to foreign private issuers under the SEC rules regarding audit committees of listed companies. In addition, the Board of Auditors operates under a written charter and which the Gerdau S.A. believes meets the NYSE’s requirements for audit committee charters. The Board of Auditors is not the equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. audit committee. Among other differences, it is not required to meet the standards of “independence” established in Rule 10A-3 and is not fully empowered to act on matters that are required by Rule 10A-3 to be within the scope of an audit committee’s authority. Nonetheless, with the duties that have been provided to the Board of Auditors to the extent permitted by Brazilian law, Gerdau S.A. believes that its current corporate governance system, taken as a whole, including the ability of the Board of Auditors to consult internal and external experts, is fully equivalent to a system having an audit committee functioning as a committee of its Board of Directors. For a further discussion of its Board of Auditors, see “Item 6C. Board Practices - Board of Auditors”.

The Board of Auditors members are elected at the Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting for one-year terms. They are eligible for reelection. In Gerdau S.A. the Board of Auditors consists of three members and three alternates. As required by Brazilian law, members of the Board of Auditors must have college graduation or held office for at least three years as business administrators or as members of boards of auditors. The Board of Auditors, at the request of any of its members, may ask the external auditors to provide explanations or information and to investigate specific facts.

ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

On February 19, 2013, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to acquire shares of its own issuance, up to 4,100,000 preferred shares (GGBR4) and American Depositary Receipts — ADRs (GGB), exclusively in order to satisfy the Long-Term Incentive Plan for the Company and its subsidiaries, using the available cash supported by existing profit reserves, with the Executive Committee responsible for establishing the number of shares and the opportune moment for each transaction. The acquisition period is from February 19, 2013, for a maximum period of 365 days, until February 18, 2014. The Company did not buy any shares during the duration of this program.

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On January 19, 2015, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to acquire up to 30,000,000 preferred shares (GGBR4) or American Depositary Receipts — ADRs (GGB) until April 17, 2015. This share acquisition was authorized pursuant to the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company purchased 19,613,200 preferred shares (GGBR4) and 310,000 American Depositary Receipts — ADRs (GGB). The acquisition was funded with retained earnings.

ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

Not applicable.

ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Under the Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange, currently in effect, Gerdau S.A. is required to disclose any significant ways in which its corporate governance practices differ from those required to be followed by domestic companies under NYSE listing standard. These significant differences are summarized below.

The Company is permitted to follow practice in Brazil in lieu of the provisions of the Corporate Governance Rules, except that it is required to avail itself of an appropriate exemption to the requirement to have a qualifying audit committee under Section 303A.06 of the Rules and its Chief Executive Officer is obligated, under Section 303A.12(b), to promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any of its executive officers becomes aware of any material non-compliance with any applicable provisions of the Corporate Governance Rules.

Majority of Independent Directors: Under NYSE Rule 303A.01 domestic listed companies must have a majority of independent directors. The Company does not have a similar requirement under Brazilian practice and does not have a majority of independent directors serving on its board of directors, even though the majority of the members are non-management directors.

Separate meetings of non-management directors: Under NYSE Rule 303A.03, the non-management directors of each domestic listed company must meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. Gerdau does not have a similar requirement under Brazilian practice, but non-management directors meet separately once a year to assess management performance.

Nominating/corporate governance committee: Under NYSE Rule 303A.04, a domestic listed company must have a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. While the Company is not required to have such a committee under Brazilian law, it has a Corporate Governance Committee that is composed by a majority of independent directors. The purpose of this Committee is to provide its views to the board in respect of the best practices in Corporate Governance.

Compensation Committee: Under NYSE Rule 303A.05, a domestic listed company must have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. Gerdau is not required to have such a committee under Brazilian practice. It has established a Remuneration and Succession Committee to advise the full Board on employee and executive compensation and recruitment, incentive-compensation plans and related matters, but such committee does not have a separate charter and is composed by a majority of independent directors. Its full Board of Directors otherwise is directly responsible for employee and executive compensation and recruitment, incentive-compensation and related matters.

Audit Committee: Under NYSE Rule 303A.06 and the requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, domestic listed companies are required to have an audit committee consisting entirely of independent directors that otherwise complies with Rule 10A-3. In addition, the audit committee must have a written charter that addresses the matters outlined in NYSE Rule 303.A.06(c), has an internal audit function and otherwise fulfills the requirements of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3. There is no requirement for an audit committee under Brazilian law and there are features of Brazilian law that require adaptation of the independent audit committee rule to local practice, as permitted by NYSE Rule 303A.06 and Rule 10A-3. Gerdau has a board of auditors (conselho fiscal) that currently performs certain of the functions prescribed for the audit committee, although the scope of its duties is not entirely compatible with the requirements of U.S. law and the NYSE rules. The Company has adapted its corporate governance practices and the functions of the board of auditors (with certain limitations due to Brazilian corporate law that qualify for an exemption as authorized by the SEC) to assure compliance with the requirements of the NYSE Rule and Rule 10A-3. See Item 6C.-”Board Practices-Board of Auditors” and Item 16D.-”Exemption from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.”

Equity Compensation Plans: Under NYSE Rule 303A.08, shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity-compensation plans and material revisions thereto, with certain limited exemptions as described in the Rule. The General Shareholders’ meeting held on April 30, 2003 approved the establishment by the Board of a stock option plan for executives. Any material changes to such plan, or a new or different plan if established, would require the favorable vote of holders of the common shares of the Company. Holders of preferred shares, including holders of Gerdau’s ADSs, would not have the opportunity to vote on such a plan or any revisions thereto.

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Corporate governance guidelines: Under NYSE Rule 303A.09, domestic listed companies must adopt and disclose their corporate governance guidelines. Gerdau does not have a similar requirement under Brazilian law, although it does establish operating principles for its executive management and it observes the requirements of Instruction 358 of the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM) concerning trading in its shares. In addition, it has adhered to the Level I listing standards of the BOVESPA.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics: Under NYSE Rule 303A.10, domestic listed companies must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees and promptly disclose any waivers of the code for directors or executive officers. Gerdau has a similar requirement under Brazilian law and it has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its directors, officers and employees. For more information regarding the Code of Ethics please see item 16B. Code of Ethics.

Further information concerning Gerdau’s corporate governance practices and applicable Brazilian law is available on the Company’s website, in its submissions to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company has also voluntarily adhered to the Level I listing standards of the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange (BOVESPA) on which its shares are traded, which impose heightened standards of disclosure, transparency and corporate governance on Gerdau.

ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable as none of our mines are located in the United States and, therefore, not subject to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 or the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

PART III

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company has responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this item.

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Reference is made to Item 19 for a list of all financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report.

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ITEM 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(a) Financial Statements

|  | Page
Report of independent registered public accounting firm |  | F-2
Consolidated balance sheets on December 31, 2015 and 2014 |  | F-3
Consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 |  | F-5
Consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 |  | F-6
Consolidated statements of changes in equity |  | F-7
Consolidated statement of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 |  | F-8
Notes to consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 |  | F-9

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(b) List of Exhibits

1.01 |  | Bylaws of Gerdau S.A.*******
2.(a)(1) |  | Corporate Governance Level 1 — BOVESPA**
2.(a)(2) |  | Deposit Agreement dated July 1, 2013, among the Company, the JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Depositary and all holders from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder. *
2(b)(1) |  | The Company agrees to furnish to the Commission upon its request any instrument relating to long-term debt issued by the Company or any subsidiary where the total amount of securities authorized under that instrument does not exceed 10% of the Company’s consolidated assets.
4.01 |  | Gerdau SA Equity Incentive Plan, Equity Ownership Plan and Long-Term Incentive Plan (for Gerdau Ameristeel)***
4.02 |  | Gerdau Special Steel North America Equity Incentive Plan****
11.01 |  | Code of Ethics*****
12.01 |  | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer under Item 15
12.02 |  | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer under Item 15
13.01 |  | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 †
13.02 |  | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 †
23.01 |  | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes

* Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-189475), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2013.

**Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2(a)(1) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-14878), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2012

*** Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-171217) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2010.

**** Incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-179182) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2012.

***** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.01 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-14878), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2012.

****** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.01 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-14878), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2012.

******* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.01 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-14878), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2014.

† This certification will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

| GERDAU S.A.
| By: | /s/ André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter
| Name: |  | André Bier Johannpeter
| Title: |  | Chief Executive Officer
| By: | /s/ Harley Lorentz Scardoelli
| Name: |  | Harley Lorentz Scardoelli
Dated: March 30, 2016 | Title: |  | Chief Financial Officer

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GERDAU S.A.

Consolidated financial statements

as of December 31, 2015 and 2014

and for each of the three years in the period

ended December 31, 2015

prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board — IASB

and Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Gerdau S.A.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Gerdau S.A. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2015 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 15 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes

Porto Alegre, Brazil

March 30, 2016

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GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

as of December 31, 2015 and 2014

In thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  | Note |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
CURRENT ASSETS |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 4 |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |
Short-term investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Held for Trading |  | 4 |  | 1,270,760 |  | 2,798,834 |
Trade accounts receivable - net |  | 5 |  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,438,676 |
Inventories |  | 6 |  | 8,781,113 |  | 8,866,888 |
Tax credits |  | 7 |  | 673,155 |  | 686,958 |
Income and social contribution taxes recoverable |  |  |  | 724,843 |  | 468,309 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  | 15 |  | 37,981 |  | 41,751 |
Other current assets |  |  |  | 454,140 |  | 331,352 |
|  |  |  | 22,177,498 |  | 20,682,739 |
NON-CURRENT ASSETS |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Tax credits |  | 7 |  | 77,990 |  | 78,412 |
Deferred income taxes |  | 8 |  | 4,307,462 |  | 2,567,189 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  | 15 |  | 5,620 |  | — |
Related parties |  | 18 |  | 54,402 |  | 80,920 |
Judicial deposits |  | 17 |  | 1,703,367 |  | 1,430,865 |
Other non-current assets |  |  |  | 490,583 |  | 375,732 |
Prepaid pension cost |  | 19 |  | 140,388 |  | 196,799 |
Investments in associates and jointly-controlled entities |  | 9 |  | 1,392,882 |  | 1,394,383 |
Goodwill |  | 11 |  | 14,653,026 |  | 12,556,404 |
Other Intangibles |  | 12 |  | 1,835,761 |  | 1,547,098 |
Property, plant and equipment, net |  | 10 |  | 23,255,730 |  | 22,131,789 |
|  |  |  | 47,917,211 |  | 42,359,591 |
TOTAL ASSETS |  |  |  | 70,094,709 |  | 63,042,330 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

as of December 31, 2015 and 2014

In thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  | Note |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
CURRENT LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts payable |  |  |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,236,356 |
Short-term debt |  | 13 |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,037,869 |
Taxes payable |  | 16 |  | 349,674 |  | 405,490 |
Income and social contribution taxes payable |  |  |  | 140,449 |  | 388,920 |
Payroll and related liabilities |  |  |  | 480,430 |  | 668,699 |
Dividends payable |  | 22 |  | — |  | 119,318 |
Employee benefits |  | 19 |  | 18,535 |  | 34,218 |
Environmental liabilities |  | 20 |  | 27,736 |  | 23,025 |
Other current liabilities |  |  |  | 829,182 |  | 858,901 |
|  |  |  | 7,863,031 |  | 7,772,796 |
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 13 |  | 23,826,758 |  | 17,148,580 |
Debentures |  | 14 |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |
Related parties |  | 18 |  | 896 |  | — |
Deferred income taxes |  | 8 |  | 914,475 |  | 944,546 |
Unrealized losses on financial instruments |  | 15 |  | — |  | 8,999 |
Provision for tax, civil and labor liabilities |  | 17 |  | 1,904,730 |  | 1,576,355 |
Environmental liabilities |  | 20 |  | 136,070 |  | 93,396 |
Employee benefits |  | 19 |  | 1,687,486 |  | 1,272,631 |
Obligations with FIDC |  | 21 |  | 853,252 |  | — |
Other non-current liabilities |  |  |  | 690,766 |  | 635,457 |
|  |  |  | 30,261,295 |  | 22,015,000 |
EQUITY |  | 22 |  |  |  |  |
Capital |  |  |  | 19,249,181 |  | 19,249,181 |
Treasury stocks |  |  |  | (383,363 | ) | (233,142 | )
Capital reserves |  |  |  | 11,597 |  | 11,597 |
Retained earnings |  |  |  | 6,908,059 |  | 11,714,804 |
Operations with non-controlling interests |  |  |  | (2,877,488 | ) | (1,732,962 | )
Other reserves |  |  |  | 8,777,815 |  | 3,191,431 |
EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE PARENT |  |  |  | 31,685,801 |  | 32,200,819 |
NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS |  |  |  | 284,582 |  | 1,053,715 |
EQUITY |  |  |  | 31,970,383 |  | 33,254,534 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |  |  |  | 70,094,709 |  | 63,042,330 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

In thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  | Note |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
NET SALES |  | 24 |  | 43,581,241 |  | 42,546,339 |  | 39,863,037 |
Cost of sales |  | 29 |  | (39,290,526 | ) | (37,406,328 | ) | (34,728,460 | )
GROSS PROFIT |  |  |  | 4,290,715 |  | 5,140,011 |  | 5,134,577 |
Selling expenses |  | 29 |  | (785,002 | ) | (691,021 | ) | (658,862 | )
General and administrative expenses |  | 29 |  | (1,797,483 | ) | (2,036,926 | ) | (1,953,014 | )
Other operating income |  | 29 |  | 213,431 |  | 238,435 |  | 318,256 |
Other operating expenses |  | 29 |  | (116,431 | ) | (150,542 | ) | (140,535 | )
Impairment of assets |  | 28 |  | (4,996,240 | ) | (339,374 | ) | — |
Gains in Joint ventures operations |  |  |  | — |  | 636,528 |  | — |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | 9 |  | (24,502 | ) | 101,875 |  | 54,001 |
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES) AND TAXES |  |  |  | (3,215,512 | ) | 2,898,986 |  | 2,754,423 |
Financial income |  | 30 |  | 378,402 |  | 276,249 |  | 292,910 |
Financial expenses |  | 30 |  | (1,780,366 | ) | (1,397,375 | ) | (1,053,385 | )
Exchange variations, net |  | 30 |  | (1,564,017 | ) | (476,367 | ) | (544,156 | )
Gain and losses on financial instruments, net |  | 30 |  | 87,085 |  | 36,491 |  | 2,854 |
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE TAXES |  |  |  | (6,094,408 | ) | 1,337,984 |  | 1,452,646 |
Current |  | 8 |  | (158,450 | ) | (571,926 | ) | (318,422 | )
Deferred |  | 8 |  | 1,656,872 |  | 722,315 |  | 559,478 |
Income and social contribution taxes |  | 8 |  | 1,498,422 |  | 150,389 |  | 241,056 |
NET INCOME (LOSS) |  |  |  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |
ATTRIBUTABLE TO: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Owners of the parent |  |  |  | (4,551,438 | ) | 1,402,873 |  | 1,583,731 |
Non-controlling interests |  |  |  | (44,548 | ) | 85,500 |  | 109,971 |
|  |  |  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |
Basic earnings per share - preferred and common - (R$) |  | 23 |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |
Diluted earnings per share - preferred and common - (R$) |  | 23 |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

In thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2012 |
Net income (loss) for the year |  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income from associates and jointly-controlled entities |  | 417,961 |  | 81,015 |  | 168,848 |
Cumulative translation adjustment |  | 8,835,306 |  | 1,839,739 |  | 2,458,233 |
Unrealized Losses on net investment hedge |  | (3,613,178 | ) | (948,991 | ) | (848,238 | )
Cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Unrealized Gains |  | 17,283 |  | 53,999 |  | 2,051 |
Reciclying to income |  | — |  | (59,988 | ) | 3,312 |
|  | 5,657,372 |  | 965,774 |  | 1,784,206 |
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remeasurement on defined benefit pension plan |  | 32,962 |  | (78,678 | ) | 205,325 |
|  | 32,962 |  | (78,678 | ) | 205,325 |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |  | 5,690,334 |  | 887,096 |  | 1,989,531 |
Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax |  | 1,094,348 |  | 2,375,469 |  | 3,683,233 |
Total comprehensive income attributable to: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Owners of the parent |  | 1,035,164 |  | 2,248,178 |  | 3,519,435 |
Non-controlling interests |  | 59,184 |  | 127,291 |  | 163,798 |
|  | 1,094,348 |  | 2,375,469 |  | 3,683,233 |

The items in the statement of comprehensive income are presented net of taxes, where applicable. The tax effects of these items are presented in note 8.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

in thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  | Attributed to parent company’s interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Retained earnings |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Capital |  | Treasury stocks |  | Capital Reserve |  | Legal reserve |  | Tax Incentives Reserve |  | Investments and working capital reserve |  | Retained earnings |  | Operations with non- controlling interests |  | Gains and losses on net investment hedge |  | Gains and losses on financial instruments |  | Cumulative translation adjustment |  | Pension Plan |  | Stock Option |  | Total parent company’s interest |  | Non-controlling interests |  | Total Shareholder’s Equity |
Balance as of January 1, 2013 (Note 22) |  | 19,249,181 |  | (290,240 | ) | 11,597 |  | 478,897 |  | 490,891 |  | 8,677,799 |  | — |  | (1,728,627 | ) | (681,793 | ) | (82 | ) | 1,421,334 |  | (467,377 | ) | 84,024 |  | 27,245,604 |  | 1,552,313 |  | 28,797,917 |
2013 Changes in Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,583,731 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,583,731 |  | 109,971 |  | 1,693,702 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (843,859 | ) | 4,983 |  | 2,573,233 |  | 201,347 |  | — |  | 1,935,704 |  | 53,827 |  | 1,989,531 |
Total comprehensive income (loss) recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,583,731 |  | — |  | (843,859 | ) | 4,983 |  | 2,573,233 |  | 201,347 |  | — |  | 3,519,435 |  | 163,798 |  | 3,683,233 |
Stock option expenses recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 19,642 |  | 19,642 |  | 2,562 |  | 22,204 |
Stock option exercised during the year |  | — |  | 51,269 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (15,869 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 35,400 |  | 65 |  | 35,465 |
Effects of interest changes in subsidiaries |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (4,335 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (4,335 | ) | 18,795 |  | 14,460 |
Destination of net income proposed to the shareholders |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 79,187 |  | 69,514 |  | 958,363 |  | (1,107,064 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Dividends/interest on capital |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (476,667 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (476,667 | ) | (55,855 | ) | (532,522 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2013 (Note 22) |  | 19,249,181 |  | (238,971 | ) | 11,597 |  | 558,084 |  | 560,405 |  | 9,620,293 |  | — |  | (1,732,962 | ) | (1,525,652 | ) | 4,901 |  | 3,994,567 |  | (266,030 | ) | 103,666 |  | 30,339,079 |  | 1,681,678 |  | 32,020,757 |
2014 Changes in Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,402,873 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,402,873 |  | 85,500 |  | 1,488,373 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (947,201 | ) | (5,824 | ) | 1,880,147 |  | (81,817 | ) | — |  | 845,305 |  | 41,791 |  | 887,096 |
Total comprehensive income (loss) recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,402,873 |  | — |  | (947,201 | ) | (5,824 | ) | 1,880,147 |  | (81,817 | ) | — |  | 2,248,178 |  | 127,291 |  | 2,375,469 |
Stock option expenses recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 34,584 |  | 34,584 |  | 2,003 |  | 36,587 |
Stock option exercised during the year |  | — |  | 5,829 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (698 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 5,131 |  | 355 |  | 5,486 |
Effects of interest changes in subsidiaries |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (664,767 | ) | (664,767 | )
Destination of net income proposed to the shareholders |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 70,144 |  | 51,126 |  | 855,462 |  | (976,732 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Dividends/interest on capital |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (426,141 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (426,141 | ) | (92,845 | ) | (518,986 | )
Supplementary dividend |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (12 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (12 | ) | — |  | (12 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2014 (Note 22) |  | 19,249,181 |  | (233,142 | ) | 11,597 |  | 628,228 |  | 611,531 |  | 10,475,045 |  | — |  | (1,732,962 | ) | (2,472,853 | ) | (923 | ) | 5,874,714 |  | (347,847 | ) | 138,250 |  | 32,200,819 |  | 1,053,715 |  | 33,254,534 |
2015 Changes in Equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net loss |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (4,551,438 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (4,551,438 | ) | (44,548 | ) | (4,595,986 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (3,610,435 | ) | 17,007 |  | 9,147,164 |  | 32,866 |  | — |  | 5,586,602 |  | 103,732 |  | 5,690,334 |
Total comprehensive income (loss) recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (4,551,438 | ) | — |  | (3,610,435 | ) | 17,007 |  | 9,147,164 |  | 32,866 |  | — |  | 1,035,164 |  | 59,184 |  | 1,094,348 |
Supplementary dividend |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 944 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 944 |  | — |  | 944 |
Stock option expenses recognized in the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (128 | ) | (128 | ) | (409 | ) | (537 | )
Treasury stocks |  | — |  | (186,033 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (186,033 | ) | (3,038 | ) | (189,071 | )
Stock option exercised during the year |  | — |  | 35,812 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (3,275 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 32,537 |  | 3,365 |  | 35,902 |
Effects of interest changes in subsidiaries |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (1,144,526 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (1,144,526 | ) | (824,711 | ) | (1,969,237 | )
Absorption of net loss proposed to the shareholders |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (4,551,438 | ) | 4,551,438 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Dividends/interest on capital |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (252,976 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (252,976 | ) | (3,524 | ) | (256,500 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 (Note 22) |  | 19,249,181 |  | (383,363 | ) | 11,597 |  | 628,228 |  | 611,531 |  | 5,668,300 |  | — |  | (2,877,488 | ) | (6,083,288 | ) | 16,084 |  | 15,021,878 |  | (314,981 | ) | 138,122 |  | 31,685,801 |  | 284,582 |  | 31,970,383 |

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GERDAU S.A.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

In thousands of Brazilian reais (R$)

|  | Note |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) for the year |  |  |  | (4,595,986 | ) | 1,488,373 |  | 1,693,702 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income for the year to net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 29 |  | 2,607,909 |  | 2,227,396 |  | 2,029,507 |
Impairment of Assets |  | 28 |  | 4,996,240 |  | 339,374 |  | — |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | 9 |  | 24,502 |  | (101,875 | ) | (54,001 | )
Exchange variation, net |  | 30 |  | 1,564,017 |  | 476,367 |  | 544,156 |
Gains on financial instruments, net |  | 30 |  | (87,085 | ) | (36,491 | ) | (2,854 | )
Post-employment benefits |  |  |  | 233,287 |  | 200,699 |  | 95,514 |
Stock based remuneration |  |  |  | 48,589 |  | 39,614 |  | 38,223 |
Income tax |  | 8 |  | (1,498,422 | ) | (150,389 | ) | (241,056 | )
Gains on disposal of property, plant and equipment and investments |  |  |  | (3,971 | ) | (48,639 | ) | (133,593 | )
Gains in Joint ventures operations |  |  |  | — |  | (636,528 | ) | — |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  | 5 |  | 127,701 |  | 49,890 |  | 47,345 |
Provision for tax, labor and civil claims |  | 17 |  | 323,314 |  | 281,876 |  | 205,167 |
Interest income on investments |  |  |  | (153,631 | ) | (144,723 | ) | (135,040 | )
Interest expense on loans |  | 30 |  | 1,471,526 |  | 1,178,034 |  | 901,273 |
Interest on loans with related parties |  | 18 |  | (2,712 | ) | (2,743 | ) | (1,573 | )
(Reversal) Provision for net realisable value adjustment in inventory |  | 6 |  | 17,536 |  | (6,062 | ) | (4,701 | )
|  |  |  | 5,072,814 |  | 5,154,173 |  | 4,982,069 |
Changes in assets and liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease (Increase) in trade accounts receivable |  |  |  | 1,219,605 |  | (36,468 | ) | (23,790 | )
Decrease (Increase) in inventories |  |  |  | 1,977,361 |  | (173,191 | ) | 1,018,398 |
Decrease in trade accounts payable |  |  |  | (768,627 | ) | (251,911 | ) | (128,942 | )
(Increase) Decrease in other receivables |  |  |  | (270,391 | ) | (701,550 | ) | 120,645 |
(Decrease) Increase in other payables |  |  |  | (509,227 | ) | 280,187 |  | 162,863 |
Dividends from jointly-controlled entities |  |  |  | 52,769 |  | 95,600 |  | 63,073 |
Purchases of trading securities |  |  |  | (1,958,522 | ) | (3,028,974 | ) | (3,360,144 | )
Proceeds from maturities and sales of trading securities |  |  |  | 3,929,971 |  | 2,544,895 |  | 2,481,935 |
Cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  | 8,745,753 |  | 3,882,761 |  | 5,316,107 |
Interest paid on loans and financing |  |  |  | (946,041 | ) | (859,821 | ) | (810,362 | )
Income and social contribution taxes paid |  |  |  | (637,394 | ) | (452,079 | ) | (407,333 | )
Net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |  | 7,162,318 |  | 2,570,861 |  | 4,098,412 |
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchases of property, plant and equipment |  | 10 |  | (2,324,718 | ) | (2,266,702 | ) | (2,598,265 | )
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment, investments and other intangibles |  |  |  | 90,942 |  | 1,067,938 |  | 237,203 |
Purchases of other intangibles |  | 12 |  | (126,428 | ) | (141,956 | ) | (158,395 | )
Advance for capital increase in jointly-controlled entity |  |  |  | — |  | — |  | (77,103 | )
Payment for business acquisitions, net of cash of acquired entities |  | 3.6 |  | (20,929 | ) | — |  | (55,622 | )
Increase in controlling interest in associated companies |  |  |  | — |  | — |  | (51,383 | )
Capital increase in jointly-controlled entity |  |  |  | (40,524 | ) | — |  | — |
Net cash used in investing activities |  |  |  | (2,421,657 | ) | (1,340,720 | ) | (2,703,565 | )
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
(Reduction) Increase of capital by non-controlling interests |  |  |  | — |  | (550,000 | ) | 383,788 |
Purchase of treasury shares |  |  |  | (189,071 | ) | — |  | — |
Proceeds from exercise of shares |  |  |  | — |  | 5,483 |  | 35,465 |
Dividends and interest on capital paid |  |  |  | (358,226 | ) | (455,139 | ) | (426,988 | )
Proceeds from loans and financing |  |  |  | 3,042,783 |  | 2,771,048 |  | 5,011,654 |
Repayment of loans and financing |  |  |  | (5,028,386 | ) | (2,173,555 | ) | (5,223,100 | )
Intercompany loans |  |  |  | 30,126 |  | 8,939 |  | 46,933 |
Increase in controlling interest in subsidiaries |  | 3.6 |  | (339,068 | ) | (130,199 | ) | (33,090 | )
Put-Options on non-controlling interest |  |  |  | — |  | — |  | (599,195 | )
Net cash used in financing activities |  |  |  | (2,841,842 | ) | (523,423 | ) | (804,533 | )
Exchange variation on cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  | 699,290 |  | 244,029 |  | 71,675 |
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  | 2,598,109 |  | 950,747 |  | 661,989 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |  |  |  | 3,049,971 |  | 2,099,224 |  | 1,437,235 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |  |  |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |  | 2,099,224 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Table of Contents

NOTE 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION

Gerdau S.A. is a publicly traded corporation (sociedade anônima) with its corporate domicile in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Gerdau S.A and subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”) is a leading producer of long steel in the Americas and one of the largest suppliers of special steel in the world. In Brazil, the Company also produces flat steel and iron ore, activities which expanded the product mix and made its operations even more competitive. It is the largest recycler in Latin America and around the world it transforms each year millions of tons of scrap into steel, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development of the regions where it operates. Gerdau is listed on the São Paulo, New York and Madrid stock exchanges.

