HOUSTON, Nov. 5, 2015 /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 third quarter 2015 results.

The company's sales were $1.071 billion for the third quarter of 2015, which were 34% lower than the third quarter of 2014 and 11% lower than the second quarter of 2015. The decline was driven by reduced activity across all sectors but particularly upstream. Sales were also negatively impacted by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar, which reduced reported sales by $44 million, or 3% from the third quarter last year.

Net income available to common stockholders, which is net income less dividends attributable to preferred stockholders, for the third quarter of 2015 was $10.0 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $50.1 million, or $0.49 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2014.

Andrew R. Lane, MRC Global's chairman, president and chief executive officer stated, "The third quarter results reflect the continued decline in spending by our customers in response to the current oil and gas commodity price environment. I'm pleased with our performance in this difficult market. We are focused on what we can control: winning and retaining customers, controlling costs and strengthening our balance sheet."

Mr. Lane added, "We continue to have an excellent track record of contract renewals. This quarter we added a new five-year contract with Phillips 66, a new three-year contract with our largest Canadian customer and we also recently won our largest alloy pipe, fitting and flange order in Norway to date. We have controlled our operating cost structure by reducing SG&A 15% in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period last year. Finally, as a result of generating strong operating cash flows of $481 million for the first nine months of the year, combined with our recent preferred stock offering, we have reduced total debt by $790 million this year, bringing the net debt balance to $631 million at the end of the third quarter. Our balance sheet is strong, and we are well positioned for the future."

MRC Global's third quarter 2015 gross profit was $185.2 million, or 17.3% of sales, a decline from third quarter 2014 gross profit of $278.0 million, or 17.2% of sales. Gross profit for the third quarter 2015 and 2014 reflected a benefit of $15.0 million and a charge of $3.9 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 $142.0 million, or 13.3% of sales, for the third quarter of 2015 compared to $184.8 million, or 11.4% of sales, for the same period of 2014. SG&A expenses were reduced by 23% versus the third quarter 2014, primarily due to the cost reduction measures. A favorable impact on expenses from a stronger U.S. dollar of $10.1 million also benefitted the quarter. SG&A expenses for the third quarter of 2015 included $0.7 million of severance and restructuring charges. The third quarter of 2014 included $8.3 million of pre-tax charges related to the cancellation of executive employment agreements and severance and restructuring charges.

Adjusted EBITDA was $51.3 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $132.3 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 third quarter 2015 was 54.9%. The increase in the effective tax rate was the result of a higher expected tax rate for the full year of 42.6% due primarily to changes in our international segment including lower than previously forecasted pre-tax profits, pre-tax losses in certain jurisdictions with no corresponding tax benefit and the recognition of a valuation allowance for certain deferred tax assets during the third quarter.  

Sales by Segment

U.S. sales in the third quarter of 2015 were $865.4 million, down $339.8 million or 28.2% from the same quarter in 2014. The decrease reflected a $227 million decrease in the upstream sector, a $96 million decrease in the midstream sector and a modest decrease in the downstream sector. The decreases were attributable to reduced customer spending.

Canadian sales in the third quarter of 2015 were $69.4 million, down $91.8 million or 56.9% from the same quarter in 2014. The decrease in Canadian sales reflected an $81 million decrease in the upstream business due to a significant decline in customer spending. Sales were negatively impacted by $14 million as a result of a stronger U.S. dollar.    

International sales in the third quarter of 2015 were $136.4 million, down $115.3 million or 45.8% from the same period in 2014. The decrease was due primarily to lower project activity and deferral of maintenance, repair and operations expenditures particularly in Europe, Norway and Australia. Sales were negatively impacted by $30 million due to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.

Sales by Sector

Upstream sales in the third quarter of 2015 decreased 49.7% from the third quarter of 2014 to $378.8 million, or 35% 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 third quarter of 2015 from the third quarter 2014 as compared to a 55% decline in the average U.S. rig count over the same period.

Midstream sales in the third quarter of 2015 decreased 22.0% from the third quarter of 2014 to $370.0 million, or 35% of total sales. Sales to transmission customers were down 38% while sales to gas utility customers were up by 9% over the same quarter in 2014.

Downstream sales in the third quarter of 2015 decreased 17.5% from the third quarter of 2014 to $322.4 million, or 30% of total sales. The decline in the downstream sector was primarily in the International segment as a result of lower sales in Europe, Australia and Singapore. Sales in the U.S. were down 6.4%. A stronger U.S. dollar was responsible for 3.6% of the sales decline.

Balance Sheet

During the third quarter, the company reduced debt by $184 million to total debt outstanding of $664 million at September 30, 2015. The debt repayment was funded by $203.8 million of cash provided by operations during the third quarter of 2015 and benefitted from a planned reduction in working capital. In addition, cash balances were $32.9 million at September 30, 2015 compared to $25.1 million at the end of 2014. Debt, net of cash, was $631 million at September 30, 2015.

Share Repurchase Program

In November 2015, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for common stock of up to $100 million. 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.

Mr. Lane commented, "Our focus throughout this year has been on repositioning the balance sheet. We now look to capitalize on our strong financial position through opportunistic share repurchases. The authorization reflects the Board's confidence in MRC Global's ability to sustain and improve upon our position."  

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2015 results at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) on November 6, 2015. 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 November 20, 2015 and can be accessed by dialing 201-612-7415 and using pass code 13619736#. 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's profit;  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

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SOURCE MRC Global Inc.