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Foreign operations and policies of Arcelor Steel Limited

About the company:


ArcelorMittal is a multinational steel manufacturing corporation headquartered in
Luxembourg. It was formed in 2006 from the takeover and merger
of Arcelor by Mittal Steel.
ArcelorMittal is the world's largest steel producer, with an annual crude steel
production of 98.1 million tons as of 2014. It is ranked 91st in the 2013 Fortune
Global 500 ranking of the world's biggest corporations.
Arcelor S.A. was the world's largest steel producer in terms of turnover and the
second largest in terms of steel output, with a turnover of 30.2 billion and
shipments of 45 million metric tons of steel in 2004.
Arcelor is now part of ArcelorMittal.

OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY:


With its Americas' headquarters in Chicago, ArcelorMittal owns and operates 27
facilities, including mines, integrated steelmaking facilities, mini-mills and
finishing operations. ArcelorMittal has an industrial presence in 13 of the United
States and employs more than 20,000 nationally.

Foreign currency translations:

FOREIGN OPERATIONS AND FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS

ArcelorMittal seeks to manage each of its entities exposure to its operating


currency. For currency exposure generated by activities, the conversion and

hedging of revenues and costs in foreign currencies is typically performed


using currency transactions on the spot market and forward market.
For some of its business segments, ArcelorMittal hedges future cash flows.
Substantial portion of ArcelorMittals assets, liabilities, sales and earnings
are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar (its reporting
currency), ArcelorMittal has exposure to fluctuations in the values of these
currencies relative to the U.S. dollar.
These currency fluctuations, especially the fluctuation of the value of the
U.S. dollar relative to the euro, the Canadian dollar, Brazilian real, South
African rand, Kazakh tenge and Ukrainian hryvnia, as well as fluctuations in
the currencies of the other countries in which ArcelorMittal has significant
operations and/or sales, could have a material impact on its results of
operations.
Based on estimates for 2014, the table below reflects the impact of 10%
depreciation during 2014 of the functional currency on cash flows expressed
in the respective functional currencies of the various entities. An
appreciation of the U.S dollar of 10% would have the symmetrical opposite
effect.

Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis,
except for available for sale financial assets and derivative financial instruments,
which are measured at fair value, and inventories which are measured at the lower
of net realizable value or cost. The consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and are

presented in U.S. dollars with all amounts rounded to the nearest million, except
for share and per share data.

Translation of Foreign Currencies


The functional currency of each of the major Operating Subsidiaries is the
local currency, except for ArcelorMittal SA, OJSC ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih,
ArcelorMittal Lzaro Crdenas S.A. de C.V., ArcelorMittal Brazil, ArcelorMittal
Galati S.A., and ArcelorMittal Temirtau, whose functional currency is the U.S.
dollar. Following the merger of the flat and long operations in Brazil, the Company
reviewed various indicators and concluded that the U.S. dollar represents most
faithfully the economic effects of the merged entity operations.
Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of a subsidiary
are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the date of the transaction.
Monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than the functional currency are
remeasured at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date and the
related transaction gains and losses are reported in the consolidated statement of
income.
Upon consolidation, the results of operations of ArcelorMittals subsidiaries
and associates whose functional currency is other than the U.S. dollar are
translated into U.S. dollars at the monthly average exchange rates and assets and
liabilities are translated at the year-end exchange rates. Translation adjustments are
recognized directly in equity and are included in net earnings only upon sale or
liquidation of the underlying foreign subsidiary or associate.

Market Risk Exposures


Europe remains a key market for ArcelorMittal. The market is showing signs of
recovery, but any unexpected shock in the Euro Zone remains a key risk for the
company. There has been recent political unrest in Ukraine. Russia supplies the
majority of natural gas needs of Europe. A further escalation of crisis can lead to

increases in natural gas prices in the region. Since a lot of fuel is consumed in steel
making process, it can lead to an increase in input costs for steel producers.
So it becomes a major risk for the major Steel Producer as Market risk is
concerned.

1. Foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate risk


Exchange Rate Risk
The Company is mainly exposed to changes in values arising from foreign
exchange rate fluctuations of raw materials, energy and freight. Normally, the
Company invoices its customers in the functional currency of its Operating
Subsidiaries.
The Company uses forward purchases and sales of foreign currency, plain
vanilla options, and foreign currency swaps to hedge foreign currency
transactions at the majority of its subsidiaries. The Company also uses these
instruments at the corporate level to hedge debt recorded in foreign currency other
than the functional currency or the balance sheet risk incurred on certain monetary
assets denominated in a foreign currency other than the functional currency.
The general policy of the Company is to hedge its exposure to exchange rate
risk transactions. However, as an exception to this general policy, for certain
currencies and for risks and amounts that are clearly identified and authorized by
management, the Company may either hedge in anticipation of future transactions
or not hedge transactional risks. To hedge the above exposure to exchange rate
risk, the Company had 2.5 billion of short positions in forward contracts and option
arrangements against other currencies as of December 31, 2008.

Interest rate risk

The Company utilizes certain instruments to manage interest rate risks in order
to optimize its financial results. Interest rate instruments allow the Company to
borrow long-term at fixed or variable rates, and to swap the rate of this debt either
from the start or during the period of the loan. The Company and its counter party
exchange, at predefined intervals, the difference between the agreed fixed rate and
the variable rate, calculated on the basis of the notional amount of the swap.
Similarly, swaps may be used for the exchange of variable rates against other
variable rates.

2. Equity price risk


In the Longer term, once distortion created by financial investors works it way out
of the system, it is the real economy that matters. At this time, you can expect long
term prices to rise to $850 to $900; at this level the industry can invest in capacity
expansion with an anticipated ROIC of 15%. Spikes over the long term prices must
be expected because there will be a shortage caused by deferral of Brownfield and
Greenfield capacity expansion projects.

How it is managing the above said risk?


For Risk Management ArcelorMittal has implemented strict policies and
procedures to manage and monitor financial market risks. Organizationally,
supervisory functions are separated from operational functions, with proper
segregation of duties. Financial market activities are overseen by the CFO, the
Corporate Finance and Tax Committee and the GMB.
All financial market risks are managed in accordance with the Treasury and
Financial Risk Management Policy. These risks are managed centrally through
Group Treasury by a group specializing in foreign exchange, interest rate,
commodity, internal and external funding and cash and liquidity management.

ArcelorMittal enters into transactions with numerous counterparties, mainly banks


and financial institutions, as well as brokers, major energy producers and
consumers.

Risk Management Policy


As part of its commitment to sound corporate governance, ArcelorMittal
has set up a process of risk identification and management.
These risks include but are not limited to financial, legal and operational risk
and risks concerning ArcelorMittals reputation and ethical standards.
The board risk management committee (BRMC) assists the board of
directors with the identification and management of risks to which the
ArcelorMittal group is exposed. The Group Management Boards group risk
management committee (GRMC) has oversight at executive management
level.
The chairman of the GRMC attends the meetings of the BRMC as a
representative of senior management.

Foreign currency exchange rate risk management

Derivatives used are non exchange-traded derivatives such as over-thecounter swaps, options and forward contracts.
ArcelorMittal has established detailed counterparty limits to mitigate the risk
of default by its counterparties. The limits restrict the exposure ArcelorMittal
may have to any single counterparty. Counterparty limits are calculated
taking into account a range of factors that govern the approval of all
counterparties.

The factors include an assessment of the counterpartys financial soundness


and its ratings by the major rating agencies, which must be of a high quality.
Counterparty limits are monitored on a periodic basis.
All counterparties and their respective limits require the prior approval of the
Corporate Finance and Tax Committee. Standard agreements, such as those
published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.
(ISDA) are negotiated with all ArcelorMittal trading counterparties.
ArcelorMittal uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to
movements in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodity prices.
Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are recognized in the
consolidated statements of operations or in equity according to nature and
effectiveness of the hedge.
Derivatives used are nonexchange-traded derivatives such as over-thecounter swaps, options and forward contracts.

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