Item 1A.Risk Factors
In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Form 10-K, the risks described below are those that we believe are material to our company. The occurrence of any of the events discussed below could significantly and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows as well as the trading price of our securities.
RISKS RELATED TO CHANGES IN DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCTS.
Recent macroeconomic factors including labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, inflation and recession risks have adversely affected our business, and could cause additional downturns in the aerospace, packaging, automotive, and ground transportation industries, which would further adversely affect our business and the business of our customers.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from products sold to the aerospace, packaging, automotive and ground transportation industries. Macroeconomic factors include, but not limited to: (i) labor shortages or disputes; (ii) disruptions to supply chains; (iii) other interruptions of international and regional commerce; (iv) inflation; (v) higher interest rates; and (vi) recession risks. Moreover, because new automotive vehicle demand is tied closely to overall economic strength, economic uncertainty, increasing interest rates and/or increased unemployment could lead to weak demand for, or lower production of, new cars, light trucks, SUVs, and heavy-duty vehicles and trailers, which could adversely affect demand for our products. Additional adverse macroeconomic developments may lead to reduced demand for our products, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
We compete with others in the semi-fabricated products segment of the aluminum industry based upon quality, availability, price, customer service, and delivery performance. Some of our competitors are substantially larger than we are, have greater financial resources than we do, operate more facilities than we do, are geographically closer to our customers than we are, employ more efficient or advanced technologies than we do, or have other strategic advantages. New parties may become capable of manufacturing similar products and qualifying them with our customers, which could lead to further competitive pressure. Competitors’ facilities located in certain other countries may have a manufacturing cost advantage compared to our facilities, which are located in the United States and Canada. Such foreign competitors may sell products similar to our products at lower prices as a result of having lower manufacturing costs or due to currency exchange rates that periodically favor foreign competition. Some foreign competitors may also dump their products in the United States and Canada in violation of existing trade laws. We may not be able to compete by differentiating ourselves based on the quality, availability and delivery of our products or our customer service. Additionally, we may not be able to reduce our cost structure and our selling prices to be competitive with others, and tariffs introduced to protect manufacturers in the United States from foreign price competition may not be fully effective or increase our costs. Increased competition could cause a reduction in demand for our products and our shipment volumes, our product pricing, or both shipment volumes and product pricing, which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Reductions in demand for our products may be more severe than, and may occur prior to, reductions in demand for our customers’ products.
Most of our products undergo further fabrication by other parties before being deployed in their end uses. In particular, our Aero/HS products undergo numerous stages of further fabrication or assembly by a number of parties in the supply chain, often over the course of many months. The lead time from when we sell our Aero/HS product to when the finished product is installed on an aircraft often exceeds a year. Due to this long lead time, demand for our products may increase prior to demand for our customers’ products or may decrease when our customers experience or anticipate softening demand for their products. Our customers typically respond to reduced demand for their products by depleting their inventory until their inventory falls to a new desired level. This causes a greater reduction in demand for our products than our customers experience for their products. Further, the reduction in demand for our products can be exacerbated if our customers’ inventory levels had been higher than normal, if production is delayed for specific commercial airframe models, if our customers previously had purchased products from us at committed sales contract volumes that exceeded their actual need or for other reasons. The amplified reduction in demand for our products while our customers consume their inventory to meet their business needs (destocking) may adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
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Our customers may reduce their demand for aluminum products in favor of alternative materials.
Our products compete with other materials for use in various customer applications. For instance, the commercial aerospace industry has used and continues to evaluate the further use of titanium, composites, and carbon fiber materials as alternatives to aluminum to reduce aircraft weight and increase fuel efficiency. Additionally, while the automotive industry has continued to increase the use of aluminum in vehicle production to reduce vehicle weight and increase fuel efficiency, manufacturers may revert to steel or other materials for certain applications and rely on improved drivetrain technology, more efficient engines, aerodynamics, or other measures to achieve fuel efficiency goals. Finally, the packaging industry has used and continues to use steel, tin, plastics, glass, and paperboard as alternatives to aluminum for packaging and delivery of food and beverages. The packaging industry is heavily influenced by cost and recyclability of the packaging material. The willingness of customers to use materials other than aluminum could adversely affect the demand for our products, particularly our Aero/HS products, Packaging, and Automotive Extrusions, and thus could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our customers may reduce their demand for our products if the government relaxes fuel efficiency standards or if oil prices remain low for a protracted period of time.
Efficient use of fossil fuels partially drives demand for aluminum in transportation applications. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, other federal regulatory agencies, and regulatory agencies of certain states have generally sought to limit growth of fossil fuel usage by establishing stricter fuel efficiency standards. In addition, newly elected and/or changing administrations could accelerate efforts to not only limit, but reduce, fossil fuel usage and carbon emissions beyond what may be technologically possible for certain products and manufacturing processes and/or revisit or reverse the environmental agendas of previous administrations with respect to previously established fuel efficiency standards. A relaxation of fuel efficiency standards by the regulatory agencies or an extended period of moderate oil prices could reduce demand for new more efficient aircraft and automobiles, which could adversely affect the demand for our products and have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
The commercial aerospace industry is cyclical and subject to disruption. Downturns in the commercial aerospace industry could adversely affect our business.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from products sold to the aerospace industry. Notwithstanding a secular growth trend spanning nearly two decades, the aerospace industry is highly cyclical and furthermore, is subject to disruption. Numerous factors, including those that influence demand for new commercial aircraft, could result in cancellations or deferrals of aircraft orders and a global decrease in new commercial aircraft deliveries. These factors include but are not limited to: (i) declines or reduced growth trends in global travel and airline passenger traffic; (ii) the rate of replacement of older aircraft with more fuel efficient aircraft; (iii) changing airline strategies affecting preferences for single-aisle aircraft models as opposed to twin-aisle or jumbo aircraft models; (iv) airline industry profitability; (v) the state of regional and global economies; (vi) concerns regarding terrorism or the threat of terrorism; (vii) concerns regarding new pandemics of infectious disease; (viii) labor disputes involving airline or aerospace manufacturers; and (ix) safety concerns with newly introduced and existing aircraft. Despite existing backlogs, adverse developments in any one or more of these influencing factors may lead to reduced demand for new aircraft that utilize our products, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Reductions in defense spending for aerospace and non-aerospace military applications could adversely affect demand for our products.
Our products are used in a wide variety of military applications, including military aircraft, armored vehicles, and ordnance. Certain military programs are used by the U.S. armed forces, as well as by the defense forces of our allied foreign powers. Military programs that currently use or in the future could use our products may be subject to changes in military strategy and government priorities. Further, while many of the U.S. government programs span several years, they are often funded annually, and funding is generally subject to congressional appropriations and may be subject to other reduction efforts. When U.S. and foreign allied governments are faced with competing national priorities, such as addressing financial or spending crises or public health emergencies, there can be significant pressure to reduce defense spending, which could reduce the demand for our products and adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Downturns in the automotive and ground transportation industries could adversely affect our business.
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The demand for our Automotive Extrusions and many of our general engineering and other industrial products is dependent on the production of cars, light trucks, SUVs, and heavy-duty vehicles and trailers in North America. The automotive industry is highly cyclical, as new vehicle demand is dependent on consumer spending and is tied closely to the overall strength of the North American economy. Even with the automotive industry’s growing use of aluminum to reduce vehicle weight, weak demand for, or lower production of, new cars, light trucks, SUVs, and heavy duty vehicles and trailers could adversely affect the demand for our products and have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Changes in consumer demand for particular motor vehicles could adversely affect our business.
Sensitivity to fuel prices, an increased preference for environmentally friendly alternatives and other consumer preferences can influence consumer demand for motor vehicles that have a higher content of the aluminum Automotive Extrusions that we supply. The loss of business with respect to, or a lack of commercial success of, one or more particular vehicle models for which we are a significant supplier could have an adverse impact on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Aluminum beverage and food packaging products are subject to competition from substitute products and decreases in demand, which could result in lower profits and reduced cash flows.
Aluminum coil produced for demanding end market applications in the beverage and food packaging industry in North America are subject to substantial competition from producers of alternative packaging made from glass, paper, flexible materials, plastic and organic or compostable materials, which may compare favorably to aluminum with respect to preservation of food and beverage quality, cost, and/or sustainability. Changes in the volume of sales by our customers in the food and beverage markets and preferences for products and packaging by consumers of prepackaged food and beverage cans may significantly influence our sales. Changes in packaging preferences by our customers may require us to re-tool manufacturing operations, which could require material expenditures. In addition, a decrease in the costs of, or a further increase in consumer demand for, alternative packaging could result in lower profits and reduced cash flows for us. For example, increases in the price of aluminum and decreases in the price of plastic resin, which is a petrochemical product and may fluctuate with prices in the oil and gas market, may increase substitution of plastic food and beverage containers for metal containers. Moreover, due to the associated high percentage of fixed costs, we may be unable to maintain the gross margin of aluminum packaging products at past levels if we are not able to achieve high-capacity utilization rates for our production equipment. In periods of low demand for aluminum packaging products or in situations where industry expansion created excess capacity, we may experience relatively low-capacity utilization rates, which can lead to reduced margins during that period and can have an adverse effect on our business.
RISKS RELATED TO SALES.
We depend on a core group of significant customers.
Our five largest customers in total accounted for approximately 55% of our 2024 net sales. Most of these customers have one or more sizable sales agreements with us. If one or more of these customers experienced a prolonged period of adverse demand, depressed business activity or financial distress, if any of these customers breached or sought relief from its contractual obligations under its sales agreements with us or if any of these customer relationships otherwise ended or materially deteriorated and such lost business was not successfully replaced, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be adversely affected.
We experience fluctuation in certain costs that we cannot pass through to our customers and face pressure from our customers on pricing.
We are unable to pass fluctuations of certain costs through to our customers, including the cost of energy, certain raw materials, operating supplies, and freight. Further, cost-cutting initiatives that many of our customers have adopted generally result in downward pressure on pricing. If we are unable to generate sufficient productivity improvements and cost savings in the future to offset reductions in our selling prices and increases in our costs that we cannot pass through to our customers, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be adversely affected.
