FORM 6 - K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

As of 2/23/2016

Ternium S.A.

(Translation of Registrant's name into English)

Ternium S.A.
29, Avenue de la Porte-Neuve

L-2227 Luxembourg

(352) 2668-3152

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or 40-F.

Form 20-F  Ö    Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12G3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes          No  Ö

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):

Not applicable

The attached material is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 13a-16 and Form 6-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

This report contains Ternium S.A.’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

TERNIUM S.A.

Dated: February 23, 2016

INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated Income Statements

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(1) Shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Luxembourg is disclosed in Note 24 (iii).

(2) The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share. As of  December 31, 2015, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued. All issued shares are fully paid. Also, as of December 31, 2015, the Company held 41,666,666 shares as treasury shares.

(3) Include mainly legal reserve under Luxembourg law for USD 200.5 million, undistributable reserves under Luxembourg law for USD 1.4 billion, hedge accounting reserve, net of tax effect, for USD (0.4) million and reserves related to the acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries for USD (88.5) million.

(4) Represents the difference between book value of non-monetary contributions received from shareholders under Luxembourg GAAP and IFRS.

(5) Represents USD 0.090 per share (USD 0.90 per ADS). Related to the dividends distributed on May 6, 2015, and as 41,666,666 shares are held as treasury shares  by Ternium, the dividends attributable to these treasury shares amounting to USD 3.7 million were included in equity as less dividend paid.

(6) Corresponds to the contribution made by Nippon Steel Corporation in connection with its participation in Tenigal, S.R.L. de C.V..

(7) Corresponds to the sale of the participation in Ferrasa Panamá S.A. See note 2.b.

(8) Corresponds to the acquisition on the non-controlling interest in Ferrasa S.A.S. See note 2.b.

Dividends may be paid by Ternium to the extent distributable retained earnings calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations exist. Therefore, retained earnings included in these consolidated financial statements may not be wholly distributable. See Note 24 (iii). The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(1) Shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Luxembourg is disclosed in Note 24 (iii).

(2) The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2014, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued. All issued shares are fully paid. Also, as of December 31, 2014, the Company held 41,666,666 shares as treasury shares.

(3) Include mainly legal reserve under Luxembourg law for USD 200.5 million, undistributable reserves under Luxembourg law for USD 1.4 billion, hedge accounting reserve, net of tax effect, for USD (0.4) million and reserves related to the acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries for USD (58.9) million.

(4) Represents the difference between book value of non-monetary contributions received from shareholders under Luxembourg GAAP and IFRS.

(5) Represents USD 0.075 per share (USD 0.75 per ADS). Related to the dividends distributed on May 7, 2014, and as 41,666,666 shares are held as treasury shares by  Ternium, the dividends attributable to these treasury shares amounting to USD 3.1 million were included in equity as less dividend paid.

Dividends may be paid by Ternium to the extent distributable retained earnings calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations exist. Therefore, retained earnings included in these consolidated financial statements may not be wholly distributable. See Note 24 (iii). The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(1) Shareholders’ equity determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Luxembourg is disclosed in Note 24 (iii).

(2) The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share. As of December 31, 2013, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued. All issued shares are fully paid. Also, as of December 31, 2013, the Company held 41,666,666 shares as treasury shares.

(3) Include mainly legal reserve under Luxembourg law for USD 200.5 million, undistributable reserves under Luxembourg law for USD 1.4 billion, hedge accounting reserve, net of tax effect, for USD 1.1 million and reserves related to the acquisition of non-controlling interest in subsidiaries for USD (58.9) million.

(4) Represents the difference between book value of non-monetary contributions received from shareholders under Luxembourg GAAP and IFRS.

(5) Corresponds to the acquisition of the non-controlling interest held by Siderúrgica de Caldas S.A.S., a subsidiary of Ternium S.A., in Procesadora de Materiales Industriales S.A. in April 2013.