The Consolidated Financial Statements of Gerdau S.A and subsidiaries were approved by the Board of Directors on March 30, 2016.

NOTE 2 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING PRACTICES

2.1 - Basis of Presentation

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance and are in compliance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with IFRS requires Management to make accounting estimates. The areas that involve judgment or use of estimates relevant to the Consolidated Financial Statements are stated in Note 2.17. The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared using historical cost as its basis, except for the valuation of certain financial instruments, which are measured at fair value.

The Company adopted all applicable standards and revisions of standards and interpretations issued by the IASB or the IFRS Interpretations Committee that are effective for December 31, 2015. These standards have not had a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

a) Investments in Subsidiaries

The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Gerdau S.A. and all its subsidiaries. The Company controls an entity when it is exposed or has the right to variable returns arising from their involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns due to the power exercised over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Company. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

Third parties’ interests in equity and net income of subsidiaries are reported separately in the consolidated balance sheet and in the consolidated statement of income, respectively, under the account “Non-controlling interests”.

For business combinations, the assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary are reported at their respective fair value on the date of acquisition. Any excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. When the acquisition cost is less than the fair value of the net assets identified, the difference is recorded as a gain in the statement of income for the year in which the acquisition took place. The non-controlling interests are presented based on the proportion of the fair value of the identified assets and liabilities acquired. Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in the consolidation process. Gains or losses resulting from transactions among consolidated entities of the Company are also eliminated.

b) Investments in Joint ventures and Associate Companies

Joint ventures are those in which the control is held jointly by the Company and one or more partners. An associate company is one in which the Company exercises significant influence, but over which it does not have control. Investments in joint ventures and associate companies are recorded under the equity method.

c) Equity Method

According to this method, investments are recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at acquisition cost and are adjusted subsequently based on the Company’s share in the earnings and in other changes in the net assets of the investees. The balances of the investments can also be reduced due to impairment losses. Furthermore, dividends received from these companies are recorded as reductions in the value of the investments.

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2.2 —Foreign Currency Translation

a) Functional and Reporting Currency

The functional currency of an entity is the currency of the primary economic environment where it operates. The Consolidated Financial Statements are presented in Reais (R$), which is the functional and reporting currency of the Company.

b) Transactions and Balances

For purposes of the Consolidated Financial Statements, the balances of each subsidiary of the Company are converted into Brazilian reais, which is the functional currency of the Company and the reporting currency of its Consolidated Financial Statements.

c) Group Companies

The results of operations and financial position of all subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial statements, along with equity investments, which have functional currencies different from the Company’s reporting currency are translated into the reporting currency as follows:

i) Asset and liability balances are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date;

ii) Income and expenses are translated using the average monthly exchange rates for the year; and

iii) Translation gains and losses resulting from the above methodology are recognized in Equity, in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, in the account named “Other reserves - Cumulative translation adjustment”.

iv) The amounts presented in the cash flow are derived from the changes in assets, liabilities and income and expenses translated, as detailed above.

d) Hyperinflation in Venezuela

Venezuela is considered a hyperinflationary economy and, for this reason, the financial statements of the Company’s subsidiary located in this country have been adjusted so that the amounts are stated in the measurement currency unit as of the end of the year, which considers the effects measured by the IPC - Índice de Preços ao Consumidor (Consumer Price Index) of Venezuela. The exchange rate used to translate the Venezuela subsidiary financial statements from local currency (Bolívar Forte) to Real considers the local exchange rate known as SIMADI, which is used in conversions from Bolívar Forte to American Dollar as a reference to local currency translation into Real. This rate is equivalent to 50.8906 Bolívar Forte to each 1 Real as of December 31, 2015.

2.3 - Financial Assets

The Company measures its derivative financial instruments based on their fair value on the balance sheet date, being the most relevant indications of fair value the quotations obtained from market participants. The fair value recognized in its Consolidated Financial Statements may not necessarily represent the amount of cash that the Company would receive or pay, as applicable, if the Company would have settled the transactions on the balance sheet date.

The Company classifies its financial assets, upon initial recognition, in the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables and available for sale (if applicable). The classification depends on the objective for which the financial assets where acquired, as detailed in Note 15.

a) Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are financial assets held for trading and include Bank Deposit Certificates and marketable securities. Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value and the transaction costs are expensed immediately in the income statement.

b) Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. The Company’s loans and receivables comprise “Accounts receivable and other receivables”, “Cash and cash equivalents” and “Judicial deposits”. They are presented as current assets, except for those with maturities greater than 12 months after the end of the reporting period, which are classified as non-current assets.

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c) Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities

Initially, derivatives are recognized at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are, subsequently, remeasured to their fair value. The method of recognizing the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated or not as a hedging instrument and for which hedge accounting has been adopted. If this is the case, the method also depends on the nature of the item being hedged as well as the effectiveness of the hedging relationship. As described in note 15, the Company applies hedge accounting.

d) Derivatives at fair value through profit or loss

Certain derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized immediately in the income statement under “Gains and losses on financial instruments, net”.

e) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash, bank accounts and highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less with insignificant risk of changes in fair value and are stated at cost plus accrued interest, when applicable.

f) Short-term Investments

Held for trading securities are stated at fair value and recognized through profit and loss (held for trading), since the purpose of the investment is to earn short-term gains. Interest, monetary adjustments, and exchange variation, when applicable, as well as changes in fair value are recognized in the income statement when incurred.

g) Trade Accounts Receivable

Trade accounts receivable are stated at amortized cost and accounts receivable from foreign customers are translated based on the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. The allowance for doubtful accounts is calculated based on a risk assessment, which considers historical losses, the individual situation of each customer and the situation of the economic group to which they belong, available collateral and guarantees and the opinion of legal counsel. The allowance is considered sufficient to cover any losses incurred on uncollectible receivables. Information on the breakdown of current and past-due trade accounts receivable and the related allowance for doubtful accounts is provided in note 5.

The Company’s maximum exposure to credit risk is its balance of trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The quality of the trade accounts receivable credit current is considered proper and the amount of the effective risk of eventual losses in trade accounts receivable is presented as allowance for doubtful accounts.

h) Impairment of Financial Assets

Financial assets are assessed at each balance sheet date for evidence of impairment. They are considered impaired when there is evidence that one or more events have occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset and such event or events had a negative impact on the estimated future cash flows of the investment. The criteria used to determine whether there is evidence of an impairment loss include, among other factors: (i) significant financial difficulty of the issuer or obligor, and (ii) domestic or local economic conditions that correlate with defaults on the assets in portfolio.

2.4 — Inventories

Inventories are measured at the lower of historical cost of acquisition or production and net realizable value. The acquisition and production costs include transportation, storage and non-recoverable taxes.

Net realizable value is the estimated sale price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and selling expenses directly related. Information regarding the allowance for adjustments to net realizable value is presented in note 6.

2.5 - Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost, monetarily adjusted when applicable in accordance with IAS 29, less depreciation, except for land, which is not depreciated, and less impairment losses, when applicable. The Company recognizes borrowing costs as part of the acquisition cost of the property, plant and equipment under construction based on the following capitalization criteria: (a) the capitalization period begins when the property, plant and equipment item is under construction in process and the capitalization of borrowing costs ceases when the asset is available for use; (b) borrowing costs are capitalized considering the weighted average rate of loans existing on the capitalization date or a specific rate, in the case of loans for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment; (c) borrowing costs capitalized do not exceed the interest expenses during the capitalization period; and (d) capitalized borrowing costs are depreciated considering the same criteria and useful life determined for the property, plant and equipment item to which it was capitalized.

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Depreciation is calculated under the straight-line method at rates that take into consideration the estimated useful life of the asset, its level of utilization and the estimated residual value of the asset at the end of its useful life. The estimated residual value and useful life of the assets are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, at each year-end. Subsequent costs are added to the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment or recognized as a specific item, as appropriate, only if the economic benefits associated to these items are probable and the amounts can be reliably measured. The carrying amount of replaced items is written-off. Other repairs and maintenance are recognized directly in income when incurred.

Mining exploration rights are classified as Land and Buildings in the Property, plant and equipment account. Exploration expenditures are recognized as expenses until the feasibility of mining activity is established and thereafter subsequent costs are capitalized. Costs for the development of new iron ore reserves or to expand the capacity of operating mines are capitalized and amortized based on the amount of iron ore extracted. Stripping costs (costs associated with removal of waste and other residual materials) incurred during the development phase of a mine, before production phase, are registered as part of the depreciable cost of asset. Subsequently, these costs are depreciated over the useful life of the mine. Spending on waste removal, after the start of production of the mine, are treated as production costs. Depletion of mines is calculated based on the amount of ore extracted.

The net book value of property, plant and equipment is impaired when it exceeds its recoverable amount.

2.6 — Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess at the date of acquisition of the acquisition cost over the fair value of net assets acquired, liabilities assumed, contingent liabilities and the fair value of non-controlling interest of a subsidiary, joint venture or associate.

Goodwill is recorded as an asset and recorded under “Investments in associates and joint ventures” or “Goodwill”. Goodwill is not amortized and is subject to impairment tests annually or whenever there are indications of potential impairment. Any impairment loss is recorded as an expense in the income statement and cannot be reversed. Goodwill is allocated to the operating segments, which represents the lowest level at which goodwill is monitored by management.

When a subsidiary, joint venture or associate is sold, goodwill is included in the determination of gains and losses on disposal.

2.7 — Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets are stated at acquisition cost, less accumulated amortization and impairment losses, when applicable. Intangible assets consist mainly of assets which represent the capacity to generate economic benefits from companies acquired based on relationships with customers and suppliers, software and others. Intangible assets with definite useful lives are amortized taking into consideration their actual use or a method that reflects their consumption of economic benefits. The net book value of intangible assets is impaired if it exceeds the estimated recoverable amount (note 2.8).

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recorded at fair value, less accumulated amortization and impairment losses, when applicable. Intangible assets that do not have indefinite lives are amortized over their useful lives using an amortization method which reflects the economic benefit of the intangible asset and registered on cost of sales. Customer and supplier relationship intangible assets are amortized based on an accelerated method that considers the expected future economic benefit provided by customers and suppliers acquired over time.

The Company reviews the amortization period and amortization method for intangible assets with definite useful lives at the end of each year.

2.8 — Provision for Impairment of Assets and Reversal of Impairment

At each balance sheet date, the Company performs an assessment to determine whether there is evidence that the carrying amount of long-lived assets might be impaired. If such evidence is identified, the recoverable amount of the assets is estimated by the Company. The recoverable amount of an asset is determined as the higher of: (a) its fair value less estimated costs to sell and (b) its value in use. The value in use is measured based on discounted cash flows (before taxes) derived from the continuous use of the asset until the end of its estimated useful life. Regardless of whether or not there is any indication that the carrying amount of the asset may be impaired, the balances of goodwill arising from business combinations and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are tested for impairment at least once a year in December.

When the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the Company recognizes a reduction in the book value of the asset (Impairment). The reduction to the recoverable amount of the asset is recorded as an expense. Except for an impairment of

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goodwill, a reversal of a previously recorded impairment loss is required. Reversal in these circumstances is limited to the amount of the depreciated balance of the asset at the time of the reversal, determined as if the impairment had not been recorded, as discussed in note 28.1.

The Company does not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that may occur a material change in the estimates or assumptions used to calculate long-lived asset impairment losses. However, if actual results are not consistent with estimates and assumptions used in estimating future cash flows and asset fair values, the Company may be exposed to losses that could be material.

2.9 — Financial Liabilities and Equity Instruments

a) Classification as Debt or Equity

Debt or equity instruments are classified based on the substance of the contractual terms of the instruments.

b) Short and Long-Term Debt

They are stated net of transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at the amortized cost using the effective interest method.

c) Equity Instruments

An equity instrument is based on a contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting its liabilities.

d) Derivative Instruments and hedging

The Company enters into derivative financial instruments mainly to manage its exposure to fluctuation in interest rates and exchange rates. The Company measures its derivative financial instruments, based on quotations obtained from market participants, at fair value at the balance sheet date.

Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a cash flow hedge or a net investment hedge are recorded in the statement of comprehensive income.

The Company assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. When a hedging instrument is sold, terminated, expires or is exercised, the cumulative unrealized gain or loss, which had been recognized in the statement of comprehensive income, is reclassified immediately to the statement of income. Additionally, changes in the fair value of financial instruments not designated for hedge accounting are recognized in the Gain and losses on financial instruments, net, account in the income statement.

2.10 — Current and Deferred Income and Social Contribution Taxes

Current income and social contribution tax expense is calculated in conformity with enacted tax rate in effect at the balance sheet date in the countries where the Company’s subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures operate and generate taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in relation to tax matters which are subject to interpretation and recognizes a provision when there is an expectation of payment of income tax and social contribution in accordance with the tax bases. The expense for income tax and social contribution taxes comprises current and deferred taxes. Current tax and deferred tax is recognized in income unless they are recognized for a business combination, or for items directly recognized in equity through other comprehensive income.

Current tax is the estimated tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year, at the tax rates effective at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is recognized with respect to temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for accounting purposes and the corresponding amounts used for tax purposes and corresponding to amounts recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements. However, deferred income and social contribution taxes are not recognized arising from the initial recognition of assets and liabilities in a transaction other than a business combination and that do not affect the tax basis. Income and social contribution taxes are determined based on tax rates (and laws) effective at the balance sheet date and applicable when the respective income and social contribution taxes is paid. Deferred income and social contribution tax assets are recognized only to the extent that it is probable that there will be taxable income for which the temporary differences can be used and tax losses can be compensated.

Deferred tax assets recorded for tax loss carryforwards are supported by projections of taxable income based on technical feasibility studies submitted annually to the Board of Directors of the Company and its subsidiaries, when applicable. These studies consider historical profitability of the Company and its subsidiaries, expectations of continuous profitability and estimates of the recovery of deferred tax assets over future years. Other deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences, mainly tax contingencies, and provision for losses, are recognized according to their estimate of realization. Deferred income tax and social contribution assets are reviewed at each reporting date and will be reduced to the extent that their realization is not more likely than not based on future

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taxable income. The Company only recognizes a provision on tax issues if a past event leads to a present obligation. The Company determines whether a present obligation exists at the reporting date by taking into consideration all available evidence, including, for example, the opinion of legal advisors. The Company also considers whether it is probable that there will be an outflow of assets and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

2.11 — Employee Benefits

The Company has several employee benefit plans including pension and retirement plans, health care benefits, profit sharing, bonus, and share-based payment, as well as other retirement and termination benefits. The main benefit plans granted to the Company’s employees are described at notes 19 and 25.

The actuarial obligations related to the pension and retirement benefits and the actuarial obligations related to the health care plans are recorded based on actuarial calculations performed every year by independent actuaries, using the projected unit credit method, net of the plan assets, when applicable, and the related costs are recognized over the employees’ service period. Any employee benefit plan surpluses are also recognized up to the probable amount of reduction in future contributions by the Company.

Actuarial remeasurements arising from adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions of the pension and retirement benefit plans and actuarial obligations related to the health care plan are recognized directly in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as described in Note 19.

In accounting for pension and post-retirement benefits, several statistical and other factors that attempt to anticipate future events are used to calculate plan expenses and liabilities. These factors include discount rate assumptions, return on plan assets, future increases in health care costs, and rate of future compensation increases. In addition, actuarial computation other factors whose measurement involves judgment are used such as withdrawal, turnover, and mortality rates. The actuarial assumptions used by the Company may differ materially from actual results in future periods due to changing market and economic conditions, regulatory events, judicial rulings, higher or lower withdrawal rates, or longer or shorter participant life spans.

2.12 - Other Current and Non-current Assets and Liabilities

Other current and non-current assets and liabilities are recorded at their realizable amounts (assets) and at their known or estimated amounts plus accrued charges and monetary adjustments (liabilities), when applicable.

2.13 — Related-Party Transactions

Loan agreements between the entities in Brazil and abroad are adjusted by contractual financial charges plus foreign exchange variation, when applicable. Sales and purchases of raw materials and products are made under terms and conditions contractually established between the parties.

2.14 — Dividends and Interest on equity

Dividend payments are recognized as liabilities at the time dividends are approved by the shareholders of Gerdau S.A. The bylaws of Gerdau S.A. required dividends of not less than 30% of the annual net income; therefore, Gerdau S.A. records a liability at year-end for the minimum dividend amount that has not yet been paid during the year up to the limit of the mandatory minimum dividend described above.

2.15 — Revenue Recognition

Net sales are presented net of taxes and discounts. Taxes on sales are recognized when sales are invoiced and discounts on sales are estimated and recognized upon sale. Revenues from sales of products are recognized when the sales amount can be reliably measured, the Company no longer has control over the goods sold or any other responsibility attributable to its ownership, the costs incurred or that will be incurred related to the transaction can be reliably measured, it is more likely than not that the economic benefits will be received by the Company, and the risks and benefits of the products have been fully transferred to the buyer. The related costs of freight are included in cost of sales.

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2.16 - Investments in Environmental Protection and Environmental liabilities

Environmental costs that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Environmental costs that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to current or future revenue generation or cost reduction are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and or remedial efforts are probable and the cost can be reasonably estimated based on discussions with the environmental authorities and other assumptions relevant to the nature and extent of the remediation that may be required. The ultimate cost to the Company is dependent upon factors beyond its control such as the scope and methodology of the remedial action requirements to be established by environmental and public health authorities, new laws or government regulations, rapidly changing technology and the outcome of any potential related litigation. Environmental liabilities are adjusted to present value when the aggregate amount of the obligation and the amount and timing of cash disbursements are established or can be reliably estimated.

2.17 - Use of Estimates and judgments

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements requires estimates to record certain assets, liabilities and other transactions and judgment to apply accounting policies. To make these estimates, Management uses the best information available on the date of preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the experience of past and/or current events, also considering assumptions related to future events. As such, the Consolidated Financial Statements include estimates and judgment with respect to the recoverable amount of long-lived assets (note 28), with respect to the need and the amount of provisions for tax, civil and labor liabilities (note 17), estimates and judgment in selecting interest rates, return on assets, mortality tables and expectations for salary increases in long-term postretirement benefits (note 19), and estimates when selecting the valuation model and inputs used in measuring share-based compensation (note 25). Actual results could differ from those estimates.

2.18 - Business Combinations

a) Step-acquisitions in which control is obtained

When a business combination is achieved in stages, the interest previously held by the Company in the acquired entity is remeasured at fair value at acquisition date (i.e. the date when the Company acquires the control) and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is recognized in profit or loss. Amounts related to the Company’s interest in the acquired company before the acquisition date, and that were recognized in “Other comprehensive income,” are reclassified to profit or loss, where such treatment would be appropriate if that interest were disposed of.

b) Acquisitions in which control is obtained initially

Acquisitions of businesses are accounted for under the acquisition method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the fair values (at the date of the transaction) of the assets transferred, liabilities incurred or assumed and equity instruments issued by the Company in exchange for control of the acquired business entity. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are recognized at their fair values at the acquisition date. The interest of non-controlling shareholders in the acquiree is initially measured at the non-controlling shareholders’ proportion of the net fair value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognized. Expenses related to the acquisition are recognized in the income statement when incurred.

c) Increases/decreases in non-controlling interests

Subsequent purchases, after the Company has obtained control, are treated as acquisitions of shares from non-controlling shareholders: the identifiable assets and liabilities of the entity are not subject to a further revaluation and the positive or negative difference between the cost of such subsequent acquisitions and the net value of the additional proportion of the company is accounted for within equity.

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d) Loss of control of a subsidiary

When control of a subsidiary is lost as a result of a transaction, event or other circumstance, the Company derecognizes all assets, liabilities and non-controlling interests at their carrying amount. Any retained interest in the former subsidiary is recognized at its fair value at the date that control is lost. This fair value is reflected in the calculation of the gain or loss on disposal attributable to the parent, and becomes the initial carrying amount for subsequent accounting for the retained interest under IAS 28 or IAS 39.

2.19 — Segment Information

The Gerdau Executive Committee, which is composed of the most senior officers of the Company, is responsible for managing the business.

The Company’s segments are as follows: Brazil Operations (includes operations of steel and iron ore in Brazil, except Special Steels, and the operation of metallurgical coal and coke in Colombia), North America Operations (includes all operations in North America, except those of Mexico and Special Steels), South America Operations (includes all operations in South America, except Brazil and the operation of metallurgical coal and coke in Colombia) and Special Steel Operations (including special steel operations in Brazil, Spain, the United States and India).

2.20 — Earnings per Share

In compliance with IAS 33, Earnings per Share, the tables presented in note 23 reconcile net income to the amounts used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share. The Company has no instruments considered antidilutive that should be excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS.

2.21 — Long-term incentive plans

The Company settles the stock options plans by delivering its own shares, which are held in treasury until the exercise of the options by the employees. Additionally, the Company has also granted the following long-term incentive plans: Stock Options, Restricted Shares, Share Appreciation Rights and Performance Shares, as presented in note 25.

2.22 - New IFRS and Interpretations of the IFRIC (International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee)

Some new IASB accounting procedures and IFRIC interpretations were issued and/or reviewed and have their mandatory adoption for the year 2016 and/or after. The Company is assessing the adoption impact of these standards in its Consolidated Financial Statements.

· IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments. Has the objective of replacing the standard IAS 39 and addresses some application questions and introduced a ‘fair value through other comprehensive income’ measurement category for particular simple debt instruments. Also, the IASB added to IFRS 9 the impairment requirements relating to the accounting for an entity’s expected credit losses on its financial assets, commitments to extend credit and hedge accounting. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

· Amendments to IFRS 11 — Joint Arrangements. The amendment of IFRS 11 seek to provide guidance on the accounting for acquisitions of interests in joint operations in which the activity constitutes a business, as defined in IFRS 3. The revised standard is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

· Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 - Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortization. The amendment of IAS 16 and IAS 38 seek to clarify the depreciation and amortization methods, aligned with the concept of expected future economic benefits from the use of the asset over its economic useful life. These revised standards are effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

· IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The objective of IFRS 15 is to establish the principles that an entity shall apply to report useful information to users of financial statements about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from a contract with a customer. This standard is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2018.

· Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41- Agriculture: Bearer Plants. The amendment of IAS 16 and IAS 41 has the objective to include in IAS 16 the concept of bearer plants and determine their recognition as fixed assets. These revised standards are effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

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· Amendments to IFRS 5, IFRS 7, IAS 19 and IAS 34 - Annual Improvements to IFRSs. These revised standards are effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

· Amendments to IAS 1 — Disclosure Initiative. Provides guidance related to changes in the set of financial statements of an entity. This revised standard is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2016.

· IFRS 16 — Leases. Determine aspects related to recognition, measurement and disclosure of leases. This standard is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2019.

· Amendments to IAS 12 — Income tax. Provides guidance to deferred tax assets recognition related to deductible temporary differences. This revised standard is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2017.

· Amendments to IAS 7 — Cash Flow. Provides changes on disclosure of liabilities arising from financing activities. This revised standard is effective for years beginning on or after January 1, 2017.

NOTE 3 - CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3.1 - Subsidiaries

Listed below are the significant consolidated subsidiaries, as follows:

|  |  |  | Equity Interests |
|  |  |  | Total capital (*) |
Consolidated company |  | Country |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Gerdau GTL Spain S.L. |  | Spain |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda. - Grupo Gerdau |  | Brazil |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation and subsidiaries (1) |  | USA/Canada |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Açominas S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 99.35 |  | 95.85 |  | 95.22 |
Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and subsidiary (2) |  | Brazil |  | 99.11 |  | 94.34 |  | 93.48 |
Gerdau Steel Inc. |  | Canada |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Holdings Inc. and subsidiary (3) |  | USA |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Paraopeba - Fixed-income investment fund (4) |  | Brazil |  | 65.75 |  | 88.74 |  | 60.09 |
Gerdau Holdings Europa S.A. and subsidiaries (5) |  | Spain |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau América Latina Participações S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 99.12 |  | 94.22 |  | 94.22 |
Gerdau Chile Inversiones Ltda. and subsidiaries (6) |  | Chile |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |
Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 99.56 |  | 97.17 |  | 96.74 |
Gerdau Hungria Holdings Limited Liability Company and subsidiaries (7) |  | Hungary |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
GTL Equity Investments Corp. |  | British Virgin Islands |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Empresa Siderúrgica del Perú S.A.A. - Siderperú |  | Peru |  | 90.03 |  | 90.03 |  | 90.03 |
Diaco S.A. and subsidiary (8) |  | Colombia |  | 99.68 |  | 99.68 |  | 99.68 |
Gerdau GTL México, S.A. de C.V. and subsidiaries (9) |  | Mexico |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Seiva S.A. - Florestas e Indústrias |  | Brazil |  | 97.73 |  | 97.73 |  | 97.73 |
Itaguaí Com. Imp. e Exp. Ltda. |  | Brazil |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Laisa S.A. |  | Uruguai |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Sipar Gerdau Inversiones S.A. |  | Argentina |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |  | 99.99 |
Sipar Aceros S.A. and subsidiary (10) |  | Argentina |  | 99.96 |  | 99.96 |  | 99.96 |
Siderúrgica del Pacífico S.A. |  | Colombia |  | — |  | 98.32 |  | 98.32 |
Cleary Holdings Corp. |  | Colombia |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Sizuca - Siderúrgica Zuliana, C. A. |  | Venezuela |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
GTL Trade Finance Inc. |  | British Virgin Islands |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Trade Inc. |  | British Virgin Islands |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |  | 100.00 |
Gerdau Steel India Ltd. |  | India |  | 98.90 |  | 98.83 |  | 98.38 |

(*) The voting capital is substantially equal to the total capital. The interests reported represent the ownership percentage held directly and indirectly in the subsidiary.

(1) Subsidiaries: Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., GNA Partners, Pacific Coast Steel Inc., Gerdau Ameristeel Sayreville Inc., TAMCO Steel,Chaparral Steel Company.

(2) Subsidiary: Gerdau Açominas Overseas Ltd.

(3) Subsidiary: Gerdau MacSteel Inc.

(4) Fixed-income investment fund managed by Banco JP Morgan S.A.

(5) Subsidiaries: Sidenor y Cia, Sociedad Colectiva, Gerdau I+D Europa., Gerdau Aceros Especiales Europa.

(6) Subsidiaries: Aza Participaciones S.A., Industrias del Acero Internacional S.A., Gerdau Aza S.A., Armacero Matco S.A., Aceros Cox Comercial S.A., Salomon Sack S.A., Matco Instalaciones Ltda

(7) Subsidiaries: Gerdau Holdings Europa S.A. y CIA., Bogey Holding Company Spain S.L.

(8) Subsidiaries: Cyrgo S.A..

(9) Subsidiaries: Sidertul S.A. de C.V. and GTL Servicios Administrativos México, S.A. de C.V.

(10) Subsidiary: Siderco S.A.

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3.2 — Joint ventures

Listed below are the interests in joint ventures:

|  |  |  | Equity Interests |
|  |  |  | Total capital(*) |
Joint ventures |  | Country |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Gallatin Steel Company |  | USA |  | — |  | — |  | 50.00 |
Bradley Steel Processors |  | Canada |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |
MRM Guide Rail |  | Canada |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |
Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de CV |  | Mexico |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |
Gerdau Metaldom Corp. |  | Dominican Rep. |  | 45.00 |  | 45.00 |  | — |

(*)The voting capital is substantially equal to the total capital. The interests reported represent the ownership percentage held directly and indirectly held in the joint venture.

The summarized financial information of the jointly-controlled entities, accounted for under the equity method, is shown on a combined basis as follows:

|  | Jointly-controlled entities |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Net income |  | (49,008 | ) | 262,608 |
Total comprehensive income |  | (49,008 | ) | 262,608 |

3.3 — Associate companies

Listed below are the interests in associate companies:

|  |  |  | Equity interests |
|  |  |  | Total capital (*) |
Associate companies |  | Country |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Dona Francisca Energética S.A. |  | Brazil |  | 51.82 |  | 51.82 |  | 51.82 |
Armacero Industrial y Comercial S.A. |  | Chile |  | — |  | 50.00 |  | 50.00 |
Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. and subsidiaries |  | Dominican Rep. |  | — |  | — |  | 79.97 |
Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V. and subsidiaries |  | Mexico |  | 49.00 |  | 49.00 |  | 49.00 |
Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A. and subsidiaries |  | Guatemala |  | 30.00 |  | 30.00 |  | 30.00 |

(*)The voting capital is substantially equal to the total capital. The interests reported represent the ownership percentage held directly and indirectly.

Although the Company owns more than 50% of Dona Francisca Energética S.A., it does not consolidate the financial statements of this associate because of the veto rights granted to minority shareholders that prevent the Company from controlling the decisions in conducting the associate’s business.

On May 18, 2015, the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest of its former associate Armacero Industrial y Comercial S.A. (Note 3.4).

The summarized financial information of the associate companies, accounted for under the equity method, is shown on a combined basis as follows:

|  | Associate Companies |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Net income |  | 33,814 |  | 51,136 |
Total comprehensive income |  | 33,814 |  | 51,136 |

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3.4 — Business combinations

On May 18, 2015, the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest of its former associate Armacero Industrial y Comercial S.A. (Armacero) by the amount of 4,064 million Chilean pesos (equivalent to R$ 20,929 at the acquisition date). Armacero is a trading company, distributor, importer and exporter of iron and steel located in Santiago, Chile. The fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities at the acquisition of control date are substantially similar to their book value.

Amounts related to net sales and accounts receivables, attributed to Armacero and included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since the acquisition date are not material. Armacero, since the acquisition date until December 31, 2015, did not generate significant amounts of net sales and net income. In addition, the amount of net sales and net profit generated by this entity during the year ended December 31, 2015, had it been acquired at the beginning of that period, would not be material.

3.5 — Increase in controlling interest in subsidiaries

On July 14, 2015, the Company acquired the minority interests, below mentioned, 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%), having as counterparty Itaú Unibanco S.A. and ArcelorMittal Netherlands BV. These acquisitions of equity interests, in the aggregate amount of R$ 1,986 million, will enable Gerdau S.A. to hold more than 99% of the total capital of each of these subsidiaries and, once all conditions of the respective purchase agreements are fulfilled, will be paid as follows: (a) cash payment in the amount of R$ 339 million, using immediately available funds; (b) assignment and transfer of 30 million preferred shares of Gerdau S.A. (GGBR4), held in treasury, in the amount of R$ 206 million, subject to prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil; (c) exchange of a quota of a Non Standardized Credit Right Investment Fund, constituted and duly authorized to operate by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (“FIDC NP Barzel”), whose portfolio is formed by a single type of credit right owned by the Company arising from lawsuits claiming the collection of differences in the monetary restatement of the principal, compensatory interest, interest on arrears and other ancillary revenues owed by Eletrobrás, in the amount of R$ 802 million, as described in Note 21; and (d) installment payments in the total amount of R$ 639 million.

In this transaction an equity adjustment of R$ 1,149 million was determined, corresponding to the difference between the amount of R$ 1,986 million and the book value, in the amount of R$ 837 million recognized directly in shareholders’ equity of the Company, since it is a transaction with shareholders. The approval of this transaction was given in a meeting of the Board of Directors by unanimous vote of the Directors on July 13, 2015, based on the market opportunities and the consideration that the prices were appropriate taking into consideration: economic evaluations through an independent appraisal, the financial instruments used, payment tenors, the value gained through a more concentrated cash flow and the Company’s long-term outlook.

The Company met the CVM requests for clarification on the acquisition and said that the decision to its realization had exclusively business merit and was duly considered and unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. The terms and conditions for the acquisition considered long-term market prospects. Until the date of approval of these financial statements , this is the progress of the subject in front of CVM.

3.6 — Total cash paid for business combinations

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Companies / interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Combination |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Armacero Industrial y Comercial S.A. |  | 20,929 |  | — |  | — |
Cycle Systems Inc. |  | — |  | — |  | 26,361 |
Cyrgo S.A. |  | — |  | — |  | 29,261 |
|  | 20,929 |  | — |  | 55,622 |
Interest increase in subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. e Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. |  | — |  | 130,199 |  | — |
Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. e Gerdau América Latina Participações S.A. |  | 339,068 |  | — |  | — |
Gerdau Seteel India Ltd. |  | — |  | — |  | 18,151 |
Gerdau Hungria Holdings LLC. |  | — |  | — |  | 14,939 |
|  | 339,068 |  | 130,199 |  | 33,090 |
Interest increase in associate company |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. |  | — |  | — |  | 51,383 |
|  | — |  | — |  | 51,383 |

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NOTE 4 — CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND SHORT AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Cash |  | 15,373 |  | 7,155 |
Banks and immediately available investments |  | 5,632,707 |  | 3,042,816 |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Held for trading |  | 1,270,760 |  | 2,798,834 |
Short-term investments |  | 1,270,760 |  | 2,798,834 |

Held for trading securities include Bank Deposit Certificates and marketable securities, which are stated at their fair value. Income generated by these investments is recorded as financial income.

NOTE 5 — TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Trade accounts receivable - in Brazil |  | 1,152,481 |  | 1,513,449 |
Trade accounts receivable - exports from Brazil |  | 503,854 |  | 247,772 |
Trade accounts receivable - foreign subsidiaries |  | 3,116,352 |  | 2,776,269 |
(-) Allowance for doubtful accounts |  | (185,261 | ) | (98,814 | )
|  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,438,676 |

Accounts receivable by aging are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Current |  | 3,231,639 |  | 3,329,802 |
Past-due: |  |  |  |  |
Up to 30 days |  | 859,957 |  | 727,323 |
From 31 to 60 days |  | 208,969 |  | 174,509 |
From 61 to 90 days |  | 95,952 |  | 59,009 |
From 91 to 180 days |  | 171,077 |  | 84,901 |
From 181 to 360 days |  | 107,102 |  | 95,239 |
Above 360 days |  | 97,991 |  | 66,707 |
(-) Allowance for doubtful accounts |  | (185,261 | ) | (98,814 | )
|  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,438,676 |

The changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

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Balance as of January 1, 2013 |  | (85,386 | )
Provisions for bad debt during the year |  | (53,316 | )
Recoveries in the year |  | 5,971 |
Write-offs |  | 32,982 |
Exchange variation |  | 128 |
Balance as of December 31, 2013 |  | (99,621 | )
Provisions for bad debt during the year |  | (53,926 | )
Recoveries in the year |  | 4,036 |
Write-offs |  | 50,691 |
Exchange variation |  | 6 |
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | (98,814 | )
Provisions for bad debt during the year |  | (133,868 | )
Recoveries in the year |  | 6,167 |
Write-offs |  | 41,392 |
Exchange variation |  | (138 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |  | (185,261 | )

NOTE 6 - INVENTORIES

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Finished products |  | 4,313,538 |  | 4,039,615 |
Work in progress |  | 1,776,633 |  | 1,799,380 |
Raw materials |  | 1,865,761 |  | 1,873,287 |
Storeroom supplies |  | 560,630 |  | 656,459 |
Advances to suppliers |  | 111,861 |  | 285,146 |
Imports in transit |  | 253,811 |  | 279,364 |
(-) Allowance for adjustments to net realizable value |  | (101,121 | ) | (66,363 | )
|  | 8,781,113 |  | 8,866,888 |

The allowance for adjustment to net realizable value of inventories, on which the provision and write-offs are registered with impact on cost of sales, is as follows:

Balance as of January 1, 2013 |  | (71,869 | )
Provision for the year |  | (56,752 | )
Write-offs |  | 61,453 |
Exchange rate variation |  | (6,108 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2013 |  | (73,276 | )
Provision for the year |  | (63,440 | )
Write-offs |  | 69,502 |
Exchange rate variation |  | 851 |
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | (66,363 | )
Provision for the year |  | (54,987 | )
Write-offs |  | 37,451 |
Exchange rate variation |  | (17,222 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |  | (101,121 | )

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NOTE 7 — TAX CREDITS

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Current |  |  |  |  |
ICMS (state VAT) |  | 163,589 |  | 145,477 |
Social security financing |  | 231,256 |  | 291,210 |
Financing of social integration program |  | 48,012 |  | 59,041 |
IPI (federal VAT) |  | 41,915 |  | 48,034 |
IVA (value-added tax) |  | 103,892 |  | 94,503 |
Others |  | 84,491 |  | 48,693 |
|  | 673,155 |  | 686,958 |
Non-current |  |  |  |  |
ICMS (state VAT) |  | 70,204 |  | 72,455 |
Social security financing |  | 3,619 |  | 2,183 |
Financing of social integration program and Others |  | 4,167 |  | 3,774 |
|  | 77,990 |  | 78,412 |
|  | 751,145 |  | 765,370 |

The estimates of realization of non-current tax credits are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
2016 |  | — |  | 25,010 |
2017 |  | 40,622 |  | 25,010 |
2018 |  | 23,751 |  | 25,010 |
2019 |  | 8,223 |  | 3,382 |
2020 on |  | 5,394 |  | — |
|  | 77,990 |  | 78,412 |

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NOTE 8 - INCOME AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION TAXES

In Brazil, income taxes include federal income tax (IR) and social contribution (CS), which represents an additional federal income tax. The statutory rates for income tax and social contribution are 25% and 9%, respectively, and are applicable for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. The foreign subsidiaries of the Company are subject to taxation at rates ranging between 22.5% and 38.5%. The differences between the Brazilian tax rates and the rates of other countries are presented under “Difference in tax rates in foreign companies” in the reconciliation of income tax and social contribution below.

a) Reconciliations of income and social contribution taxes at statutory rates to amounts presented in the Statement of Income are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Income (loss) before income taxes |  | (6,094,408 | ) | 1,337,984 |  | 1,452,646 |
Statutory tax rates |  | 34 | % | 34 | % | 34 | %
Income and social contribution taxes at statutory rates |  | 2,072,099 |  | (454,915 | ) | (493,900 | )
Tax adjustment with respect to: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
- Difference in tax rates in foreign companies |  | (222,553 | ) | 275,612 |  | 269,466 |
- Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | (8,331 | ) | 34,638 |  | 18,360 |
- Interest on equity* |  | 63,407 |  | 76,919 |  | 119,773 |
- Tax credits and incentives |  | 19,459 |  | 24,885 |  | 35,880 |
- Tax deductible goodwill recorded in statutory books |  | 233,029 |  | 358,835 |  | 358,835 |
- No recognition of deferred tax assets |  | (387,668 | ) | (81,675 | ) | (69,290 | )
- Tax payment program on foreign generated profits |  | — |  | (87,759 | ) | — |
- Write-down of deferred tax asset** |  | (284,014 | ) | — |  | — |
- Other permanent differences, net |  | 12,994 |  | 3,849 |  | 1,932 |
Income and social contribution taxes |  | 1,498,422 |  | 150,389 |  | 241,056 |
Current |  | (158,450 | ) | (571,926 | ) | (318,422 | )
Deferred |  | 1,656,872 |  | 722,315 |  | 559,478 |

(*) Brazilian Law 9,249/95 provides that a company may, at its sole discretion, consider dividends distributions to shareholders to be considered as interest on own capital — subject to specific limitations - which has the effect of a taxable deduction in the determination of income tax and social contribution. The limitation is the greater of (i) shareholders’ equity multiplied by the TJLP (Long Term Interest Rate) rate or (ii) 50% of the net income in the fiscal year. This expense is not recognized for financial reporting purposes and thus it does not impact accounting profit.

(**) The Company assessed the recoverability of certain deferred income tax assets and, due to lack of expected utilization of these assets in one of its foreign subsidiaries, registered a write-down of R$ 284,014 in 2015.

b) Breakdown and changes in deferred income and social contribution tax assets and liabilities at statutory tax rates:

|  | Balance as of January 1, 2013 |  | Recognized in income |  | Others |  | Comprehensive Income |  | Gains/Losses on translation |  | Balance as of December 31, 2013 |
Tax loss carryforward |  | 758,386 |  | 89,823 |  | — |  | — |  | 100,161 |  | 948,370 |
Social contribution tax losses |  | 112,731 |  | 12,876 |  | (3,914 | ) | — |  | — |  | 121,693 |
Provision for tax, civil and labor liabilities |  | 357,223 |  | 84,762 |  | — |  | — |  | 2,394 |  | 444,379 |
Benefits granted to employees |  | 399,258 |  | (18,063 | ) | — |  | (61,272 | ) | 1,797 |  | 321,720 |
Other temporary differences |  | 128,669 |  | (28,479 | ) | — |  | — |  | 41,026 |  | 141,216 |
Deferred exchange variance* |  | 180,573 |  | 343,108 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 523,681 |
Provision for losses |  | 56,587 |  | (10,456 | ) | — |  | — |  | (82 | ) | 46,049 |
Fair value adjustments on businesses acquired |  | (1,579,090 | ) | 85,907 |  | — |  | — |  | (184,732 | ) | (1,677,915 | )
|  | 414,337 |  | 559,478 |  | (3,914 | ) | (61,272 | ) | (39,436 | ) | 869,193 |
Non-current assets |  | 2,210,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,056,445 |
Non-current liabilities |  | (1,795,963 | ) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,187,252 | )

* Corresponds to deferred taxes over foreign exchange gains and loss which certain subsidiaries elected to tax on a cash basis

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|  | Balance as of December 31, 2013 |  | Recognized in income |  | Others |  | Comprehensive Income |  | Gains/Losses on translation |  | Balance as of December 31, 2014 |
Tax loss carryforward |  | 948,368 |  | 56,168 |  | (25,392 | ) | — |  | 24,297 |  | 1,003,441 |
Social contribution tax losses |  | 121,695 |  | 26,623 |  | 509 |  | — |  | — |  | 148,827 |
Provision for tax, civil and labor liabilities |  | 444,379 |  | 83,616 |  | — |  | — |  | (264 | ) | 527,731 |
Benefits granted to employees |  | 321,720 |  | (41,188 | ) | — |  | 131,559 |  | 19,237 |  | 431,328 |
Other temporary differences |  | 141,216 |  | 50,310 |  | — |  | — |  | 19,083 |  | 210,609 |
Deferred exchange variance* |  | 523,681 |  | 351,061 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 874,742 |
Provision for losses |  | 46,049 |  | 7,878 |  | — |  | — |  | 1,011 |  | 54,938 |
Fair value adjustments on businesses acquired |  | (1,677,915 | ) | 187,847 |  | — |  | — |  | (138,905 | ) | (1,628,973 | )
|  | 869,193 |  | 722,315 |  | (24,883 | ) | 131,559 |  | (75,541 | ) | 1,622,643 |
Non-current assets |  | 2,056,445 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,567,189 |
Non-current liabilities |  | (1,187,252 | ) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (944,546 | )

* Corresponds to deferred taxes over foreign exchange gains and loss which certain subsidiaries elected to tax on a cash basis

|  | Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | Recognized in income |  | Comprehensive Income |  | Gains/Losses on translation |  | Balance as of December 31, 2015 |
Tax loss carryforward |  | 1,003,441 |  | (259,976 | ) | — |  | 144,515 |  | 887,980 |
Social contribution tax losses |  | 148,827 |  | 42,811 |  | — |  | — |  | 191,638 |
Provision for tax, civil and labor liabilities |  | 527,731 |  | 110,318 |  | — |  | 1,517 |  | 639,566 |
Benefits granted to employees |  | 431,328 |  | (25,694 | ) | (22,272 | ) | 166,503 |  | 549,865 |
Other temporary differences |  | 210,609 |  | 247,458 |  | — |  | (76,076 | ) | 381,991 |
Deferred exchange variance* |  | 874,742 |  | 1,292,709 |  | — |  | (9,302 | ) | 2,158,149 |
Provision for losses |  | 54,938 |  | 95,596 |  | — |  | 1,144 |  | 151,678 |
Fair value adjustments on businesses acquired |  | (1,628,973 | ) | 153,650 |  | — |  | (92,557 | ) | (1,567,880 | )
|  | 1,622,643 |  | 1,656,872 |  | (22,272 | ) | 135,744 |  | 3,392,987 |
Non-current assets |  | 2,567,189 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,307,462 |
Non-current liabilities |  | (944,546 | ) |  |  |  |  |  |  | (914,475 | )

* Corresponds to deferred taxes over foreign exchange gains and loss which certain subsidiaries elected to tax on a cash basis

The recoverability analysis of deferred tax balances related to tax loss carryforward and social contribution tax losses performed by the Company are based on its business plans and aligned with other projections and analysis performed by the Company as, for example, the impairment tests of assets.

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c) Estimated recovery and reversal of income and social contribution tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

|  | Assets |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
2016 |  | 437,359 |  | 404,773 |
2017 |  | 388,481 |  | 172,344 |
2018 |  | 555,996 |  | 467,524 |
2019 |  | 561,700 |  | 1,522,548 |
2020 |  | 518,523 |  | — |
2021 on |  | 1,845,403 |  | — |
|  | 4,307,462 |  | 2,567,189 |

|  | Liabilities |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
2016 |  | (186,346 | ) | (202,299 | )
2017 |  | (141,322 | ) | (146,214 | )
2018 |  | (71,093 | ) | (91,896 | )
2019 |  | (114,245 | ) | (504,137 | )
2020 |  | (180,927 | ) | — |
2021 on |  | (220,542 | ) | — |
|  | (914,475 | ) | (944,546 | )

d) Tax Assets not booked:

The Company has not recorded a portion of tax assets arising from its operations in Brazil of R$ 335,225 (R$ 300,964 as of December 31, 2014), and negative basis of social contribution in subsidiaries, which do not have an expiration date. The subsidiaries abroad had R$ 483,469 (R$ 232,213 as of December 31, 2014) of tax credits on capital losses which deferred tax assets have not been booked and which expire between 2029 and 2035 and also several tax losses of state credits in the amount of R$ 841,008 (R$ 496,359 as of December 31, 2014), which expire at various dates between 2015 and 2035.