RISKS RELATED TO GEO-POLITICAL FACTORS.
Our industry is very sensitive to foreign economic, regulatory and political factors that may adversely affect our business.
We import primary aluminum and certain alloy metals from, and manufacture fabricated products used in, foreign countries. Our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected by numerous factors in the politically and economically diverse jurisdictions: (i) from which our input materials are sourced; (ii) in which we operate; (iii) in which our customers operate; or (iv) in which our products are consumed or further fabricated. Such factors include but are not limited to:
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the adoption of tariffs, duties and other forms of taxation;
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trade disputes;
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the implementation of controls on prices, exports and/or imports, including quotas;
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the implementation of other restrictions on supply chains in connection with global health pandemics;
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the imposition of currency restrictions;
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inflation relative to the United States and related fluctuations in currency and interest rates;
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government regulation in the countries in which we operate, service customers or purchase raw materials;
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acts or threats of war or terrorism;
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sanctions, including those in response to acts or threats of war or terrorism;
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civil unrest and labor problems; and
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the nationalization or appropriation of rights or other assets.
RISKS RELATED TO PRODUCT AND MANUFACTURING.
We may experience difficulties in the launch or production ramp-up of new products which could adversely affect our business.
As we ramp up manufacturing processes for newly introduced products, we may experience difficulties, including manufacturing disruptions, delays, or other complications, which could adversely impact our ability to serve our customers, our reputation, our costs of production and, ultimately, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Unplanned events may interrupt our production operations, which may adversely affect our business.
The production of aluminum products is subject to unplanned events such as explosions, fires, inclement weather, natural disasters, accidents, equipment failures, labor disruptions, transportation interruptions, public utilities interruptions, and supply chain interruptions. Operational interruptions could significantly curtail the production capacity of a facility for a period of time. We have redundant capacity and capability to produce many of our extruded products within our manufacturing platform to mitigate our business risk from such interruptions, but interruptions at Trentwood where our production of plate and sheet is concentrated or at Warrick where our production of packaging material is concentrated, could significantly compromise our ability to meet the needs of our customers. Delayed delivery of our products to customers who require on-time delivery from us may cause customers to purchase alternative products at a higher cost, reschedule their own production, or incur other incremental costs. Customers may be able to pursue financial claims against us for their incremental costs, and we may incur costs to correct such problems in addition to any liability resulting from such claims. Interruptions may also harm our reputation among actual and potential customers, potentially resulting in a loss of business. To the extent these losses are not covered by insurance, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be adversely affected by such events.
We may face challenges to our intellectual property rights which could adversely affect our reputation, business and competitive position.
Our intellectual property plays an important role in maintaining our competitive position in a number of the markets that we serve. Our competitors may develop technologies that are similar or superior to our proprietary technologies or design around the patents we own or license. Despite our controls and safeguards, our technology may be misappropriated by our employees, our competitors, or other third parties. The pursuit of remedies for any misappropriation of our intellectual property is expensive and the ultimate remedies may be deemed insufficient. Developments or assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights, and any inability to protect or enforce our rights sufficiently, could adversely affect our business and competitive position.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR STRATEGIC TRANSACTIONS AND INITIATIVES.
We may not be able to successfully implement our productivity enhancement and cost reduction initiatives that are necessary to offset competitive price pressure.
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Over time, we have experienced pricing pressure on many of our products and anticipate continued pricing pressure in the future. Ongoing and heightened competitive price pressure makes it increasingly important for us to be a low-cost producer. Although we have undertaken and expect to continue to undertake productivity enhancement and cost reduction initiatives, including significant investments in our facilities to improve our manufacturing efficiency, cost, and product quality, we cannot make assurances that we will complete all of these initiatives, that we will fully realize the estimated cost savings from such activities, that short-to-medium term improvements from new efficiencies and lower cost structure achieved will become permanent or that we will be able to continue to reduce cost and increase productivity over the long-term.
Our investment and other expansion projects may not be completed, start up as scheduled or deliver the expected capacity and other benefits.
Our ability to complete our investment and expansion projects and the timing and costs of doing so are subject to various risks associated with all major construction projects, many of which are beyond our control, including technical or mechanical problems and economic conditions. Additionally, the start-up of operations after such projects have been completed can be complicated and costly. If we are unable to fully complete these projects, if the actual costs for these projects exceed our expectations, if the start-up phase after completion is more complicated than anticipated or if the capacity and other benefits of these projects are less than anticipated, our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows could be adversely affected.
We are dependent upon Alcoa for certain resources essential to the day-to-day operation of our business at Warrick.
We are dependent upon Alcoa for certain resources required for the day-to-day operation of our business at Warrick, which include “support services” such as the provision of potable water and certain environmental services. In order to transition Warrick from dependence upon the support services to independence as a facility with its own self-sufficient infrastructure, Alcoa has agreed to pay for the development of infrastructure necessary for Warrick to obtain electricity from a third-party power supplier, subject to certain conditions. Although some of these assets have been developed and the Company has taken possession of certain assets from Alcoa, a failure by Alcoa to provide support services or transition services upon the terms agreed to, including quality and performance standards, could cause us to incur substantial costs to keep the Warrick rolling mill operational or result in the temporary or permanent shutdown of Warrick’s operations. In the event that production of Warrick is negatively impacted by Alcoa’s failure to provide support or transition services, our operations, business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
RISKS RELATED TO COMMODITY-RELATED PRICE FLUCTUATIONS.
Our business could be adversely affected by pricing and availability of primary aluminum.
Our largest inputs to produce fabricated aluminum products are primary aluminum and recycled scrap aluminum. Primary aluminum pricing fluctuates in response to global supply and demand and also reflects the impact of duties and tariffs imposed by the United States and certain other countries. The timing and magnitude of changes in market pricing for primary aluminum are largely unpredictable. Our pricing structures for fabricated aluminum products generally allow us to pass fluctuations in the price of primary aluminum through to our customers so that we can minimize our exposure to metal price risk. However, competitive dynamics for certain of our high margin products may limit the amount or delay the timing of selling price increases on our products to recover our increased aluminum costs, resulting in a time lag during which we may be partially exposed to metal price risk. If these events were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, if the market price for primary aluminum were to remain high for an extended period of time, the corresponding increase in our selling price for our fabricated products may cause some of our customers to switch to other materials in lieu of our products, causing sales of our fabricated aluminum products to decrease, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our business could be adversely affected by the pricing and availability of recycled scrap aluminum.
We can efficiently use certain forms of recycled scrap aluminum in lieu of primary aluminum and alloying metals in our operations because recycled scrap aluminum trades at a discount to primary aluminum. The size of the discount to primary aluminum depends on regional scrap aluminum supply and demand dynamics. Larger discounts, generally available in periods of ample regional scrap aluminum supply relative to demand, enhance the economic advantage to us of using recycled scrap aluminum in lieu of primary aluminum and alloying metals. The timing and magnitude of changes in scrap discounts relative to primary aluminum are largely unpredictable. If the availability of recycled scrap aluminum in our regional markets were to tighten, scrap discounts relative to primary aluminum could decline and the amount of recycled scrap aluminum we could procure for use in our operations could decline, either of which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our business could be adversely affected by the pricing and availability of alloying metals.
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We use certain alloying metals, such as copper, zinc, magnesium, and silicon, in our operations in order to achieve the required performance properties in our products. The availability of these alloys in some cases has been and, in the future, may be restricted due to limited suppliers, government regulations, energy, supply chain disruptions, and/or general demand dynamics. When sudden restrictions of these materials occur, we have been and in the future may be subject to rapid price increases and limited supplies, either of which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Reduced pricing for aluminum can reduce our borrowing availability and cause our liquidity to decline.
Lower aluminum prices reduce the market value of our inventory and generally cause a reduction in our accounts receivable as we pass through a lower underlying aluminum price to our customers. Because the amount we can borrow under our Revolving Credit Facility is determined by the value of our receivables and inventory, which serve as collateral for the facility, a reduction in aluminum prices can reduce our borrowing availability and our liquidity, which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our hedging programs have been and could continue to be adversely impacted by fluctuations as a result of the impacts of supply chain disruptions, geopolitical activity and general economic conditions.
We use forward contracts to protect against fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rate risks. The effectiveness of these hedges depends, in part, on our ability to accurately forecast future product demand and related cash flow. Due to the impacts of supply chain disruptions, geopolitical activity, general economic conditions, and other factors, the businesses of our customers are subject to many uncertainties and, as a result, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, unanticipated volatility in product demand and related cash flows. When we experience such volatility or are otherwise unable to make accurate predictions with respect to our forward swaps designated as cash flow hedges, such hedging activities may become ineffective. The early settlement, reclassification of cumulative losses and/or the periodic adjustment to fair value through Net income (loss) associated with ineffective hedging activities could have a material negative impact on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Our hedging programs may limit the income and cash flows we would otherwise expect to receive if our hedging programs were not in place and may otherwise affect our business.
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into hedging transactions to limit our exposure to risks relating to changes in the market prices of primary aluminum, certain alloying metals, natural gas, electricity, as well as fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. To the extent that market prices or exchange rates at the expiration of these hedging transactions would have been more favorable to us than the fixed prices or rates established by these hedging transactions, our income and cash flows will be lower than they otherwise would have been. Our liquidity could also be adversely affected to the extent we incur margin calls from our hedging counterparties due to the market price of the underlying commodity or the foreign currency exchange rates deviating adversely from fixed, floor or ceiling prices or rates established by our outstanding hedging transactions. Our failure to satisfy certain covenants in the underlying hedging documents or the occurrence of an event of default thereunder could also trigger margin calls that could adversely impact our liquidity, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Our hedging programs also expose us to the creditworthiness of our hedging counterparties, which is inherently difficult to assess and can change quickly and dramatically. Non-performance by a hedging counterparty could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS.
Covenants and events of default in our debt instruments could limit our ability to undertake certain types of transactions and adversely affect our liquidity.