(6) Represents USD 0.065 per share (USD 0.65 per ADS). Related to the dividends distributed on May 10, 2013, and as 41,666,666 shares are held as treasury shares by Ternium, the dividends attributable to these treasury shares amounting to USD 2.7 million were included in equity as less dividend paid.

Dividends may be paid by Ternium to the extent distributable retained earnings calculated in accordance with Luxembourg law and regulations exist. Therefore, retained earnings included in these consolidated financial statements may not be wholly distributable. See Note 24 (iii). The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(1)  The working capital is impacted by non-cash movement of USD (210.6) million as of December 31, 2015 (USD (149.9) million and USD (157.7) million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively) due to the variations in the exchange rates used by subsidiaries with functional currencies different from the US dollar.

(2)  It includes restricted cash of USD 88, USD 93 and USD 869 as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In addition , the Company had other investments with a maturity of more than three months for USD 237,191, USD 149,995 and USD 169,503 as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

INDEX TO THE NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1.      GENERAL INFORMATION

Ternium S.A. (the “Company” or “Ternium”), was incorporated on December 22, 2003 to hold investments in flat and long steel manufacturing and distributing companies.  The Company has an authorized share capital of a single class of 3.5 billion shares having a nominal value of USD 1.00 per share.  As of December 31, 2015, there were 2,004,743,442 shares issued.  All issued shares are fully paid.

Following a corporate reorganization carried out during fiscal year 2005, in January 2006 the Company successfully completed its registration process with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Ternium’s ADSs began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TX” on February 1, 2006.  The Company’s initial public offering was settled on February 6, 2006.  

The Company was initially established as a public limited liability company (société anonyme) under Luxembourg’s 1929 holding company regime.  Until termination of such regime on December 31, 2010, holding companies incorporated under the 1929 regime (including the Company) were exempt from Luxembourg corporate and withholding tax over dividends distributed to shareholders.

On January 1, 2011, the Company became an ordinary public limited liability company (société anonyme) and, effective as from that date, the Company is subject to all applicable Luxembourg taxes (including, among others, corporate income tax on its worldwide income) and its dividend distributions will generally be subject to Luxembourg withholding tax.  However, dividends received by the Company from subsidiaries in high income tax jurisdictions, as defined under Luxembourg law, will continue to be exempt from corporate income tax in Luxembourg under Luxembourg’s participation exemption.

As part of the Company’s corporate reorganization in connection with the termination of Luxembourg’s 1929 holding company regime, on December 6, 2010, the Company contributed its equity holdings in all its subsidiaries and all its financial assets to its Luxembourg wholly-owned subsidiary Ternium Investments S.à.r.l., or Ternium Investments, in exchange for newly issued corporate units of Ternium Investments. As the assets contributed were recorded at their historical carrying amount in accordance with Luxembourg GAAP, the Company’s December 2010 contribution of such assets to Ternium Investments resulted in a non-taxable revaluation of the accounting value of the Company’s assets under Luxembourg GAAP. The amount of the December 2010 revaluation was equal to the difference between the historical carrying amounts of the assets contributed and the value at which such assets were contributed and amounted to USD 4.0 billion. However, for the purpose of these consolidated financial statements, the assets contributed by Ternium to its wholly-owned subsidiary Ternium Investments were recorded based on their historical carrying amounts in accordance with IFRS, with no impact on the financial statements.

1.      GENERAL INFORMATION (continued)

Following the completion of the corporate reorganization, and upon its conversion into an ordinary Luxembourg holding company, the Company voluntarily recorded a special reserve exclusively for tax-basis purposes. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, this special tax reserve amounted to USD 7.1 billion and USD 7.3 billion, respectively. The Company expects that, as a result of its corporate reorganization, its current overall tax burden will not increase, as all or substantially all of its dividend income will come from high income tax jurisdictions. In addition, the Company expects that dividend distributions for the foreseeable future will be imputed to the special reserve and therefore should be exempt from Luxembourg withholding tax under current Luxembourg law.