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NOTE 9 — INVESTMENTS

I) Associates and joint ventures

|  | Joint Ventures |  | Associate companies |  |  |
|  | Joint Ventures North America |  | Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de C.V. |  | Gerdau Metaldom Corp. |  | Dona Francisca Energética S.A. |  | Armacero Ind. Com. Ltda. |  | Grupo Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. |  | Corsa Controladora S.A. de C.V. |  | Corporación Centro Americana del Acero, S.A. |  | Maco Holdings Ltda. |  | Others |  | Total |
Balance as of January 1, 2013 |  | 278,211 |  | 52,007 |  | — |  | 138,852 |  | 23,326 |  | 223,390 |  | 267,041 |  | 341,711 |  | 99,777 |  | 1,290 |  | 1,425,605 |
Equity in earnings |  | 46,800 |  | (10,755 | ) | — |  | 17,586 |  | (2,181 | ) | (1,114 | ) | (8,180 | ) | 10,582 |  | 1,263 |  | — |  | 54,001 |
Cumulative Translation Adjustment |  | 38,804 |  | 11,036 |  | — |  | — |  | 4,975 |  | 35,905 |  | 37,342 |  | 40,786 |  | — |  | — |  | 168,848 |
Capital reduction |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (26,663 | ) | — |  | (26,663 | )
Acquisition/disposal of investment |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 51,383 |  | — |  | — |  | (74,377 | ) | — |  | (22,994 | )
Fair value allocation on investment |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (22,796 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (22,796 | )
Capital increase |  | — |  | 77,103 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 77,103 |
Dividends/Interest on equity |  | (37,051 | ) | — |  | — |  | (23,521 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | (2,501 | ) | — |  | — |  | (63,073 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2013 |  | 326,764 |  | 129,391 |  | — |  | 132,917 |  | 26,120 |  | 286,768 |  | 296,203 |  | 390,578 |  | — |  | 1,290 |  | 1,590,031 |
Equity in earnings |  | 71,518 |  | (11,507 | ) | 7,389 |  | 23,765 |  | (5,062 | ) | 17,923 |  | 1,029 |  | (3,180 | ) | — |  | — |  | 101,875 |
Cumulative Translation Adjustment |  | (8,405 | ) | (7,954 | ) | 30,942 |  | — |  | (807 | ) | 15,502 |  | 1,177 |  | 50,269 |  | — |  | 291 |  | 81,015 |
Capital increase |  | — |  | — |  | 37,678 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 37,678 |
Mergers |  | — |  | — |  | 288,272 |  | — |  |  |  | (288,272 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Impairment of assets |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  |  |  | (31,921 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (31,921 | )
Disposal of investment |  | (288,695 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (288,695 | )
Dividends/Interest on equity |  | (61,030 | ) | — |  | — |  | (32,471 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | (2,099 | ) | — |  | — |  | (95,600 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | 40,152 |  | 109,930 |  | 364,281 |  | 124,211 |  | 20,251 |  | — |  | 298,409 |  | 435,568 |  | — |  | 1,581 |  | 1,394,383 |
Equity in earnings |  | 14,432 |  | (88,690 | ) | 38,485 |  | 11,725 |  | (1,933 | ) | — |  | (7,574 | ) | 9,053 |  | — |  | — |  | (24,502 | )
Cumulative Translation Adjustment |  | 11,265 |  | 27,021 |  | 173,079 |  | — |  | 2,611 |  | — |  | 68,733 |  | 134,749 |  | — |  | 503 |  | 417,961 |
Capital increase |  | — |  | 40,524 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 40,524 |
Impairment of assets |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (361,786 | ) | — |  | — |  | (361,786 | )
Control acquisition |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (20,929 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (20,929 | )
Dividends/Interest on equity |  | (5,116 | ) | — |  | — |  | (46,341 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | (1,312 | ) | — |  | — |  | (52,769 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |  | 60,733 |  | 88,785 |  | 575,845 |  | 89,595 |  | — |  | — |  | 359,568 |  | 216,272 |  | — |  | 2,084 |  | 1,392,882 |

Composition of Goodwill by associate and joint ventures

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Dona Francisca Energética S.A. |  | 17,071 |  | 17,071 |  | 17,071 |
Grupo Multisteel Business Holding Corp. |  | — |  | — |  | 30,396 |
Corsa Controladora S.A. de C.V. |  | 234,222 |  | 187,981 |  | 186,419 |
Corporación Centroamericana del Acero, S.A. |  | — |  | 261,362 |  | 230,504 |
|  | 251,293 |  | 466,414 |  | 464,390 |

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NOTE 10 — PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

a) Summary of changes in property, plant and equipment:

Gross cost of the property, plant, and equipment |  | Land and buildings |  | Machines, equipment, and installations |  | Data electronic equipment |  | Property, plant and equipment under construction |  | Other |  | Total |
Balances as of January 1, 2013 |  | 7,401,094 |  | 22,995,301 |  | 718,353 |  | 4,294,205 |  | 1,026,181 |  | 36,435,134 |
Additions |  | 88,225 |  | 113,164 |  | 8,091 |  | 2,311,817 |  | 76,968 |  | 2,598,265 |
Capitalized interest |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 114,032 |  | — |  | 114,032 |
Transfers |  | 604,179 |  | 2,502,103 |  | (62,614 | ) | (3,148,483 | ) | 104,815 |  | — |
Disposals |  | (47,292 | ) | (285,374 | ) | (8,203 | ) | (14,181 | ) | (28,435 | ) | (383,485 | )
Business Combination |  | 4,613 |  | 10,739 |  | 137 |  | — |  | 3,678 |  | 19,167 |
Foreign exchange effect |  | 429,292 |  | 1,399,969 |  | 40,903 |  | 180,226 |  | 50,334 |  | 2,100,724 |
Balances as of December 31, 2013 |  | 8,480,111 |  | 26,735,902 |  | 696,667 |  | 3,737,616 |  | 1,233,541 |  | 40,883,837 |
Additions |  | 41,207 |  | 7,994 |  | 10,900 |  | 2,126,112 |  | 80,489 |  | 2,266,702 |
Capitalized interest |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 132,269 |  | — |  | 132,269 |
Transfers |  | 397,150 |  | 1,463,771 |  | 35,302 |  | (1,907,562 | ) | 11,339 |  | — |
Disposals |  | (57,777 | ) | (240,760 | ) | (13,930 | ) | (139,306 | ) | (36,766 | ) | (488,539 | )
Impairment |  | — |  | (339,374 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | (339,374 | )
Foreign exchange effect |  | 223,074 |  | 806,541 |  | 26,516 |  | 116,498 |  | 8,010 |  | 1,180,639 |
Balances as of December 31, 2014 |  | 9,083,765 |  | 28,434,074 |  | 755,455 |  | 4,065,627 |  | 1,296,613 |  | 43,635,534 |
Additions |  | 2,150 |  | 238,060 |  | 8,194 |  | 2,000,515 |  | 75,799 |  | 2,324,718 |
Capitalized interest |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 213,476 |  | — |  | 213,476 |
Business Combination |  | 30,693 |  | 10,767 |  | 503 |  | 1,784 |  | 10,853 |  | 54,600 |
Transfers |  | 462,812 |  | 1,475,130 |  | 40,512 |  | (1,999,840 | ) | 21,386 |  | — |
Disposals |  | (69,777 | ) | (142,936 | ) | (20,166 | ) | (103,959 | ) | (29,769 | ) | (366,607 | )
Impairment |  | (60,952 | ) | (1,029,889 | ) | — |  | (543,726 | ) | — |  | (1,634,567 | )
Foreign exchange effect |  | 1,394,111 |  | 4,102,898 |  | 154,768 |  | 434,999 |  | 95,603 |  | 6,182,379 |
Balances as of December 31, 2015 |  | 10,842,802 |  | 33,088,104 |  | 939,266 |  | 4,068,876 |  | 1,470,485 |  | 50,409,533 |

Accumulated depreciation |  | Land and buildings |  | Machines, equipment, and installations |  | Data electronic equipment |  | Property, plant and equipment under construction |  | Other |  | Total |
Balances as of January 1, 2013 |  | (2,851,043 | ) | (13,031,650 | ) | (563,237 | ) | — |  | (299,023 | ) | (16,744,953 | )
Depreciation, amortization and depletion |  | (275,102 | ) | (1,510,291 | ) | (42,003 | ) | — |  | (54,134 | ) | (1,881,530 | )
Transfers |  | (3,545 | ) | 4,553 |  | 34,449 |  | — |  | (35,457 | ) | — |
Disposals |  | 19,353 |  | 113,004 |  | 6,727 |  | — |  | 37,854 |  | 176,938 |
Foreign exchange effect |  | (157,114 | ) | (776,200 | ) | (46,924 | ) | — |  | (34,980 | ) | (1,015,218 | )
Balances as of December 31, 2013 |  | (3,267,451 | ) | (15,200,584 | ) | (610,988 | ) | — |  | (385,740 | ) | (19,464,763 | )
Depreciation, amortization and depletion |  | (305,995 | ) | (1,591,703 | ) | (42,231 | ) | — |  | (76,205 | ) | (2,016,134 | )
Transfers |  | (1,115 | ) | 911 |  | 171 |  | — |  | 33 |  | — |
Disposals |  | 27,433 |  | 441,774 |  | 12,217 |  | — |  | 72,892 |  | 554,316 |
Foreign exchange effect |  | (71,069 | ) | (475,730 | ) | (23,952 | ) | — |  | (6,413 | ) | (577,164 | )
Balances as of December 31, 2014 |  | (3,618,197 | ) | (16,825,332 | ) | (664,783 | ) | — |  | (395,433 | ) | (21,503,745 | )
Depreciation, amortization and depletion |  | (323,824 | ) | (1,842,158 | ) | (48,195 | ) | — |  | (96,391 | ) | (2,310,568 | )
Transfers |  | 8,815 |  | (9,071 | ) | 360 |  | — |  | (104 | ) | — |
Disposals |  | 26,846 |  | 175,405 |  | 15,512 |  | — |  | 28,844 |  | 246,607 |
Foreign exchange effect |  | (481,359 | ) | (2,913,862 | ) | (130,514 | ) | — |  | (60,362 | ) | (3,586,097 | )
Balances as of December 31, 2015 |  | (4,387,719 | ) | (21,415,018 | ) | (827,620 | ) | — |  | (523,446 | ) | (27,153,803 | )

Net property, plant and equipment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Balances as of December 31, 2013 |  | 5,212,660 |  | 11,535,318 |  | 85,679 |  | 3,737,616 |  | 847,801 |  | 21,419,074 |
Balances as of December 31, 2014 |  | 5,465,568 |  | 11,608,742 |  | 90,672 |  | 4,065,627 |  | 901,180 |  | 22,131,789 |
Balances as of December 31, 2015 |  | 6,455,083 |  | 11,673,086 |  | 111,646 |  | 4,068,876 |  | 947,039 |  | 23,255,730 |

The average rate of capitalized interest in 2015 was 6.4% (6.1% in 2014 and 6.0% in 2013).

The following useful lives are used to calculate depreciation, amortization, and depletion:

|  | Useful lives of property, plant and equipment |
Buildings |  | 20 to 33 years |
Machines, equipment, and installations |  | 10 to 20 years |
Furniture and fixture |  | 5 to 10 years |
Vehicles |  | 3 to 5 years |
Data electronic equipment |  | 2.5 to 6 years |

b) Guarantees — property, plant and equipment have been pledged as collateral for loans and financing in the amount of R$ 823,650 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 862,244 and R$ 615,997 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively).

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c) Impairment of property, plant and equipment — At December 31, 2015, the carrying amount of items of property, plant and equipment for which an impairment loss has been recognized up to current year is R$ 90,920 for land, buildings and construction (R$ 41,944 as of December 31, 2014), R$ 1,609,410 for machines, equipment and installations (R$ 205,101 as of December 31, 2014), R$ 543,726 for Property, plant and equipment under construction (R$ 0 as of December 31, 2014). The amounts for the years presented on the table above are included in the “Impairment” row.

NOTE 11 — GOODWILL

The changes in goodwill are as follows:

|  | Goodwill |  | Accumulated impairment losses |  | Goodwill after Impairment losses |
Balance as of January 1, 2013 |  | 10,265,246 |  | (231,850 | ) | 10,033,396 |
(+/-) Foreign exchange effect |  | 1,324,790 |  | (32,435 | ) | 1,292,355 |
(+) Additions |  | 27,294 |  | — |  | 27,294 |
Balance as of December 31, 2013 |  | 11,617,330 |  | (264,285 | ) | 11,353,045 |
(+/-) Foreign exchange effect |  | 1,217,668 |  | (14,309 | ) | 1,203,359 |
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | 12,834,998 |  | (278,594 | ) | 12,556,404 |
(+/-) Foreign exchange effect |  | 5,264,188 |  | (167,679 | ) | 5,096,509 |
(-) Impairment |  | — |  | (2,999,887 | ) | (2,999,887 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |  | 18,099,186 |  | (3,446,160 | ) | 14,653,026 |

The amounts of goodwill by segment are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Brazil |  | 519,327 |  | 553,607 |  | 533,186 |
Special Steel |  | 2,938,025 |  | 2,852,631 |  | 2,580,989 |
South America |  | — |  | 408,960 |  | 519,155 |
North America |  | 11,195,674 |  | 8,741,206 |  | 7,719,715 |
|  | 14,653,026 |  | 12,556,404 |  | 11,353,045 |

NOTE 12 — INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Intangible assets consist mainly of relationships recognized upon business combinations and software development:

|  | Supplier relationships |  | Software development |  | Customer contracts and relationships |  | Others |  | Total |
Balance as of January 1, 2013 |  | 78,659 |  | 415,712 |  | 816,399 |  | 53,646 |  | 1,364,416 |
Foreign exhange effect |  | — |  | 29,863 |  | 109,388 |  | 4,208 |  | 143,459 |
Acquisition |  | — |  | 157,585 |  | — |  | 810 |  | 158,395 |
Disposal |  | — |  | (510 | ) | — |  | (19,864 | ) | (20,374 | )
Amortization |  | (11,687 | ) | (3,212 | ) | (129,460 | ) | (3,618 | ) | (147,977 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2013 |  | 66,972 |  | 599,438 |  | 796,327 |  | 35,182 |  | 1,497,919 |
Foreign exhange effect |  | — |  | 29,854 |  | 91,031 |  | 1,016 |  | 121,901 |
Acquisition |  | — |  | 123,755 |  | 3,302 |  | 14,899 |  | 141,956 |
Disposal |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (3,416 | ) | (3,416 | )
Amortization |  | (10,318 | ) | (63,460 | ) | (127,745 | ) | (9,739 | ) | (211,262 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | 56,654 |  | 689,587 |  | 762,915 |  | 37,942 |  | 1,547,098 |
Foreign exhange effect |  | — |  | 123,167 |  | 327,424 |  | 14,375 |  | 464,966 |
Acquisition |  | — |  | 118,933 |  | — |  | 7,495 |  | 126,428 |
Disposal |  | — |  | (1,182 | ) | — |  | (4,208 | ) | (5,390 | )
Amortization |  | (9,083 | ) | (120,497 | ) | (164,968 | ) | (2,793 | ) | (297,341 | )
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |  | 47,571 |  | 810,008 |  | 925,371 |  | 52,811 |  | 1,835,761 |
Estimated useful lives |  | 5 to 20 years |  | 7 years |  | 5 to 20 years |  | 5 years |  |  |

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The composition of other intangible assets by segment is as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Brazil |  | 459,383 |  | 460,954 |  | 405,259 |
Special Steel |  | 357,435 |  | 248,877 |  | 244,266 |
South America |  | 13,507 |  | 15,748 |  | 19,206 |
North America |  | 1,005,436 |  | 821,519 |  | 829,188 |
|  | 1,835,761 |  | 1,547,098 |  | 1,497,919 |

NOTE 13 — LOANS AND FINANCING

Loans and financing are as follows:

|  | Annual charges (*) |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Working capital |  | 10.47 | % | 3,814,454 |  | 4,062,436 |
Financing of property, plant and equipment and others |  | 6.38 | % | 3,996,409 |  | 2,064,487 |
Ten/Thirty Year Bonds |  | 6.21 | % | 18,403,132 |  | 13,059,526 |
Total Loans and Financing |  |  |  | 26,213,995 |  | 19,186,449 |
Current |  |  |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,037,869 |
Non-current |  |  |  | 23,826,758 |  | 17,148,580 |
Principal amount of loans and Financing |  |  |  | 25,760,836 |  | 18,843,000 |
Interest accrued of loans and Financing |  |  |  | 453,159 |  | 343,449 |
Total Loans and Financing |  |  |  | 26,213,995 |  | 19,186,449 |

Loans and financing denominated in Brazilian reais are indexed to the TJLP (long-term interest rate, CDI (Interbank Deposit Certificate), or by the IGP-M (general market price index) and IPCA (Amplified Consumer Price).

Summary of loans and financing by currency:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Brazilian Real (BRL) |  | 3,224,563 |  | 3,481,360 |
U.S. Dollar (USD) |  | 21,637,029 |  | 14,708,621 |
Other currencies |  | 1,352,403 |  | 996,468 |
|  | 26,213,995 |  | 19,186,449 |

The amortization schedules of long term loans and financing are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
2016 |  | — |  | 893,003 |
2017 |  | 4,636,764 |  | 3,151,662 |
2018 |  | 1,530,746 |  | 754,884 |
2019 |  | 968,992 |  | 671,039 |
2020 |  | 3,813,070 |  | 3,498,457 |
2021 on |  | 12,877,186 |  | 8,179,535 |
|  | 23,826,758 |  | 17,148,580 |

a) Main funding in 2015

In March 2015, the subsidiary Siderperu renewed a loan in the amount of US$ 100 million for a three years period and guarantee of Gerdau S.A. with Bank of Tokyo. As of December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of this loan was US$ 100 million (R$ 390.5 million as of December 31, 2015).

In August 2015, the subsidiary Diaco obtained a loan in the amount of US$ 40 million with Citibank with a three years maturity, with guarantee of Gerdau S.A.. As of December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of this loan was US$ 36.7 million (R$ 143 million as of December 31, 2015).

In October 2015, the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas S.A. obtained a loan in the amount of R$ 656 million through line 4131 with Citibank for a period of five years.

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In November 2015, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of R$ 50 million through a compulsory NCE from Santander, with maturity in five years.

In December 2015, the Company obtained a loan in the amount of R$ 50 million through EXIM PSI Program from BNDES, with matiruty in three years.

b) Covenants

In September 2015, the Company completed the renegotiation process of financial covenants in all contracts of Gerdau S.A. Starting from October, only operations with BNDES include the Company’s contract established debt ratios, however with different features from those in contracts with commercial banks. In the event of a possible breach of the indicator at the annual measurement, the Company enters into a curing period and a subsequent warranties renegotiation, not characterizing the possibility of a default event.

c) Guarantees

All loans contracted under the FINAME/BNDES program, totaling R$ 121.2 million on December 31, 2015, are guaranteed by the assets being financed.

d) Credit Lines

In June 2009, the subsidiaries of the Company, Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and the former subsidiary Aços Villares S.A., obtained a pre-approved credit line with BNDES in the total amount of R$ 1.5 billion to be used for the revamp and modernization of several areas, an increase in the production capacity of certain product lines, investment in logistics and energy generation, and also environmental and sustainability projects. The funds are made available at the time each subsidiary starts its specific investment and presents to BNDES the evidence of the investment made. The interest rate for this credit line is determined at the time of each disbursement, and is composed by indexes linked to of TJLP + 2.16% p.a. As of December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of this credit facility was R$ 881.8 million.

As from October 2015, the Company made purchases from domestic suppliers of inputs, which discounted the bills with financial institutions through credit line, which is basically the sale of receivables without recourse, with interest rates ranging around 1.15% p.m.. On December 31, 2015 , the present valur of these liabilities related to these purchases amounted to R$ 40,028 and these values are presented in the “Short-term debt” account in Current liabilities . The average maturity of these bills ranges from 165-180 days.

In November, 2015, the Company concluded the renewal and increase of the volume of the Senior Unsecured Global Working Capital Credit Agreement, which is a US$ 1 billion revolving credit line with the purpose of providing liquidity to its subsidiaries. The line is divided into two tranches, US$ 250 million destined for Gerdau’s North American subsidiaries borrowing needs and US$ 750 million for Gerdau’s Latin American and Spanish subsidiaries’ borrowing needs. The following companies guarantee this agreement: Gerdau S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. As of December 31, 2015, the outstanding balance of this credit line was US$ 365 million (R$ 1.4 billion as of December 31, 2015).

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NOTE 14 — DEBENTURES

|  | General |  | Quantity as of December 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance |  | Meeting |  | Issued |  | Held in treasury |  | Maturity |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
3rd- A and B |  | May 27,1982 |  | 144,000 |  | 131,436 |  | 06/01/2021 |  | 64,184 |  | 81,834 |
7th |  | July 14, 1982 |  | 68,400 |  | 61,764 |  | 07/01/2022 |  | 43,928 |  | 51,787 |
8th |  | November 11, 1982 |  | 179,964 |  | 162,608 |  | 05/02/2013 |  | 75,061 |  | 107,144 |
9th |  | June 10, 1983 |  | 125,640 |  | 123,542 |  | 09/01/2024 |  | 13,888 |  | 14,154 |
11th - A and B |  | June 29, 1990 |  | 150,000 |  | 142,064 |  | 06/01/2020 |  | 49,801 |  | 55,863 |
14th |  | August 26, 2014 |  | 20,000 |  | 11,916 |  | 08/30/2024 |  | — |  | 24,254 |
Total Consolidated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |
Non-current |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |

The amortization schedules of long term are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
2020 |  | 49,801 |  | 55,863 |
2021 on |  | 197,061 |  | 179,173 |
|  | 246,862 |  | 235,036 |

Debentures are denominated in Brazilian reais, they are not convertible into shares and have variable interest at a percentage of the CDI (Interbank Deposit Rate). The nominal annual interest rate was 13.24% and 10.81% as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.

The Company has guarantees provided by parent entity for debentures of the 7ª, 8ª, 9ª and 11ª issuances.

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NOTE 15 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

a) General considerations - Gerdau S.A. and its subsidiaries enter into transactions with financial instruments whose risks are managed by means of strategies and exposure limit controls. All financial instruments are recorded in the accounting books and presented as cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable, Loans and financing, debentures, related-party transactions, unrealized gains on derivatives, unrealized losses on derivatives, Judicial deposits, other current assets, other non-current assets, FIDC Obligation, other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities.

The Company has derivatives and non-derivative instruments, such as the hedge for some operations under hedge accounting. These operations are non-speculative in nature and are intended to protect the company against exchange rate fluctuations on foreign currency loans and against interest rate fluctuations.

b) Market value — the market value of the aforementioned financial instruments is as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
|  | Book |  | Fair |  | Book |  | Fair |
|  | value |  | value |  | value |  | value |
Assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 5,648,080 |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |  | 3,049,971 |
Short-term investments |  | 1,270,760 |  | 1,270,760 |  | 2,798,834 |  | 2,798,834 |
Trade accounts receivable |  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,438,676 |  | 4,438,676 |
Related parties |  | 54,402 |  | 54,402 |  | 80,920 |  | 80,920 |
Unrealized gains on derivatives |  | 43,601 |  | 43,601 |  | 41,751 |  | 41,751 |
Judicial deposits |  | 1,703,367 |  | 1,703,367 |  | 1,430,865 |  | 1,430,865 |
Other current assets |  | 454,140 |  | 454,140 |  | 331,352 |  | 331,352 |
Other non-current assets |  | 490,583 |  | 490,583 |  | 375,732 |  | 375,732 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts payable |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,236,356 |  | 3,236,356 |
Loans and Financing |  | 26,213,995 |  | 23,115,570 |  | 19,186,449 |  | 19,533,676 |
Debentures |  | 246,862 |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |  | 335,036 |
Related parties |  | 896 |  | 896 |  | — |  | — |
FIDC Obligation |  | 853,252 |  | 853,252 |  | — |  | — |
Other current liabilities |  | 829,182 |  | 829,182 |  | 858,901 |  | 858,901 |
Other non-current liabilities |  | 690,766 |  | 690,766 |  | 635,457 |  | 635,457 |
Unrealized losses on derivatives |  | — |  | — |  | 8,999 |  | 8,999 |

The fair values of Loans and Financing are based on market premises, which may take into consideration discounted cash flows using equivalent market rates and credit rating. All other financial instruments, which are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements at their carrying amount, are substantially similar to those that would be obtained if they were traded in the market. However, because there is no active market for these instruments, differences could exist if they were settled in advance. The fair value hierarchy of the financial instruments above are presented in Note 15.g.

c) Risk factors that could affect the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses:

Price risk of commodities: this risk is related to the possibility of changes in prices of the products sold by the Company or in prices of raw materials and other inputs used in the productive process. Since the Company operates in a commodity market, net sales and cost of sales may be affected by changes in the international prices of their products or materials. In order to minimize this risk, the Company constantly monitors the price variations in the domestic and international markets.

Interest rate risk: this risk arises from the possibility of losses (or gains) due to fluctuations in interest rates applied to the Company’s financial liabilities or assets and future cash flows and income. The Company evaluates its exposure to these risks: (i) comparing financial assets and liabilities denominated at fixed and floating interest rates and (ii) monitoring the variations of interest rates like Libor and CDI. Accordingly, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps in order to reduce this risk.