Our Revolving Credit Facility and the indentures governing our Senior Notes contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose operating and financial restrictions on us and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interest, including restrictions on our ability to:
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incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness;
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pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem capital stock;
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prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt;
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issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities;
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make loans and investments;
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sell assets;
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incur liens;
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enter into transactions with affiliates;
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alter the businesses we conduct;
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enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; and
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consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.
In addition, restrictive covenants in our Revolving Credit Facility require us in certain circumstances to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control and we may be unable to meet them.
A breach of the covenants or restrictions under our Revolving Credit Facility or under the indentures governing the Senior Notes could result in an event of default under the applicable indebtedness. Such a default may allow the creditors to accelerate the related debt. A payment default or an acceleration following an event of default under our Revolving Credit Facility or our indentures for our Senior Notes could trigger an event of default under the other indebtedness obligation, as well as any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies, which could result in the principal of and the accrued and unpaid interest on all such debt becoming due and payable. In addition, an event of default under our Revolving Credit Facility could permit the lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility to terminate all commitments to extend further credit under that facility. Furthermore, if we were unable to repay any amounts due and payable under our Revolving Credit Facility, those lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. In the event our lenders or noteholders accelerate the repayment of our borrowings, we and our subsidiaries may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness.
As a result of these restrictions, we may be:
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limited in how we conduct our business and grow in accordance with our strategy;
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unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to operate during general economic or business downturns; or
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unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities.
In addition, our financial results, our level of indebtedness, and our credit ratings could adversely affect the availability and terms of any additional or replacement financing.
More detailed descriptions of our Revolving Credit Facility and the indentures governing our Senior Notes are included in filings made by us with the SEC, along with the documents themselves, which provide the full text of these covenants.
Restrictive covenants in our debt instruments contain significant qualifications and exceptions.
While our Revolving Credit Facility and the indentures governing the Senior Notes place limitations on our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions, repurchase or redeem capital stock, make loans and investments, and incur additional indebtedness, investors should be aware that these limitations are subject to significant qualifications and exceptions. The aggregate amount of payments made or incremental debt incurred in compliance with these limitations could be substantial.
As indicated above, more detailed descriptions of our Revolving Credit Facility and the indentures governing our Senior Notes are included in filings made by us with the SEC, along with the documents themselves, which provide the full text of these covenants.
Servicing our debt requires a significant amount of cash and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our debt.
Our ability to make scheduled interest and principal payments on our debt obligations or to refinance such obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the interest, principal, and premium, if any, on our indebtedness.
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If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity challenges and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, dispose of material assets or operations, restructure or refinance our indebtedness or seek additional debt or equity capital. We may not be able to effect any such alternative measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, those alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Our Revolving Credit Facility and the indentures governing the Senior Notes restrict our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from those dispositions and may also restrict our ability to raise debt or certain forms of equity capital to be used to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due. We may not be able to consummate asset dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due.
If we cannot make scheduled payments on our debt, we will be in default and holders of the Senior Notes could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable, the lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility could terminate their commitments to loan money, the lenders could foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
We are a holding company and depend on our subsidiaries for cash to meet our obligations and pay any dividends.
We are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries, certain of which are not guarantors of our Senior Notes or our Revolving Credit Facility. Accordingly, repayments of our Senior Notes and any future amounts due under our Revolving Credit Facility are dependent on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us by dividend, loan, debt repayment, or otherwise. Our subsidiaries that are not guarantors of our Senior Notes, or the Revolving Credit Facility have no obligation to pay amounts due on the Senior Notes, or the Revolving Credit Facility, or to make funds available for that purpose. Our subsidiaries may not be able to, or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness. Each of our subsidiaries is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. In the event that we do not receive distributions from our subsidiaries, we may be unable to make required interest and principal payments on the Senior Notes, or our Revolving Credit Facility, or other indebtedness.
Our inability to receive distributions from our subsidiaries, otherwise generate sufficient cash flows to satisfy our debt obligations or refinance our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, would adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.
Our failure to maintain satisfactory labor relations could adversely affect our business.
At December 31, 2024, approximately 65% of our employees were represented by labor unions under labor contracts with varying durations and expiration dates. Employees at our Trentwood and Newark facilities are represented by the USW under a single contract that extends through September 2025, with a separate agreement with the USW for another operation related to Trentwood. The collective bargaining agreements were renewed in February 2025 (see Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information). The USW also represents employees at six other facilities. As part of any labor negotiation, the future wages, healthcare benefits, and excise taxes that may result therefrom, and other benefits that we agree to, could adversely affect our future financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. In addition, negotiations could divert management attention, result in unsatisfactory terms and conditions, fail in coming to any agreement at all, or result in strikes, work stoppages, or other union-initiated work actions, any of which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Moreover, the existence of labor agreements may not prevent such union-initiated work actions.
Our participation in multiemployer union pension plans may have an adverse effect on our financial performance.
We participate in several multiemployer pension plans pursuant to our collective bargaining agreements. Our contribution amounts to these plans were established by collective bargaining and, along with benefit levels and related items, will be topics in our future collective bargaining negotiations. An employer that withdraws or partially withdraws from a multiemployer pension plan may incur a withdrawal liability for the portion of the plan’s underfunding that is allocable to the withdrawing employer under complex actuarial and allocation rules. The failure of a withdrawing employer to fund these obligations can increase the burden of the remaining participating employers to make up the funding shortfall, which could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. The increase or decrease in our contributions to these multiemployer pension plans will depend on our future collective bargaining, actions taken by trustees who manage the plans, actions of other participating employers, government regulations and the actual return on assets held in the plans, among other factors.
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An adverse decline in the liability discount rate, lower-than-expected investment return on pension assets and other factors could affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or amount of pension funding contributions in future periods.
Our results of operations may be negatively affected by the amount of expense we record for our pension and other postretirement and postemployment benefit plans, reductions in the fair value of plan assets and other factors. We calculate income or expense for our plans using actuarial valuations in accordance with GAAP.
These valuations reflect assumptions about financial markets and other economic conditions, which may change based on changes in key economic indicators. The most significant year-end assumptions we use to estimate pension or other postretirement and postemployment benefit income or expense for the following year are the discount rate applied to plan liabilities and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In addition, we are required to make an annual measurement of plan assets and liabilities, which may result in a significant charge to stockholders’ equity. For more information, see Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition” under caption “Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies – Pension and Other Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits” included in this Form 10-K, as well as Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K. Although GAAP expense and pension funding contributions are impacted by different regulations and requirements, the key economic factors that affect GAAP expense would also likely affect the amount of cash we would contribute to the pension plans.
Potential pension contributions include both mandatory amounts required under federal law and discretionary contributions to improve the plans’ funded status. Higher than expected pension contributions due to a decline in the plans’ funded status as a result of declines in the discount rate or lower-than-expected investment returns on plan assets could have a material negative effect on our cash flows. Adverse capital market conditions could result in reductions in the fair value of plan assets and increase our liabilities related to such plans, adversely affecting our liquidity and results of operations.
The USW has director nomination rights through which it may influence us, and interests of the USW may not align with our interests or the interests of our stockholders, debt holders and other stakeholders.
Pursuant to agreements we have with the USW, the USW has the right, subject to certain limitations, to nominate candidates which, if elected, would constitute 40% of our Board of Directors through December 31, 2025. As a result, the directors nominated by the USW have a significant voice in the decisions of our Board of Directors. It is possible that the USW and the Company may extend the term of the agreement and its right to nominate board members beyond 2025.
RISKS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES.
Environmental compliance, cleanup and damage claims may decrease our cash flow and adversely affect our business.
We are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations, including permitting and other administrative requirements, with respect to, among other things: (i) air and water emissions and discharges; (ii) the generation, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid and hazardous materials; and (iii) the release of hazardous or toxic substances, pollutants and contaminants into the environment. In addition to environmental laws and regulations, environmental activists, lobbyists and consumers have targeted manufacturers for the purported impact of their operations on the environment. Compliance with existing and new environmental laws and standards or the implications of any actions by third parties are and may continue to be costly and, in some cases, unpredictable.
We have accrued and will accrue for costs that are reasonably expected to be incurred based on available information with respect to permits, fines, penalties and expenses for alleged breaches of, and compliance activities associated with, environmental laws and regulations in connection with our existing operations and investigations and environmental cleanup activities with respect to certain of our former operations. However, actual costs could exceed accrued amounts, perhaps significantly, and such expenditures could occur sooner than anticipated, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Additionally, we may be subject to new claims from governmental authorities or third parties related to alleged injuries to the environment, human health or natural resources, including claims with respect to waste disposal sites, the cleanup of sites currently or formerly used by us or exposure of individuals to hazardous materials. New laws or regulations or changes to existing laws and regulations may also be enacted that increase the cost or complexity of compliance. Costs related to any new investigation, cleanup or other remediation, fines or penalties, resolution of third-party claims or compliance with new or amended laws and regulations, including enhanced permitting requirements, may be significant and could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Governmental regulation relating to greenhouse gas emissions may subject us to significant new costs and restrictions on our operations and could impact our supply chain and cost of material.
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Laws enacted by government agencies, or policies of regulators, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the SEC, could regulate greenhouse gas emissions through cap-and-trade systems, carbon taxes, or other programs under which emitters would be required to buy allowances to offset emissions of greenhouse gas, pay carbon based taxes, make certain disclosures about emissions, which may be extensive, make significant capital investments, alter manufacturing practices or curtail production. In addition, several states, including the state of Washington, in which we have manufacturing operations, have implemented and continue to consider various greenhouse gas regulation and reduction programs through legislative proposals, executive orders and ballot initiatives. Certain of our manufacturing plants use significant amounts of electricity and natural gas and certain of our plants emit amounts of greenhouse gas above certain minimum thresholds that have or may be imposed. While certain of our operations, including the melting of aluminum, require the use of natural gas to achieve the required temperatures, greenhouse gas regulations could restrict our access to natural gas and limit our ability to use natural gas and increase the price we pay for natural gas and electricity, any one of which could significantly increase our costs, reduce our competitiveness in the global economy or otherwise adversely affect our business, operations, or financial results.
