FORM 6-K
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Dated April 6, 2020
Commission File Number 1-14878
GERDAU S.A.
(Exact Name as Specified in its Charter)
N/A
(Translation of Registrant’s Name)
Av. Dra. Ruth Cardoso, 8,501 – 8° andar
São Paulo, São Paulo - Brazil CEP 05425-070
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x | Form 40-F ¨ |
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ¨ | No x |
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): Not applicable.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused the Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: April 6, 2020
GERDAU S.A. | ||
By: | /s/ Harley Lorentz Scardoelli | |
Name: | Harley Lorentz Scardoelli | |
Title: | Investor Relations Director |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit | Description of Exhibit |
99.1 | Material Fact, April 3, 2020 |
Exhibit 99.1
GERDAU S.A.
Corporate Taxpayer ID (CNPJ/MF): 33.611.500/0001-19
MATERIAL FACT
Gerdau S.A. (“Company” or “Gerdau”), in accordance with CVM Instruction 358/2002, as amended, hereby informs its shareholders and the market that, complementing the Material Fact notice disclosed to the market on March 24, 2020, with regard to the spread of COVID-19, throughout the many countries in which the Company operates.
At the Brazil BD, the various electric melt shops and long steel rolling mills will be shut down during April. Furthermore, during this month, we also will shutdown the Blast Furnace 2 in Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais, whose annual installed capacity is 1.5 million metric tons. These initiatives are due to the weaker demand from mainly the industrial and construction sectors. Blast Furnace 1 in Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais, with annual capacity of 3 million metric tons, continues to operate normally.
In the North America BD, the mills continue to operate normally, with production levels to be adjusted gradually over the month of April in line with the decline in demand from the construction and industrial sectors.
The Special Steel BD, in Brazil and the United States, will carry out scheduled shutdowns at the various electric melt shops and rolling mills during April, considering the current level of inventories and the demand required by each client. Note that the automotive industry in the two countries declared collective vacations during April, which significantly affected demand in this specific sector.
In the South America BD, the operations located in Argentina and Peru have been shut down, due to restrictions of the respective governments in both countries, including suspended deliveries to clients.
At all our units, when necessary, we are opting for collective vacations for our employees and continuing to supply products to our clients based on the specific needs, while following all safety precautions recommended by the health authorities.
It is important to mention that in the main countries where we operate, the steel industry is considered an essential activity, since it is a strategic input in the construction of hospitals, machinery, equipment and components for the health and safety industries.
To Gerdau, nothing is more important than people’s lives. The Company will keep the market informed of any new material information.
São Paulo, April 3, 2020
Harley Lorentz Scardoelli
Executive Vice President
Investor Relations Officer