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Published on February 14, 2020

AAM Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2019 Financial Results

DETROIT, February 14, 2020 -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), (NYSE: AXL) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2019. AAM also provided its full year 2020 financial outlook and 2020-2022 new business backlog.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Results

  • Sales of $1.43 billion
  • Net loss attributable to AAM of $454.4 million, or (31.8)% of sales, which includes the impact of a pre-tax goodwill impairment of $440.0 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $193.5 million, or 13.5% of sales
  • Diluted loss per share of $4.04; Adjusted earnings per share of $0.13
  • Net cash provided by operating activities of $181.0 million; Adjusted free cash flow of $116.5 million
  • AAM's fourth quarter financial results were unfavorably impacted by a work stoppage at our largest customer (GM work stoppage)

Full Year 2019 Results

  • Sales of $6.53 billion
  • Net loss attributable to AAM of $484.5 million, or (7.4)% of sales, which includes the impact of pre-tax impairment charges of $665.0 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $970.3 million, or 14.9% of sales
  • Diluted loss per share of $4.31; Adjusted earnings per share of $1.62
  • Net cash provided by operating activities of$559.6 million; Adjusted free cash flow of $207.8 million
  • AAM's full year financial results were unfavorably impacted by the GM work stoppage

“AAM delivered solid operating and cash flow performance in 2019, as we adjusted our operations for lower global production volumes and the GM work stoppage,” said AAM’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch. “In 2020, we are focused on further free cash flow generation and debt reduction while continuing to invest in advanced propulsion technologies to drive future profitable growth for AAM.”

AAM's sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 were $1.43 billion as compared to $1.69 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018.  AAM's sales for full year 2019 were $6.53 billion as compared to $7.27 billion for full year 2018. AAM estimates that our sales for the fourth quarter and full year 2019 were unfavorably impacted by the GM work stoppage by approximately $186 million and $243 million, respectively.

AAM's net loss in the fourth quarter of 2019 was $454.4 million, or $4.04 per share, as compared to a net loss of $361.8 million, or $3.24 per share in the fourth quarter of 2018.  AAM's net loss for full year 2019 was $484.5 million, or $4.31 per share, as compared to a net loss of $57.5 million, or $0.51 per share, for full year 2018.

AAM defines Adjusted earnings per share to be diluted earnings per share excluding the impact of restructuring and acquisition-related costs, debt refinancing and redemption costs, (gain) loss on sale of business, impairment charges, pension settlements and non-recurring items, including the tax effect thereon.  Adjusted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2019 were $0.13 compared to $0.45 in the fourth quarter of 2018. Adjusted earnings per share for full year 2019 were $1.62 compared to $3.28 for full year 2018.

AAM estimates that our net loss in the fourth quarter of 2019 was unfavorably impacted by the GM work stoppage by approximately $52 million, or $0.47 per share. AAM estimates that our net loss for full year 2019 was unfavorably impacted by the GM work stoppage by approximately $66 million, or $0.59 per share.

AAM defines EBITDA to be earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding the impact of restructuring and acquisition-related costs, debt refinancing and redemption costs, (gain) loss on sale of business, impairment charges, pension settlements and non-recurring items.  In the fourth quarter of 2019, Adjusted EBITDA was $193.5 million, or 13.5% of sales, as compared to $244.0 million, or 14.4% of sales, in the fourth quarter of 2018.  For full year 2019, AAM's Adjusted EBITDA was $970.3 million, or 14.9% of sales, as compared to $1,183.9 million, or 16.3% of sales, in 2018. AAM estimates that our Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter and full year 2019 was unfavorably impacted by the GM work stoppage by approximately $66 million and $84 million, respectively.

AAM's net cash provided by operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $181.0 million as compared to $258.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. AAM's net cash provided by operating activities for full year 2019 was $559.6 million as compared to $771.5 million for full year 2018.

AAM defines free cash flow to be net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as free cash flow excluding the impact of cash payments for restructuring and acquisition-related costs. AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $116.5 million as compared to $142.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for full year 2019 was $207.8 million as compared to $322.3 million for full year 2018.

AAM Redeems $100 million of its 6.625% Senior Notes

On February 5, 2020, AAM redeemed $100 million of its 6.625% senior notes due 2022, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

AAM's 2020 Financial Outlook

AAM's full year 2020 financial targets are as follows:

  • AAM is targeting sales in the range of $5.8 - $6.0 billion, which includes lower metal market passthroughs to customers at current market rates.
  • AAM is targeting Adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 16% of sales
  • AAM is targeting Adjusted free cash flow of approximately $300 million.This target assumes capital spending of approximately 5.5% of sales.

