INDIANAPOLIS, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ALSN), the largest global provider of commercial duty fully-automatic transmissions, today reported net sales for the quarter of $494 million, an 8 percent increase from the same period in 2013. Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $108 million, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $80 million for the same period in 2013, an increase of $28 million. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $0.28.

The increase in net sales was principally driven by the continued recovery in the North America On-Highway end market, our largest, and higher demand in the Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end market partially offset by previously contemplated reductions in U.S. defense spending.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $166 million, or 33.6 percent of net sales, compared to $141 million, or 30.8 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2013. Excluding $3 million of technology-related license expenses, Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2014 was $169 million, or 34.3 percent of net sales. Excluding $6 million of technology-related license expenses, Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2013 was $147 million, or 32.1 percent of net sales. Adjusted Free Cash Flow, also a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $91 million compared to $48 million for the same period in 2013.

Lawrence E. Dewey, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allison Transmission commented, "Our first quarter 2014 results are within the full year guidance ranges we provided to the market on February 13. Net sales improved on a year-over-year basis for the second consecutive quarter. Continued recovery in the North American On-Highway end market and higher demand for global service parts are encouraging and consistent with our full year guidance which we are affirming. Highlighting our commitment to the return of capital to Allison's shareholders we completed a $100 million share repurchase and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share."

First Quarter Net Sales by End Market

First Quarter Highlights

North America On-Highway end market net sales were up 24 percent from the same period in 2013 principally driven by higher demand for Rugged Duty Series, Highway Series and Pupil Transport/Shuttle Series models, and up 11 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by higher demand for Rugged Duty Series and Pupil Transport/Shuttle Series models.

North America Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus end market net sales were down 23 percent from the same period in 2013 and 25 percent sequentially principally driven by lower demand due to engine emissions improvements and non-hybrid alternatives that generally require a fully-automatic transmission (e.g. xNG).

North America Off-Highway end market net sales were up 50 percent from the same period in 2013 principally driven by higher demand from hydraulic fracturing applications, and down 14 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by the precipitous rate of improvement in demand from hydraulic fracturing applications experienced in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Defense end market net sales were down 40 percent from the same period in 2013 and 3 percent sequentially principally driven by previously considered reductions in U.S. defense spending to longer term averages experienced during periods without active conflicts.

Outside North America On-Highway end market net sales were up 3 percent from the same period in 2013 reflecting strength in China bus partially offset by weakness in Europe truck due to fourth quarter 2013 Euro VI emissions pre-buy activities, and down 26 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by fourth quarter 2013 China bus tender timing and Europe truck Euro VI emissions pre-buy activities.

Outside North America Off-Highway end market net sales were flat compared with the same period in 2013 principally driven by modestly improved demand conditions in the mining sector offsetting lower demand from the energy sector, and up 50 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by modestly improved demand conditions in the mining sector.

Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end market net sales were up 18 percent from the same period in 2013 principally driven by higher demand for global service parts, and global On-Highway support equipment commensurate with increased transmission unit volumes, and up 6 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by higher demand for global service parts and support equipment.

Gross profit for the quarter was $223 million, an increase of 12 percent from gross profit of $198 million for the same period in 2013. Gross margin for the quarter was 45.1 percent, an increase of 170 basis points from a gross margin of 43.4 percent for the same period in 2013. The increase in gross profit from the same period in 2013 was principally driven by increased net sales.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter were $83 million, a decrease of 5 percent from $88 million for the same period in 2013. The decrease was principally driven by a $5 million reduction in intangible asset amortization.

Engineering – research and development expenses for the quarter were $25 million, a decrease of 16 percent from $29 million for the same period in 2013. The decrease was principally driven by a $3 million reduction in technology-related license expenses.

First Quarter Non-GAAP Financial Measures 
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $166 million, or 33.6 percent of net sales, compared to $141 million, or 30.8 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2013. Excluding $3 million of technology-related license expenses Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2014 was $169 million, or 34.3 percent of net sales. Excluding $6 million of technology-related license expenses Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2013 was $147 million, or 32.1 percent of net sales. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA from the same period in 2013 was principally driven by increased net sales and a $3 million reduction in technology-related license expenses.

Adjusted Net Income for the quarter was $108 million compared to $80 million for the same period in 2013. The increase was principally driven by increased Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the quarter was $91 million compared to $48 million for the same period in 2013. The increase was principally driven by increased net cash provided by operating activities, decreased capital expenditures and a $3 million reduction in technology-related license expenses. The decrease in capital expenditures was principally driven by lower product initiatives spending partially offset by increased investments in productivity and replacement programs.

Full Year 2014 Guidance Update
We are affirming our full year 2014 guidance released to the market on February 13: net sales increase in the range of 3 to 6 percent, an Adjusted EBITDA margin excluding technology-related license expenses in the range of 32 to 34 percent, an Adjusted Free Cash Flow in the range of $375 to $425 million, capital expenditures in the range of $60 to $70 million and cash income taxes in the range of $10 to $15 million.

Although we are not providing specific second quarter 2014 guidance, Allison expects second quarter net sales to be higher than the same period in 2013. The anticipated year-over-year increase in second quarter net sales is expected to be principally driven by higher demand in the North America On-Highway, North America Off-Highway and Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end markets partially offset by previously considered reductions in Defense net sales.

Conference Call and Webcast 
The company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Thursday April 17 to discuss its first quarter 2014 results. Dial-in number is 1-201-689-8470 and the U.S. toll-free dial-in number is 1-877-407-9039. The passcode for the call is 13580054. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available online at http://ir.allisontransmission.com.

For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available from 11:00 a.m. ET on April 17 until 11:59 p.m. ET on April 24. The replay dial-in number is 1-858-384-5517 and the U.S. toll-free replay dial-in number is 1-877-870-5176. The replay passcode is 13580054.

About Allison Transmission 
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is the world's largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including refuse, construction, fire, distribution, bus, motorhomes, defense and energy. Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and employs approximately 2,700 people worldwide. With a market presence in more than 80 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Hungary and India.  Allison also has approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including all statements regarding future financial results. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plans," "project," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "intend," "forecast," "could," "potential," "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar terms or phrases. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks. Factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made include, but are not limited to: risks related to our substantial indebtedness; our participation in markets that are competitive; the highly cyclical industries in which certain of our end users operate; the failure of markets outside North America to increase adoption of fully-automatic transmissions; the concentration of our net sales in our top five customers and the loss of any one of these; future reductions or changes in government subsidies for hybrid vehicles, U.S. defense spending; general economic and industry conditions; the discovery of defects in our products, resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns and/or increased warranty costs and reduction in future sales or damage to our brand and reputation; our ability to prepare for, respond to and successfully achieve our objectives relating to technological and market developments and changing customer needs; risks associated with our international operations; labor strikes, work stoppages or similar labor disputes, which could significantly disrupt our operations or those of our principal customers; and other risks and uncertainties associated with our business described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All information is as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in expectations.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 
This press release contains information about Allison's financial results which are not presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). Such non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to their closest GAAP financial measures at the end of this press release. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP and, as calculated, may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Attachment

• Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
• Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
• Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
• Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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SOURCE Allison Transmission Holdings Inc.

Investor Relations, (317) 242-3078, ir@allisontransmission.com, or Media Relations,(317) 242-5000, media@allisontransmission.com