AAM Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Financial Results

DETROIT, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), (NYSE: AXL) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017 and confirmed AAM's full year 2018 financial outlook.

Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

• Sales of $1.73 billion
• Net income attributable to AAM of $106.3 million or 6.1% of sales
• Diluted earnings per share of $0.93
• Adjusted earnings per share of $0.89
• Adjusted EBITDA of $295.7 million, or 17.1% of sales
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $226.3 million
• Adjusted free cash flow of $50.9 million
• Prepaid $200 million of Senior Notes due 2019

Full Year 2017 Results  

• Sales of $6.27 billion
• Net income attributable to AAM of $337.1 million or 5.4% of sales
• Diluted earnings per share of $3.21
• Adjusted earnings per share of $3.75
• Adjusted EBITDA of $1,102.7 million, or 17.6% of sales
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $647.0 million
• Adjusted free cash flow of $340.9 million

"2017 was a transformational year for AAM," said AAM's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch.  "We achieved another year of record sales and profitability while increasing our scale and accelerating business diversification through the acquisition of MPG.  As we look ahead to 2018, we expect another year of outstanding financial results, further integration and synergy attainment and exceptional support of our customers on numerous product launches."

AAM's fourth quarter and full year 2017 results reflect the impact of the acquisition of Metaldyne Performance Group Inc. (MPG) that was completed on April 6, 2017.

AAM's sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased to $1.73 billion as compared to $946.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. AAM's sales for full year 2017 increased to a record $6.27 billion as compared to $3.95 billion for full year 2016. Non-GM sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 were $1.01 billion as compared to $323.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.  Non-GM sales for full year 2017 were a record of $3.33 billion as compared to $1.29 billion for full year of 2016.

AAM's net income in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased to $106.3 million, or $0.93 per share. This compares to net income of $46.9 million, or $0.59 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. For full year 2017, AAM's net income was $337.1 million, or $3.21 per share. This compares to net income of $240.7 million, or $3.06 per share for full year 2016.

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, and non-recurring items, including the tax effect thereon. Adjusted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 2017 was $0.89 compared to $0.78 in the fourth quarter of 2016.  For full year 2017, AAM's Adjusted earnings per share was $3.75 compared to $3.30 in 2016.

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, and non-recurring items. In the fourth quarter of 2017, AAM's Adjusted EBITDA was $295.7 million, or 17.1% of sales, as compared to $148.2 million, or 15.7% of sales, in the fourth quarter of 2016. For full year 2017, AAM's Adjusted EBITDA was $1,102.7 million, or 17.6% of sales, as compared to $619.4 million, or 15.7% of sales, for full year 2016.

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 and government grants.  Adjusted free cash flow is defined as free cash flow excluding the impact of cash payments for restructuring and acquisition-related costs, settlements of pre-existing accounts payable balances with acquired entities, and interest payments upon the settlement of acquired company debt. AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for the fourth quarter of 2017 was $50.9 million as compared to $62.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2016.  AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for full year 2017 was $340.9 million as compared to $198.6 million for full year 2016.

AAM's Full Year 2018 Outlook
AAM is confirming its full year 2018 financial outlook:

• AAM is targeting sales of approximately $7 billion in 2018. This sales projection is based on the anticipated launch schedule of programs in AAM's new and incremental business backlog and the assumption that the U.S. Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate of sales ("SAAR") will be in the range of 16.8 million to 17 million light vehicle units in 2018.
• AAM is targeting an Adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 17.5% to 18.0% of sales in 2018.
• AAM is targeting Adjusted free cash flow of approximately 5% of sales in 2018.

Fourth Quarter and Full-year 2017 Conference Call Information
A conference call to review AAM's fourth quarter and full year 2017 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 (855) 681-2072 from the United States or (973) 200-3383 from outside the United States. A replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on February 16, 2018 until 11:59 p.m. ETFebruary 23, 2018 by dialing (855) 859-2056 from the United States or (404) 537-3406 from outside the United States. When prompted, callers should enter conference reservation number 87956027.

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 financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is not practical given the difficulty of projecting event driven transactional and other non-core operating items in future periods. The magnitude of these items, however, 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 is a premier, global leader in design, engineering, validation and manufacturing of driveline, metal forming, powertrain, and casting products for automotive, commercial and industrial markets.

Headquartered in Detroit, AAM has over 25,000 associates operating at more than 90 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 www.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; reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and FCA); 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; risks inherent in our global operations (including adverse changes in trade agreements, such as NAFTA, tariffs, immigration policies, political stability, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations); a significant disruption in operations at one or more of our key manufacturing facilities; global economic conditions; our ability to successfully integrate the business and information systems of Metaldyne Performance Group, Inc. (MPG) and to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger; risks related to disruptions to ongoing business operations as a result of the merger with MPG, including disruptions to management time; 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; 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; 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; potential liabilities or litigation relating to, or assumed in, the MPG merger; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the completion of the merger with MPG; 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 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; 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 Contact:
Jason P. Parsons  
Director, Investor Relations  
(313) 758-2404
jason.parsons@aam.com

Media Contact:

Christopher M. Son
Executive Director, Marketing & Communications 
(313) 758-4814 
chris.son@aam.com

Or visit the AAM website at www.aam.com.

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SOURCE American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.