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Exchange rate risk: this risk is related to the possibility of fluctuations in exchange rates affecting the amounts of financial assets or liabilities or of future cash flows and income. The Company assesses its exposure to the exchange rate by measuring the difference between the amount of its assets and liabilities in foreign currency. The Company understands that the accounts receivables originated from exports, its cash and cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies and its investments abroad are more than equivalent to its liabilities denominated in foreign currency. Since the management of these exposures occurs at each operation level, if there is a mismatch between assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency, the Company may employ derivative financial instruments in order to mitigate the effect of exchange rate fluctuations.

Credit risk: this risk arises from the possibility of the subsidiaries not receiving amounts arising from sales to customers or investments made with financial institutions. In order to minimize this risk, the subsidiaries adopt the procedure of analyzing in details of the financial position of their customers, establishing a credit limit and constantly monitoring their balances. Regarding cash investments, the Company invests solely in financial institutions with low credit risk, as assessed by rating agencies. In addition, each financial institution has a maximum limit for investment, determined by the Company’s Credit Committee. If an independent assessment is not availbale, the Company’s credit area provides a credit rating assessment, taking into consideration its financial position, past experience and other factors.

Capital management risk: this risk comes from the Company’s choice in adopting a financing structure for its operations. The Company manages its capital structure, which consists of a ratio between the financial debts and its own capital (Equity) based on internal policies and benchmarks. The KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) related to the objective “Capital Structure Management” are: WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital), Net Debt/ EBITDA, Net Financial Expenses Coverage Ratio, and Indebtedness/Equity Ratio. The Net Debt is composed of the outstanding principal of the debt, less cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments (notes 4, 13 and 14). The total capitalization is formed by Total Debt (composed by the outstanding principal of the debt) and equity (note 22). The Company may change its capital structure, as economic and financial conditions to optimize its financial leverage and its debt management. At the same time, the Company seeks to improve its ROCE (Return on Capital Employed) by implementing a working capital management and an efficient program of capital expenditures. In the long-term, the Company seeks to remain between the parameters below, admitting specific short-term variations:

WACC |  | between 10% to 13% a year |
Net debt/EBITDA |  | less than or equal to 2.5 times |
Net Financial Expenses Coverage Ratio |  | greater than 5.5 times |
Debt/Equity Ratio |  | less than or equal to 60% |

These key indicators are used to monitor objectives described above and may not necessarily be used as indicators for other purposes, such as impairment tests.

Liquidity risk: the Company’s management policy of indebtedness and cash on hand is based on using the committed lines and the currently available credit lines with or without a guarantee in export receivables for maintaining adequate levels of short, medium, and long-term liquidity. The maturity of long-term loans, financing, and debentures are presented in Notes 13 and 14, respectively.

|  | 2015 |
Contractual obligations |  | Total |  | Less than 1 year |  | 1-3 years |  | 4-5 years |  | More than 5 years |
Trade accounts payable |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,629,788 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Loans and financings |  | 25,720,808 |  | 1,894,050 |  | 6,167,510 |  | 4,782,062 |  | 12,877,186 |
Debentures |  | 9,949 |  | — |  | — |  | 1,822 |  | 8,127 |
Related parties |  | 896 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 896 |
|  | 29,361,441 |  | 5,523,838 |  | 6,167,510 |  | 4,783,884 |  | 12,886,209 |

|  | 2014 |
Contractual obligations |  | Total |  | Less than 1 year |  | 1-3 years |  | 4-5 years |  | More than 5 years |
Trade accounts payable |  | 3,236,356 |  | 3,236,356 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Loans and financings |  | 18,843,000 |  | 1,694,420 |  | 4,044,665 |  | 1,425,923 |  | 11,677,992 |
Debentures |  | 13,502 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 13,502 |
|  | 22,092,858 |  | 4,930,776 |  | 4,044,665 |  | 1,425,923 |  | 11,691,494 |

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Sensitivity analysis:

The Company performed a sensitivity analysis, which can be summarized as follows:

Impacts on Statements of Income

Assumptions |  | Percentage of change |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Foreign currency sensitivity analysis |  | 5% |  | 217,492 |  | 185,571 |
Interest rate sensitivity analysis |  | 10 bps |  | 99,147 |  | 91,736 |
Sensitivity analysis of changes in prices of products sold |  | 1% |  | 435,812 |  | 425,463 |
Sensitivity analysis of changes in raw material and commodity prices |  | 1% |  | 271,264 |  | 249,120 |
Sensitivity analysis of interest rate and foreign currency swaps |  | 10 bps/5% |  | 12,202 |  | 9,110 |
Sensitivity analysis of NDF’s (Non Deliverable Forwards) |  | 5% |  | 18,288 |  | 7,741 |

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis: As of December 31, 2015, the Company is mainly exposed to variations between the Brazilian real and US Dollar. The sensitivity analysis made by the Company considers the effects of an increase or a reduction of 5% between the Brazilian real and the US Dollar on debts that do not have hedge operations. The impact calculated considering such variation in the foreign exchange rate totals R$ 217,492 and R$ 114,735 after the effects of changes in the net investment hedge described in note 15.g, as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 185,571 and R$ 107,659 of December 31, 2014, respectively) and represents income if appreciation of the Brazilian real against the US Dollar occurs or an expense in the case of a depreciation of the Brazilian real against the US Dollar, however due to the investment hedge these effects would be mitigated when considered the income tax and exchange rate variance accounts.

The net amounts of trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable denominated in foreign currency do not represent any relevant risk in the case of any fluctuation of exchange rates.

Interest rate sensitivity analysis: The interest rate sensitivity analysis made by the Company considers the effects of an increase or reduction of 10 basis point (bps) on the average interest rate applicable to the floating part of its debt. The impact calculated, considering this variation in the interest rate totals R$ 99,147 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 91,736 as of December 31, 2014) and would impact the Financial expenses account in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The specific interest rates to which the Company is exposed are related to the loans, financing, and debentures presented in Notes 13 and 14, and are mainly comprised by Libor and CDI — Interbank Deposit Certificate.

Sensitivity analysis of changes in sales price of products and price of raw materials and other inputs used in production: the Company is exposed to changes in the price of its products. This exposure is associated with the fluctuation of the sale price of the Company’s products and the price of raw materials and other inputs used in the production process, mainly for operating in a commodity market. The sensitivity analysis made by the Company considers the effects of an increase or of a reduction of 1% on both prices. The impact measured considering this variation in the price of products sold, considering the net income and costs of the year ended on December 31, 2015, totals R$ 435,812 (R$ 425,463 as of December 31, 2014) and the variation in the price of raw materials and other inputs totals R$ 271,264 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 249,120 as of December 31, 2014). The impact in the price of products sold and raw materials would be recorded in the accounts Net Sales and Cost of Sales, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company does not expect to be more vulnerable to a change in one or more specific product or raw material.

Sensitivity analysis of interest rate and cross currency swaps: the Company has exposure to interest rate and cross currency swaps for some of its loans and financing. The sensitivity analysis calculated by the Company considers the effects of either an increase or a decrease of 10 bps in the interest curve (Libor) combined with an increase or decrease of 5% on the US Dollar against the local currency, and their impacts in the swaps mark to market. These variations represent an income or a loss of R$ 12,202 (R$ 9,110 as of December 31, 2014). On December 31, 2015, these effects would be recognized in the statement of comprehensive income in the amount of R$ 12,202 (R$ 9,110 in the statement of comprehensive income on December 31, 2014). The interest rate swaps to which the Company is exposed to are presented in note 15.e.

Sensitivity analysis of forward contracts in US Dollar: the Company has exposure in forward contracts in US Dollar to some of its assets and liabilities. The sensitivity analysis calculated by the Company considers an effect of a 5% US Dollar depreciation or appreciation against the Colombian Peso, the Argentinean Peso and the Indian Rupee, and corresponds to the effects on the mark to market of such transactions. An increase of 5% on the US Dollar against the Colombian Peso, the Argentinean Peso and the Indian Rupee represents a combined gain of R$ 18,288 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 7,741 as of December, 31 2014) and a decrease of 5% on the US Dollar against the Colombian Peso, the Argentinean Peso and the Indian Rupee, represents a combined loss in the same amount presented above. These forward contracts were hired to hedge liabilities and these mark to market variations would be recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Income. The forward contracts in US Dollar, in which the Company is exposed, are presented in note 15.e.

d) Financial Instruments per Category

Summary of the financial instruments per category:

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2015 Assets |  | Loans and receivables |  | Assets at fair value with gains and losses recognized in income |  | Assets at fair value with gains and losses recognized in shareholder’s equity |  | Total |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 5,648,080 |  | — |  | — |  | 5,648,080 |
Short-term investments |  | — |  | 1,270,760 |  | — |  | 1,270,760 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  | — |  | — |  | 43,601 |  | 43,601 |
Trade accounts receivable |  | 4,587,426 |  | — |  | — |  | 4,587,426 |
Related parties |  | 54,402 |  | — |  | — |  | 54,402 |
Judicial deposits |  | 1,703,367 |  | — |  | — |  | 1,703,367 |
Other current assets |  | 454,140 |  | — |  | — |  | 454,140 |
Other non-current assets |  | 490,583 |  | — |  | — |  | 490,583 |
Total |  | 12,937,998 |  | 1,270,760 |  | 43,601 |  | 14,252,359 |
Financial income |  | 823,613 |  | 358,515 |  | — |  | 1,182,128 |

Liabilities |  | Liabilities at market value with gains and losses recognized in income |  | Other financial liabilities at amortized cost |  | Total |
Trade accounts payable |  | — |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,629,788 |
Loans and financings |  | — |  | 26,213,995 |  | 26,213,995 |
Debentures |  | — |  | 246,862 |  | 246,862 |
Related parties |  | — |  | 896 |  | 896 |
FIDC Obligation |  | — |  | 853,252 |  | 853,252 |
Other current liabilities |  | — |  | 829,182 |  | 829,182 |
Other non-current liabilities |  | — |  | 690,766 |  | 690,766 |
Total |  | — |  | 32,464,741 |  | 32,464,741 |
Financial income |  | (688 | ) | (4,060,336 | ) | (4,061,024 | )

2014 Assets |  | Loans and receivables |  | Assets at fair value with gains and losses recognized in income |  | Assets at fair value with gains and losses recognized in shareholder’s equity |  | Total |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 3,049,971 |  | — |  | — |  | 3,049,971 |
Short-term investments |  | — |  | 2,798,834 |  | — |  | 2,798,834 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  | — |  | — |  | 41,751 |  | 41,751 |
Trade accounts receivable |  | 4,438,676 |  | — |  | — |  | 4,438,676 |
Related parties |  | 80,920 |  | — |  | — |  | 80,920 |
Judicial deposits |  | 1,430,865 |  | — |  | — |  | 1,430,865 |
Other current assets |  | 331,352 |  | — |  | — |  | 331,352 |
Other non-current assets |  | 375,732 |  | — |  | — |  | 375,732 |
Total |  | 9,707,516 |  | 2,798,834 |  | 41,751 |  | 12,548,101 |
Financial income |  | 343,697 |  | 223,741 |  | — |  | 567,438 |

Liabilities |  | Liabilities at market value with gains and losses recognized in income |  | Other financial liabilities at amortized cost |  | Total |
Trade accounts payable |  | — |  | 3,236,356 |  | 3,236,356 |
Loans and financings |  | — |  | 19,186,449 |  | 19,186,449 |
Debentures |  | — |  | 335,036 |  | 335,036 |
Related parties |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Other current liabilities |  | — |  | 858,901 |  | 858,901 |
Other non-current liabilities |  | — |  | 635,457 |  | 635,457 |
Unrealized losses on financial instruments |  | 8,999 |  | — |  | 8,999 |
Total |  | 8,999 |  | 24,252,199 |  | 24,261,198 |
Financial income |  | (7,530 | ) | (2,120,910 | ) | (2,128,440 | )

As of December 31, 2015, the Company has derivative financial instruments such as interest rate swaps and forward contracts in US Dollar. Part of these instruments is classified as cash flow hedges and their effectiveness can be measured, having their unrealized losses and /or gains classified directly in Other Comprehensive Income. The other derivative financial instruments have their realized and unrealized losses and/or gains presented in the account “Gains and losses on derivatives, net” in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

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e) Operations with derivative financial instruments

Risk management objectives and strategies: In order to execute its strategy of sustainable growth, the Company implements risk management strategies in order to mitigate market risks.

The objective of derivative transactions is always related to mitigating market risks as stated in our policies and guidelines. The monitoring of the effects of these transactions is performed monthly by the Financial Risk Management Committee, which validates the mark to market of these transactions. All derivative financial instruments are recognized at fair value in the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company.

Policy for use of derivatives: The Company is exposed to various market risks, including changes in exchange rates, commodities and interest rates. The Company uses derivatives and other financial instruments to reduce the impact of such risks on the fair value of its assets and liabilities or in future cash flows and results. The Company has established policies to evaluate the market risks and to approve the use of derivative transactions related to these risks. The Company enters into derivative financial instruments solely to manage market risks as mentioned above and never for speculative purposes. Derivative financial instruments are used only when they have a related position (asset or liability exposure) resulting from business operations, investments and financing.

Policy for determining fair value: the fair value of derivative financial instruments is determined using models and other valuation techniques, including future prices and market curves.

The derivative transactions may include: interest rate swaps, cross currency swaps and currency forward contracts.

Forward Contracts in US Dollar

The Company has entered into NDFs (Non Deliverable Forward) in order to mitigate the exchange variance risk on liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, mainly US dollar. The counterparties of these transactions are financial institutions with a low credit risk.

Swap Contracts

The Company entered into cross currency swaps, designated as a cash flow hedge, contract whereby it receives a variable interest rate based on LIBOR in US dollars and pays a fixed interest rate based in the local currency. The counterparties to these transactions are financial institutions with low credit risk.

The derivatives instruments can be summarized and categorized as follows:

|  |  |  |  |  | Notional value |  | Amount receivable |  | Amount payable |
Contracts |  | Position |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Forward |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity at 2015 |  |  |  | long in US$ |  | — |  | US$80.0 million |  | — |  | 41,751 |  | — |  | — |
Maturity at 2016 |  |  |  | long in US$ |  | US$108.0 million |  | — |  | 37,981 |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Cross currency swap |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | receivable under the swap |  | Libor 6M + 2.25% |  |  |  | US$25.0 million |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Maturity in 2017 |  | payable under the swap |  | INR 11.02% |  | US$25.0 million |  |  |  | 1,756 |  | — |  | — |  | (2,349 | )
|  | receivable under the swap |  | Libor 6M +2% |  | US$40.0 million |  | US$40.0 million |  | 3,864 |  | — |  | — |  | (6,650 | )
Maturity in 2018 |  | payable under the swap |  | INR 10.17% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total fair value of financial instruments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 43,601 |  | 41,751 |  | — |  | (8,999 | )

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Prospective and retrospective tests demonstrated the effectiveness of these instruments.

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  |  |  |  |
Current assets |  | 37,981 |  | 41,751 |
Non-current assets |  | 5,620 |  | — |
|  | 43,601 |  | 41,751 |
Unrealized losses on financial instruments |  |  |  |  |
Non-current liabilities |  | — |  | (8,999 | )
|  | — |  | (8,999 | )

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Net Income |  |  |  |  |
Gains on financial instruments |  | 129,917 |  | 43,692 |
Losses on financial instruments |  | (42,832 | ) | (7,201 | )
|  | 87,085 |  | 36,491 |
Other comprehensive income |  |  |  |  |
Gains (Losses) on financial instruments |  | 17,283 |  | (5,989 | )
|  | 17,283 |  | (5,989 | )

f) Net investment hedge

The Company designated as hedge of part of its net investments in subsidiaries abroad the operations of Ten/Thirty Years Bonds. As a consequence, the effect of exchange rate changes on these debts has been recognized in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The exchange variation generated on the operations of Ten/Thirty Years Bonds in the amount of US$ 2.7 billion (designated as hedges) is recognized in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, while the exchange rate on the portion of US$ 1.0 billion (not designated as hedges) is recognized in income. Additionally, the Company opted to designate as hedge of the net investment financing operations held by the subsidiary Gerdau Açominas SA, in the amount of US$ 0.2 billion, which were made in order to provide part of the funds to purchase these investments abroad.

The Company demonstrated high effectiveness of the hedge as from the debt hiring for acquisition of these companies abroad, whose effects were measured and recognized directly in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as an unrealized loss, net of taxes, in the amount R$ 3.613.178 for the year ended on December 31, 2015, respectively (loss of R$ 948.991 on December 31, 2014).

The objective of the hedge is to protect, during the existence of the debt, the amount of part of the Company’s investment in the subsidiaries mentioned above against positive and negative oscillations in the exchange rate. This objective is consistent with the Company’s risk management strategy. Prospective and retrospective tests demonstrated the effectiveness of these instruments.

g) Measurement of fair value:

The IFRS defines fair value as the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. The standard also establishes a three level hierarchy for the fair value, which prioritizes information when measuring the fair value by the company, to maximize the use of observable information and minimize the use of non-observable information. This IFRS describes the three levels of information to be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 available, where (unadjusted) quoted prices are for similar assets and liabilities in non-active markets, or other data that is available or may be corroborated by market data for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

Level 3 - Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data, because market activity is insignificant or does not exist.

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As of December 31, 2015, the Company had some assets which the fair value measurement is required on a recurring basis. These assets include investments in private securities and derivative instruments.

Financial assets and liabilities of the Company, measured at fair value on a recurring basis and subject to disclosure requirements of IFRS 7 as of December 31, 2015, are as follows:

|  | Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using |
|  |  |  |  |  | Quoted Prices Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) |  | Quoted Prices in Non-Active Markets for Similar Assets (Level 2) |
|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |  | — |  | — |  | 5,648,080 |  | 3,049,971 |
Short-term investments - Held for Trading |  | 1,270,760 |  | 2,798,834 |  | 476,154 |  | 978,840 |  | 794,606 |  | 1,819,994 |
Trade Accounts receivable |  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,438,676 |  | — |  | — |  | 4,587,426 |  | 4,438,676 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  | 37,981 |  | 41,751 |  | — |  | — |  | 37,981 |  | 41,751 |
Other current assets |  | 454,140 |  | 331,352 |  | — |  | — |  | 454,140 |  | 331,352 |
Non-current assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Related parties |  | 54,402 |  | 80,920 |  | — |  | — |  | 54,402 |  | 80,920 |
Unrealized gains on financial instruments |  | 5,620 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 5,620 |  | — |
Other non-current assets |  | 490,583 |  | 375,732 |  | — |  | — |  | 490,583 |  | 375,732 |
|  | 12,548,992 |  | 11,117,236 |  | 476,154 |  | 978,840 |  | 12,072,838 |  | 10,138,396 |
Current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade accounts payable |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,236,356 |  | — |  | — |  | 3,629,788 |  | 3,236,356 |
Short-term debt |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,037,869 |  | — |  | — |  | 2,387,237 |  | 2,037,869 |
Other current liabilities |  | 829,182 |  | 858,901 |  | — |  | — |  | 829,182 |  | 858,901 |
Non-current liabilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt |  | 23,826,758 |  | 17,148,580 |  | — |  | — |  | 23,826,758 |  | 17,148,580 |
Debentures |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |  | — |  | — |  | 246,862 |  | 335,036 |
Unrealized losses on financial instruments |  | — |  | 8,999 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 8,999 |
FIDC Obligation |  | 853,252 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 853,252 |  | — |
Other non-current liabilities |  | 690,766 |  | 635,457 |  | — |  | — |  | 690,766 |  | 635,457 |
|  | 32,463,845 |  | 24,261,198 |  | — |  | — |  | 32,463,845 |  | 24,261,198 |

NOTE 16 — TAXES PAYABLE

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Payroll charges |  | 115,295 |  | 112,883 |
ICMS (state VAT) |  | 50,229 |  | 73,651 |
COFINS (tax on revenue) |  | 12,625 |  | 22,084 |
IPI (federal VAT) |  | 5,265 |  | 21,728 |
IVA (value-added tax) and others |  | 166,260 |  | 175,144 |
|  | 349,674 |  | 405,490 |

NOTE 17 — TAX, CIVIL AND LABOR CLAIMS AND CONTINGENT ASSETS

The Company and its subsidiaries are party in judicial and administrative proceedings involving labor, civil and tax matters. Based on the opinion of its legal advisors, Management believes that the provisions recorded for these judicial and administrative proceedings is sufficient to cover probable and reasonably estimable losses from unfavorable court decisions, and that the final decisions will not have significant effects on the financial position, operational results and liquidity of the Company and its subsidiaries.

For claims whose expected loss is considered probable, the provisions have been recorded considering the judgment of the Management of the Company with the assistance of its legal advisors and the provisions are considered sufficient to cover expected probable losses. The balances of the provisions are as follows:

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I) Provisions

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
a) Tax provisions |  |  |  |  |
ICMS (state VAT) |  | 26,896 |  | 25,825 |
Corporate Income Tax and Social Contribution Tax |  | 36,630 |  | 34,038 |
Emergency Capacity Charge and Extraordinary Tariff Adjustment |  | 34,742 |  | 32,853 |
Financing of social integration program and Social security financing |  | 1,423,554 |  | 1,177,200 |
Other tax provisions and Social security contributions |  | 47,981 |  | 38,171 |
b) Labor provisions |  | 287,613 |  | 228,475 |
c) Civil provisions |  | 47,314 |  | 39,793 |
|  | 1,904,730 |  | 1,576,355 |

a) Tax Provisions

The tax provisions relate mainly to the discussions concerning the compensation of PIS (“Contribuição ao Programa de Integração Social”- PIS )credits, PIS and COFINS (“Contribuição para o Financiamento da Seguridade Social” - COFINS) on other revenues and exclusion of ICMS (“Imposto sobre a circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços” - ICMS) from the PIS and COFINS tax base. With respect to proceedings dealing with the exclusion of ICMS from the calculation basis of PIS and COFINS, the Company and its subsidiaries are judicially depositing the amounts involved.

b) Labor Provisions

The Company and its subsidiaries are party to labor claims. None of these claims involve individually significant amounts and corresponds mainly to overtime pay, health hazard premium, and hazardous duty premium, among others.

c) Civil Provisions

The Company and its subsidiaries are also a party to civil lawsuits arising in the normal course of its business, which totaled as of December 31, 2015 the amount shown as provision liabilities.

The changes in the tax, labor and civil provisions are shown below:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Balance at the beginning of the year |  | 1,576,355 |  | 1,294,598 |
(+) Additions |  | 307,533 |  | 213,285 |
(+) Monetary variation |  | 144,900 |  | 128,305 |
(-) Reversal of accrued amounts |  | (129,119 | ) | (59,714 | )
(+) Foreign exchange effect on provisions in foreign currency |  | 5,061 |  | (119 | )
Balance at the end of the year |  | 1,904,730 |  | 1,576,355 |

II) Contingent liabilities for which provisions were not recorded

Considering the opinion of legal advisors and management’s assessment, contingencies listed below have chance of loss considered as possible (but not likely ) and due to this classification accruals have not been made in accordance with IFRS .

a) Tax contingencies

a.1) The Company and its subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Açominas S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais 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$ 1,128,071.

a.2) The Company and its subsidiaries Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., are parties to the lawsuits relating to other taxes. The total amount of these lawsuits is R$ 441,318.

a.3) Subsidiaries Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda. and Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., are parties to administrative proceedings relating to IRPJ — Corporate Income Tax and CSLL — Social Contribution Tax. Said proceedings relate to profits generated abroad and currently amount to R$ 1,446,835, of which (i) R$ 1,311,984 correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda., whose voluntary appeals were partially granted in CARF’s lower court and are subject to special appeals currently pending in CARF’s higher court; and (ii) R$ 134,851 correspond to a

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proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., whose voluntary appeal is still pending in CARF’s lower court. The amounts which are not subject to special appeal pending judgment of Gerdau Internacional Empreendimentos Ltda were referred for collection by the Federal Revenue Service Bureau and will be subject to judicial litigation by the Company.

a.4) Subsidiaries Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais 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$ 3,666,096, of which (i) R$ 1,263,009 correspond to three proceedings involving subsidiaries Gerdau Acos Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. and Gerdau Açominas S.A., whose voluntary appeals were granted in 2012 and are subject to appeals filed by the Special Prosecutor of the National Treasury, currently pending in CARF’s higher court; (ii) R$ 1,881,973 correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Acos Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal was dismissed by CARF’s lower court in 2014 and is subject to a special appeal currently pending in CARF’s higher court; (iii) R$ 420,868 correspond to two proceedings involving Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., whose voluntary appeal is currently pending in CARF’s lower court; (iv) R$ 100,246 correspond to a proceeding involving Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A., the decision of which is currently pending in the Federal Revenue Service Bureau.