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION

a)  Basis of presentation

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) issued and effective or issued and early adopted as at the time of preparing these statements (February 2016), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (“EU”). These consolidated financial statements are presented in thousands of United States dollars (“USD”), except otherwise indicated.

These Consolidated financial statements fairly present the consolidated equity and consolidated financial situation of Ternium at 31 December 2015, and the consolidated results of its operations, the Changes in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Changes in Consolidated Net Equity and the Consolidated Cash Flows of Ternium for the year then ended.

Elimination of all material intercompany transactions and balances between the Company and their respective subsidiaries has been made in consolidation.

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets, and financial assets and financial liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value through profit or loss.

Certain comparative amounts have been reclassified to conform to changes in presentation in the current period. These reclassifications do not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Detailed below are the companies whose financial statements have been consolidated and accounted for interest in these consolidated financial statements.

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)

2.      BASIS OF PRESENTATION (continued)

(1) Indirectly through Ternium Investments S.à.r.l. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(2) This company was sold on January 9, 2014.

(3) This company was dissolved as of December 17, 2014.

(4) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. Total voting rights held: 60.94%.

(5) Indirectly through Siderar S.A.I.C and Ternium Internacional S.A. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(6) Indirectly through Siderar S.A.I.C., Ternium Internacional S.A. and Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. Total voting rights held 99.93%.

(7) Indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(8) Indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V.  and Tenigal S. de R.L. de C.V. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(9) Merged with Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V. during the first quarter of 2014.

(10) This company was dissolved as of September 5, 2014.

(11) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. Total voting rights held: 100%.

(12) Total voting rights held: 50.00%.

(13) Indirectly through Ternium Mexico S.A. de C.V.  Total voting rights held: 74.50%.

(14) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U.. Total voting rights held: 100.00%. See note 2.c.

(15) This company was dissolved as of December 24, 2014.

(16) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional España S.L.U.. Total voting rights held: 51.00%.

(17) Indirectly through Ternium Investments Switzerland AG. Total voting rights held: 100.00%.

(18) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional S.A. and Ternium Internationaal B.V. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(19) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional S.A. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(20) Since fourth quarter 2014, indirectly through Ternium Investments Switzerland AG (100.00%). Total voting rights held: 100.00%. Before that, indirectly through Ternium Internacional S.A.

(21) Indirectly through Ternium Internacional Inc.. Total voting rights held 100.00%.

(22) Merged with Soluciones Integrales de Gestión S.A. during the third quarter of 2015.

(23) Merged with Ternium Internationaal B.V. during the fourth quarter of 2014.

(24) Since third quarter 2015, indirectly through Ternium Investments S.à.r.l.,Ternium Internacional España S.L.U. and Technology & Engineering Services S.A. Total voting rights held: 100.00%. Before that, indirectly through Ternium Investments S.à.r.l. and Ternium Treasury Services S.A.

(25) These companies were sold during the first quarter of 2015. See note 2.c.

The most important non-controlling interest is related to the investment in Siderar S.A.I.C., which is a company listed in the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange. All the information related to this investment could be found in the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange webpage.

b)  Acquisition of non-controlling interest in Ferrasa S.A.S.

On January 20, 2015, Ternium entered into an agreement to acquire the remaining 46% interest in Ferrasa for a total consideration of USD 74.0 million. The Ferrasa transaction closed on April 7, 2015 and it was accounted for as an acquisition of non-controlling interest resulting in a decrease of equity attributable to the owners of the parent company amounting to USD 29.6 million. In addition, on January 20, 2015, Ternium sold its 54% interest in Ferrasa Panamá S.A. for a total consideration of USD 2.0 million, with no significant impact in these financial statements.