Furthermore, regulations or other targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the United States as well as other jurisdictions could impact the availability and price of energy and raw materials, which could ultimately lead to supply demand imbalances, higher costs and supply chain disruptions. Prolonged shortages or slowdowns could negatively impact our cost of goods and result in delays or non-delivery of shipments of our products. The future impact of these or other changes could be regulatory or voluntary and could impact our operations directly or indirectly through our customers or our supply chain. These potential impacts could have an adverse effect on our operations, financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.
Expectations relating to sustainability considerations expose us to potential liabilities, increased costs and reporting requirements, reputational harm and other adverse effects on our business.
Many governments, regulators, investors, employees, customers, and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on sustainability considerations relating to businesses, including climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, data privacy, artificial intelligence, human capital and diversity, equity and inclusion. We make statements about our sustainability goals and initiatives through information provided on our website, press statements, and other communications, including through our Corporate Sustainability Report. Responding to these sustainability considerations and implementation of these goals and initiatives involves risks and uncertainties, including those described under “Forward-Looking Statements,” requires investments and is impacted by factors that may be outside our control. In addition, some of these parties may disagree with our goals and initiatives and their focus may change and evolve over time. We may also change our goals and initiatives due to a change in strategy, reduced relevance, or changing market conditions and we may take actions company parties view as contrary to such goals and initiatives. Parties also may have very different views on where sustainability focus should be placed, including differing views of regulators in various jurisdictions in which we operate. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to achieve our goals, further our initiatives, adhere to our public statements, comply with federal, state or international sustainability laws and regulations or meet evolving and varied stakeholder expectations and standards could result in legal and regulatory proceedings against us that could materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, and stock price.
RISKS RELATED TO CYBERSECURITY AND PRIVACY.
We are subject to risks relating to our information technology systems and those of our third-party service providers.
We rely on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit and store electronic information, operate our business and communicate among our locations and with our customers, suppliers, and other interested parties. Many of these systems are provided to us and/or maintained on our behalf by third-party service providers pursuant to agreements that specify to varying degrees certain security and service level standards. Our information technology systems are dependent upon these providers. Such information technology systems are subject to: (i) interruption or damage from power outages; (ii) cybersecurity breaches and other types of unauthorized access and/or use; and (iii) cyberattacks in the form of computer viruses, worms, malicious computer programs, denial‐of‐service attacks and other illegal or illicit means. Cyberattack and security breach strategies and methods continue to evolve and become more sophisticated. In addition, due to the industry we serve, there is an increased risk of cyberattacks, phishing attacks, and other forms of information technology threats. Accordingly, preventing intrusions and detecting successful intrusions and defending against them continues to be more difficult and requires ever-increasing vigilance.
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A breach in cybersecurity on our systems or any of our third-party service providers could result in manipulation and destruction of sensitive data, cause critical systems to malfunction, be damaged or shut down and lead to disruption of our operations and production downtimes, potentially for lengthy periods of time. Theft of personal or other confidential data and sensitive proprietary information could also occur as a result of a breach in cybersecurity, exposing us to costs and liabilities associated with privacy and data security laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Additionally, a breach could expose us, our customers, our suppliers, and our employees to risks of misuse of such information. Such negative consequences of cyberattacks or security breaches could adversely affect our reputation, competitive position, business, or results of operations. The lost profits and increased costs related to cyber or other security threats or disruptions may not be fully insured against or indemnified by other means.
In addition, from time to time we may implement new technology systems or replace and/or upgrade our current information technology systems. These upgrades or replacements may not improve our productivity to the levels anticipated and may subject us to inherent costs and risks associated with implementing, replacing and updating these systems, including potential disruption of our internal control structure, substantial capital expenditures, demands on management time and other risks of delays or difficulties in transitioning to new systems or of integrating new systems into other existing systems. Our inability to prevent information technology system disruptions or to mitigate the impact of such disruptions could have an adverse effect on us.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR COMMON STOCK.
Payment of dividends may not continue in the future and our payment of dividends and stock repurchases are subject to restrictions.
Our Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend for each quarter since the summer of 2007. In addition, our Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program. The future declaration and payment of dividends and the purchase of our shares under the repurchase program, if any, are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our financial and operating results, including the availability of surplus and/or net profits, liquidity position, anticipated cash requirements and regulatory rules. Additionally, our Revolving Credit Facility and the indentures for our Senior Notes impose limitations on our ability to pay dividends and repurchase our common shares. We can give no assurance that dividends will be declared and paid, that dividends will not be reduced or that purchases of our shares pursuant to our repurchase program will occur in the future.
Delaware law and our governing documents may impede or discourage a takeover, which could adversely affect the value of our common stock.
The provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage a change of control of our company or deter tender offers for our common stock. We are currently subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law. These anti‐takeover provisions impose various impediments to the ability of a third-party to acquire control of us. In addition, provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. For example, our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to determine the rights, preferences and privileges and restrictions of unissued shares of preferred stock without any vote or action by our stockholders. As a result, our Board of Directors can authorize and issue shares of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting or other rights of holders of common stock. Our certificate of incorporation also divides our Board of Directors into three classes of directors who serve for staggered terms. A significant effect of a classified Board of Directors may be to deter hostile takeover attempts because an acquirer could experience delays in replacing a majority of directors. Moreover, stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting.
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RISKS RELATED TO PUBLICLY TRADED U.S. MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
As a publicly traded U.S. manufacturing company, we are subject to a variety of other risks, each of which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows or the price of our common stock. These risks include but are not limited to:
•
the ability to attract and retain key management and other personnel and develop effective succession plans;
•
skills shortages in engineering, manufacturing, technology, construction and maintenance contractors and other labor market inadequacies;
•
regulations that subject us to additional capital or margin requirements or other restrictions that make it more difficult to hedge risks associated with our business or increase the cost of our hedging activities;
•
compliance with a wide variety of employment, minimum wage, health and safety laws and regulations and changes to such laws and regulations;
•
new or modified legislation related to health care;
•
pursuing growth through acquisitions, including the ability to identify acceptable acquisition candidates, finance and consummate acquisitions on favorable terms and successfully integrate acquired assets or businesses;
•
protection of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights, from infringement by others and the potential defense of claims, whether meritorious or not, alleging the unauthorized use of the intellectual property of others;
•
the exertion of influence over us, individually or collectively, by a few entities with concentrated ownership of our stock;
•
failure to meet the expectations of investors, including recent environmental, social and governance expectations and other factors that are beyond the control of an individual company;
•
disputes, legal proceedings or investigations, whether meritorious or not, with respect to a variety of matters, including matters related to personal injury, employees, taxes, contracts and product liability;
•
taxation by multiple jurisdictions and the impact of such taxation on effective tax rate and the amount of taxes paid;
•
changes in tax laws and regulations; and
•
compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including the potential impact of compliance failures.
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Risk Management and Strategy
We employ information systems to support our business. As is the case for other manufacturing companies of comparable size and scope, we, from time to time, experience attempted cyber-attacks on our information system. We also face risks associated with other potential significant failures or disruptions of our information technology networks. We utilize a risk-based, multi-layered information security approach that incorporates some of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) Cybersecurity Framework (“CSF”). We have adopted and implemented this approach to identify and mitigate information security risks in a manner that we believe is commercially reasonable for manufacturing companies of our size and scope.
The review of cybersecurity risks and threats is integrated into our enterprise risk management (“ERM”). Our ERM program includes an annual risk prioritization process to identify key enterprise risks. Each key risk is assigned risk owners to establish action plans and implement risk mitigation strategies. The cybersecurity threat risk action plan is managed at the enterprise level by our Chief Information Officer (“CIO”), who reports to our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Management employs in-depth defense mechanisms throughout the enterprise. We regularly engage and consult with independent third-party consultants as part of our overall ERM, including penetration testing and periodic tabletop exercises to better prepare us for potential cyber threats. We also conduct annual information security training to educate employees and make them aware of information security risks and to enable them to take steps to mitigate those risks. As part of this program, we take reasonable steps to provide our executive management and employees who may come into possession of confidential financial information with appropriate information security awareness
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training. In addition, we employ multi-factor authentication and vulnerability management to mitigate and/or prevent cybersecurity incidents.
A cybersecurity incident may be detected in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, through automated reporting mechanisms, network and system indicators, intrusion detection systems, employee reports, law enforcement reports, or other third-party notification. To oversee and identify cybersecurity threat risks on a day-to-day basis, including from third-party service providers, the Company maintains a cybersecurity operations team with round-the-clock monitoring, and the CIO and Director of Cybersecurity receive regular reports on industry activity. Upon receiving notification of a cybersecurity incident, the cybersecurity operations team acts to isolate and contain the threat. The CIO along with the Director of Cybersecurity will consult and determine the incident severity level, which determines whether the incident should be escalated. Critical and high severity incidents must be reported to our President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel and Executive Vice President - Manufacturing. The Company may engage third-party experts for assistance with crisis management, including forensic investigations, ransom negotiation, or crisis communication. During this process, the cybersecurity operations team will take steps to preserve evidence as soon as possible, including, but not limited to, memory dumps, log preservation and forensic hard drive collection. In addition, our Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, in consultation with the CIO and Director of Cybersecurity, will promptly evaluate whether the incident requires legal notifications or disclosure, including whether the incident requires disclosure under the U.S. securities laws. Following a cybersecurity incident, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will direct the development of documentation regarding lessons learned in the response, including evaluation of preparedness capability, to continuously strengthen the cybersecurity posture of the Corporation.
Management has not identified risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents involving us or third-parties, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company in 2024, including its business, strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors - Risks Related to Cybersecurity and Privacy” for additional information. While we continually work to safeguard the information systems we use, and the proprietary, confidential and personal information residing therein, and mitigate potential risks, there can be no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent cybersecurity incidents or mitigate all potential risks to such systems, networks and data or those of our third-party providers. In the event an attack or other intrusion were to be successful, we have a response team of internal and external resources engaged and prepared to respond. We also have a cyber risk insurance policy to help us mitigate risk exposure by offsetting costs involved with recovery and remediation in the event of a successful attack or other intrusion.