Decisions handed down to date in the proceedings relating to profits generated abroad and the deductibility of goodwill, as above mentioned, are being investigated in the context of “Operação Zelotes”, as mentioned in Note 17 and Note 31.

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).

b) Civil contingencies

b.1) A lawsuit arising from the request by two civil construction unions in the state of São Paulo alleging that Gerdau S.A. and other long steel producers in Brazil share customers, thus, violating the antitrust legislation. After investigations carried out by the Economic Law Department (SDE), the final opinion was that a cartel exists. The lawsuit was therefore forwarded to the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) for judgment.

In May 2004, Gerdau S.A. filed a new lawsuit with the purpose of annulling the administrative proceeding grounded on formal irregularities found during the discovery.

CADE, irrespective of the request for submission of evidence that a cartel does not exist made by Gerdau S.A., judged the merits of the administrative proceedings on September 23, 2005 and, by a majority of votes, fined the Company, for formation of a cartel and other long steel producers an amount equivalent to 7% of gross revenues in the year before the Administrative Proceeding was commenced, excluding taxes.

Despite the CADE decision, the legal action filed by Gerdau S.A. follows its normal course and, currently, awaits judgment in the lower court. In the event the irregularities in the process alleged by Gerdau are recognized by the court, the CADE decision may be annulled.

Furthermore, in order to reverse the terms of the decision by CADE, Gerdau appealed to the Judiciary on July 26, 2006 by bringing a new ordinary suit that not only ratifies the request of the first suit begun by Gerdau, but also indicates irregularities found during the course of the administrative proceeding. On August 30, 2006, Gerdau was successful in obtaining legal protection in order to suspend the effects of CADE’s decision (R$ 245,070 fine equal to 7% of the gross revenue in 1999, excluding taxes) until final court decision be reached, being offered a guarantee through a bank guarantee letter. On August 1, 2013, the Judicial Accounting updated the amount of the fine to R$ 417,820 and judgment has been rendered in that case and dismissed the action. The case is in the appeal stage .

It should be noted that just prior to the CADE decision, the Public Prosecution Office of the state of Minas Gerais filed a Public Civil Action, based on the above-mentioned SDE decision, and, without mentioning any new elements, alleged that the Company was involved in activities which violated the antitrust legislation. Gerdau S.A. contested this allegation on July 22, 2005.

The Company denies having been engaged in any type of anti-competitive conduct and believes based on information available, including the opinion of its legal counsel, that the administrative proceeding presents irregularities, some of which are impossible to be remediated. With respect to the merit, Gerdau is certain that it did not practice the alleged conduct and, supported by the opinion of renowned experts, believes that it is more likely than not that the decision will be reverted.

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b.2) The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to other demands of a civil nature that collectively have a discussion amount of approximately R$ 170,933. For these demands was not performed accounting accrual, since they were considered as possible losses, based on the opinion of its legal counsel.

Management considers that the risk of losses from other contingencies affecting the results or the consolidated financial position of the Company is not more likely than not.

III) Judicial deposits

The Company has judicial deposits related to tax, labor and civil lawsuits as listed below:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Tax |  | 1,521,206 |  | 1,286,651 |
Labor |  | 82,005 |  | 66,608 |
Civil |  | 100,156 |  | 77,606 |
|  | 1,703,367 |  | 1,430,865 |

IV) Contingent Asset - Eletrobrás Compulsory Loan — Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. (Eletrobrás)

The Compulsory Loan, instituted by the Brazilian government in order to expand and improve the energy sector of the country was charged and collected from industrial consumers with monthly consumption equal or superior to 2000kwh through the “electricity bills” issued by the electric power distribution companies, was converted into credits to the taxpayers based on the annual value of these contributions made between 1977 and 1993. The legislation sets a maximum 20 years period to return the compulsory loan to the taxpayers, providing Eletrobrás the possibility of anticipating this return through the conversion of those loans in shares of its own issue. Prior to the conversion of the credits into shares, those credits were adjusted through an indexer and quantifier, called Standard Unit (SU). It happens that the compulsory loan was charged to the companies in their monthly electricity bills, consolidated during the year, and only indexed by the SU in January of next year, resulting in a lack of monthly monetary adjustment during the years of collection, as well as interest. This procedure imputed to taxpayers considerable financial losses, particularly during the periods when the monthly inflation rates stood at high levels.

In order to claim the appropriate interest and monetary correction, subtracted by the methodology applied by Eletrobrás, the Company (understood to be legal entities existing at the time and later became part of Gerdau S.A.) filed lawsuits claiming credits resulting from differences on the monetary correction of principal, interest, moratory and other accessory amounts owed by Eletrobrás due to the compulsory loans, totaling approximately R$ 1,260 million. Recently, particularly in 2015, processes involving representative amounts were definitively judged by the Superior Court of Justice - STJ favorable to the Company so that no further appeals against such decisions apply (“final judgment”). For claims with a final judgment, it yet remains the enforcement of ruling (or execution phase) where the actual amounts to be settled will be calculated.

Obtaining favorable decisions represented by the final judgment mentioned above, in accordance with IAS 37, suggests that the inflow of economic benefits has become probable. However, it is not yet practicable to reasonably determine the realization of the gain in the form of fitting of resources arising from these decisions has reached a level of virtually certain and that the Company has control over such assets, which under the above standards, implies that such gains are not recorded until such conditions are demonstrably present.

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NOTE 18 - RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

a) Intercompany loans

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Assets |  |  |  |  |
Associate companies |  |  |  |  |
Armacero Ind. Com. Ltda. |  | — |  | 9,198 |
Aceros Corsa, S.A. de C.V. |  | — |  | 7,729 |
Jointly-controlled entities |  |  |  |  |
Gerdau Corsa SAPI de C.V. |  | 43 |  | 13,634 |
Others |  |  |  |  |
Fundação Gerdau |  | 54,327 |  | 50,342 |
Others |  | 32 |  | 17 |
|  | 54,402 |  | 80,920 |
Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Parent company |  |  |  |  |
Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. |  | (896 | ) | — |
|  | (896 | ) | — |

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Net financial income |  | 2,712 |  | 2,743 |  | 1,573 |

b) Operations with related parties

During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company, through its subsidiaries, entered into commercial operations with some of its associates and joint ventures including sales of R$ 393,450 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 255,601 as of December 31, 2014) and purchases in the amount of R$ 172,321 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 146,590 as of December 31, 2014). The net amount totals R$ 221,129 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 109,011 as of December 31, 2014).

During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , the Company and its subsidiaries made transactions with controlling shareholders , directly or indirectly , mainly of guarantees provided by the controlling in guarantees of debentures, on which the Company pays a fee of 0.95 % p.a. on the amount guaranteed . The effect of these transactions was an expense of R$ 3,204 (R$ 4,511 as of December 31, 2014). Additionally , the Company recorded revenues of R$ 929 (R$ 888 as of December 31, 2014), derived from rental agreement.

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c) Guarantees granted

Related Party |  | Relationship |  | Object |  | Original Amount |  | Maturity |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Empresa Siderúrgica Del Peru S.A.A |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 333,616 |  | Apr/16 - Mar/18 |  | 419,766 |  | 405,071 |
GTL Trade Finance Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | 10-year Bond |  | 1,744,000 |  | Oct/17 |  | 3,379,741 |  | 2,312,371 |
GTL Trade Finance Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | 30-year Bond |  | 1,118,000 |  | Apr/44 |  | 1,952,400 |  | 1,328,100 |
Diaco S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 644,555 |  | Oct/16 - Aug/18 |  | 626,694 |  | 471,751 |
Gerdau Holding Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | 10-year Bond |  | 2,188,125 |  | Jan/20 |  | 2,364,520 |  | 1,669,695 |
Gerdau Trade Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | 10-year Bond |  | 2,117,750 |  | Jan/21 |  | 4,441,222 |  | 3,151,581 |
Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de C.V. |  | Joint-venture |  | Financing Agreements |  | 2,517,098 |  | Feb/16 - Mar/19 |  | 2,880,430 |  | 1,244,316 |
GTL Trade Finance Inc., Gerdau Holdings Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | 10-year Bond |  | 2,606,346 |  | Apr/24 |  | 4,289,681 |  | 3,096,144 |
Sipar Aceros S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 409,778 |  | Jun/17-Dec/20 |  | 557,683 |  | 15,532 |
Coquecol S.A.C.I. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 101,049 |  | Nov/16 - Apr/19 |  | 101,525 |  | 69,061 |
Gerdau Trade Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | 10-year Bond |  | 1,501,275 |  | Apr/23 |  | 2,341,060 |  | 1,735,827 |
Gerdau Steel India Ltd. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 348,595 |  | Jan/16 - Feb/19 |  | 457,371 |  | 270,980 |
Comercial Gerdau Bolivia |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 15,075 |  | Nov/16 |  | 15,619 |  | 10,625 |
Gerdau Açominas S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 2,960,203 |  | Jan/20 - Feb/21 |  | 2,833,557 |  | 2,029,388 |
Gerdau Ameristeel US. Inc. |  | Subsidiary |  | Bond 25 yers |  | 103,596 |  | Oct/37 |  | 199,145 |  | 135,466 |
Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 426,098 |  | Oct/24 - Dec/30 |  | 353,023 |  | 393,544 |
Siderurgica Zuliana, C.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 12,132 |  | Jun/16 |  | 117,144 |  | 39,843 |
Sidertul, S.A. de C.V. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 212,496 |  | Jan/16 |  | 82,832 |  | 45,118 |
Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 70,000 |  | Feb/20 |  | 70,000 |  | 70,000 |
Gerdau Açominas S.A., Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 900,000 |  | Jul/16 |  | 7,167 |  | 27,050 |
Gerdau Steel India Ltd. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 88,797 |  | Undetermined |  | 89,015 |  | — |
Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Financing Agreements |  | 50,917 |  | May/16 - Dec/16 |  | 55,433 |  | — |
Dona Francisca Energética S.A. |  | Associate |  | Financing Agreements |  | 152,020 |  | Dec/14 |  | — |  | 2,628 |
Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. |  | Subsidiary |  | Electricity Purchase/Sale Agreement |  | 1,664 |  | Sep/16 |  | — |  | 8,354 |
Gerdau Metaldom Corp. |  | Joint-venture |  | Financing Agreements |  | 125,304 |  | Jun/15 - Dec/17 |  | — |  | 126,083 |
Gerdau Metaldom Corp. |  | Joint-venture |  | Financing Agreements |  | 112,852 |  | Mar/15 |  | — |  | 55,399 |
Steelchem Trading Corporation |  | Associate |  | Financing Agreements |  | 80,964 |  | Mar/15 - Jun/15 |  | — |  | 106,248 |
Aceros Corsa S.A. de C.V. |  | Associate |  | Financing Agreements |  | 44,050 |  | Jun/15 |  | — |  | 46,459 |

d) Debentures

Debentures are held by direct or indirect shareholders in the amount of R$ 73,485 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 110,840 as of December 31, 2014), which corresponds to 13,233 debentures (18,304 as of December 31, 2014).

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e) Price and interest

Loan agreements between Brazilian companies carry interest based on the CDI (Interbank Deposit Certificate) and Libor rate plus exchange variance, when applicable. Sales of products and purchases of inputs are made under terms and conditions agreed between the parties.

f) Key Management compensation

The cost of the key management salaries, variable compensation and benefits was R$ 49,823 during 2015 (R$ 46,580 in 2014). In 2015, contributions to management’s defined contribution pension plans totaled R$ 1,408 (R$ 1,314 in 2014).

Stock options granted to management are as follows:

|  | 2015 |
|  | Number of shares |  | Weighted exercise price |
|  |  |  | R$ |
Balance as of January 1, 2014 |  | 1,599,023 |  | 19.44 |
Options Exercised |  | (20,143 | ) | 17.34 |
Options Forfeited |  | (14,539 | ) | 19.47 |
Balance as of December 31, 2014 |  | 1,564,341 |  | 19.53 |
Options Forfeited |  | (1,130,091 | ) | 19.56 |
Others |  | 112,420 |  | — |
Balance as of December 31, 2015 |  | 546,670 |  | 18.36 |

At the end of the year, the Restricted Shares resulting from the conversion process within the key management were:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Available at beginning of the year |  | 3,376,191 |  | 2,251,873 |
Granted |  | 1,827,811 |  | 1,190,854 |
Exercised |  | (2,934,567 | ) | (52,328 | )
Forfeited |  | (599,878 | ) | (14,208 | )
Available at the end of the year |  | 1,669,557 |  | 3,376,191 |

Additional information on the long-term incentive plan are presented in Note 25.

The cost of long-term incentive plans recognized in income and attributable to key management (members of Board of Directors and executive officers) totaled R$ 10,999 during 2015 (R$ 16,043 and R$ 9,503 during 2014 and 2013, respectively).

Additionaly, for the year ended December 31, 2015, the compensation for the members of the Advisory Board was R$ 1,129 (R$ 0 in 2014).

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NOTE 19 — EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Total assets and liabilities of all types of employee benefits granted by the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015, are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Plan assets - Defined benefit pension plan |  | 131,363 |  | 196,799 |
Plan assets - Defined contribution pension plan |  | 9,025 |  | — |
Total assets |  | 140,388 |  | 196,799 |
Actuarial liabilities - Defined benefit pension plan |  | 1,185,984 |  | 870,480 |
Acturial liabilities - Post-employment health care benefit |  | 446,840 |  | 351,538 |
Retirement and termination benefit liabilities |  | 73,197 |  | 84,831 |
Total liabilities |  | 1,706,021 |  | 1,306,849 |
Current |  | 18,535 |  | 34,218 |
Non-current |  | 1,687,486 |  | 1,272,631 |

a) Post-employment defined benefit pension plan

The Company’s Canadian and US subsidiaries sponsor defined benefit plans (Canadian Plan and American Plan), collectively referred to as the North-American Plans, that cover substantially all their employees and provide supplemental benefits to employees during retirement.

Additionally, the Company and its subsidiaries in Brazil sponsored a defined benefit pension plan (Brazilian plans), which are managed through Gerdau - Sociedade de Previdência Privada, a closed supplementary pension entity. In 2010, it was approved the settlement of a defined benefit plan, in which the participants had the rights for the benefit settled. All participants of those plans, which are now settled, were able to: (i) choose to adhere to a new defined contribution plan, as further described in item “b”, when it was authorized to transfer the amount related to the individual mathematical reserve from the settled plan for the new plan and add amounts to this reserve through future contributions and sponsors, plus the resources profitability; or (ii) do not transfer the reserve and maintain the benefit settled in the defined benefit plan, adjusted by the INPC (National Index of Consumer Prices).

The assumptions adopted for pension plans can have a significant effect on the amounts disclosed and recorded for these plans. Due to the migration process and the closing of the Brazilian pension plans in 2010, the Company is not calculating the potential effects of changes in discount rates and return rate on assets for these plans. The potential effects of changes to the North-American Plans on the Consolidated Statement of Income are presented below:

|  | 1% Increase |  | 1% Decrease |
Discount rate |  | (33,183 | ) | 38,205 |

The accumulated amount recognized in other Comprehensive Income for employee benefits is R$ (1,069,661) at December 31, 2015 (R$ (1,102,623) at December 31, 2014).

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

The current expenses of the defined benefit pension plans are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Cost of current service |  | 121,962 |  | 78,271 |  | 80,072 |
Interest expense |  | 226,406 |  | 160,864 |  | 158,179 |
Return on plan assets |  | (216,005 | ) | (186,800 | ) | (164,800 | )
Past service cost |  | (151,685 | ) | — |  | (11,029 | )
Curtailment |  | (4,510 | ) | (17,961 | ) | — |
Interest cost on unrecoverable surplus |  | 23,515 |  | 51,494 |  | 38,215 |
Net pension cost |  | (317 | ) | 85,868 |  | 100,637 |

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The reconciliations of assets and liabilities of the plans are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Present value of defined benefit obligation |  | (4,739,299 | ) | (3,791,670 | )
Fair value of plan assets |  | 3,865,411 |  | 3,319,133 |
Asset ceiling restrictions on recognition of net funded assets |  | (180,733 | ) | (201,144 | )
Net |  | (1,054,621 | ) | (673,681 | )
Pension plan surplus |  | 131,363 |  | 196,799 |
Pension plans deficit |  | (1,185,984 | ) | (870,480 | )

Changes in plan assets and actuarial liabilities were as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Variation of the plan obligations |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Obligation at the begining of the year |  | 3,791,670 |  | 3,113,818 |  | 3,003,722 |
Cost of service |  | 121,962 |  | 78,271 |  | 80,072 |
Interest expense |  | 226,406 |  | 175,641 |  | 158,179 |
Payments of the benefits |  | (398,778 | ) | (230,951 | ) | (159,524 | )
Past service cost |  | (114,899 | ) | — |  | (11,029 | )
Acturial remeasurements |  | (202,749 | ) | 466,829 |  | (272,767 | )
Exchange Variance |  | 1,356,983 |  | 278,843 |  | 315,165 |
Curtailment |  | (41,296 | ) | (90,781 | ) | — |
Obligation at the end of the year |  | 4,739,299 |  | 3,791,670 |  | 3,113,818 |

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Variation of the plan assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of the plan assets at the begining of the year |  | 3,319,133 |  | 3,081,582 |  | 2,789,832 |
Return of the plan assets |  | 216,005 |  | 201,576 |  | 164,800 |
Contributions from sponsors |  | (14,986 | ) | 44,679 |  | 90,237 |
Payments of benefits |  | (398,778 | ) | (230,950 | ) | (159,524 | )
Remeasurement |  | (235,275 | ) | 69,748 |  | (33,417 | )
Exchange Variance |  | 984,560 |  | 225,318 |  | 229,654 |
Curtailment |  | (5,248 | ) | (72,820 | ) | — |
Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year |  | 3,865,411 |  | 3,319,133 |  | 3,081,582 |

The fair value of plan assets include shares of the Company in the amount of R$ 0 at December 31, 2015 (R$ 672 on December 31, 2014).

Amounts recognized as actuarial gains and losses in the Statement of Comprehensive Income are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Remeasurements |  | 235,275 |  | (69,748 | ) | 33,417 |
Actuarial Remeasurements |  | (202,749 | ) | 466,829 |  | (272,767 | )
Restriction recognized in Other Comprehensive Income |  | (44,453 | ) | (309,190 | ) | (12,812 | )
Remeasurements recognized in Other Comprehensive Income |  | (11,927 | ) | 87,891 |  | (252,162 | )

The historical actuarial remeasurements are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
Present value of defined benefit obligation |  | (4,739,299 | ) | (3,791,670 | ) | (3,113,818 | ) | (3,003,722 | ) | (2,407,771 | )
Fair value of the plan assets |  | 3,865,411 |  | 3,319,133 |  | 3,081,582 |  | 2,789,832 |  | 2,184,352 |
Surplus (Deficit) |  | (873,888 | ) | (472,537 | ) | (32,236 | ) | (213,890 | ) | (223,419 | )
Experience adjustments on plan liabilities (Gain) |  | (202,749 | ) | 466,829 |  | (272,767 | ) | 300,328 |  | 386,540 |
Experience adjustments on plan assets (Gain) |  | 235,275 |  | (69,748 | ) | 33,417 |  | (151,120 | ) | 208,940 |

Actuarial remeasurements are recognized in the period in which they occur and are recorded directly in comprehensive income.

The allocations for plan assets are presented below:

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|  |  |  | 2015 |
|  | Brazilian Plans |  | American Plans |
Fixed income |  | 100.0 | % | 46.6 | %
Variable income |  | — |  | 40.6 | %
Others |  | — |  | 12.8 | %
Total |  | 100 | % | 100 | %

|  |  |  | 2014 |
|  | Brazilian Plans |  | American Plans |
Fixed income |  | 100.0 | % | 46.1 | %
Variable income |  | — |  | 41.8 | %
Others |  | — |  | 12.1 | %
Total |  | 100 | % | 100 | %

The investment strategy for the Brazilian Plan is based on a long-term macroeconomic scenario. This scenario assumes a reduction in Brazil’s sovereign risk, moderate economic growth, stable levels of inflation, exchange rates and moderate interest rates.

The Canadian and American subsidiaries have an Investment Committee that defines the investment policy for the defined benefit plans. The primary investment objective is to ensure the security of benefits that were accrued under the plans, providing an adequately funded asset pool which is separated and independent of the Company. To reach this objective, the fund must invest in a manner that adheres to safeguards and diversification to which a prudent investor of pension funds would normally adhere. These subsidiaries retain specialized consultants that advice and support Investment Committee decisions and recommendations.

The asset mix policy considers the principles of diversification and long-term investment goals, as well as liquidity requirements. To do this, the target allocation ranges between 60% in shares and 40% in debt securities.

The tables below show a summary of the assumptions used to calculate the defined benefit plans in 2015 and 2014, respectively:

|  | 2015 |
|  | Brazilian Plan |  | North America Plan |
Average discount rate |  | 12.68% |  | 3.75% - 4.50% |
Rate of increase in compensation |  | Not applicable |  | 2.60% - 3.25% |
Mortality table |  | AT-2000 per sex |  | COM-2014 and RP-2014 |
Mortality table of disabled |  | AT-2000 per sex |  | Rates by age |
Rate of rotation |  | Based on service and salary level/null |  | Based on age and/or the service |

|  | 2014 |
|  | Brazilian Plan |  | North America Plan |
Average discount rate |  | 11.69% |  | 3.75% - 4.00% |
Rate of increase in compensation |  | Not applicable |  | 2.60% - 3.25% |
Mortality table |  | AT-2000, per sex |  | RP-2000CH |
Mortality table of disabled |  | AT-2000, per sex |  | Rates by age |
Rate of rotation |  | Based on service and salary level/null |  | Based on age and/or the service |

b) Post-employment defined contribution pension plan

The Company and its subsidiaries in Brazil, in the United States and in Canada maintain a defined contribution plan to which contributions are made by the sponsor in proportion to the contributions made by its participating employees. The total cost of these plans was R$ 102,899 in 2015 (R$ 115,346 in 2014).

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c) Post-employment health care benefit plan

The North American plans include, in addition to pension benefits, specific health care benefits for employees who retire after a certain age and with a certain number of years of service. The Americans and Canadian subsidiaries have the right to change or eliminate these benefits, and the contributions are actuarially calculated.

The net periodic costs of post-employment health care benefits are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Current service cost |  | 5,935 |  | 4,701 |  | 5,011 |
Interests expense |  | 18,981 |  | 16,389 |  | 17,253 |
Past service cost |  | — |  | (103,895 | ) | (75,067 | )
Net cost pension benefit |  | 24,916 |  | (82,805 | ) | (52,803 | )

The funded status of the post-employment health benefits plans is as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Present value of obligations |  | (446,842 | ) | (351,538 | )
Total net liabilities |  | (446,842 | ) | (351,538 | )

Changes in plan assets and actuarial liabilities were as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Change in benefit obligation |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Benefit obligation at beginning of the year |  | 351,538 |  | 369,065 |  | 405,723 |
Cost of service |  | 5,935 |  | 5,121 |  | 5,374 |
Interest expense |  | 18,981 |  | 15,969 |  | 16,890 |
Past service cost |  | — |  | (103,895 | ) | (75,067 | )
Contributions from participants |  | 2,206 |  | 1,769 |  | 2,816 |
Payment of benefits |  | (17,245 | ) | (16,256 | ) | (17,565 | )
Medical subsidy |  | — |  | 510 |  | 1,302 |
Remeasurements |  | (45,884 | ) | 42,345 |  | (20,980 | )
Exchange variations |  | 131,311 |  | 36,910 |  | 50,593 |
Benefit obligation at the end of the year |  | 446,842 |  | 351,538 |  | 369,086 |

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Change in plan assets |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contributions from sponsors |  | 14,733 |  | 13,653 |  | 13,208 |
Contributions from participants |  | 2,206 |  | 1,769 |  | 2,708 |
Medical subsidy |  | — |  | 510 |  | 1,279 |
Payments of benefits |  | (16,939 | ) | (15,932 | ) | (17,195 | )
Fair value of plan assets at end of the year |  | — |  | — |  | — |

The historical actuarial gains and losses of the plans are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012 |  | 2011 |
Present value of defined benefit obligation |  | (446,842 | ) | (351,538 | ) | (369,086 | ) | (405,723 | ) | (343,713 | )
Deficit |  | (446,842 | ) | (351,538 | ) | (369,086 | ) | (405,723 | ) | (343,713 | )
Experience adjustments on plan liabilities |  | (45,884 | ) | 42,345 |  | (20,980 | ) | 21,908 |  | 30,330 |

The amounts recognized as actuarial gains and losses in other comprehensive income are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Losses on actuarial obligation |  | (45,884 | ) | 42,345 |  | (20,980 | )
Actuarial losses recognized in Equity |  | (45,884 | ) | 42,345 |  | (20,980 | )

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The accounting assumptions adopted for post-employment health benefits are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Average discount rate |  | 3.75% - 4.50% |  | 3.75% - 4.00% |
Health treatment - rate assumed next year |  | 6.80% - 7.05% |  | 7.00% - 7.65% |
Health treatment - Assumed rate of decline in the cost to achieve in the years of 2024 to 2029 |  | 4.00% - 4.50% |  | 4.00% - 5.00% |

The assumptions adopted for post-employment health benefits have a significant effect on the amounts disclosed and recorded for post-employment health benefits plans. The change of one point percentage on discount rates would have the following effects:

|  | 1% Increase |  | 1% Decrease |
Effect over total service costs and interest costs |  | 3,639 |  | (2,878 | )
Effect over benefit plan obligations |  | 57,389 |  | (46,737 | )

d) Other retirement and termination benefits

The benefits of this plan provide a compensation supplement up to retirement date, cost of living allowance, and other benefits as a result of termination and retirement of the employees. The Company estimates that the total obligation for these benefits was R$ 73,197 as of December 31, 2015 (R$ 84,831 as of December 31, 2014).