3.      ACQUISITION OF BUSINESS – USINAS SIDERÚRGICAS DE MINAS GERAIS S.A. - USIMINAS

On November 27, 2011, the Company’s wholly-owned Luxembourg subsidiary Ternium Investments S.à r.l. (“Ternium Investments”), together with its Argentine majority-owned subsidiary Siderar S.A.I.C. (and Siderar’s wholly-owned Uruguayan subsidiary Prosid Investments S.C.A.), and Confab Industrial S.A., a Brazilian subsidiary of Tenaris S.A. (“TenarisConfab”), entered into share purchase agreements with Camargo Corrêa, Votorantim and Usiminas employee pension fund Previdência Usiminas (f.k.a. Caixa dos Empregados da Usiminas) (“CEU”) for the acquisition of 139.7 million ordinary shares of Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. – USIMINAS (“Usiminas”), representing 27.66% of Usiminas’ voting capital, at a price of BRL 36.0 (approximately USD 19.0) per ordinary share.

Upon closing of the transaction on January 16, 2012, Ternium Investments, Siderar and TenarisConfab joined Usiminas’ existing control group through the acquisition of 84.7, 30.0, and 25.0 million ordinary shares, respectively. In addition, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation (f.k.a. Nippon Steel Corporation) (“NSSMC”) acquired from CEU 8.5 million ordinary shares. In addition, Ternium Investments, Siderar, Prosid and TenarisConfab entered into an amended and restated Usiminas shareholders’ agreement with Nippon Steel, Mitsubishi, Metal One and CEU, governing Ternium Investments, Siderar (and Prosid) and TenarisConfab’s rights within the Usiminas control group; most decisions in that control group are subject for its approval to a 65% majority of the control group shares. As a result of these transactions, the control group, which held 322.7 million ordinary shares representing the majority of Usiminas’ voting rights, was then formed as follows: NSSMC Group 46.1%, Ternium/Tenaris Group 43.3%, and CEU 10.6%. The rights of Ternium Investments, Siderar (and Prosid), and TenarisConfab within the Ternium/Tenaris Group are governed under a separate shareholders agreement. During 2012, the Company completed its purchase price allocation procedures and determined a notional goodwill included within the investment balance of USD 583 million.

The Company reviews periodically the recoverability of its investment in Usiminas. To determine the recoverable value, the Company estimates the value in use of the investment by calculating the present value of the expected cash flows or its fair value less costs of disposal.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company wrote down its investment in Usiminas by USD 275 million. The impairment was mainly due to expectations of a weaker industrial environment in Brazil, where industrial production and consequently steel demand had suffered downward adjustments. In addition, a higher degree of uncertainty regarding future prices of iron ore led to a reduction in Ternium’s forecast of long term iron ore prices that affected cash flow expectations. As of December 31, 2012, the discount rate used to test the investment in Usiminas for impairment was 9.6%.

Following discussions with the Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company re-evaluated and revised the assumptions used to calculate the carrying value of the Usiminas investment at September 30, 2014 and, as a result, wrote down the carrying value of its investment in Usiminas by USD 739.8 million. As of September 30, 2014, the discount rate used to test the investment in Usiminas for impairment was 10.4%.

3.      ACQUISITION OF BUSINESS – USINAS SIDERÚRGICAS DE MINAS GERAIS S.A. - USIMINAS (continued)

On October 2, 2014, Ternium Investments entered into a definitive purchase agreement with Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil – PREVI for the acquisition of 51.4 million ordinary shares of Usiminas at a price of BRL 12 per share, for a total amount of BRL 616.7 million. On October 30, 2014, Ternium Investments completed the acquisition.

Following the acquisition of these additional shares, Ternium (through Ternium Investments, Siderar and Prosid) owns 166.1 million ordinary shares, representing 32.9% of Usiminas’ ordinary shares. Ternium continues to hold 35.6% of Usiminas’ voting rights over the control group and has a participation in Usiminas’ results of 16.82%.

