Fourth Quarter 2015 Results

• Sales were
  • High Performance Materials & Components sales were
  • Flat Rolled Products sales were
• Business segment results, which do not include Flat Rolled Products asset impairments and other charges, were a loss of
  • High Performance Materials & Components segment operating profit was , or 4.6% of sales
• Net loss attributable to ATI was , or per share, including of pre-tax charges, or after-tax, or per share
• Net loss attributable to ATI excluding charges was , or per share
• Cash on hand was with total liquidity of approximately

Full Year 2015 Results

• Sales were
• Net loss attributable to ATI was , or per share
• Significant operational accomplishments of Rowley PQ parts qualification, new part introductions for aerospace ramp-up readiness, and HRPF integration overshadowed by weak market conditions, particularly in Flat Rolled Products commodity businesses

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 2016-- (NYSE: ATI) reported fourth quarter 2015 sales of and a net loss attributable to ATI of , or per share. Fourth quarter 2015 results include of previously-announced, pre-tax charges.

For the full year 2015, ATI reported a loss from continuing operations attributable to ATI of , or per share, on in sales.

'2015 was an incredibly difficult year, and the fourth quarter was the most challenging of the year,' said , Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. 'Early indicators in 2015 of increasing weakness in the oil and gas market and the effects of low-priced commodity stainless sheet imports on flat rolled products' markets were only the beginning. While aerospace market demand for products from the High Performance Materials & Components segment remained good, an extended drop in demand from the oil and gas market, and continued weakness in the global construction and mining equipment market, adversely affected profitability across both business segments. Despite these headwinds, we continued our strategic focus on high-value, differentiated products, which were 83% of ATI's 2015 sales.'

• ATI's sales to the key global markets of aerospace and defense, oil & gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry, electrical energy, automotive and medical represented 79% of ATI sales for 2015:
  • Sales to the aerospace and defense markets were and represented 41% of ATI sales: 21% jet engine, 13% airframe, 7% defense. ATI's sales to the commercial aerospace market increased 8% in 2015 compared to 2014.
  • Sales to the oil and gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry market were and represented 14% of ATI sales: 9% oil & gas, 5% chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry. ATI's sales to these markets decreased 28% in 2015 compared to 2014.
  • Sales to the electrical energy market were and represented 10% of ATI sales. ATI's sales to this market decreased 14% in 2015 compared to 2014.
  • Sales to the automotive market were and represented 8% of ATI sales.
  • Sales to the medical market were and represented 6% of ATI sales.
• Direct international sales were and represented 42% of ATI's 2015 sales.

'Sales in our High Performance Materials & Components segment were in the fourth quarter 2015, compared to in the third quarter 2015, while segment operating profit improved slightly to , or 4.6% of sales, compared to or 4.0% of sales in the third quarter 2015,' continued . 'Sales decreased for titanium and titanium alloys due to the timing of orders in the aerospace airframe market, which were more heavily weighted to earlier periods of 2015. Sales for other products in the segment were similar to third quarter 2015 results.

'Flat Rolled Products segment sales were , down 21% sequentially, and segment operating results were a loss of , compared to a loss of in the third quarter 2015. Segment results, which exclude of goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment charges, reflect the continued challenging market conditions, primarily impacting commodity stainless flat-rolled products. Fourth quarter market conditions continued to deteriorate in this business, due in large part to a surge of imports into the U.S. market, and excess North American and global capacities for commodity stainless steel sheet. Base-selling prices for commodity stainless steel sheet products have fallen throughout 2015 and reached historic lows in December. In addition, weakness continued in the oil and gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry market, which has been the segment's largest end market. Falling raw material prices negatively affected results, as pricing mechanisms that are designed to recover material costs through indexes and surcharges fell faster than the length of the manufacturing cycle.

'In , we announced the idling of the standard/commodity stainless melt shop and finishing operations at our Flat Rolled Products' facility, and the idling of our grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) operations, including the Bagdad, PA facility, both of which are expected to be completed in early 2016. A non-cash impairment charge was recorded in fourth quarter 2015 results to reduce the carrying value of these operations, along with a charge for idling costs. We also wrote off all of goodwill in the Flat Rolled Products business as a fourth quarter 2015 non-cash charge.