Governance
The Audit Committee is responsible for the review of risks relating to our information technology system, including cybersecurity, emerging cybersecurity developments and threats and our strategy for mitigating cybersecurity risks. Our entire Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing management’s risk assessment and risk management processes designed to monitor and mitigate information security risks. The CIO and Director of Cybersecurity reports on cybersecurity matters semi-annually to the Board, primarily through the Audit Committee. Management provides benchmarking information and updates on key operational and compliance metrics to the Audit Committee. In addition, cybersecurity training is provided to the Audit Committee, to educate directors on the current cybersecurity threat environment and measures companies can take to mitigate the risk and impact of cyberattacks.
As described above, management is actively involved in assessing and managing the Company’s material cybersecurity risks. The CIO and the Director of Cybersecurity primarily lead these efforts. The CIO, reporting to the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, manages the global information technology and cybersecurity programs.The CIO holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, specializing in information systems and quantitative methods from Loyola Marymount University. The CIO has over 25 years of information technology expertise with extensive experience in enterprise risk management, including analysis, development, evaluation, and testing of control objectives and procedures to mitigate risks. The Director of Cybersecurity oversees and helps to ensure appropriate capabilities and controls are implemented in the areas of network security, endpoint protection, data protection, incident response, identity, and access management. Additionally, in this role, the Director of Cybersecurity works closely with third-party security partners surrounding monitoring and incident response services.
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Item 2.Properties
The following table provides information regarding the location, size, and ownership of our principal production facilities as of December 31, 2024:
Location Squarefootage Owned orLeased
Chandler, Arizona 98,000 Leased1
Columbia, New Jersey 33,000 Owned
Florence, Alabama 249,000 Owned
Jackson, Tennessee 306,000 Owned
Los Angeles, California 174,000 Owned
Newburgh, Indiana 3,922,000 Owned/Leased3
Richland, Washington 63,000 Leased4
Richmond, Virginia 474,000 Owned
Spokane Valley, Washington 2,886,000 Owned/Leased6
1.
The Chandler, Arizona extrusion facility is subject to a lease with a term that expires in 2038, subject to certain extension rights held by us.
2.
The Chandler, Arizona tube, and Kalamazoo, Michigan facilities are each subject to leases with terms that expire in 2033, subject to certain extension rights held by us.
3.
The Newburg, Indiana facility is owned by us, while the land where the rolling mill is located is subject to a lease with a 2081 expiration date and a renewal option subject to certain terms and conditions.
4.
The Richland, Washington facility is subject to a lease with a 2025 expiration date, subject to certain extension rights held by us.
5.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, we initiated a plan to exit our soft alloy aluminum extrusion facility located in Sherman, Texas. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for a description of our 2024 Restructuring Plan related to this facility.
6.
The Spokane Valley, Washington facilities consist of 2,765,000 square feet, owned by us, and 121,000 square feet, which is subject to a lease with a 2025 expiration date.
Production facilities and equipment are generally in good condition and suitable for their intended uses. For additional information regarding our production facilities, see the table under Item 1. Business “Resources - Manufacturing Processes” of this Form 10-K.
Item 3.Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our outstanding common stock is traded under the ticker symbol “KALU” on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Holders
As of February 17, 2025, there were approximately 484 holders of record of our common stock.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock with: (i) the Russell 2000 Index and (ii) the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials Index. We are a component of each of these indices. The graph assumes: (i) an initial investment of $100 as of December 31, 2019 and (ii) reinvestment of all dividends. The performance graph is not necessarily indicative of the future performance of our stock price.
COMPARISON OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
Among Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, the Russell 2000 Index and
the S&P SmallCap 600 Materials Index
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Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities
The following table provides information regarding our repurchases of our common shares during the quarter ended December 31, 2024:
Equity Incentive Plans Stock Repurchase Plan
1.
Under our equity incentive plan, participants may elect to have us withhold common shares to satisfy minimum statutory tax withholding obligations arising from the recognition of income and the vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units, and performance shares. When we withhold these shares, we are required to remit to the appropriate taxing authorities the market price of the shares withheld by us on the date of withholding. The withholding of common shares by us could be deemed a purchase of such common shares.
2.
In September 2018, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase an indeterminate number of shares of our common stock at an aggregate market value of up to $100.0 million. At December 31, 2024, $93.1 million remained available to repurchase our common shares pursuant to the stock repurchase program. The September 2018 authorization does not have an expiration date.
Item 6.[Reserved]
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Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K. For a detailed discussion of items impacting the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as a year‐to‐year comparison of our financial position and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, refer to Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 22, 2024.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This information contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A non-GAAP financial measure is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with US GAAP in the statements of income (loss), balance sheets, or statements of cash flows of the company. We have provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in the accompanying tables. We have also provided a discussion of the reasons we believe that presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors, as well as any additional ways in which we use the non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures used in the following discussions are Conversion Revenue (defined as Net Sales less the Hedged Cost of Alloyed Metal, see below in “Metal Pricing Policies” discussion), Adjusted EBITDA and ratios related thereto. These measures are presented because management uses this information to monitor and evaluate financial results and trends and believes this information to also be useful for investors.
In the discussion of operating results below, we refer to certain items as “non-run-rate items.” For purposes of such discussion, non-run-rate items are items that, while they may recur from period-to-period: (i) are particularly material to results; (ii) affect costs primarily as a result of external market factors; and (iii) may not recur in future periods if the same level of underlying performance were to occur. Non-run-rate items are part of our business and operating environment but are worthy of being highlighted for the benefit of readers of our financial statements. Our intent is to allow users of the financial statements to consider our results both in light of and separately from such items. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income, see below in “Results of Operations - Selected Operational and Financial Information.” Reconciliations of certain forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to comparable GAAP measures are not provided because certain items required for such reconciliations are outside of our control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted or provided without unreasonable effort.
Metal Pricing Policies
Our pricing policies and hedging program are intended to significantly reduce or eliminate the impact on our profitability of fluctuations in the underlying price of primary and scrap, or recycled, aluminum, our main raw material, and certain alloys so that our earnings are predominantly associated with the conversion of aluminum to semi‐fabricated mill products. To allow users of our financial statements to consider the impact of aluminum and alloy cost on our Net sales, we disclose Net sales as well as Conversion Revenue, which is Net sales less the Hedged Cost of Alloyed Metal. As used in this discussion, “Hedged Cost of Alloyed Metal” is the cost of aluminum at the average MWTP plus the cost of alloying elements and any realized gains and/or losses on settled hedges related to the metal sold in the referenced period. The average MWTP of aluminum reflects the primary aluminum supply/demand dynamics in North America. For a reconciliation of Conversion Revenue to Net sales, see below in “Results of Operations - Selected Operational and Financial Information.”
Results of Operations
Fiscal 2024 Summary
•
Net income of $46.8 million and Net income per diluted share of $2.87;
•
Net sales of $3.02 billion; Conversion Revenue of $1.46 billion;
•
Adjusted EBITDA of $216.5 million; Adjusted EBITDA Margin 14.9%;
•
Capital investment of $180.8 million, primarily driven by the fourth coating line investment at Warrick;
•
As of December 31, 2024, we had $571.8 million of combined cash and cash equivalents and net borrowing availability under our Revolving Credit Facility; and
•
We paid a total of approximately $50.7 million, or $3.08 per common share, in cash dividends to stockholders, including holders of restricted stock, and dividend equivalents to holders of certain restricted stock units during the year ended December 31, 2024.
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Consolidated Selected Operational and Financial Information
The following data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K.
Net Sales. The following table sets forth the 2024 and 2023 shipments (in millions of pounds) and Net sales (in millions of dollars) by end market applications and the respective fluctuations.
Year Ended December 31,
The decrease in Net sales reflected a 24.1 million pound (2%) decrease in shipment volume while the average realized sales price per pound remained flat at $2.58 for the years ended 2024 and 2023.
COGS. COGS for 2024 totaled $2,691.1 million, or 89% of Net sales, compared to $2,754.9 million, or 89% of Net sales, in 2023. The decrease reflected the following (in millions of dollars):
Year Ended December 31,
Other cost of products sold 56.0 56.0 — 0 %
Of the $53.3 million decrease in Hedged Cost of Alloyed Metal, $20.6 million was due to lower hedged metal cost and $32.7 million was due to lower shipment volume, as discussed above in “Net Sales.” The $11.7 million decrease in freight costs was primarily due to favorable shipping rates. The $4.7 million decrease in manufacturing costs was primarily driven by lower shipment volume and favorable impact of metal sourcing strategies partially offset by higher energy costs and higher hourly personnel costs. The $5.9 million increase in plant overhead was due to higher employee and employee-related costs for salaried operational personnel. Other cost of products sold remained flat as a result of increases in LIFO reserve expense and legacy environmental expenses offset by a decrease in major maintenance costs. See “Selected Operational and Financial Information” below for a further discussion of the comparative results of operations for 2024 and 2023.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization for 2024 was $116.4 million compared to $108.6 million for 2023. The increase of $7.8 million was primarily attributable to various construction-in-progress projects related to manufacturing cost efficiency and capacity growth initiatives being placed in service.
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Selling, General, Administrative, Research and Development (“SG&A and R&D”). SG&A and R&D expense totaled $120.8 million in 2024 compared to $122.7 million in 2023. The decrease reflected the following (in millions of dollars):
Year Ended December 31,
Research and development costs $ 2.2 $ 2.9 $ (0.7 ) (24 %)
Other selling, general and administrative costs 35.3 39.8 (4.5 ) (11 %)
The $4.5 million decrease in other SG&A costs was due to: (i) a $2.9 million decrease in legal fees; (ii) a $1.2 million decrease in workers’ compensation expense; and (iii) a $0.7 million decrease in rent expense.