Usiminas’ financial statements as of December 31, 2015 described a downgraded economic scenario for the company that caused a significant impact on its financial leverage and cash generation. In addition, Usiminas’ auditors (KPMG) included in their report on these financial statements an emphasis of matter paragraph which, without qualifying their opinion, indicated the existence of “a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern” as a result of the risk of not achieving an action plan defined by Usiminas’ management to equalize its financial obligations with cash generation. Consequently, Ternium, in a conservative approach and considering the guidance of IAS 36, assessed the recoverable value of its investment in Usiminas based on Usiminas ordinary shares average market price for December 2015, and impaired its investment by USD 191.9 million. The resulting book value of Ternium’s investment in Usiminas as of December 31, 2015 is USD 240.0 million (see note 14).

At December 31, 2015, the closing price of the Usiminas’ ordinary shares as quoted on the BM&FBovespa Stock Exchange was BRL 4.02 (approximately USD 1.03) per share, giving Ternium’s ownership stake a market value of approximately USD 171.0 million.

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES

These Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared following the same accounting policies used in the preparation of the audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The following is a summary of the principal accounting policies followed in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements:

(a)    Group accounting

(1) Subsidiary companies and transactions with non-controlling interests

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Company has control. The Company controls an entity when the Company is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power 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.

The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by the Company. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at the fair values at the acquisition date. Indemnification assets are recognized at the same time that the Company recognizes the indemnified item and measures them on the same basis as the indemnified item, subject to the need for a valuation allowance for uncollectible amounts. The Company measures the value of a reacquired right recognized as an intangible asset on the basis of the remaining contractual term of the related contract regardless of whether market participants would consider potential contractual renewals in determining its fair value.

On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Company recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the acquiree's net assets.

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the Company's share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If this is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognized directly in the income statement.

The measurement period is the earlier of the date that the acquirer receives the information that it is looking for or cannot obtain the information and one year after the acquisition date. Where the accounting for a business combination is not complete by the end of the reporting period in which the business combination occurred provisional amounts are reported.

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

The Company treats transactions with non-controlling interests as transactions with equity owners of the Company. For purchases from non-controlling interests, the difference between any consideration paid and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity. Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

When the Company ceases to have control or significant influence, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value, with the change in carrying amount recognized in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This may mean that amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Unrealized losses are also eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the group. However, the fact that the functional currency of some subsidiaries is their respective local currency, generates some financial gains (losses) arising from intercompany transactions, that are included in the consolidated income statement under Other financial expenses, net.

(2) Investments in non-consolidated companies

Associated companies are those entities in which Ternium has significant influence, but which it does not control.

Joint arrangements are understood as combinations in which there are contractual agreements by virtue of which two or more companies hold an interest in companies that undertake operations or hold assets in such a way that any financial or operating decision is subject to the unanimous consent of the partners. A joint arrangement is classed as a joint operation if the parties hold rights to its assets and have obligations in respect of its liabilities or as a joint venture if the venturers hold rights only to the investee's net assets.

Investments in non-consolidated companies (associated companies and joint ventures) are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, interests in joint ventures and associates are initially recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognize the Company’s share of the post-acquisition profits or losses in the income statement, and its share of post-acquisition changes in reserves recognized in reserves and in other comprehensive income in the income statement. Unrealized gains on transactions among the Company and its non-consolidated companies are eliminated to the extent of the Company’s interest in such non-consolidated companies; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the transferred asset. When the Company’s share of losses in a non-consolidated company equals or exceeds its interest in such non-consolidated company, the Company does not recognize further losses unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of such non-consolidated company.

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

The Company’s investment in associates and joint ventures includes notional goodwill identified on acquisition.

The Company determines at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that the investment is impaired. If this is the case, the group calculates the amount of impairment as the difference between the recoverable amount of the investment and its carrying value and recognizes the amount within “Equity on earnings (losses) of non-consolidated companies”.

(b)    Foreign currency translation

(1)  Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Company's subsidiaries and associated companies are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the "functional currency"). Except for the Argentine and the Brazilian subsidiaries and non-consolidated companies whose functional currencies are their local currencies, Ternium determined that the functional currency of its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Although Ternium is located in Luxembourg, it operates in several countries with different currencies. The USD is the currency that best reflects the economic substance of the underlying events and circumstances relevant to Ternium as a whole.