'Our negotiations with the United Steelworkers resumed in late December. We have met several times over the last three weeks. Overall, the dialogue has been generally constructive and we continue to focus on reaching a fair and more competitive labor agreement. In the meantime, we will continue to operate with our salaried employees and temporary workers.

'Capital expenditures were in 2015, almost half of which was related to the HRPF. This amount was lower than our third quarter 2015 estimate because some HRPF payments shifted to early 2016.

'We maintained a solid liquidity position with in cash and a asset-based domestic lending (ABL) facility with our bank group, which was undrawn at year-end 2015. The ABL facility contains no leverage or interest coverage ratios and is collateralized by the accounts receivable and inventory of ATI's domestic operations. Total debt to total capital was 42.0% at , compared to 37.0% at the end of 2014.

'We made significant progress in 2015 in qualifying and fully integrating several long-term strategic capital projects that position ATI to grow our high-value products. These strategic capital projects, specifically the Hot Rolling and Processing Facility (HRPF) and the Rowley titanium sponge facility, have been multi-year investments that are expected to begin to provide a return on our invested capital after extensive construction and qualification phases.

Strategy and Outlook

'ATI's results in 2016 will reflect two differently situated businesses. Our High Performance Materials & Components (HPMC) segment is positioned to begin a multi-year period of sustained profitable growth, supported by long-term agreements that provide significant growth for ATI on legacy and next-generation airplanes and the jet engines that power them. Volume from these agreements is expected to provide improved capacity utilization and product mix in our mill products, forgings, and titanium investment casting facilities, beginning in the first quarter 2016. We expect to increase the pace throughout our HPMC operations as we progress through 2016, driven primarily by the commercial aerospace market, with segment operating profit as a percentage of sales returning to double-digit levels by the second half of the year. This represents significant and continuing improvement toward our goals of long-term profitable growth and consistently earning a premium to our cost of capital.

'In our Flat Rolled Products (FRP) segment, our first half 2016 results will reflect the ongoing rightsizing and restructuring activities, including idling the facility and our GOES operations, during a period of continuing low raw material prices and uncertain end market demand. As we continue to reposition this business to a higher value product mix, we expect shipments of our specialty coil and plate products to improve throughout 2016 and benefit from the HRPF capabilities, particularly for our 48'-wide nickel-based alloy sheet. As a result of these initiatives we expect the FRP segment to be modestly profitable by the second half of 2016.

'Cash generation from operations will be a key focus throughout 2016. We do not expect to pay any U.S. federal taxes in 2016 due to net operating loss carryforwards, and we intend to carefully balance our working capital and other cash needs with the pace of our capital expenditure requirements. We currently expect 2016 capital expenditures to be approximately , including our nickel alloy powder expansion (), final payments on the HRPF (), completion of the expansion of our titanium investment castings capacity (), and the expansion of manufacturing capabilities at our STAL joint venture in (), which is consolidated within ATI's financial results. The STAL capital expansion will be fully funded by STAL's operations. Depreciation and amortization expense in 2016 is forecasted to be approximately .

'We currently expect 2016 pre-tax retirement benefit expense to be about , or approximately higher than 2015, due primarily to lower pension assets. We do not expect to make significant cash contributions to the U.S. qualified pension plan in 2016.'

Financial Review

Fourth Quarter 2015 Charges for asset impairments, restructuring, inventory and other items were pretax:

• ATI conducted its annual goodwill impairment analysis in the fourth quarter of 2015, and determined that the fair value of this business was below its carrying value. As a result, fourth quarter 2015 results include a pretax, non-cash charge to write off all goodwill in the Flat Rolled Products business. This goodwill primarily resulted from the 1993 acquisition of by Allegheny Ludlum, a predecessor ATI company.
• Restructuring and other charges were in the fourth quarter 2015, as follows:
  • In , ATI announced rightsizing actions in the Flat Rolled Products business which included the prospective 2016 idlings of the standard stainless melt shop and finishing operations in , and the GOES operations in Western PA including the Bagdad facility. Fourth quarter 2015 results include a pretax, non-cash impairment charge to reduce the carrying values of these facilities. Fourth quarter results also include of charges for future idling costs at these facilities.
  • In , based on current market prices for non-PQ titanium sponge, ATI recorded a non-cash charge to revalue this inventory. The charge includes revised assessments of the non-PQ titanium market conditions and expected utilization of this inventory.
  • As announced in , in the fourth quarter 2015 ATI implemented a salaried workforce reduction in both the High Performance Materials & Components segment and at ATI's headquarters. Severance charges of were recorded in the fourth quarter for this action.
• Net Realizable Value inventory reserve charges were , which are required to offset ATI's aggregate net debit LIFO inventory balance that exceeds current inventory replacement cost. The NRV reserve increase offset LIFO inventory valuation reserve benefits of recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Quarterly Results

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 Financial Results

• Sales for the fourth quarter 2015 were , a decrease of 11% compared to the third quarter 2015. Compared to the third quarter 2015, sales decreased 4% in the High Performance Materials & Components segment, primarily due to lower sales of titanium and titanium alloys. Flat Rolled Products segment sales decreased 21% compared to the third quarter 2015 due to lower shipments and lower selling prices.
• Sales for the full year 2015 decreased 12% to , compared to for 2014. Direct international sales were and represented 42% of total sales, compared to 38% for 2014. Compared to the full year 2014, sales decreased 1% in the High Performance Materials & Components segment and 22% in the Flat Rolled Products segment.
• Fourth quarter 2015 segment operating loss was , or (13.4)% of sales, compared to a loss of , or (8.8)% of sales in the third quarter 2015. High Performance Materials & Components segment operating profit for the fourth quarter 2015 was , or 4.6% of sales, compared to , or 4.0% of sales in the third quarter 2015. Flat Rolled Products segment operating loss was in the fourth quarter 2015, compared to a loss of in the third quarter 2015.
• Full year 2015 segment operating loss was , or (2.3)% of sales, compared to 2014 segment operating profit of , or 4.4% of sales. High Performance Materials & Components segment operating profit for the full year 2015 was , or 7.9% of sales, compared to , or 11.7% of sales in 2014. Flat Rolled Products segment operating loss was for the full year 2015, compared to a loss of in 2014.
• The loss from continuing operations attributable to ATI for the fourth quarter 2015was , or per share, compared to a loss of , or per share, for the third quarter 2015. Results for the fourth quarter 2015 included after-tax, or per share, of impairment and restructuring charges and NRV inventory charges compared to after-tax, or per share of NRV inventory charges and income tax valuation allowances in the third quarter 2015. Excluding these charges from both 2015 periods, the loss from continuing operations was , or per share, in the fourth quarter compared to , or per share, in the third quarter 2015.
• Full year 2015 loss from continuing operations attributable to ATI was , or per share, including all charges, compared to the full year 2014 loss of , or per share.
• Cash on hand at the end of 2015 was , a decrease from year-end 2014. Cash flow provided by operations was in the fourth quarter 2015 and for the full year 2015.

High Performance Materials & Components Segment

Market Conditions

• Sales to the commercial jet engine market in the fourth quarter 2015 were slightly higher compared to the third quarter 2015. Government aerospace and defense sales were also higher sequentially, while sales to the commercial airframe market were weaker. Sales to the medical market were 2% higher, while oil & gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry and construction and mining markets remained at lower levels. Sales of our titanium and titanium alloys declined 15%, and sales of our nickel-based and specialty alloys were flat compared to the third quarter 2015. Sales of zirconium and related alloys improved 10%, and sales of precision forgings and castings increased 2% compared to the third quarter 2015. Direct international sales represented over 43% of total segment sales for 2015.

Fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014

• Sales decreased 9% to compared to the fourth quarter 2014, primarily as a result of lower mill product shipments. Sales to the aerospace market, which represented over 60% of fourth quarter 2015 sales, were 6% lower than the prior year quarter as higher sales to the commercial jet engine market were offset by lower sales in commercial airframe market due to the timing of orders. Sales to the oil & gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry decreased 68% compared to the fourth quarter 2014 due to significant supply chain rebalancing. Sales to the medical market comprised 11% of segment sales and increased 9% compared to the fourth quarter 2014.
• Segment operating profit was , or 4.6% of sales. This compares to , or 14.4% of sales in the fourth quarter 2014. Results for 2015 were negatively impacted by lower operating levels due to lower demand from the oil & gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry and construction and mining markets, which mainly affected nickel and specialty steel alloys and precision forging products. Results were also negatively impacted by the misalignment of raw material costs due to the long manufacturing cycle of certain products not matching lower raw material index values included in selling prices.

Flat Rolled Products Segment

Market Conditions

• Weak market conditions, particularly for commodity standard stainless products, continued to worsen in the fourth quarter of 2015. Sales of standard grade stainless sheet and plate products were 26% lower on 15% lower shipment volume, and sales of high-value products were 20% lower on 17% lower shipment volume, compared to the third quarter of 2015. Declining raw material surcharges contributed to the decline in sales. Flat Rolled Products segment shipment information is presented in the attached Selected Financial Data - Mill Products table.

Fourth quarter 2015 compared to fourth quarter 2014

• Sales were , nearly 50% below the prior year period, due to weak market conditions and lower sales for all major products. Shipments of high-value products decreased 32% compared to the fourth quarter 2014, and shipments of standard stainless products decreased 43%. Average selling prices were 12% lower for high-value products and 32% lower for standard stainless products.
• Segment operating results were a loss of , compared to a 2014 segment operating loss of . The monthly average LME-traded price of nickel declined from per pound in to per pound in . These changes combined with lower base selling prices for most products had significant negative impacts on segment results. Lower operating levels due primarily to weak market conditions also negatively impacted segment results.

Income Taxes

• Fourth quarter results included a benefit for income taxes of , using a 37.5% tax rate applied to the pretax loss, and of discrete tax benefits, net. ATI continues to record income tax valuation allowances on a portion of its deferred tax assets with future expiration dates, as a result of a three year cumulative loss from U.S. operations. For the full year 2015, the total impact of income tax valuation allowances was , which reduced the tax benefit recognized on the 2015 pretax loss, and primarily related to tax benefits recognized in prior periods. The Company expects to continue to record income tax valuation allowances for a portion of its deferred tax assets while it remains in this three-year cumulative loss position.

will conduct a conference call with investors and analysts on , at to discuss the financial results. The conference call will be broadcast, and accompanying presentation slides will be available, at www.ATImetals.com. To access the broadcast, click on 'Conference Call'. Replay of the conference call will be available on the website.

This news release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain statements in this news release relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'expects,' 'would,' 'should,' 'will,' 'will likely result,' 'forecast,' 'outlook,' 'projects,' and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which we are unable to predict or control, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: (a) material adverse changes in economic or industry conditions generally, including global supply and demand conditions and prices for our specialty metals; (b) material adverse changes in the markets we serve, including the aerospace and defense, electrical energy, oil and gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry, medical, automotive, construction and mining, and other markets; (c) our inability to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, synergies, growth or other benefits anticipated by management from strategic investments and the integration of acquired businesses, whether due to significant increases in energy, raw materials or employee benefits costs, project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, or other factors; (d) continued decline in, or volatility of, prices, and availability of supply, of the raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of our products; (e) declines in the value of our defined benefit pension plan assets or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding; (f) significant legal proceedings or investigations adverse to us; (g) labor disputes or work stoppage, including the current lockout of USW-represented employees; and (h) other risk factors summarized in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended , and in other reports filed with the . We assume no duty to update our forward-looking statements.

Creating Value Thru Relentless Innovation®

is one of the largest and most diversified specialty materials and components producers in the world with revenues of approximately in 2015. At , ATI had approximately 9,200 full-time employees world-wide who use innovative technologies to offer global markets a wide range of specialty materials solutions. Our major markets are aerospace and defense, oil and gas/chemical and hydrocarbon processing industry, electrical energy, medical, automotive, food equipment and appliance, and construction and mining. The ATI website is www.ATImetals.com.

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Source:

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
Dan L. Greenfield, 412-394-3004