Restructuring Costs. Restructuring costs reflect the impacts of our restructuring plans initiated in 2024 and 2022. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information regarding the restructuring plans.
Other Operating Charges, Net. Other operating charges, net, of $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 represented an impairment charge on land classified as held for sale.
Interest Expense. Interest expense represents cash and non-cash interest expense incurred on our Senior Notes and our Revolving Credit Facility, net of capitalized interest. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information regarding interest expense, capitalized interest expense, and a discussion of our debt and credit facilities that were in effect during each of the years 2024 and 2023.
Other Income, Net. See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for details.
Income Tax (Provision) Benefit. The income tax provision for 2024 was $16.7 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 26.3%. The difference between the effective tax rate and the projected blended statutory tax rate for 2024 was primarily due to: (i) an increase of 5% related to an increase in the valuation allowance relating to certain state net operating losses and credits; and (ii) an increase of 4% related to non-deductible compensation expense, partially offset by (i) a decrease of 5% due to state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward expirations and tax rate true-ups in various states; and (ii) a decrease of 2% related to a Federal Research and Development credit.
The income tax provision for 2023 was $9.1 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 16.2%. The difference between the effective tax rate and the projected blended statutory tax rate for 2023 was primarily due to: (i) a decrease of 6% related to a Federal Research and Development credit and (ii) a decrease of 3% related to state taxes, partially offset by an increase of 3% related to non-deductible compensation expense.
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Selected Operational and Financial Information
The following data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K.
The following table provides selected operational and financial information (in millions of dollars):
Year Ended December 31,
Other income, net (19.5 ) (7.4 )
Income tax provision 16.7 9.1
Depreciation and amortization 116.4 108.6
Non-run-rate items:
Restructuring costs 7.6 5.0
Non-cash asset impairment charge 0.4 —
Environmental expenses1 4.4 0.2
Total non-run-rate items 12.4 5.2
1.
Non-run-rate environmental expenses are related to legacy contingencies from activities at operating facilities prior to July 6, 2006. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information relating to environmental expenses.
Adjusted EBITDA for 2024 was $6.9 million higher than Adjusted EBITDA for 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2024 was impacted by: (i) improved product mix, partially offset by lower shipment volume; (ii) a decrease in freight costs; (iii) favorable impact of metal sourcing strategies; and (iv) lower major maintenance costs driven by timing of annual planned maintenance programs. This was partially offset by: (i) higher personnel costs and (ii) an increase in energy costs. See above in “Consolidated Results of Operations” for further details.
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The following table provides our shipment and Conversion Revenue information (in millions of dollars, except shipments and Conversion Revenue per pound) by end market applications:
Year Ended December 31,
Aero/HS Products:
$ $ / lb $ $ / lb
Packaging:
$ $ / lb $ $ / lb
GE Products:
$ $ / lb $ $ / lb
Automotive Extrusions:
$ $ / lb $ $ / lb
Other Products:
Shipments (mmlbs) 4.3 9.6
$ $ / lb $ $ / lb
Less: Hedged Cost of Alloyed Metal (5.9 ) (1.37 ) (12.6 ) (1.31 )
Total:
$ $ / lb $ $ / lb
1.
Hedged Cost of Alloyed Metal for 2024 and 2023 was comprised of $1,567.6 million and $1,599.7 million, respectively, reflecting the cost of aluminum at the average MWTP and the cost of certain alloys used in the production process, as well as metal price exposure on shipments that we hedged with realized losses upon settlement of $0.2 million and $21.4 million in 2024 and 2023, respectively, all of which were included within both Net sales and COGS in our Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss). See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for the total realized (gain) loss on aluminum hedges for which we hedged the metal price exposure externally.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Summary
The following table summarizes our liquidity (in millions of dollars):
As of December 31,
Available cash and cash equivalents $ 18.4 $ 82.4
1.
Borrowing availability under the Revolving Credit Facility was determined by a borrowing base calculated as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further details.
We place our cash in bank deposits with high credit quality financial institutions. See Note 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for information regarding restricted cash at December 31, 2024.
We had no borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility during the year ended December 31, 2024, and we had no outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility as of December 31, 2023 after repaying borrowings of $215.1 million incurred during the year ended December 31, 2023. See “Sources of Liquidity” below for a further discussion of subsequent borrowing activity.
Cash Flows
The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities (in millions of dollars):
Year Ended December 31,
Total cash provided by (used in):
Investing activities $ (174.6 ) $ (128.2 )
Financing activities $ (55.3 ) $ (54.3 )
Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 reflected results of business activity described within “Consolidated Selected Operational and Financial Information” above, as well as the following working capital changes: (i) an increase in inventory of $29.4 million, excluding LIFO impact, primarily driven by higher metal costs; (ii) an increase in contract assets of $14.9 million, primarily driven by timing of customer shipments; (iii) an increase in accounts payable of $14.1 million due to an increase in metal costs in addition to the timing of payments; and (iv) an increase in trade and other receivables of $4.4 million, primarily due to an increase in metal costs in addition to the timing of collections.
Cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 reflected results of business activity described within “Consolidated Selected Operational and Financial Information” above, as well as the following working capital changes: (i) a decrease in inventory of $47.2 million, excluding LIFO impact, primarily driven by improved inventory management and lower metal costs; (ii) a decrease in trade and other receivables of $33.1 million, primarily due to a decrease in metal costs in addition to the timing of collections; and (iii) a decrease in accounts payable of $43.0 million due to the timing of payments, in addition to a decrease in metal prices.
See Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows included in this Form 10-K for further details on our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
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Sources of Liquidity
Our most significant sources of liquidity include available cash and cash equivalents, available credit under the Revolving Credit Facility, and funds generated from operations. We believe we have sufficient liquidity to fund our operations and meet our short-term and long-term obligations.
Our Revolving Credit Facility and Senior Notes have covenants that, we believe, allow us to operate our business with limited restrictions and significant flexibility for the foreseeable future. We do not believe that covenants contained in the Revolving Credit Facility are reasonably likely to limit our ability to raise additional debt or equity to satisfy our foreseeable liquidity needs during the next 12 months, should we choose to do so, nor do we believe it is likely that during the next 12 months, we will trigger the availability threshold that would require measuring and maintaining a fixed charge coverage ratio.
At February 17, 2025, we had no outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility after repaying borrowings of $37.3 million incurred subsequent to December 31, 2024. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for a description of our Revolving Credit Facility.
We engage in certain customer-based supply chain financing programs to accelerate the receipt of payment for outstanding accounts receivable from certain customers. The costs of these programs are typically reimbursed to us by the customer. Receivables transferred under these customer-based supply chain financing programs generally meet the requirements to be accounted for as sales resulting in the derecognition of such receivables from our consolidated balance sheets. Receivables involved with these customer‐based supply chain finance programs for the year ended December 31, 2024 constituted approximately 36% of our Net sales. See Note 1 and Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further details with respect to these supply chain financing programs.
Material Cash Requirements
The discussion below summarizes our material cash requirements from significant contractual obligations, commercial commitments and off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2024.
Debt.As of December 31, 2024, we have outstanding fixed-rate notes with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of $1.05 billion. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further details with respect to the 4.625% Senior Notes maturing in 2028 (“4.625% Senior Notes”) and the 4.50% Senior Notes maturing in 2031 (“4.50% Senior Notes”). At December 31, 2024, future interest payments associated with our outstanding notes total $241.8 million, with $47.9 million payable within 12 months. We do not believe that covenants in the indenture governing the 4.625% Senior Notes and 4.50% Senior Notes are reasonably likely to limit our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing should we choose to do so during the next 12 months.
Purchase Obligations. Cash outlays for purchase obligations consist primarily of commitments to purchase primary aluminum, recycled scrap aluminum, alloys, energy, and equipment. We have various contracts with suppliers of metals that require us to purchase minimum quantities of these metals in future years based primarily at the associated metal price at the time of payment. However, we believe the minimum required purchase quantities are lower than our current requirements for these metals. Physical delivery commitments with energy companies are in place to cover our exposure to fluctuations in utility prices and are based on fixed contractual rates and quantities. Equipment purchase obligations are based on scheduled payments to equipment manufacturers.
Leases. We have operating and finance leases for certain manufacturing facilities, warehouses, office space, equipment, and non-cancelable capital commitments. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for the maturity of our lease liabilities.
Deferred Compensation Plan Liability. As of December 31, 2024, we had deferred compensation plan liabilities for certain key employees, which were contingent upon investment performance, vesting and other eligibility requirements, including retirement dates. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information, including the total expense related to all benefit plans.
Revolving Credit Facility. We are required to pay a monthly commitment fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the unused commitments under the Revolving Credit Facility. No borrowings were outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility as of December 31, 2024. Additionally, under our Revolving Credit Facility, we issue standby letters of credit to provide financial assurance of our payment of obligations, primarily related to workers’ compensation claims. The specific timing of payments with respect to such matters is uncertain. The letters of credit generally automatically renew every 12 months and terminate when the underlying obligations no longer require assurance or upon the maturity of our Revolving Credit Facility in April 2027. See Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for additional information.
Uncertain Tax Liabilities. At December 31, 2024, we had uncertain tax positions which ultimately could result in tax payments. See Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for further information.
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Pension, OPEB, and Salaried VEBA. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for information regarding the future net benefits we expect to pay with respect to our pension plans, OPEB, and our variable cash contributions to the Salaried VEBA. Additionally, we are required to pay $0.3 million in annual administrative fees related to the hourly VEBA that provides benefits for eligible retirees represented by certain unions and their surviving spouses and eligible dependents through September 2025.
Multiemployer Pension Plans. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for information regarding the future contributions we expect to make under the terms of collective bargaining agreements that cover our union-represented employees at certain facilities. Additionally, in 2027 we expect to pay a partial withdrawal liability of approximately $4.6 million resulting from the exit of our soft alloy aluminum extrusion facility located in Sherman, Texas and the corresponding cessation of ongoing contributions to the multiemployer pension plan for those covered employees.