(2) Subsidiary companies

The results and financial position of all the group entities (none of which operates in a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency, are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

(i)  assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate of each statement of financial position;

(ii)  income and expenses for each income statement are translated at average exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transactions); and

(iii)  all resulting translation differences are recognized within other comprehensive income.

In the case of a sale or other disposition of any such subsidiary, any accumulated translation differences would be recognized in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale.

(3) Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency

Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transactions or valuation where items are re-measured.

At the end of each reporting period: (i) monetary items denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated using the closing rates, (ii) non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a currency other than the functional currency are translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transactions; and (iii) non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a currency other than the functional currency are translated using the exchange rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined.

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded as gains and losses from foreign exchange and included in "Other financial income (expenses), net" in the consolidated income statement, except when deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges and qualifying net investment hedges. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets and liabilities such as equities held at fair value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss as part of the "fair value gain or loss," while translation differences on non-monetary financial assets such as equities classified as available for sale are included in the "available for sale reserve" in equity. Ternium had no such assets or liabilities for any of the periods presented.

(c)    Financial instruments

Non derivative financial instruments

Non derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity and debt securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, loans and borrowings, and trade and other payables. Ternium non derivative financial instruments are classified into the following categories:

·    Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss: comprises mainly cash and cash equivalents and investments in debt securities held for trading;

·    Held-to-maturity instruments: measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method less impairment losses. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there are no instruments classified under this category;

·    Loans and receivables: measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method less impairment losses;  

·    Available-for-sale ("AFS") financial assets: gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognized within other comprehensive income ("OCI") with the exception of impairment losses, interest calculated using the effective interest method and foreign exchange gains and losses on monetary assets, which are recognized directly in profit or loss. Where the investment is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, the cumulative gain or loss previously recognized in OCI is included in the income statement for the period. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there are no AFS amounts and USD 35 million classified under this category, respectively;

·    Other financial liabilities: measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

The classification depends on the nature and purpose of the financial assets and is determined at the time of initial recognition.

Financial assets and liabilities are recognized and derecognized on the settlement date.

Financial assets are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs, except for those financial assets classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss.

Financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognized on an effective yield basis.

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Impairment of financial assets

The Company assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired and impairment losses are incurred only if there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset (a "loss event") and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or group of financial assets that can be reliably estimated. The Company first assesses whether objective evidence of impairment exists.

For loans and receivables category and for held-to-maturity investments, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced and the amount of the loss is recognized in the consolidated income statement.

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, the reversal of the previously recognized impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated income statement.

Derivative financial instruments

Information about accounting for derivative financial instruments and hedging activities is included in Note 28 "Financial Risk management".

(d)    Property, plant and equipment

Land and buildings comprise mainly factories and offices. All property, plant and equipment are recognized at historical acquisition or construction cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment (if applicable), except for land, which is carried at acquisition cost less accumulated impairment (if applicable). There are no material residual values for property, plant and equipment items.

Major overhaul and rebuilding expenditures are recognized as a separate asset when future economic benefits are expected from the item, and the cost can be measured reliably.

Ordinary maintenance expenses on manufacturing properties are recorded as cost of products sold in the period in which they are incurred.

Where a tangible fixed asset comprises major components having different useful lives, these components are accounted for as separate items.

Leases where the lessor retains a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

4.      ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Depreciation method is reviewed at each year end. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method to amortize the cost of each asset to its residual value over its estimated useful life as follows:

Property, plant and equipment used in mining activities are depreciated over its useful life or over the remaining life of the mine if shorter and there is no alternative use possible.

The assets' useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each year end. The re-estimation of assets useful lives by the Company did not materially affect depreciation charges in 2015, 2014 and 2013.