Arconic Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

Arconic Inc. (NYSE: ARNC) today reported first quarter 2018 results, for which the Company reported revenues of $3.4 billion, up 8% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 4% year over year, driven by higher volumes in the aerospace engines, automotive, commercial transportation, building and construction, industrial and defense markets, somewhat offset by declines in aerospace airframe production mix and the industrial gas turbine market.

Net income in the first quarter was $143 million, or $0.29 per share. These results include $26 million in special items, principally due to costs associated with the early redemption of debt and restructuring-related charges. First quarter 2017 net income was $322 million, or $0.65 per share. Net income excluding special items was $169 million, or $0.34 per share, versus $169 million, or $0.33 per share, in the first quarter of 2017.

First quarter 2018 Operating income was $333 million, up 18% year over year. Operating income excluding special items was $345 million, down 12% year over year, as the unfavorable impacts of higher aluminum prices, performance shortfalls in our Rings, Disks and Global Rolled Products operations, unfavorable aerospace wide-body production mix, and the inventory impact of the new pension accounting standard more than offset volume gains and net cost savings.

Arconic Chief Executive Officer Chip Blankenship said, "In the first quarter, Arconic delivered solid organic revenue growth and free cash flow in line with expectations. Operating income was negatively impacted by higher aluminum prices and performance shortfalls in our Rings, Disks and Global Rolled Products operations. During the quarter, I visited several sites and was impressed by our dedicated talent and world-class facilities. However, it is clear that we have areas in need of operational improvement. To ensure all businesses execute consistently, we are deploying targeted capital and expertise to close gaps. In addition, we are updating our full year 2018 guidance due to rising aluminum prices and my deeper understanding of our operations.”

Blankenship continued, "2018 is a transition year during which we are making investments in our future to position the company for long-term success and shareholder value creation.”

Arconic ended the first quarter 2018 with cash on hand of $1.2 billion. Cash used for operations was $436 million, driven by the normal first quarter build in working capital and semi-annual interest payments, as well as higher pension contributions; cash used for financing activities totaled $542 million, reflecting the payment of $517 million for the early redemption of debt; and cash provided from investing activities was $29 million. Free Cash Flow for the quarter was negative $417 million, which included $124 million of incremental pension contributions compared to last year.

The Company reduced its pension liability by $315 million in the first quarter 2018 driven by cash contributions and as a result of its decision to freeze U.S. defined benefit pension plans for all U.S.-based salaried and non-bargained hourly employees.

First Quarter 2018 Segment Performance

As of the first quarter of 2018, Arconic’s segment reporting measure has changed from Adjusted EBITDA to Segment operating profit.

Engineered Products and Solutions (EP&S)

EP&S reported revenue of $1.5 billion, an increase of 4% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 2% as volume growth in aerospace engines, defense and industrial more than offset the continued downturn in the industrial gas turbine market and headwinds in aerospace airframe production mix, related to fastening systems. Segment operating profit was $221 million, down $26 million year over year, as performance shortfalls in Rings and Disks, unfavorable product mix, and higher input costs more than offset the strength in aerospace engines. Segment operating margin was 14.3%, down 230 basis points year over year.

Global Rolled Products (GRP)

GRP reported revenue of $1.4 billion, an increase of 9% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 4%. Segment operating profit was $112 million, down $24 million year over year, driven by higher aluminum prices and unfavorable aerospace wide-body production mix, partially offset by higher automotive volume. Segment operating margin was 8.2%, down 270 basis points year over year, including a 170 basis point negative impact of higher aluminum prices.

Transportation and Construction Solutions (TCS)

TCS delivered revenue of $537 million, an increase of 18% year over year. Organic revenue¹ was up 13%. Segment operating profit was $67 million, down $1 million year over year, as higher volume in commercial transportation and building and construction, favorable foreign currency movements, and net cost savings were more than offset by headwinds that included higher aluminum prices and unfavorable product price and mix. Segment operating margin was 12.5%, down 240 basis points year over year, including a 350 basis point negative impact of higher aluminum prices.

Early Debt Redemption

As disclosed on March 7, 2018, Arconic completed the previously announced early redemption of all of its 5.72% Notes due in February 2019 in the aggregate principal amount of $500 million.

Strategy and Portfolio Review

In January 2018, Arconic initiated a review of its strategy and portfolio. The Company is targeting to complete the work in the third quarter 2018.

Updated Full Year 2018 Guidance*

Arconic is updating its full year 2018 guidance:

* Arconic has not provided a reconciliation of the forward-looking financial measures of earnings per share excluding special items and free cash flow to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) because Arconic is unable to quantify certain amounts that would be required to be included in the GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts, and Arconic believes such reconciliations would imply a degree of precision that would be confusing or misleading to investors. In particular, reconciliations of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are not available without unreasonable efforts due to the variability and complexity with respect to the charges and other components excluded from the non-GAAP measures, such as the effects of foreign currency movements, equity income, gains or losses on sales of assets, taxes and any future restructuring or impairment charges. These reconciling items are in addition to the inherent variability already included in the GAAP measures, which includes, but is not limited to, price/mix and volume.

Arconic will hold its quarterly conference call at 10:00 AM Eastern Time on April 30, 2018 to present first quarter 2018 financial results. The call will be webcast via www.arconic.com. Call information and related details are available at www.arconic.com under "Investors;” presentation materials will be available at approximately 8:00 AM Eastern Time on April 30.