These targets are based on the following industry production assumptions for 2020:

  • North American light vehicle production of 16.3 to 16.5 million units
  • European light vehicle production down 1% to 3% compared to 2019
  • China light vehicle production down 3% to 5% compared to 2019

AAM's 2020-2022 New Business Backlog

AAM’s gross new and incremental business backlog launching from 2020 - 2022 is estimated at approximately $750 million in future annual sales. AAM expects the launch cadence of the three-year backlog to be approximately $400 million in 2020, $200 million in 2021 and $150 million in 2022.  AAM's updated backlog estimate contemplates the sale of the U.S. iron casting operations completed in December 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019 Conference Call Information

A conference call to review AAM's fourth quarter and full year 2019 results is scheduled today at 10:00 a.m. ET. Interested participants may listen to the live conference call by logging onto AAM's investor web site at http://investor.aam.com or calling (877) 883-0383 from the United States or (412) 902-6506 from outside the United States with access code 8417761. A replay will be available one hour after the call is complete until February 21, 2020 by dialing (877) 344-7529 from the United States or (412) 317-0088 from outside the United States. When prompted, callers should enter replay access code 10138226.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) included within this press release, AAM has provided certain information, which includes non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings per share and Adjusted free cash flow.  Such information is reconciled to its closest GAAP measure in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules and is included in the attached supplemental data.

Certain of the forward-looking financial measures included in this earnings release are provided on a non-GAAP basis. A reconciliation of non-GAAP forward-looking financial measures to the most directly comparable forward-looking financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP has been provided.  The amounts in these reconciliations are based on our current estimates and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking estimates for many reasons, including potential event driven transactional and other non-core operating items and their related effects in any future period, the magnitude of which may be significant.

Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to management, investors, and banking institutions in their analysis of the Company's business and operating performance. Management also uses this information for operational planning and decision-making purposes.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not and should not be considered a substitute for any GAAP measure. Additionally, non-GAAP financial measures as presented by AAM may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Company Description

AAM (NYSE: AXL) delivers POWER that moves the world. As a leading global tier 1 automotive supplier, AAM designs, engineers and manufactures driveline and metal forming technologies that are making the next generation of vehicles smarter, lighter, safer and more efficient. Headquartered in Detroit, AAM has over 20,000 associates operating at nearly 80 facilities in 17 countries to support our customers on global and regional platforms with a focus on quality, operational excellence and technology leadership.  To learn more, visit aam.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this earnings release, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance. Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to trends and events that may affect our future financial position and operating results. The terms such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project,” "target," and similar words or expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), FCA US LLC (FCA), or other customers; our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures; our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand; lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products; our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products; reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and FCA); risks inherent in our global operations (including tariffs and the potential consequences thereof to us, our suppliers, and our customers and their suppliers, adverse changes in trade agreements, such as NAFTA or USMCA, immigration policies, political stability, taxes and other law changes, currency rate fluctuations, and potential disruptions of production and supply, including those as a result of public health crises, such as pandemic or epidemic illness, or otherwise); a significant disruption in operations at one or more of our key manufacturing facilities; negative or unexpected tax consequences; risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and  damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber attack and other similar disruptions; global economic conditions; an impairment of our goodwill, other intangible assets, or long-lived assets if our business or market conditions indicate that the carrying values of those assets exceed their fair values; liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers; our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages; our suppliers', our customers' and their suppliers' ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages; supply shortages or price increases in raw material and/or freight, utilities or other operating supplies for us or our customers as a result of natural disasters or otherwise; our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness; our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog; price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel; our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us; availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) or other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, as well as our ability to comply with financial covenants; our customers' and suppliers' availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes; risks of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations or risks of environmental issues that could result in unforeseen costs at our facilities or reputational damage; adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers' products; our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to comply with regulatory requirements and the potential costs of such compliance; changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; our ability to attract and retain key associates; and other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.

For more information:

INVESTOR RELATIONS

David Lim

Head of Investor Relations

+1 (313) 758 2006

InvestorRelations@aam.com

MEDIA

Christopher Son

Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications

+1 (313) 758-4814

Contact
AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING

One Dauch Drive
Detroit, MI 48211-1198

X
Forward-Looking Statement

On this website and elsewhere in attached materials, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance.  Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to trends and events that may affect our future financial position and operating results.  The terms such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project,” "target," and similar words or expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

  • reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), FCA US LLC (FCA), or other customers;
  • reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and FCA);
  • our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand;
  • lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
  • our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures;
  • our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products;
  • our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions and joint ventures;
  • risks inherent in our international operations (including adverse changes in trade agreements, tariffs, immigration policies, political stability, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations, including those resulting from the recent United States presidential election and the United Kingdom's vote to exit the European Union);
  • negative or unexpected tax consequences;
  • liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers;
  • our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness;
  • supply shortages or price increases in raw materials, utilities or other operating supplies for us or our customers as a result of natural disasters or otherwise;
  • our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis;
  • our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog;
  • risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber attack and other similar disruptions;
  • global economic conditions;
  • our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages;
  • our suppliers', our customers' and their suppliers' ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages;
  • price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel;
  • our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us;
  • our ability to attract and retain key associates;
  • availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) or other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, as well as our ability to comply with financial covenants;
  • our customers' and suppliers' availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes;
  • changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations;
  • risks of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations or risks of environmental issues that could result in unforeseen costs at our facilities;
  • adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers' products (such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations);
  • our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act and other regulatory requirements and the potential costs of such compliance;  and
  • other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete.
It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.