Detroit City Wire

American Axle & Manufacturing issued the following announcement on May 08.

First Quarter 2020 Results

• Sales of $1.34 billion
• Net loss attributable to AAM of $501.3 million, or (37.3)% of sales, which includes the impact of a pre-tax goodwill impairment of $510.0 million
• Adjusted EBITDA of $213.3 million, or 15.9% of sales
• Diluted loss per share of $4.45; Adjusted earnings per share of $0.20
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $139.4 million; Adjusted free cash flow of $83.3 million
• AAM's first quarter financial results were unfavorably impacted by global production reductions due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19)

“AAM delivered strong operating performance and free cash flow generation in the first quarter of 2020 despite the unfavorable impact of COVID-19 on global light vehicle production. We expect this unprecedented health crisis and related effect on global light vehicle production and consumer demand to further impact AAM’s financial results in the second quarter of 2020,” said AAM’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch. “As we begin to resume our global operations, we are focused on securing a safe and healthy workplace for our associates while utilizing our variable cost structure to mitigate the steep decline in global production volumes.  In addition, we will continue to work with our supply base to meet customer requirements and structurally adjust our operations to the new market demand.”

AAM's sales in the first quarter of 2020 were $1.34 billion as compared to $1.72 billion in the first quarter of 2019.  AAM estimates that our sales for the first quarter of 2020 were unfavorably impacted by COVID-19 by approximately $169 million.  In addition, our first quarter of 2019 sales include $182 million related to our U.S. iron casting operations, which were sold in December 2019.

AAM's net loss in the first quarter of 2020 was $501.3 million, or $4.45 per share, as compared to net income of $41.6 million, or $0.36 per share in the first quarter of 2019. 

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, loss on sale of business, impairment charges and non-recurring items, including the tax effect thereon.  Adjusted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2020 were $0.20 compared to $0.36 in the first quarter of 2019.

AAM estimates that our net loss in the first quarter of 2020 was unfavorably impacted by lower production as a result of COVID-19 by approximately $37 million, or $0.33 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, loss on sale of business, impairment charges and non-recurring items.  In the first quarter of 2020, Adjusted EBITDA was $213.3 million, or 15.9% of sales, as compared to $245.0 million, or 14.3% of sales, in the first quarter of 2019.  AAM estimates that our Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2020 was unfavorably impacted by COVID-19 by approximately $47 million.  In addition, our first quarter of 2019 Adjusted EBITDA includes $18 million related to our U.S. iron casting operations.

AAM's net cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of 2020 was $139.4 million as compared to a use of $80.2 million for the first quarter of 2019. 

AAM defines free cash flow to be net cash provided by (used in) 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 first quarter of 2020 was $83.3 million as compared to a use of $188.5 million for the first quarter of 2019.

AAM's 2020 Financial Outlook

As a result of the unexpected disruption in light vehicle production and economic uncertainty due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, AAM withdrew its 2020 financial outlook on March 25, 2020.  Due to the continued uncertainty, we are not issuing revised 2020 financial targets at this time.

Liquidity Update and Amendment of AAM's Credit Facility

At March 31, 2020, total liquidity was over $1.4 billion and consisted of $683 million of cash on hand, approximately $690 million available on our committed revolving credit facility and approximately $85 million available on our foreign credit facilities.

On April 1, 2020, we drew down an additional $150 million on our revolving credit facility.

On April 28, 2020, we amended our existing credit facility to, among other things, revise financial maintenance covenants to provide additional flexibility for AAM as we adjust our business for the impact of COVID-19 on current and future global light vehicle production.

“We are confident that our solid liquidity level will support our working capital and business needs as we manage through this extraordinary situation and best position AAM for the future,” said Dauch.

First Quarter 2020 Conference Call Information

A conference call to review AAM's first quarter 2020 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 0338297. A replay will be available one hour after the call is complete until May 15, 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 10141431.

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.

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.

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