About Arconic

Arconic (NYSE: ARNC) creates breakthrough products that shape industries. Working in close partnership with our customers, we solve complex engineering challenges to transform the way we fly, drive, build and power. Through the ingenuity of our people and cutting-edge advanced manufacturing techniques, we deliver these products at a quality and efficiency that ensure customer success and shareholder value. For more information: www.arconic.com. Follow @arconic: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Dissemination of Company Information

Arconic intends to make future announcements regarding Company developments and financial performance through its website at www.arconic.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "guidance," "intends," "may," "outlook," "plans," "projects," "seeks," "sees," "should," "targets," "will," "would," or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect Arconic’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, forecasts and expectations relating to the growth of the aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation and other end markets; statements and guidance regarding future financial results or operating performance; and statements about Arconic's strategies, outlook, business and financial prospects. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on Arconic’s perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors Arconic believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (a) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally; (b) unfavorable changes in the markets served by Arconic; (c) the inability to achieve the level of revenue growth, cash generation, cost savings, improvement in profitability and margins, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated or targeted; (d) competition from new product offerings, disruptive technologies or other developments; (e) political, economic, and regulatory risks relating to Arconic’s global operations, including compliance with US and foreign trade and tax laws, sanctions, embargoes and other regulations; (f) manufacturing difficulties or other issues that impact product performance, quality or safety; (g) Arconic’s inability to realize expected benefits, in each case as planned and by targeted completion dates, from acquisitions, divestitures, facility closures, curtailments, expansions, or joint ventures; (h) the impact of cyber attacks and potential information technology or data security breaches; (i) changes in discount rates or investment returns on pension assets; (j) the impact of changes in aluminum prices and foreign currency exchange rates on costs and results; (k) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government or regulatory investigations, and environmental remediation, which can expose Arconic to substantial costs and liabilities; and (l) the other risk factors summarized in Arconic’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Market projections are subject to the risks discussed above and other risks in the market. The statements in this release are made as of the date of this release, even if subsequently made available by Arconic on its website or otherwise. Arconic disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the information included in this release is derived from Arconic’s consolidated financial information but is not presented in Arconic’s financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered "non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules. These non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP disclosures and should not be considered an alternative to the GAAP measure. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and management’s rationale for the use of the non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the schedules to this release and on our website at www.arconic.com under the "Investors” section.

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¹ Organic revenue is U.S. GAAP revenue adjusted for Tennessee Packaging (due to its planned phase-down), divestitures, and changes in aluminum prices and foreign currency exchange rates relative to prior year period.

Net income excluding Special items and Diluted EPS excluding Special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes that these measures are meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Arconic excluding the impacts of Restructuring and other charges, Discrete tax items, and Other special items (collectively, "Special items”). There can be no assurances that additional special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both Net income (loss) determined under GAAP as well as Net income excluding Special items.

⁽¹⁾ Discrete tax items for each period included the following:

• for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, a charge for a number of small items ($2).
• for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, a charge resulting from the enactment of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017 that principally relates to the revaluation of U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities from 35% to 21% ($272), a charge for a reserve against a foreign attribute resulting from the Company’s Delaware reincorporation ($23), partially offset by a benefit for the reversal of state valuation allowances ($69) and a benefit for a number of small items ($6);
• for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, a charge for a number of small items ($1).

⁽²⁾ Other special items included the following:

• for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, costs related to the early redemption of the Company’s outstanding 5.720% Senior Notes due 2019 ($19), legal and other advisory costs related to Grenfell Tower ($5), and a charge for a number of small tax items ($1);
• for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, an impairment of goodwill related to the forgings and extrusions business ($719), a favorable adjustment to the Firth Rixson earn-out ($81), a favorable adjustment to a separation-related guarantee liability ($25), legal and other advisory costs related to Grenfell Tower ($7), costs associated with the Company’s Delaware reincorporation ($3), and a benefit for a number of small tax items ($11); and
• for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, a gain on the sale of a portion of Arconic’s investment in Alcoa Corporation common stock ($351), costs associated with the separation of Alcoa Inc. ($18), proxy, advisory and governance-related costs ($16), and a benefit for a number of small tax items ($8).

Operational tax rate is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Arconic excluding the impacts of Special items. There can be no assurances that additional Special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both the Effective tax rate determined under GAAP as well as the Operational tax rate.

⁽¹⁾ See Net income excluding Special items reconciliation above for a description of Special items.

Organic revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors as it presents revenue on a comparable basis for all periods presented due to the impact of the ramp-down and Toll Processing and Services Agreement with Alcoa Corporation at the North America packaging business at its Tennessee operations, the sale of the Fusina, Italy rolling mill, and the impact of changes in aluminum prices and foreign currency fluctuations relative to the prior year periods.

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations after taking into consideration capital expenditures (due to the fact that these expenditures are considered necessary to maintain and expand Arconic’s asset base and are expected to generate future cash flows from operations), as well as cash receipts from net sales of beneficial interest in sold receivables. In conjunction with the implementation of the new accounting guidance on changes to the classification of certain cash receipts and cash payments within the statement of cash flows, specifically as it relates to the requirement to reclassify cash receipts from net sales of beneficial interest in sold receivables from operating activities to investing activities, the Company has changed the calculation of its measure of Free cash flow to include cash receipts from net sales of beneficial interest in sold receivables. This change to our measure of Free cash flow is being implemented to ensure consistent presentation of this measure across all historical periods. The adoption of this accounting guidance does not reflect a change in our underlying business or activities. It is important to note that Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure.

Net debt is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management assesses Arconic’s leverage position after factoring in available cash that could be used to repay outstanding debt.

Operating income excluding Special items is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Arconic excluding the impacts of Special items. There can be no assurances that additional Special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both Operating income (loss) determined under GAAP as well as Operating income excluding Special items.

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