NOTE 20 — ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES

The steel industry uses and generates substances that may damage the environment. The Company and its subsidiaries believe they are compliant with all the applicable environmental regulations in the countries where they operate. The Company’s management performs frequent analysis with the purpose of identifying potentially impacted areas and a liability is recorded based on the best estimate of costs for investigation, treatment and cleaning of potentially affected sites. The Company uses estimates and assumptions to determine the amounts involved, which may change in the future, as result of the final investigations and the determination of the actual environmental impact. The balances of the provisions are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Provision for environmental liabilities |  | 163,806 |  | 116,421 |
Current |  | 27,736 |  | 23,025 |
Non-current |  | 136,070 |  | 93,396 |

NOTE 21 - OBLIGATIONS WITH FIDC - INVESTMENT FUND IN CREDIT RIGHTS

Part of the assets resulting from the favorable judgments of credits with Eletrobras mentioned in Note 17 iv were used to set up a Non Standardized Credit Right Investment Fund, constituted and duly authorized to operate by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (“FIDC NP Barzel”), whose fair value at the FIDC Inception date was R$ 800 million. According to Note 3.5, on July 14, 2015, the single quota that FIDC was sold in the acquisition of minority interests transaction in subsidiaries of Gerdau S.A.

The Company assures the FIDC, through the transfer agreement price adjustments clause, minimum return on the transferred amount of the credits rights on the lawsuits. However, where the amounts received in the lawsuits exceed the transferred amount, monetarily adjusted, the Company will be entitled to a percentage of that gain. Additionally, the Company has the right of first offer to repurchase those receivables in the event of sale by the Fund, in accordance to the contract subscribed, and has the amount of R$ 853,252 recognized in the account “Payables to FIDC”.

NOTE 22 — EQUITY

a) Capital — The Board of Directors may, without need to change the bylaws, issue new shares (authorized capital), including the capitalization of profits and reserves up to the authorized limit of 1,500,000,000 common shares and 3,000,000,000 preferred shares, all without nominal value. In the case of capital increase through subscription of new shares, the right of preference shall be exercised in up to 30 days, except in the case of a public offering, when the limit is not less than 10 days.

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Reconciliations of common and preferred outstanding shares are presented below:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
|  | Common shares |  | Preferred shares |  | Common shares |  | Preferred shares |  | Common shares |  | Preferred shares |
Balance at beginning of the year |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,132,613,562 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,132,285,402 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,128,534,345 |
Treasure shares acquiring |  | — |  | (19,923,200 | ) | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |
Exercise of stock options |  | — |  | 2,054,176 |  | — |  | 328,160 |  | — |  | 3,751,057 |
Balance at the end of the year |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,114,744,538 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,132,613,562 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,132,285,402 |

At December 31, 2015, 573,627,483 common shares and 1,146,031,245 preferred shares are subscribed and paid up, with a total capital of R$ 19,249,181 (net of share issuance costs). Ownership of the shares is presented below:

|  | Shareholders |
|  | 2015 |
Shareholders |  | Common |  | % |  | Pref. |  | % |  | Total |  | % |
Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A.* |  | 449,712,654 |  | 78.4 |  | 252,841,484 |  | 22.1 |  | 702,554,138 |  | 40.9 |
Brazilian institutional investors |  | 49,834,446 |  | 8.7 |  | 73,696,224 |  | 6.4 |  | 123,530,670 |  | 7.2 |
Foreign institutional investors |  | 13,881,226 |  | 2.4 |  | 632,717,431 |  | 55.2 |  | 646,598,657 |  | 37.6 |
Other shareholders |  | 58,501,619 |  | 10.2 |  | 155,489,399 |  | 13.6 |  | 213,991,018 |  | 12.4 |
Treasury stock |  | 1,697,538 |  | 0.3 |  | 31,286,707 |  | 2.7 |  | 32,984,245 |  | 1.9 |
|  | 573,627,483 |  | 100.0 |  | 1,146,031,245 |  | 100.0 |  | 1,719,658,728 |  | 100.0 |

|  | 2014 |
Shareholders |  | Common |  | % |  | Pref. |  | % |  | Total |  | % |
Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A.* |  | 449,712,654 |  | 78.4 |  | 252,841,484 |  | 22.1 |  | 702,554,138 |  | 40.9 |
Brazilian institutional investors |  | 30,103,837 |  | 5.2 |  | 152,013,820 |  | 13.3 |  | 182,117,657 |  | 10.6 |
Foreign institutional investors |  | 21,604,383 |  | 3.8 |  | 578,731,779 |  | 50.4 |  | 600,336,162 |  | 34.9 |
Other shareholders |  | 70,509,071 |  | 12.3 |  | 149,026,479 |  | 13.0 |  | 219,535,550 |  | 12.8 |
Treasury stock |  | 1,697,538 |  | 0.3 |  | 13,417,683 |  | 1.2 |  | 15,115,221 |  | 0.8 |
|  | 573,627,483 |  | 100.0 |  | 1,146,031,245 |  | 100.0 |  | 1,719,658,728 |  | 100.0 |

|  | 2013 |
Shareholders |  | Common |  | % |  | Pref. |  | % |  | Total |  | % |
Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A.* |  | 449,712,654 |  | 78.4 |  | 252,841,484 |  | 22.1 |  | 702,554,138 |  | 40.9 |
Brazilian institutional investors |  | 29,436,374 |  | 5.1 |  | 171,866,798 |  | 15.0 |  | 201,303,172 |  | 11.7 |
Foreign institutional investors |  | 21,919,936 |  | 3.8 |  | 562,964,554 |  | 49.1 |  | 584,884,490 |  | 34.0 |
Other shareholders |  | 70,860,981 |  | 12.4 |  | 144,612,566 |  | 12.6 |  | 215,473,547 |  | 12.5 |
Treasury stock |  | 1,697,538 |  | 0.3 |  | 13,745,843 |  | 1.2 |  | 15,443,381 |  | 0.9 |
|  | 573,627,483 |  | 100.0 |  | 1,146,031,245 |  | 100.0 |  | 1,719,658,728 |  | 100.0 |

* Metalurgica Gerdau S.A. is the controlling shareholder and Stichting Gerdau Johanpeter is the utltimate controlling shareholder of the Company.

Preferred shares do not have voting rights and cannot be redeemed but have the same rights as common shares in the distribution of dividends and also priority in the capital distribution in case of liquidation of the Company.

b) Treasury stocks

Changes in treasury stocks are as follows:

|  | 2015 |
|  | Common shares |  | R$ |  | Preferred shares |  | R$ |
Opening balance |  | 1,697,538 |  | 557 |  | 13,417,683 |  | 232,585 |
Repurchases |  | — |  | — |  | 19,923,200 |  | 186,033 |
Exercise of stock options |  | — |  | — |  | (2,054,176 | ) | (35,812 | )
Closing balance |  | 1,697,538 |  | 557 |  | 31,286,707 |  | 382,806 |

|  | 2014 |
|  | Common shares |  | R$ |  | Preferred shares |  | R$ |
Opening balance |  | 1,697,538 |  | 557 |  | 13,745,843 |  | 238,414 |
Exercise of stock options |  | — |  | — |  | (328,160 | ) | (5,829 | )
Closing balance |  | 1,697,538 |  | 557 |  | 13,417,683 |  | 232,585 |

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|  | 2013 |
|  | Common shares |  | R$ |  | Preferred shares |  | R$ |
Opening balance |  | 1,697,538 |  | 557 |  | 17,496,900 |  | 289,683 |
Exercise of stock options |  | — |  | — |  | (3,751,057 | ) | (51,269 | )
Closing balance |  | 1,697,538 |  | 557 |  | 13,745,843 |  | 238,414 |

These shares are held in treasury for subsequent cancellation, selling in the market or to be granted under the long-term incentive plan of the Company. The average acquisition cost of these shares was R$ 12.24 during 2015 (R$ 17.34 and R$ 17.34 during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively). In accordade to Note 3.5, the Company acquired non-controlling interests in some subsidiaries using as part of the payment 30 million of preferred shares of Gerdau S.A. (GGBR4), hold in treasury, which are pending of approval from the Brazilian Securities Commission (CVM), and, because of that, are still being presented as treasury stocks.

c) Capital reserves — consists of premium on issuance of shares.

d) Retained earnings

I) Legal reserves - under Brazilian Corporate Law, the Company must transfer 5% of the annual net income determined on its statutory books in accordance with Brazilian accounting practices to the legal reserve until this reserve equals 20% of the paid-in capital. The legal reserve can be utilized to increase capital or to absorb losses, but cannot be used for dividend purposes.

II) Tax incentives reserve — under Brazilian Corporate Law, the Company may transfer to this account part of net income resulting from government benefits which can be excluded from the basis for dividend calculation.

III) Investments and working capital reserve - consists of earnings not distributed to shareholders and includes the reserves required by the Company’s by-laws. The Board of Directors may propose to the shareholders the transfer of at least 5% of the profit for each year determined in its statutory books in accordance with accounting practices adopted in Brazil to this reserve. Amount can be allocated to the reserve only after the minimum dividend requirements have been met and its balance cannot exceed the amount of paid-in capital. The reserve can be used to absorb losses, if necessary, for capitalization, for payment of dividends or for the repurchase of shares.

IV) Pension Plan - actuarial gains and losses on postretirement benefits.

e) Operations with non-controlling interests — Corresponds to amounts recognized in equity for changes in non-controlling interests.

The effects of interest changes in subsidiaries for the years presented are composed of:

|  | December 31, 2015 |
|  | Attributed to parent company’s interest |  | Non- controlling interests |  | Total |
(iii) Acquisition of non-controlling interests as per note 3.5 |  | — |  | (837,437 | ) | (837,437 | )
(iv) Other changes |  | — |  | 12,726 |  | 12,726 |
Effects of interest changes in subsidiaries |  | — |  | (824,711 | ) | (824,711 | )

|  | December 31, 2014 |
|  | Attributed to parent company’s interest |  | Non- controlling interests |  | Total |
(i) Changes in the Paraopeba — Fixed Income Investment Fund |  | — |  | (550,000 | ) | (550,000 | )
(iv) Other changes |  | — |  | (114,767 | ) | (114,767 | )
Effects of interest changes in subsidiaries |  | — |  | (664,767 | ) | (664,767 | )

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|  | December 31, 2013 |
|  | Attributed to parent company’s interest |  | Non- controlling interests |  | Total |
(i) Changes in the Paraopeba — Fixed Income Investment Fund |  | — |  | 42,097 |  | 42,097 |
(ii) Reclassification of balances due to changes in subsidiaries ownership as per note 3.1 |  | (4,335 | ) | 4,335 |  | — |
(iv) Other changes |  | — |  | (27,637 | ) | (27,637 | )
Effects of interest changes in subsidiaries |  | (4,335 | ) | 18,795 |  | 14,460 |

(i) Changes in the Paraopeba — Fixed Income Investment Fund (Note 3.1), which is managed by JP Morgan, due to changes in the amount invested by each subsidiary of the Company in comparison with the amount of investments held by non-consolidated entities (related parties); (ii) increases and decreases in the amounts attributed to the parent company and in the amounts attributed to non-controlling interests due to changes in subsidiaries ownership not resulting in a change of control; (iii) Acquisition of non-controlling interests in some Brazilian subsidiaries as described in note 3.5; (iv) Other changes in subsidiaries without losing control, which may include among others, capital increases, other acquisitions of interests and dilutions of any nature.

f) Other reserves - Include: gains and losses on available for sale securities, gains and losses on net investment hedge, gains and losses on derivatives accounted as cash flow hedge, cumulative translation adjustments and expenses recorded for stock option plans.

g) Dividends and interest on capital - the shareholders have a right to receive a minimum annual mandatory dividend equal to 30% of adjusted net income as determined in its corporate records prepared in accordance with the accounting practices adopted in Brazil. The Company calculated interest on shareholders´ capital for the year in accordance with the terms established by Law 9249/95. The corresponding amount was recorded as a financial expense for tax purposes. For presentation purposes, this amount was recorded as dividends and did not affect net income. The related tax benefit from the reduction in income tax and social contribution on net income was R$ 63,074 for 2015 (R$ 69,547 in 2014).

The interest on capital and dividends credited during the year totaled R$ 252,976, which were distributed based on earnings obtained in the first semester of 2015 and retained earnings. Due to net net loss of 2015, the management of the Company will propose in the General Shareholders Meeting that the amount distributed in 2015 be considered as distributed using Retained Earnings balance (Investments and working capital reserve), as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Net income (loss) |  | (4,551,438 | ) | 1,402,873 |  | 1,583,731 |
Constitution of legal reserve |  | — |  | (70,144 | ) | (79,187 | )
Constitution of the tax incentives reserve |  | — |  | (51,126 | ) | (69,514 | )
Net income before dividends and interest on capital |  | (4,551,438 | ) | 1,281,603 |  | 1,435,030 |
Dividends and interest on capital |  | — |  | (426,141 | ) | (476,667 | )
Net income (loss) before constitution of investments and working capital reserve |  | (4,551,438 | ) | 855,462 |  | 958,363 |
Constitution of investments and working capital reserve |  | — |  | (855,462 | ) | (958,363 | )
Absorption of net loss by investments and working capital reserve |  | 4,551,438 |  | — |  | — |

|  | Dividends and interest on capital in the years |
Period |  | Nature |  | R$ /share |  | Outstanding shares (thousands) |  | Credit |  | Payment |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
1 st quarter |  | Interest |  | 0.06 |  | 1,686,329 |  | 5/21/2015 |  | 2/6/2015 |  | (101,200 | ) | (119,331 | ) | — |
1 st quarter |  | Dividends |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | — |  | — |  | (34,013 | )
2 nd quarter |  | Dividends |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | — |  | (102,268 | ) | (119,047 | )
2 nd quarter |  | Interest |  | 0.05 |  | 1,686,366 |  | 8/24/2015 |  | 4/9/2015 |  | (84,318 | ) | — |  | — |
3 rd quarter |  | Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | — |  | (85,224 | ) | (204,312 | )
3 rd quarter |  | Dividends |  | 0.04 |  | 1,686,459 |  | 11/09/2015 |  | 11/19/2015 |  | (67,458 | ) | — |  | — |
4 th quarter |  | Dividends |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | — |  | (119,318 | ) | (119,295 | )
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (252,976 | ) | (426,141 | ) | (476,667 | )
Credit per share (R$) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.15 |  | 0.25 |  | 0.28 |

The remaining income for the previous year was transferred to a statutory reserve for investments and working capital in accordance with Company by-laws.

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NOTE 23 — EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

In compliance with IAS 33, Earnings per Share, the following tables reconcile net income to the amounts used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share. For the year ended on December 31, 2015, the potential common shares, as presented below, were excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share. Therefore, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same.

Basic

|  | 2015 |
|  | Common |  | Preferred |  | Total |
|  | (in thousands, except share and per share data) |
Basic numerator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allocated net income (loss) available to common and preferred shareholders |  | (1,541,242 | ) | (3,010,196 | ) | (4,551,438 | )
Basic denominator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average outstanding shares, after deducting the average tresuary shares |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,117,034,926 |  |  |
Earnings per share (in R$) — Basic |  | (2.69 | ) | (2.69 | ) |  |

|  | 2014 |
|  | Common |  | Preferred |  | Total |
|  | (in thousands, except share and per share data) |
Basic numerator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allocated net income available to common and preferred shareholders |  | 470,746 |  | 932,127 |  | 1,402,873 |
Basic denominator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average outstanding shares, after deducting the average tresuary shares |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,132,483,383 |  |  |
Earnings per share (in R$) — Basic |  | 0.82 |  | 0.82 |  |  |

|  | 2013 |
|  | Common |  | Preferred |  | Total |
|  | (in thousands, except share and per share data) |
Basic numerator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allocated net income available to common and preferred shareholders |  | 532,464 |  | 1,051,267 |  | 1,583,731 |
Basic denominator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average outstanding shares, after deducting the average tresuary shares |  | 571,929,945 |  | 1,129,184,775 |  |  |
Earnings per share (in R$) — Basic |  | 0.93 |  | 0.93 |  |  |

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Diluted

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Diluted numerator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allocated net income (loss) available to Common and Preferred shareholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) allocated to preferred shareholders |  | (3,010,196 | ) | 932,127 |  | 1,051,267 |
Add: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment to net income (loss) allocated to preferred shareholders in respect to the potential increase in number of preferred shares outstanding, as a result of options granted to acquire stock of Gerdau. |  | (6,633 | ) | 714 |  | 1,851 |
|  | (3,016,829 | ) | 932,841 |  | 1,053,118 |
Net income (loss) allocated to common shareholders |  | (1,541,242 | ) | 470,746 |  | 532,464 |
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment to net income (loss) allocated to preferred shareholders in respect to the potential increase in number of preferred shares outstanding, as a result of options granted to acquire stock of Gerdau. |  | 6,633 |  | (714 | ) | (1,851 | )
|  | (1,534,609 | ) | 470,032 |  | 530,613 |
Diluted denominator |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted - average number of shares outstanding |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common Shares |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |  | 571,929,945 |
Preferred Shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average number of preferred shares outstanding |  | 1,117,034,926 |  | 1,132,483,383 |  | 1,129,184,775 |
Potential increase in number of preferred shares outstanding in respect of stock option plan |  | 7,299,735 |  | 2,588,297 |  | 5,937,260 |
Total |  | 1,124,334,661 |  | 1,135,071,680 |  | 1,135,122,035 |
Earnings per share — Diluted (Common and Preferred Shares) |  | (2.69 | ) | 0.82 |  | 0.93 |

The Company had no instruments excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because they were antidilutive.

NOTE 24 — NET SALES REVENUE

The net sales revenues for the year are composed of:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Gross sales |  | 48,701,895 |  | 47,866,687 |  | 45,716,601 |
Taxes on sales |  | (3,184,879 | ) | (4,098,426 | ) | (4,179,096 | )
Discounts |  | (1,935,775 | ) | (1,221,922 | ) | (1,674,468 | )
Net sales |  | 43,581,241 |  | 42,546,339 |  | 39,863,037 |

NOTE 25 - LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

a) Stock Options Plan:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
|  | Number of shares |  | Average exercise price in the year |  | Number of shares |  | Average exercise price in the year |  | Number of shares |  | Average exercise price in the year |
|  |  |  | R$ |  |  |  | R$ |  |  |  | R$ |
Available at beginning of the year |  | 2,448,973 |  | 19.53 |  | 2,793,495 |  | 19.44 |  | 13,481,041 |  | 17.34 |
Options Granted |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 1,947,564 |  | 18.58 |
Options Exercised |  | (25,210 | ) | 19.56 |  | (52,340 | ) | 17.34 |  | (2,388,004 | ) | 9.60 |
Options Forfeited |  | (1,349,517 | ) | 20.98 |  | (292,182 | ) | 19.47 |  | (279,004 | ) | 20.22 |
Converted to Restricted Shares |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | (9,968,102 | ) | 18.96 |
Available at the end of the year |  | 1,074,246 |  | 18.36 |  | 2,448,973 |  | 19.53 |  | 2,793,495 |  | 19.44 |

The average market price of the share in the year ended December 31, 2015 was R$ 7.70 (R$ 13.31 and R$ 16.01 in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively).

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As of December 31, 2015 the Company has a total of 31,286,707 preferred shares in treasury. These shares may be used for serving this plan. The exercise of the options before the grace period end was due to retirement or death.

Exercise price |  | Quantity |  | Average period of grace (in years) |  | Average exercise price |  | Number exercisable at December 31, 2015* |
|  |  |  |  |  | R$ |  |  |
R$ 16.99 |  | 80,742 |  | 3.2 |  | 14.52 |  | 80,742 |
R$ 53.26 |  | 12,581 |  | 1.2 |  | 45.54 |  | 12,581 |
R$ 77.47 |  | 8,953 |  | 2.2 |  | 66.24 |  | 8,953 |
R$ 10.58 to R$ 29.12 |  | 971,970 |  | 5.0 |  | 17.88 |  | 25,623 |
|  | 1,074,246 |  |  |  |  |  | 127,899 |

*The total of options vested that are exercisable on December 31, 2015 is 127,899 (176,891 and 252,372 on December 31, 2014 and 2013).

During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the long-term incentive plans costs recognized in income for all equity settled awards were R$ 39,657, R$ 36,209 and R$ 30,945, respectively.

The Company recognizes costs of employee compensation based on the fair value of the options granted, considering their fair value on the date of granting. The Company uses the Black-Scholes model for determining the fair value of the options. There were no options granted for this plan in 2015.

b) Restricted Shares and Performance Shares Summary:

Balance on January 1, 2013 |  | 1,024,876 |
Granted |  | 597,472 |
Addition due to the Convertion from SARs |  | 2,898,828 |
Addition due to the Convertion from Stock Options |  | 5,234,336 |
Forfeited |  | (652,956 | )
Exercised |  | (1,731,341 | )
Balance on December 31, 2013 |  | 7,371,215 |
Granted |  | 3,981,219 |
Forfeited |  | (739,017 | )
Exercised |  | (527,183 | )
Balance on December 31, 2014 |  | 10,086,234 |
Granted |  | 9,098,389 |
Forfeited |  | (2,717,724 | )
Exercised |  | (3,941,643 | )
Balance on December 31, 2015 |  | 12,525,256 |

c) Other Plans — North America

In February 2010, the Board of Directors approved the adoption of the Equity Incentive Plan (the “EIP”). Awards under the EIP may take the form of stock options, SARs, deferred share units (“DSUs”), restricted share units (“RSUs”), performance share units (“PSUs”), restricted stock, and/or other share-based awards. Except for stock options, which must be settled in common shares, awards may be settled in cash or common shares as determined by the Company at the time of grant.

For the portion of any award which is payable in options or SARs, the exercise price of the options or SARs will be no less than the fair market value of a common share on the date of the award. The vesting period for all awards (including RSUs, DSUs and PSUs) is determined by the Company at the time of grant. Options and SARs have a maximum term of 10 years.

In 2015, an award of approximately US$ 13.9 million (R$ 46.4 million) was granted to participants under the EIP. The Company issued 3,833,542 RSUs, and 1,792,456 PSUs under this plan. This award has being accrued over the vesting period of 5 years.

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In 2014, an award of approximately US$ 11.7 million (R$ 27.5 million) was granted to participants under the EIP. The Company issued 767,027 RSUs, and 1,150,541 PSUs under this plan. This award has being accrued over the vesting period of 5 years.

In 2013, an award of approximately US$ 11.9 million (R$ 31.6 million) was granted to participants under the EIP. The Company issued 2,423,379 equity-settled SARs, 198,552 RSUs, and 398,920 PSUs under this plan. This award has being accrued over the vesting period of 5 years.

In connection with the adoption of the EIP, the Company terminated the existing long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”), and no further awards will be granted under the LTIP. All outstanding awards under the LTIP will remain outstanding until either exercised, forfeited or they expire. On December 31, 2015, there were 585,310 SARs and 102,276 stock options outstanding under the LTIP. These awards have been accrued over the vesting period of 4 years.

As of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the outstanding liability for share-based payment transactions included in other non-current liabilities of the subsidiaries in North America was US$ 0 and US$ 370 thousand (R$ 983 thousand), respectively.

NOTE 26 — SEGMENT REPORTING

On July 14, 2015, the Company announced changes in the composition of its segments, with implementation as from the 2015 third quarter results financial statements, in order to capture greater strategic and operating synergies in the customer service operations for the South American, North American and Brazilian markets: (a) the operations in Mexico and the Joint Ventures in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Mexico become part of the North America Business Operation, which is currently formed by the long steel operations in Canada and United States; (b) the South America Business Operation is created, which will be formed by the long steel operations in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay; (c) the Iron Ore operations become part of the Brazil Business Operation, which is currently formed by the long and flat steel operations in Brazil and the metallurgical coal and coke operations in Colombia: (d) the Special Steel Business Operation will remain unchanged, which is formed by the special steel operations in Brazil, Spain, United States and India.

