HOUSTON, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MRC Global Inc. (NYSE: MRC), the largest global distributor, based on sales, of pipe, valves and fittings and related products and services to the energy industry, today announced fourth quarter and annual 2015 results.

The company's sales were $967 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, which were 36% lower than the fourth quarter of 2014 and 10% lower than the third quarter of 2015. As compared to last year, reduced customer activity across all segments and sectors drove the decline.

Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $(398.8) million, or $(3.92) per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to common stockholder of $31.2 million, or $0.30 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2014. The fourth quarter 2015 results include pre-tax charges for the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and other items of $475.0 million. Adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $12.0 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, compared to $33.8 million, or $0.33 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2014. Please refer to the reconciliation of adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) to net income (a GAAP measure) included in this release.

Andrew R. Lane, MRC Global's chairman, president and chief executive officer stated, "We generated $690 million of cash from operations in 2015, and combined with the proceeds from our preferred stock offering, we reduced net debt by $974 million exceeding the goals we set out at the beginning of the year. We also made progress under our stock repurchase program, as our solid balance sheet and liquidity position allowed us to repurchase $11.5 million in stock during the fourth quarter. The strategic divestiture of our U.S. OCTG business is the culmination of our multi-year strategy to reduce our exposure to upstream drilling volatility.

"We remain focused on our long-term strategy of taking care of customers and growing market share as well as managing this cycle by reducing costs and continuing to strengthen our balance sheet. While we expect 2016 to also be challenging, MRC Global is positioned to perform well through the cycle," Mr. Lane added.

MRC Global's fourth quarter 2015 gross profit was $175.1 million, or 18.1% of sales, a decrease from fourth quarter 2014 gross profit of $248.5 million, or 16.4% of sales. Gross profit for the fourth quarter 2015 and 2014 reflected a benefit of $23.2 million and a charge of $5.9 million, respectively, in cost of sales relating to the use of the last-in, first out ("LIFO") method of inventory cost accounting.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $146.1 million, or 15.1% of sales, for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $174.4 million, or 11.5% of sales, for the same period of 2014. SG&A expenses were reduced by 16% versus the fourth quarter 2014, primarily due to cost reduction measures. A favorable impact on expenses from a stronger U.S. dollar of $7.9 million also benefitted the quarter. SG&A expenses for the fourth quarter of 2015 included $5.1 million of severance and restructuring charges. There were no such charges in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Adjusted EBITDA was $33.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $101.5 million for the same period in 2014. Please refer to the reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) to net income (a GAAP measure) in this release.

The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter 2015 was 12.6% and was significantly impacted by the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charge, the majority of which is not tax deductible.

Sales by Segment

U.S. sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 were $778.2 million, down $380.5 million or 32.8% from the same quarter in 2014. The decrease reflected a $227.8 million, or 47% decrease in the upstream sector, a $135.3 million, or 31% decrease in the midstream sector and $17.4 million, or 7% in the downstream sector. The decreases were attributable to reduced customer spending.

Canadian sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 were $66.2 million, down $88.8 million or 57.3% from the same quarter in 2014. The decrease in Canadian sales reflected a $77.0 million decrease in the upstream business due to a significant decline in customer spending. Sales were also negatively impacted by $11 million as a result of a stronger U.S. dollar.

International sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 were $122.7 million, down $75.7 million or 38.2% from the same period in 2014. The decrease was due to lower project activity and deferral of maintenance, repair and operations expenditures particularly in Norway, Australia, Singapore and the U.K. Sales were also negatively impacted by $19 million due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.

Sales by Sector

Upstream sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased 48.7% from the fourth quarter of 2014 to $368.8 million, or 38% of total sales. The decline in upstream sales was across all segments and was a result of reduced customer activity. U.S. upstream sales declined 47% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from the fourth quarter 2014 as compared to a 61% decline in the average U.S. rig count over the same period. International upstream sales declined 41% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from the fourth quarter 2014.

Midstream sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased 30.1% from the fourth quarter of 2014 to $316.5 million, or 33% of total sales. Sales to transmission customers were down 54% while sales to gas utility customers were up by 10% over the same quarter in 2014.

Downstream sales in the fourth quarter of 2015 decreased 17.3% from the fourth quarter of 2014 to $281.8 million, or 29% of total sales. The decline in the downstream sector was due primarily to Europe and Australia. Sales in the U.S. were down 7.3%. A stronger U.S. dollar was responsible for 14% of the sales decline.

Balance Sheet

During the fourth quarter, the company reduced debt by $140.1 million to total debt outstanding of $523.7 million at December 31, 2015. The debt repayment was funded by $209.3 million of cash provided by operations during the fourth quarter of 2015 and benefitted from a planned reduction in working capital. In addition, cash balances were $69.0 million at December 31, 2015 compared to $25.1 million at the end of 2014. Debt, net of cash, was $454.7 million at December 31, 2015.

Share Repurchase Program Update

In November 2015, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for common stock of up to $100 million. As of December 31, 2015, the company has repurchased $11.5 million of its common stock at an average price of $14.12 per share.

The program is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2017. The shares may be repurchased at management's discretion in the open market. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these repurchases may be commenced or suspended from time to time without prior notice.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and annual 2015 results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) on February 23, 2016. To participate in the call, please dial 412‑902-0003 and ask for the MRC Global conference call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. To access the conference call live over the Internet, please log onto the web at http://www.mrcglobal.com and go to the "Investor Relations" page of the company's website at least fifteen minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live call, a replay will be available through March 8, 2016 and can be accessed by dialing 201-612-7415 and using pass code 13627595#. Also, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call at www.mrcglobal.com for 90 days.