While we believe our available cash on hand, anticipated available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility, and funds generated from operations will be sufficient to finance our working capital requirements, planned capital expenditures, investments, debt service obligations and other cash requirements for at least the next 12 months, and while we also believe that alternative sources of liquidity will remain available in the event we seek to add liquidity for opportunistic or other reasons in the future, our ability to fund such cash requirements will depend upon our future operating performance (which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions) and financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Capital Expenditures and Investments
We strive to strengthen our competitive position across our end markets through strategic capital investment. Significant investments over the past decade have positioned us well with increased capacity and expanded manufacturing capabilities while more recent capital projects have focused on further enhancing manufacturing cost efficiency, improving product quality, and promoting operational security, which we believe are critical to maintaining and strengthening our position in an increasingly competitive market environment. A significant portion of our capital spending over the past several years are related to: (i) our investment in a fourth coating line at Warrick to increase our capacity for higher margin coated aluminum material for packaging applications and (ii) modernization projects at our Trentwood rolling mill, which focused on equipment upgrades throughout the process flow to reduce conversion costs, increase efficiency and further improve our competitive cost position on all products produced at Trentwood. A significant portion of the Trentwood investment also focused on modernizing legacy equipment and the process flow for thin gauge plate to achieve KaiserSelect® quality enhancements for these Aero/HS Products and GE Products. These improvements have and will allow us to gain incremental manufacturing capacity to enable future sales growth. Total capital expenditures were $180.8 million in 2024 and $143.2 million in 2023.
Our capital investment plans remain focused on supporting demand growth through capacity expansion, sustaining our operations, enhancing product quality, and increasing operating efficiencies. We anticipate total capital spending in 2025 of approximately $125.0 million. We expect to continue to deploy capital thoughtfully so that investment decisions align with demand expectations in order to maximize the earnings potential of the business and maintain financial strength and flexibility.
Capital investments will be funded using cash generated from operations, available cash and cash equivalents, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, and/or other third-party financing arrangements. The level of anticipated capital expenditures may be adjusted from time to time depending on our business plans, our price outlook for fabricated aluminum products, our ability to maintain adequate liquidity, and other factors. No assurance can be provided as to the timing of any such expenditures or the operational benefits expected therefrom.
Dividends
We have consistently paid a quarterly cash dividend since the second quarter of 2007 to holders of our common stock, including holders of restricted stock. Nevertheless, as in the past, the future declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our financial and operating results, the availability of surplus and/or net profits, liquidity position, anticipated cash requirements, contractual restrictions under our Revolving Credit Facility, and the indentures for our Senior Notes or other indebtedness we may incur in the future. We can give no assurance that dividends will be declared and paid in the future.
We also pay quarterly dividend equivalents to the holders of certain restricted stock units. Holders of performance shares are not paid a quarterly dividend equivalent, but instead are entitled to receive, in connection with the issuance of underlying shares of common stock for performance shares that ultimately vest, a one-time payment equal to the dividends such holder would have received if the number of such shares of common stock so issued had been held of record by such holder from the date of grant of such performance shares through the date of such issuance.
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See our Statements of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity and Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for information regarding dividends declared during 2024 and 2023 and subsequent to December 31, 2024.
Repurchases of Common Stock
We are not obligated to repurchase any specific number of shares under our stock repurchase program. We suspended share repurchases as of March 2020. We will continue to assess share repurchases as a part of our capital allocation priorities and strategic investment opportunities identified to support further growth in our business. At December 31, 2024, $93.1 million remained authorized and available for future repurchases of common stock under our stock repurchase program. See our Statements of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity included in this Form 10-K for information regarding minimum statutory tax withholding obligations arising during 2024 and 2023 in connection with the vesting of non-vested shares, restricted stock units, and performance shares.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. In connection with the preparation of our financial statements, we are required to make assumptions and estimates about future events and apply judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and the related disclosures. We base our assumptions, estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be relevant at the time our consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, management reviews the accounting policies, assumptions, estimates and judgments to ensure that our financial statements are presented fairly and in accordance with GAAP. However, because future events and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results could differ from our assumptions and estimates, and such differences could be material.
In addition to the accounting estimates we discuss in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K, management believes that the following accounting estimates are critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, resulting from the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. Management has reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors.
Revenue Recognition
We decide at the outset of entering into contracts with customers whether our performance obligations as specified in these contracts are satisfied over time or at a point in time. To recognize revenue over time means that we will need to synchronize revenue recognition with progress toward completion of the performance obligation. If we have determined that revenue will be recognized over time for a specific customer order, the earliest point in our production process that we will recognize revenue will be the point that the product cannot be directed to another customer. In most cases, this happens at the time we begin to mold the ingot or billet, either by flat rolling the ingot or by extruding the billet through a die. For custom alloys, we would begin recognizing revenue over time at the point the custom alloy billet is cast. Approximately 77% of our business is recognized at a point in time with the remaining 23% recognized over time.
We follow the input method of recognizing revenue over time. Under this approach, revenue is recognized for products in production based on the cost incurred to date plus a reasonable margin. Cost incurred to date is based on resources consumed, labor hours expended, and other costs incurred relative to the total inputs expected in order to satisfy a performance obligation. Reasonable margins are estimated using an average margin of the respective production facility producing the product. For purposes of recognizing revenue over time on products that are in work‐in-process as of the period end, we make the assumption that the average margins at the respective production facilities are reasonably close to the individual product margins that are in work‐in-process.
Although we believe that the judgments and estimates around recognizing revenue over time discussed herein are reasonable, actual results could differ and we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material. A change in our estimated average margins by 5% would have had an impact of approximately $0.1 million to Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Environmental Commitments and Contingencies
We are subject to a number of environmental laws and regulations, to potential fines or penalties assessed for alleged breaches of such laws and regulations and to potential claims and litigation based upon such laws and regulations. Based on our evaluation of environmental matters, we have established environmental accruals, primarily related to solid waste disposal and soil and groundwater remediation matters. These environmental accruals represent our estimate of costs reasonably expected to be incurred in the ordinary course of business based on presently enacted laws and regulations, currently available facts, existing technology and our assessment of the likely remediation action to be taken.
Making estimates of possible incremental environmental remediation costs is subject to inherent uncertainties. In estimating the amount of any loss, in many instances a single estimation of the loss may not be possible. Rather, we may only be able to estimate a
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range for possible losses. In such an event, ASC 450, Contingencies requires that a liability be established for at least the minimum end of the range assuming that there is no other amount which is more likely to occur. As additional facts are developed and definitive remediation plans and necessary regulatory approvals for implementation of remediation are established or alternative technologies are developed, changes in these and other factors may result in actual costs exceeding the current environmental accruals.
Although we believe that the judgments and estimates discussed herein are reasonable, actual results could differ and we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be materially different than those reflected in our accruals. To the extent we prevail in matters for which accruals have been established or are required to pay amounts in excess of our accruals, our future results from operations could be materially affected. We believe at this time that it is reasonably possible that undiscounted costs associated with these environmental matters may exceed current accruals by amounts that could be, in the aggregate, up to an estimated $13.4 million over the remediation period. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K for additional discussion of these matters.
Pension and Other Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits
Liabilities and expenses for pension and other postretirement and postemployment benefits are determined using actuarial methodologies and incorporate significant assumptions, including the interest rate used to discount the future estimated liability, the expected long-term rate of return (“LTRR”) on plan assets and several assumptions relating to the employee workforce (salary increases, health care cost trend rates, retirement age and mortality). The most significant assumptions used in determining the estimated year-end obligations include the assumed discount rate and the LTRR.
In addition to the above assumptions used in the actuarial valuations, changes in plan provisions could also have a material impact on the net funded status of our pensions and other postretirement and postemployment benefits. Additionally, our obligation to the Salaried VEBA is to pay an annual variable contribution amount based on the level of our cash flow. The funding status of the Salaried VEBA has no impact on our annual variable contribution amount. We have no control over any aspect of the Salaried VEBA plan. We rely on information provided to us by the Salaried VEBA administrator with respect to specific plan provisions such as annual benefits expected to be paid. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report for additional information on our benefit plans.
Since the recorded obligation represents the present value of expected postretirement and postemployment benefit payments over the life of the plans, decreases in the discount rate (used to compute the present value of the payments) would cause the estimated obligation to increase. Conversely, an increase in the discount rate would cause the estimated present value of the obligation to decline.
The LTRR on plan assets reflects an assumption regarding what the amount of earnings would be on existing plan assets (before considering any future contributions to the plan). Increases in the assumed LTRR would cause the projected value of plan assets available to satisfy postretirement and OPEB obligations to increase, yielding a reduced net expense of these obligations in future years. A reduction in the LTRR would reduce the amount of projected net assets available to satisfy postretirement and OPEB obligations and, thus, cause the net expense of these obligations to increase in future years. A change in plan provisions could cause the estimated obligations to change. An increase in annual benefits expected to be paid would increase the estimated present value of the obligations and conversely, a decrease in annual benefits expected to be paid would decrease the estimated present value of the obligations.
The impact on the combined pension and other postretirement and OPEB liabilities of a change in the weighted average discount rate of 0.25% would be approximately $3.3 million as of December 31, 2024 and would impact pretax earnings in 2025 by approximately $0.4 million. A change in the assumption for the weighted average expected long-term rate of return on plan assets of 0.25% would impact pretax earnings by approximately $0.2 million for 2025.
New Accounting Pronouncements
For a discussion of all recently adopted and recently issued but not yet adopted accounting pronouncements, see Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K.
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The following quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk should be read in conjunction with Note 8 and Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-K. Our operating results are sensitive to changes in the prices of primary aluminum, certain alloying metals, natural gas, electricity, foreign currency, and also depend to a significant degree upon the volume and mix of products sold to customers. We have historically utilized hedging transactions to lock in a specified price or range of prices for certain products which we sell or consume in our production process, and to mitigate our exposure to changes in energy prices.