For disclosure purposes, the comparative information has been modified regarding the originally presented information, in order to reflect the changes approved by the Gerdau Executive Committee, according to the criteria established by IFRS 8.

|  | Business Segments |
|  | 2015 |
|  | Brazil Operation |  | North America Operation |  | South America Operation |  | Special Steels Operation |  | Eliminations and Adjustments |  | Consolidated |
Net sales |  | 12,977,327 |  | 17,312,166 |  | 5,477,228 |  | 8,882,071 |  | (1,067,551 | ) | 43,581,241 |
Cost of sales |  | (11,433,115 | ) | (15,800,270 | ) | (4,800,063 | ) | (8,333,189 | ) | 1,076,111 |  | (39,290,526 | )
Gross profit |  | 1,544,212 |  | 1,511,896 |  | 677,165 |  | 548,882 |  | 8,560 |  | 4,290,715 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  | (821,152 | ) | (814,393 | ) | (313,521 | ) | (371,481 | ) | (261,938 | ) | (2,582,485 | )
Other operating income (expenses) |  | 3,638 |  | 18,379 |  | 2,985 |  | 21,791 |  | 50,207 |  | 97,000 |
Impairment of assets |  | (834,665 | ) | (1,882,239 | ) | (354,468 | ) | (1,924,868 | ) | — |  | (4,996,240 | )
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | — |  | (34,289 | ) | (1,935 | ) | — |  | 11,722 |  | (24,502 | )
Operational (Loss) income before financial income (expenses) and taxes |  | (107,967 | ) | (1,200,646 | ) | 10,226 |  | (1,725,676 | ) | (191,449 | ) | (3,215,512 | )
Financial result, net |  | (624,526 | ) | (234,183 | ) | (98,557 | ) | (288,021 | ) | (1,633,609 | ) | (2,878,896 | )
Income (Loss) before taxes |  | (732,493 | ) | (1,434,829 | ) | (88,331 | ) | (2,013,697 | ) | (1,825,058 | ) | (6,094,408 | )
Income and social contribution taxes |  | 60,804 |  | 5,196 |  | (104,308 | ) | (283,633 | ) | 1,820,363 |  | 1,498,422 |
Net income (Loss) |  | (671,689 | ) | (1,429,633 | ) | (192,639 | ) | (2,297,330 | ) | (4,695 | ) | (4,595,986 | )
Supplemental information: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales between segments |  | 817,494 |  | 121,292 |  | 685 |  | 128,080 |  | — |  | 1,067,551 |
Depreciation/amortization |  | 928,861 |  | 836,660 |  | 192,014 |  | 650,374 |  | — |  | 2,607,909 |
Investments in associates and jointly-controlled entities |  | — |  | 1,301,201 |  | — |  | 2,082 |  | 89,599 |  | 1,392,882 |
Total assets |  | 20,791,119 |  | 27,900,130 |  | 6,470,593 |  | 17,077,208 |  | (2,144,341 | ) | 70,094,709 |
Total liabilities |  | 12,831,815 |  | 7,214,899 |  | 2,451,835 |  | 9,369,552 |  | 6,256,225 |  | 38,124,326 |

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|  | Business Segments |
|  | 2014 |
|  | Brazil Operation |  | North America Operation |  | South America Operation |  | Special Steels Operation |  | Eliminations and Adjustments |  | Consolidated |
Net sales |  | 14,813,344 |  | 14,640,085 |  | 5,078,483 |  | 8,643,865 |  | (629,438 | ) | 42,546,339 |
Cost of sales |  | (12,003,410 | ) | (13,692,783 | ) | (4,422,768 | ) | (7,921,906 | ) | 634,539 |  | (37,406,328 | )
Gross profit |  | 2,809,934 |  | 947,302 |  | 655,715 |  | 721,959 |  | 5,101 |  | 5,140,011 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  | (922,597 | ) | (752,868 | ) | (332,982 | ) | (378,035 | ) | (341,465 | ) | (2,727,947 | )
Other operating income (expenses) |  | 20,117 |  | 15,693 |  | (28,810 | ) | 28,743 |  | 52,150 |  | 87,893 |
Impairment of assets |  | — |  | (31,921 | ) | (307,453 | ) | — |  | — |  | (339,374 | )
Gains in joint ventures operations |  | — |  | 636,528 |  | — |  | — |  | — |  | 636,528 |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | — |  | 83,164 |  | (5,052 | ) | — |  | 23,763 |  | 101,875 |
Operational (Loss) income before financial income (expenses) and taxes |  | 1,907,454 |  | 897,898 |  | (18,582 | ) | 372,667 |  | (260,451 | ) | 2,898,986 |
Financial result, net |  | (536,542 | ) | (161,190 | ) | (65,823 | ) | (180,913 | ) | (616,534 | ) | (1,561,002 | )
Income before taxes |  | 1,370,912 |  | 736,708 |  | (84,405 | ) | 191,754 |  | (876,985 | ) | 1,337,984 |
Income and social contribution taxes |  | (357,148 | ) | (98,379 | ) | (25,610 | ) | (68,675 | ) | 700,201 |  | 150,389 |
Net income |  | 1,013,764 |  | 638,329 |  | (110,015 | ) | 123,079 |  | (176,784 | ) | 1,488,373 |
Supplemental information: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales between segments |  | 408,089 |  | 86,651 |  | 2,499 |  | 132,199 |  | — |  | 629,438 |
Depreciation/amortization |  | 906,775 |  | 590,585 |  | 184,916 |  | 545,120 |  | — |  | 2,227,396 |
Investments in associates and jointly-controlled entities |  | — |  | 1,248,339 |  | 20,250 |  | 1,580 |  | 124,214 |  | 1,394,383 |
Total assets |  | 22,067,352 |  | 20,441,298 |  | 5,792,553 |  | 15,400,776 |  | (659,649 | ) | 63,042,330 |
Total liabilities |  | 11,044,078 |  | 5,182,550 |  | 1,958,599 |  | 7,382,045 |  | 4,220,524 |  | 29,787,796 |

|  | Business Segments |
|  | 2013 |
|  | Brazil Operation |  | North America Operation |  | South America Operation |  | Special Steels Operation |  | Eliminations and Adjustments |  | Consolidated |
Net sales |  | 15,111,033 |  | 13,163,587 |  | 4,797,334 |  | 8,023,058 |  | (1,231,975 | ) | 39,863,037 |
Cost of sales |  | (11,894,313 | ) | (12,517,352 | ) | (4,234,531 | ) | (7,308,700 | ) | 1,226,436 |  | (34,728,460 | )
Gross profit |  | 3,216,720 |  | 646,235 |  | 562,803 |  | 714,358 |  | (5,539 | ) | 5,134,577 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  | (939,600 | ) | (668,599 | ) | (285,478 | ) | (327,569 | ) | (390,630 | ) | (2,611,876 | )
Other operating income (expenses) |  | 129,370 |  | 12,034 |  | (1,442 | ) | 17,623 |  | 20,136 |  | 177,721 |
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated companies |  | — |  | 37,335 |  | (2,182 | ) | — |  | 18,848 |  | 54,001 |
Operational (Loss) income before financial income (expenses) and taxes |  | 2,406,490 |  | 27,005 |  | 273,701 |  | 404,412 |  | (357,185 | ) | 2,754,423 |
Financial result, net |  | (134,503 | ) | (195,427 | ) | (66,747 | ) | (130,250 | ) | (774,850 | ) | (1,301,777 | )
Income before taxes |  | 2,271,987 |  | (168,422 | ) | 206,954 |  | 274,162 |  | (1,132,035 | ) | 1,452,646 |
Income and social contribution taxes |  | (566,779 | ) | 152,399 |  | (68,409 | ) | (117,447 | ) | 841,292 |  | 241,056 |
Net income |  | 1,705,208 |  | (16,023 | ) | 138,545 |  | 156,715 |  | (290,743 | ) | 1,693,702 |
Supplemental information: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales between segments |  | 891,218 |  | 184,492 |  | 2,898 |  | 153,367 |  | — |  | 1,231,975 |
Depreciation/amortization |  | 822,221 |  | 536,389 |  | 165,999 |  | 504,898 |  | — |  | 2,029,507 |
Investments in associates and jointly-controlled entities |  | — |  | 1,429,705 |  | 26,120 |  | 1,288 |  | 132,918 |  | 1,590,031 |
Total assets |  | 20,345,227 |  | 18,557,921 |  | 6,278,871 |  | 14,830,092 |  | (1,797,071 | ) | 58,215,040 |
Total liabilities |  | 9,523,647 |  | 4,747,013 |  | 1,923,902 |  | 6,912,854 |  | 3,086,867 |  | 26,194,283 |

The main products sold in each segment are:

Brazil Operations: rebar, bars, shapes, drawn products, billets, blooms, slabs, wire rod, structural shapes and iron ore.

North America Operations: rebar, bars, wire rod, light and heavy structural shapes.

South America Operations: rebar, bars and drawn products.

Special Steel Operations: stainless steel, round, square and flat bars, wire rod.

The column of eliminations and adjustments includes the elimination of sales between segments in the context of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company’s geographic information with revenues classified according to the geographical region where the products were shipped is as follows:

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Geographic Area |
|  | Brazil |  | Latin America (1) |  | North America (2) |  | Europe/Asia |  | Consolidated |
|  | 2015 |  | 2015 |  | 2015 |  | 2015 |  | 2015 |
Net sales |  | 14,033,792 |  | 6,653,980 |  | 19,813,519 |  | 3,079,950 |  | 43,581,241 |
Total assets |  | 22,803,505 |  | 9,327,457 |  | 36,048,019 |  | 1,915,728 |  | 70,094,709 |

|  | Brazil |  | Latin America (1) |  | North America (2) |  | Europe/Asia |  | Consolidated |
|  | 2014 |  | 2014 |  | 2014 |  | 2014 |  | 2014 |
Net sales |  | 16,428,472 |  | 6,063,220 |  | 17,250,898 |  | 2,803,749 |  | 42,546,339 |
Total assets |  | 24,503,901 |  | 8,409,583 |  | 26,288,644 |  | 3,840,202 |  | 63,042,330 |

|  | Brazil |  | Latin America (1) |  | North America (2) |  | Europe/Asia |  | Consolidated |
|  | 2013 |  | 2013 |  | 2013 |  | 2013 |  | 2013 |
Net sales |  | 16,134,963 |  | 5,989,926 |  | 15,416,686 |  | 2,321,462 |  | 39,863,037 |
Total assets |  | 22,036,970 |  | 8,478,180 |  | 23,843,862 |  | 3,856,028 |  | 58,215,040 |

(1) Does not include operations of Brazil

(2) Does not include operations of Mexico

IFRS requires the Company to disclose revenue per product unless the information is not available and the cost to obtain it would be excessive. Management does not consider this information useful for its decision making process, because it would aggregate sales in different markets and in different currencies, subject to the effects of changes in exchange rates. Furthermore, the trends of steel consumption and the price dynamics of each product or group of products in different countries and different markets within these countries are poorly correlated and, as a result, the information would not be useful and would not serve to conclude about historical trends. Considering this scenario and considering that the information of revenue by product is not maintained by the Company on a consolidated basis and the cost to obtain the revenue per

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product information would be excessive compared to the benefits of the information, the Company does not present revenue by product.

NOTE 27 — INSURANCE

The subsidiaries have insurance coverage determined by management with the assistance of specialists’ advice, taking into consideration the nature and the level of risk, in amounts that cover significant losses on their assets and/or liabilities. The main types of insurance are as follows:

Type |  | Scope |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Equity |  | Inventories and property, plant and equipment items are insured against fire, electrical damage, explosion, machine breakage and overflow (leakage of material in fusion state). |  | 76,880,135 |  | 48,291,077 |
Business Interruption |  | Net income plus fixed expenses |  | 13,286,365 |  | 9,694,293 |
Civil Liability |  | Industrial operations |  | 675,082 |  | 467,887 |

NOTE 28 — IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS

The Company performs tests for impairment of assets, notably goodwill and other long-lived assets, based on projections of discounted cash flows, which take into account assumptions such as: cost of capital, growth rate and adjustments applied to flows in perpetuity, methodology for working capital determination, investment plans, and long-term economic-financial forecasts. The impairment test of these assets are assessed based on the analysis of facts or circumstances that may indicate the need to perform the impairment test and are performed annually in December, or being anticipated whenever changes in events or circumstances indicate that the goodwill and other long-lived assets may be impaired.

To determine the recoverable amount of each business segment, the Company uses the discounted cash flow method, using as basis, financial and economic projections for each segment. The projections are prepared by taking into consideration observed changes in the economic scenario in the market where the Company operates, as well as assumptions with respect to future results and the historical profitability of each segment.

The Company maintains its monitoring of the steel market in order to identify any deterioration, significant drop in demand from steel consuming sectors (notably automotive and construction), stoppage of industrial plants or relevant changes in the economy or financial market that result in increased perception of risk or reduction of liquidity and refinancing capacity. Additionally, as described in Note 26 — Segment Reporting, as from the 2015 third quarter results disclosure, the Company made changes to the composition of its business segments.

Based on these events mentioned above, associated with the changes in the segment reporting, the Company concluded the need for an interim impairment test of goodwill and other long-lived assets for the third quarter of 2015, in which losses were identified of assets in the amount of R$ 1,867,586, of which R$ 1,161,688 related to other long-lived assets and R$ 705,898 related to goodwill.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company verified a deterioration in the economic scenario in some steel consuming markets at an intensity greater than the one considered in the impairment tests scenarios in the previous quarter. These circumstances resulted in an increase in the discount rate used in the projections of its business segments cash flows.

The Company, then, concluded for the need to perform the goodwill and other long-lived assets impairment test for the fourth quarter of 2015, in which losses were identified by impairment of assets in the amount of R$ 3,128,654, of which R$ 834,665 related to other long-lived assets (Note 28.1) and R$ 2,293,989 related to goodwill (Note 28.2).

Considering the tests performed in the third and fourth quarter of 2015, the impairment losses were R$ 4,996,240 in 2015 (R$ 339,364 in 2014), of which R$ 1,996,353 in 2015 (R$ 339,364 in 2014) related toother long-lived assets and R$ 2,999,887 in 2015 (R$ 0 in 2014) related to goodwill.

28.1 Other assets Impairment test

In the third quarter of 2015, due to the review of the investment plan in certain industrial plants and the shutdown of certain activities due to relevant changes in the economy of the region where these units are located, the tests in other long-lived assets identified impairment losses as follows: a) in fixed assets in certain industrial plants in the Special Steel segment due to

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the recoverable amount being below the book value in R$ 799,902. These losses were determined based on the difference between the carrying amount and the recoverable amount of these assets in the amount of R$ 1,930,813 representing its value in use (higher of fair value less cost to sell or its value in use); b) the investment accounted by the equity method of the associate company Corporación Centroamericana del Acero S.A., belonging to the North America segment due to recoverable amount below the carrying amount in R$ 361,786. These losses were determined based on the difference of carrying amount and the recoverable amount of these assets in the amount of R$ 215,808 representing its value in use (higher of fair value less cost to sell or its value in use).

Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2015 due to the deteriorating economic conditions in a greater intensity than contemplated in the scenarios of the impairment test performed in the previous quarter and, combined with the lack of expected future use of certain assets of certain industrial plants in the Brazil segment, the tests performed in other long-lived assets identified impairment losses in the fixed assets in the amount of R$ 834,665.

Considering the tests performed in the third and fourth quarter of 2015, the impairment losses of the impairment test of other long-lived assets were R$ 1,996,353 in 2015 (R$ 339,364 in 2014).

The discount rates before income tax used for this test are the same as presented in note 28.2 of the goodwill impairment test.

28.2 Goodwill impairment test

The Company has four operating segments, which represents the lowest level in which goodwill is monitored by the Company. On the third quarter of 2015, the Company performed an impairment test of goodwill for its all segments. The analysis performed indicated a goodwill impairment loss in the amount of R$ 351,430 for the North America segment and R$ 354,468 for the South America segment, which represents the total goodwill of this segment. The segments Brazil and Special Steel did not presented goodwill impairment losses in the test performed.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, based on the circumstances previously described, the Company performed a goodwill impairment test for the North America, Special Steel and Brazil segments. The test identified goodwill impairment losses in the amount of R$ 1,169,023 for the North America segment and R$ 1,124,966 for the Special Steel segment. The Brazil segment did not presented goodwill impairment losses in the year.

Considering the tests performed in the third and fourth quarters of 2015, the goodwill impairment losses were R$ 2,999,887 in 2015 (R$ 0 in 2014).

The period for projecting the cash flows for the goodwill impairment test was five years. The assumptions used to determine the value in use based on the discounted cash flow method include prepared in dollars: projected cash flows based on Management estimates for future cash flows, exchange rates, discount rates and growth rates on perpetuity. The cash flow projections already reflect a more challenging competitive scenario than projected in previous years, resulting from a deterioration in the steel consuming markets and overcapacity in the industry, as well as macroeconomic challenges in some geographies in which the Company operates. The perpetuity was calculated considering stable operating margins, levels of working capital and investments. The perpetuity growth rates considered in the third and fourth quarters tests were: a) North America: 3% (3% in December 2014); b) Special Steel: 3% (3% in December 2014); c) South America: 2.2% (3% in December 2014); d) Brazil: 3% (3% in December 2014).

The pre-tax discount rates used were determined taking into consideration market information available on the date of performing the impairment test. The Company adopted distinct rates for each business segment tested with the purpose of reflecting the differences among the markets in which each segment operates, as well as the risks associated to each of them. The pre-tax discount rates used were: a) North America: 12.3% in the fourth quarter in 2015 and 11.7% in the third quarter of 2015 (11.4% in December 2014); Special Steel: 12.8% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 12.4% in the third quarter of 2015 (12.5% in December 2014); c) South America: 13.7% in the third quarter of 2015 (11.9% in December 2014) and d) Brazil: 15.5% in the fourth quarter of 2015 and 14.2% in the third quarter of 2015 (13.9% in December 2014).

The discounted cash flows are compared to the carrying amount of each segment and result in the recoverable amount as follows: a) North America: below the carrying amount in R$ 1,169 million (exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 1,699 million in December 2014); b) South America: below the carrying amount in R$ 354 million (exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 668 million in December 2014); c) Special Steel: below the carrying amount in R$ 1,125 million (exceeding the carrying amount in R$ 1,591 million in December 2014); and d) Brazil: exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 43 million (exceeded the carrying amount in R$ 3.103 million in December 2014).

The Company performed a sensitivity analysis in the assumptions of discount rate and perpetuity growth rate, due to the potential impact in the discounted cash flows.

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An increase of 0.5% in the discount rate to discount the cash flow of each segment would result in recoverable amounts that are below the book value or exceed the book value as follows: a) North America: below the book value in R$ 1,452 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 394 million in December 2014); b) Special Steel: below the book value in R$ 582 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 785 million in December 2014); c) South America: below the book value in R$ 354 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 186 million in December 2014); and d) Brazil: below the book value in R$ 765 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 2,073 million in December 2014).

On the other hand, a decrease of 0.5% in the perpetuity growth rate used in the discounted cash flow for each segment would result in recoverable amounts below the book value and/or exceed the book value as follows: a) North America: below the book value in R$ 1,076 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 678 million in December 2014); b) Special Steel: below the book value in R$ 428 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 976 million in December 2014); c) South America: below the book value in R$ 253 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 310 million in December 2014); and d) Brazil: below the book value in R$ 514 million (exceeded the book value in R$ 2,365 million in December 2014).

The Company will maintain over the next year its constant monitoring of the steel market in order to identify any deterioration, significant drop in demand from steel consuming sectors (notably automotive and construction), stoppage of industrial plants or activities relevant changes in the economy or financial market that result in increased perception of risk or reduction of liquidity and refinancing capacity. Although the projections made by the Company provide a more challenging scenario than that in recent years, the events mentioned above, if manifested in a greater intensity than that anticipated in the assumptions made by management, may lead the Company to revise its projections of value in use and eventually result in impairment losses.

NOTE 29 — EXPENSES BY NATURE

The Company opted to present its Consolidated Income Statement by function. As required by IAS 1, the expenses classified by nature are as follows:

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Depreciation and amortization |  | (2,607,909 | ) | (2,227,396 | ) | (2,029,507 | )
Labor expenses |  | (7,018,129 | ) | (6,444,454 | ) | (6,077,868 | )
Raw material and consumption material |  | (27,126,417 | ) | (26,472,335 | ) | (24,545,626 | )
Credit Recovery |  | — |  | 141,336 |  | 329,084 |
Freight |  | (2,538,071 | ) | (2,262,143 | ) | (2,075,459 | )
Impairment of assets |  | (4,996,240 | ) | (339,374 | ) | — |
Gains in joint ventures operations |  | — |  | 636,528 |  | — |
Other expenses/income, net |  | (2,485,485 | ) | (2,781,390 | ) | (2,763,239 | )
|  | (46,772,251 | ) | (39,749,228 | ) | (37,162,615 | )
Classified as: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales |  | (39,290,526 | ) | (37,406,328 | ) | (34,728,460 | )
Selling expenses |  | (785,002 | ) | (691,021 | ) | (658,862 | )
General and administrative expenses |  | (1,797,483 | ) | (2,036,926 | ) | (1,953,014 | )
Other operating income |  | 213,431 |  | 238,435 |  | 318,256 |
Other operating expenses |  | (116,431 | ) | (150,542 | ) | (140,535 | )
Impairment of assets |  | (4,996,240 | ) | (339,374 | ) | — |
Gains in joint ventures operations |  | — |  | 636,528 |  | — |
|  | (46,772,251 | ) | (39,749,228 | ) | (37,162,615 | )

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NOTE 30 — FINANCIAL INCOME

|  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |
Income from short-term investments |  | 270,742 |  | 144,723 |  | 135,040 |
Monetary variation on credit recovery |  | — |  | — |  | 41,053 |
Interest income and other financial income |  | 107,660 |  | 131,526 |  | 116,817 |
Financial Income |  | 378,402 |  | 276,249 |  | 292,910 |
Interest on debt |  | (1,471,526 | ) | (1,178,034 | ) | (901,273 | )
Monetary variation and other financial expenses |  | (308,840 | ) | (219,341 | ) | (152,112 | )
Financial Expenses |  | (1,780,366 | ) | (1,397,375 | ) | (1,053,385 | )
Exchange Variation, net |  | (1,564,017 | ) | (476,367 | ) | (544,156 | )
Gains and losses on financial instruments, net |  | 87,085 |  | 36,491 |  | 2,854 |
Financial result, net |  | (2,878,896 | ) | (1,561,002 | ) | (1,301,777 | )

NOTE 31 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

I) On January 27, 2016, the Company announced its plans to form a joint venture with the companies Sumitomo Corporation and The Japan Steel Works (JSW) to serve Brazil’s growing wind power industry. The project, which will require approval from anti-trust authorities, is expected to be located in Pindamonhangaba (São Paulo) and will supply parts for wind turbine towers starting in 2017. The execution and formalization of the joint venture is pending of analysis and approval by the applicable authorities.

II) On February 4, 2016, the Company announced that it has signed a technical cooperation agreement with JFE Steel Corporation for the production in Brazil of heavy plates, a value added steel good, to serve the market in the Americas. The agreement will optimize the learning curve of the heavy plate rolling mill, which will have the most modern technological resources and it will start operations in July/16 at the Ouro Branco Mill in the state of Minas Gerais.

III) Operation Zelotes

As described in Note 17, certain subsidiaries of Gerdau S.A. (collectively, “Company”) are parties to ongoing proceedings before the Administrative Board of Tax Appeals (“CARF”), an administrative organ of the Brazilian Ministry of Finance.

In March 2015, it was reported in the press that the Brazilian Federal Police had started an operation called Zelotes (“Operation”), to investigate whether a number of corporate taxpayers attempted to influence the decisions of CARF through illegal means. On April 6, 2015, the Company received Official Communication 134/2015/CVM/SEP/GEA-2 from the Brazilian Securities Commission (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 outside counsel, which would 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 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 incuded 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 a director or officer of the Company in the negotiation, signing or carrying out of the aforementioned contracts (“Internal 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, filing a press release with SEC and CVM, the Company informed Bovespa and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

The Internal Investigation is ongoing, and the Company is cooperating with the Federal Police.

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As of the date of the approval of these financial statements, the Company believes it is not possible to predict either the duration or the outcome of the Operation by the Federal Police or of the Internal Investigation. In addition, the Company believes that there currently is insufficient information to determine any reserve for losses or to disclose any contingency.

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