About MRC Global Inc.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, MRC Global, a Fortune 500 company, is the largest global distributor, based on sales, of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and related products and services to the energy industry and supplies these products and services across each of the upstream, midstream and downstream sectors. More information about MRC Global can be found on our website mrcglobal.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Words such as "will," "expect," "expected", "looking forward", "guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Statements about the company's business, including its strategy, its industry, the company's future profitability, the company's guidance on its sales, adjusted EBITDA, tax rate, capital expenditures and cash flow, the company's expectations regarding the pay down of its debt, growth in the company's various markets and the company's expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects and assumptions are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on management's expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, including the factors described in the company's SEC filings that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include (among others) decreases in oil and natural gas prices; decreases in oil and natural gas industry expenditure levels, which may result from decreased oil and natural gas prices or other factors; increased usage of alternative fuels, which may negatively affect oil and natural gas industry expenditure levels; U.S. and international general economic conditions; the company's ability to compete successfully with other companies in MRC Global's industry; the risk that manufacturers of the products the company distributes will sell a substantial amount of goods directly to end users in the industry sectors the company serves;  unexpected supply shortages;  cost increases by the company's suppliers; the company's lack of long-term contracts with most of its suppliers; suppliers' price reductions of products that the company sells, which could cause the value of the company's inventory to decline;  decreases in steel prices, which could significantly lower MRC Global'sprofit;  increases in steel prices, which the company may be unable to pass along to its customers which could significantly lower its profit; the company's lack of long-term contracts with many of its customers and the company's lack of contracts with customers that require minimum purchase volumes;  changes in the company's customer and product mix;  risks related to the company's customers' creditworthiness; the success of the company's acquisition strategies;  the potential adverse effects associated with integrating acquisitions into the company's business and whether these acquisitions will yield their intended benefits; the company's significant indebtedness;  the dependence on the company's subsidiaries for cash to meet its debt obligations;  changes in the company's credit profile;  a decline in demand for certain of the products the company distributes if import restrictions on these products are lifted; environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and the interpretation or implementation thereof; the sufficiency of the company's insurance policies to cover losses, including liabilities arising from litigation;  product liability claims against the company;  pending or future asbestos-related claims against the company; the potential loss of key personnel; interruption in the proper functioning of the company's information systems and the occurrence of cyber security incidents; loss of third-party transportation providers;  potential inability to obtain necessary capital;  risks related to adverse weather events or natural disasters;  impairment of our goodwill or other intangible assets;  adverse changes in political or economic conditions in the countries in which the company operates; exposure to U.S. and international laws and regulations, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act and other economic sanction programs; risks associated with international stability and geopolitical developments;  risks relating to ongoing evaluations of internal controls required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;  the impact on us of changes in generally accepted accounting principles or tax laws or adverse positions taken by taxing authorities in the countries in which the company operates; and compliance with and changes in laws and regulations in the countries in which we operate.

For a discussion of key risk factors, please see the risk factors disclosed in the company's SEC filings, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and on the company's website, www.mrcglobal.com. Our filings and other important information are also available on the Investor Relations page of our website at www.mrcglobal.com.

Undue reliance should not be placed on the company's forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements reflect the company's good faith beliefs, reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the company's actual results, performance or achievements or future events to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements or future events expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

Contact:

Monica Broughton
Investor Relations
MRC Global Inc.
Monica.Broughton@mrcglobal.com
832-308-2847

The company presents adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share because the company believes these measures are useful indicators of what the company's net income and net income per share would have been without the impact of these events being included and believes that many analysts and investors will want to know this information when comparing the company's results against the results of other companies. Adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share, however, do not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income and net income per share calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Because adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share do not account for certain expenses, its utility as a measure of our performance has material limitations. Because of these limitations, management does not view adjusted net income and net income per share in isolation or as a primary performance measure and also uses other measures, such as net income and net income per share, to measure performance.

The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income plus interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, amortization of intangibles, and certain other expenses (such as gain/losses on the early extinguishment of debt, changes in the fair value of derivative instruments and goodwill impairment) and plus or minus the impact of its LIFO inventory costing methodology.  The company presents Adjusted EBITDA because the company believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful indicator of the company's operating performance. Among other things, Adjusted EBITDA measures the company's operating performance without regard to certain non-recurring, non-cash or transaction-related expenses.  Adjusted EBITDA, however, does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, cash flow from operations or any other measure of financial performance calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Because Adjusted EBITDA does not account for certain expenses, its utility as a measure of the company's operating performance has material limitations. Because of these limitations, the company does not view Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as a primary performance measure and also uses other measures, such as net income and sales, to measure operating performance.  See the Company's Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for a more thorough discussion of the use of Adjusted EBITDA.

Notes to above:

The company defines Adjusted Gross Profit as sales, less cost of sales, plus depreciation and amortization, plus amortization of intangibles, and plus or minus the impact of its LIFO inventory costing methodology. The company presents Adjusted Gross Profit because the company believes it is a useful indicator of the company's operating performance without regard to items, such as amortization of intangibles, that can vary substantially from company to company depending upon the nature and extent of acquisitions they have been involved in. Similarly, the impact of the LIFO inventory costing method can cause results to vary substantially from company to company depending upon whether they elect to utilize LIFO and depending upon which method they may elect. The company uses Adjusted Gross Profit as a key performance indicator in managing its business. The company believes that gross profit is the financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles that is most directly comparable to Adjusted Gross Profit.

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SOURCE MRC Global Inc.