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Aluminum
In 2024 and 2023, settlements of derivative contracts were for 154.9 million pounds and 207.5 million pounds, respectively, of hedged shipments sold on pricing terms that created aluminum price risk for us. At December 31, 2024, we had derivative contracts with respect to approximately 46.8 million pounds and 0.5 million pounds to hedge sales to be made in 2025 and 2026, respectively, on pricing terms that create aluminum price risk for us.
Based on the aluminum derivative positions held by us to hedge firm-price customer sales agreements, we estimate that a $0.10/lb decrease in the LME market price of aluminum as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, with all other variables held constant, would have resulted in an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $4.7 million and $6.3 million, respectively, with corresponding changes to the net fair value of our aluminum derivative positions. In addition, we estimate that a $0.05/lb decrease in the Midwest premium for aluminum as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, with all other variables held constant, would have resulted in an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $2.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively, with corresponding changes to the net fair value of our aluminum derivative positions.
Alloying Metals
We are exposed to the risk of fluctuating prices of certain alloying metals, especially copper, zinc, and magnesium, to the extent that changes in their prices do not highly correlate with price changes for aluminum. Copper, zinc, magnesium, and certain other metals are used in our remelt operations to cast rolling ingot and extrusion billet with the proper chemistry for our products. From time to time, we enter into forward contract swaps and/or physical delivery commitments with third parties to mitigate our risk from fluctuations in the prices of these alloys. As of December 31, 2024, we had forward swap contracts with settlement dates designed to align with the timing of scheduled purchases of copper and zinc by our manufacturing facilities. We estimate that a $0.10/lb decrease in the market price of zinc and copper as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, with all other variables held constant, would have resulted in an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $0.9 million and $0.8 million, respectively, with corresponding changes to the net fair value of our zinc and copper derivative positions.
Energy
We are exposed to the risk of fluctuating prices for natural gas and electricity. We, from time to time, in the ordinary course of business, enter into hedging transactions and/or physical delivery commitments with firm prices with third parties to mitigate our risk from fluctuations in natural gas and electricity prices. We estimate that a $1.00 per mmbtu decrease in natural gas prices would have resulted in an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $2.8 million and $3.4 million as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, with corresponding changes to the net fair value of our natural gas derivative positions. As of December 31, 2024, we had no outstanding electricity derivative positions. We estimate that a $5.00 per Mwh decrease in electricity prices would have resulted in an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $0.3 million as of December 31, 2023, with corresponding changes to the net fair value of our electricity derivative positions.
Foreign Currency
As of December 31, 2024, we hedged the foreign currency exchange rate risk related to certain lease transactions and equipment purchases denominated in Euros and British Pounds using forward swap contracts with settlement dates through July 2027. We estimate that a 10% decrease in the exchange rate of our hedged foreign currencies to U.S. dollars would have resulted in an unrealized mark-to-market loss of $0.8 million and $1.9 million as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, with corresponding changes to the net fair value of our foreign currency derivative positions.
Our primary foreign exchange exposure is the operating costs of our London, Ontario facility. We estimate that a 10% change in the Canadian dollar exchange rate as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 would have resulted in an annual operating cost impact of $2.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
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KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID:34) 43
Consolidated Balance Sheets 46
Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss) 47
Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) 48
Statements of Consolidated Stockholders’ Equity 49
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows 50
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 51
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kaiser Aluminum Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of income (loss), comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“generally accepted accounting principles”). Also, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the US federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (CONTINUED)
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Revenue Recognition — Refer to Notes 1 and 17 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company recognizes revenue as it fulfills its performance obligations and transfers control of products to its customers. For products that have no alternative use and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment (including a reasonable profit) throughout the production process, revenue is recognized over time. In general, revenue recognized over time primarily relates to the Company’s Aero/HS Products and Automotive Extrusions end markets, with the revenue for the remainder of its products recognized at a point in time. For contracts recognized over time, control transfer occurs incrementally during the Company’s production process as progress is made on fulfilling the performance obligation. The Company uses the input method of determining the progress, capturing direct costs beginning at the point that billet or cast ingot is introduced into production at either the extrusion phase or the rolling phase, respectively. For products in production, the Company recognizes revenue using the cost incurred to date plus an estimate of reasonable margin.
Contract assets primarily relate to the Company’s enforceable right to consideration for work completed but not billed at the reporting date on contracts for products recognized over time. Contract assets also include amounts related to the Company’s contractual right to consideration for finished goods recognized over time that were in transit as of period end.
Given the volume of contracts that are recognized over time and the complexity of the determination of over time revenue, we identified revenue for over time contracts as a critical audit matter.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to revenue recognized over time included the following, among others:
•
We tested management’s controls over revenue recognized over time, including those over cost incurred to date and estimates of reasonable margin.
•
We tested the mathematical accuracy of management’s calculation of revenue recognized over time and the related contract asset.
•
We selected a sample of invoices with customers and performed the following:
o
We evaluated whether revenue was properly recognized as over time according to the contract terms with the customer.
o
We tested that the revenue associated with work-in-process and finished goods inventory was properly recognized at December 31, 2024.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Nashville, Tennessee
February 20, 2025
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (CONTINUED)
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2002.
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KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of December 31,
(In millions of dollars, except shareand per share amounts)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 18.4 $ 82.4
Receivables:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 39.0 34.5
Operating lease assets 27.2 32.6
Deferred tax assets, net 7.2 6.0
Intangible assets, net 45.5 50.0
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accrued salaries, wages and related expenses 54.3 53.0
Other accrued liabilities 79.4 64.3
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities 25.2 29.2
Net liabilities of Salaried VEBA — 3.8
Deferred tax liabilities 24.1 13.9
Long-term liabilities 84.0 81.7
Commitments and contingencies – Note 10
Stockholders’ equity:
Retained earnings 6.2 10.1
Accumulated other comprehensive income 20.5 13.1
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,314.9 $ 2,267.4
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
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KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME (LOSS)
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general, administrative, research and development 120.8 122.7 110.9
Goodwill impairment — — 20.5
Restructuring costs 7.6 5.0 2.2
Other operating charges, net 0.4 — 3.2
Other (expense) income:
Income (loss) before income taxes 63.5 56.3 (37.9 )
Income tax (provision) benefit (16.7 ) (9.1 ) 8.3
Net income (loss) per common share:
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (in thousands):
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
47
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions of dollars)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax – Note 11:
Other comprehensive income, net of tax 7.4 9.9 6.9
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 54.2 $ 57.1 $ (22.7 )
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
48
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In millions of dollars, except share and per share amounts)
Net loss — — — (29.6 ) — — (29.6 )
Other comprehensive income, net of tax — — — — — 6.9 6.9
Cash dividends declared1 — — — (50.1 ) — — (50.1 )
Amortization of unearned equity compensation — — 13.7 — — — 13.7
Other comprehensive income, net of tax — — — — — 9.9 9.9
Cash dividends declared1 — — — (50.4 ) — — (50.4 )
Amortization of unearned equity compensation — — 15.4 — — — 15.4
Other comprehensive income, net of tax — — — — — 7.4 7.4
Cash dividends declared1 — — — (50.7 ) — — (50.7 )
Amortization of unearned equity compensation — — 13.8 — — — 13.8
1.
Dividends declared per common share were $3.08 for each of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022.
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
49
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions of dollars)
Cash flows from operating activities1:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 111.9 103.3 97.6
Amortization of definite-lived intangible assets 4.5 5.3 9.3
Amortization of debt premium and debt issuance costs 2.3 2.2 2.3
Deferred income taxes 6.8 7.5 (12.0 )
LIFO valuation inventory expense 3.5 1.0 22.0
Non-cash asset impairment charges2 3.6 — 23.7
Gain on disposition of property, plant and equipment (3.3 ) (13.8 ) (6.0 )
Gain on reimbursement on certain machinery and equipment – Note 13 — — (6.0 )
Bad debt expense 0.3 — —
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade and other receivables (4.4 ) 33.1 15.0
Inventories (excluding LIFO adjustments) (29.4 ) 47.2 (142.8 )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (9.6 ) (2.8 ) (1.5 )
Annual variable cash contributions to Salaried VEBA (1.1 ) — —
Long-term assets and liabilities, net 2.6 (11.5 ) (10.3 )
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 167.1 211.9 (63.1 )
Cash flows from investing activities1:
Purchase of equity securities (0.1 ) (0.3 ) (0.3 )
Proceeds from sale of equity securities 0.3 0.1 —
Proceeds from reimbursement on certain machinery and equipment – Note 13 — — 6.0
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment 6.0 15.2 11.0
Net cash used in investing activities (174.6 ) (128.2 ) (125.8 )
Cash flows from financing activities1:
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility — 215.1 —
Repayment of borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility — (215.1 ) —
Cash paid for debt issuance costs — — (1.8 )
Repayment of finance lease (2.5 ) (2.1 ) (2.1 )
Cash dividends and dividend equivalents paid (50.7 ) (50.4 ) (50.1 )
Net cash used in financing activities (55.3 ) (54.3 ) (56.8 )
1.
See Note 16 for supplemental disclosure of cash flow information.
2.
Non-cash asset impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2024 are comprised of: (i) a $3.2 million inventory write-down related to certain alloying metals and (ii) a $0.4 million impairment charge on land held for sale. Non-cash asset impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2022 are comprised of: (i) a $20.5 million goodwill impairment charge and (ii) a $3.2 million other operating charge primarily due to the impairment of a favorable commodity contract intangible asset (see Note 4).
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.
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Notes Index
KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTES INDEX
Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 52
Note 2 Supplemental Balance Sheet Information 58
Note 3 Leases 59
Note 4 Goodwill and Intangible Assets 60
Note 5 Employee Benefits 61
Note 6 Multiemployer Pension Plans 66
Note 7 Employee Incentive Plans 67
Note 8 Derivatives, Hedging Programs and Other Financial Instruments 69
Note 9 Debt and Credit Facility 73
Note 10 Commitments and Contingencies 74
Note 11 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income 76
Note 12 Restructuring 76
Note 13 Other Income, Net 77
Note 14 Income Tax Matters 78