INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ALSN), the largest global provider of commercial duty fully-automatic transmissions, today reported net sales for the fourth quarter of $478 million, a 12 percent decrease from the same period in 2014. The decrease in net sales was principally driven by lower demand in the global Off-Highway and Defense end markets, partially offset by price increases on certain products.

Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $123 million, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $117 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $6 million. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $170 million, or 35.6 percent of net sales, compared to $185 million, or 34.0 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2014. Excluding $3 million of technology-related license expenses, Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $188 million, or 34.6 percent of net sales. Adjusted Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $146 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, compared to $129 million for the same period in 2014, or $0.71 per diluted share.

Lawrence E. Dewey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Allison Transmission commented, "Allison's fourth quarter 2015 results are within the full year guidance ranges we provided to the market on October 26. The year-over-year reductions in the global Off-Highway and Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end markets net sales are consistent with the previously contemplated impact of lower energy and commodity prices. The year-over-year decrease in Defense end market net sales is commensurate with continued reductions in U.S. defense spending to longer term averages experienced during periods without active conflicts. Allison demonstrated solid operating margins and free cash flow while executing its prudent and well-defined approach to capital structure and allocation. During the fourth quarter, we refinanced all debt maturing in 2017 to 2019, settled $10 million of share repurchases, paid a dividend of $0.15 per share and repaid $6 million of debt. Given expectations for tempering demand conditions in the North America On-Highway end market, no meaningful relief from the global Off-Highway end markets challenges and divergent global economic environments, Allison is taking a guarded approach to 2016. As we have done during other periods of meaningful uncertainty, Allison will proactively implement initiatives to closely align costs and programs across our business with actual end market conditions and growth opportunities."

Fourth Quarter Net Sales by End Market

 

Fourth Quarter Highlights

North America On-Highway end market net sales were down 2 percent from the same period in 2014 and down 4 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand for Pupil Transport/Shuttle Series models.

North America Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus end market net sales were up 35 percent from the same period in 2014 and up 92 percent sequentially principally driven by intra-year movement in the timing of orders.

North America Off-Highway end market net sales were down 69 percent from the same period in 2014 and down 8 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand from hydraulic fracturing applications.

Defense end market net sales were down 34 percent from the same period in 2014 and down 26 percent sequentially principally driven by 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 flat with the same period in 2014 principally driven by higher demand in Europe and Japan offset by lower demand in China and South America and down 3 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand in China and South America partially offset by higher demand in Europe and India.

Outside North America Off-Highway end market net sales were down 63 percent from the same period in 2014 principally driven by lower demand in the energy sector and up 75 percent sequentially principally driven by higher demand in the energy and mining sectors.

Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end market net sales were down 16 percent from the same period in 2014 and down 7 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand for North America Off-Highway service parts partially offset by higher demand for global On-Highway service parts.

Gross profit for the quarter was $222 million, a decrease of 13 percent from $256 million for the same period in 2014. Gross margin for the quarter was 46.5 percent, a decrease of 50 basis points from a gross margin of 47.0 percent for the same period in 2014. The decrease in gross profit from the same period in 2014 was principally driven by decreased sales volume partially offset by price increases on certain products, favorable material costs and lower incentive compensation expense.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter were $82 million, a decrease of 8 percent from $89 million for the same period in 2014, principally driven by reduced global commercial activities spending and lower incentive compensation expense.

Engineering – research and development expenses for the quarter were $24 million, a decrease of $7 million after excluding the 2014 technology-related license expenses of $3 million to expand our position in transmission technologies, from $34 million for the same period in 2014. The decrease was principally driven by reduced product initiatives spending and lower incentive compensation expense.

During the fourth quarter of 2015, we recorded a trade name impairment charge of $80 million as a result of lower forecasted net sales for certain of our end markets.  

Fourth Quarter Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Net Income for the quarter was $123 million, compared to $117 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $6 million. The increase was principally driven by decreased cash interest expense, price increases on certain products, favorable material costs, lower incentive compensation expense, reduced global commercial activities spending, reduced product initiatives spending, a favorable vendor settlement and 2014 foreign exchange losses on intercompany financing partially offset by decreased sales volume.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $170 million, or 35.6 percent of net sales, compared to $185 million, or 34.0 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2014. Excluding $3 million of technology-related license expenses, Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $188 million, or 34.6 percent of net sales. The decrease was principally driven by decreased sales volume and unfavorable product warranty adjustments partially offset by price increases on certain products, favorable material costs, lower incentive compensation expense, reduced global commercial activities spending, reduced product initiatives spending, a $3 million reduction in technology-related license expenses and a favorable vendor settlement.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the quarter was $146 million compared to $129 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $17 million. The increase was principally driven by increased net cash provided by operating activities partially offset by increased capital expenditures.

2016 Guidance Update

Allison expects 2016 net sales to be in the range of down 6.5 to 9.5 percent compared to 2015, an Adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 32.5 to 34 percent, and an Adjusted Free Cash Flow in the range of $400 to $450 million, or $2.30 to $2.60 per diluted share. Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $65 to $75 million, which includes maintenance spending of approximately $60 million. Cash income taxes are expected to be in the range of $10 to $15 million.

Our 2016 net sales guidance reflects expectations for tempering demand conditions in the North America On-Highway end market, no meaningful relief from the global Off-Highway end markets challenges and divergent global economic environments. Allison's 2016 net sales outlook also assumes previously considered reductions in demand for North America Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus due to engine emissions improvements and non-hybrid alternatives.

Although we are not providing specific first quarter 2016 guidance, Allison does expect first quarter net sales to be lower than the first and fourth quarters of 2015. The anticipated year-over-year decrease in first quarter net sales is expected to occur principally due to lower demand in the North America On-Highway and global Off-Highway end markets.

Conference Call and Webcast
The company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, February 9 to discuss its fourth quarter 2015 results. Dial-in number is 1-201-689-8470 and the U.S. toll-free dial-in number is 1-877-407-9039. 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 February 9 until 11:59 p.m. ET on February 16. 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 13627750.

About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is the world's largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and is a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses. 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"). Allison uses Adjusted net income to measure our overall profitability because we believe it better reflects our cash flow generation by capturing the actual cash interest paid and cash taxes paid rather than our interest expense and tax expense as calculated under GAAP and excludes the impact of the non-cash annual amortization of certain intangible assets and other certain non-recurring items. We use Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted free cash flow to evaluate and control our cash operating costs and to measure our operating profitability. Allison believes the presentation of Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash enhances our investors' overall understanding of the financial performance and cash flow of our business. 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, ir@allisontransmission.com, (317) 242-3078, or Media Relations, media@allisontransmission.com, (317) 242-5000