UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
January 24, 2007
Allegheny Technologies Incorporated
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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1-12001
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25-1792394
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(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
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1000 Six PPG Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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15222-5479
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrants telephone number, including area code
(412) 394-2800
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report).
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the
filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On January 24, 2007, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated held its fourth quarter 2006 earnings
conference call, broadcast live by webcast. The conference call script is attached as Exhibit 99.1
and is being furnished, not filed, under Item 2.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Certain statements in the script contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain statements in the script relate to
future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as anticipates, believes,
estimates, expects, would, should, will, will likely result, forecast, outlook,
projects, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current
expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which we
are unable to predict or control, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to
materially differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements include: (a) material adverse changes in economic or industry conditions generally,
including global supply and demand conditions and prices for our specialty metals; (b) material
adverse changes in the markets we serve, including the aerospace and defense, construction and
mining, automotive, electrical energy, chemical process industry, oil and gas, and other markets;
(c) our inability to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, synergies,
growth or other benefits anticipated by management, including those anticipated from strategic
investments and the integration of acquired businesses, whether due to significant increases in
energy, raw materials or employee benefits costs, or other factors; (d) volatility of prices and
availability of supply of the raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of our products;
(e) declines in the value of our defined benefit pension plan assets or unfavorable changes in laws
or regulations that govern pension plan funding; (f) significant legal proceedings or
investigations adverse to us; and (g) the other risk factors summarized in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and other reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We assume no duty to update our forward-looking statements.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD.
The disclosure furnished above under Item 2.02 is hereby incorporated by reference into and
furnished under this Item 7.01.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit 99.1 Script for Allegheny Technologies Incorporated fourth quarter 2006 earnings conference call.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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ALLEGHENY TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
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By:
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/s/ Jon D. Walton
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Jon D. Walton
Executive Vice President, Human Resources,
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
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Dated: January 24, 2007
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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Exhibit 99.1
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Script for Allegheny Technologies Incorporated fourth quarter 2006 earnings conference call.
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Exhibit 99.1
Q4 and full year 2006 Conference Call Script
January 24, 2007 1:00 PM
DAN GREENFIELD:
Thank you. Good afternoon and welcome to Allegheny Technologies
earnings conference call for the fourth quarter and full year 2006.
This conference call is being broadcast live on our website at
alleghenytechnologies.com and on CCBN.com. Members of the media have
been invited to listen to this call.
Participating in the conference call today are Pat Hassey, chairman,
president and chief executive officer, and Rich Harshman, executive
vice president, finance and chief financial officer.
After some initial comments, we will ask for questions. Please note
that all forward-looking statements made this afternoon are subject to
various assumptions and caveats as noted in the earnings release.
Actual results may differ materially. Here is Pat Hassey.
Page 1
PAT HASSEY:
Thanks, Dan, and thanks, everyone... for joining us today.
Our strategic goal for 2006 was Profitable Growth.
I am pleased to report that we delivered on that goal.
2006 was a great year for ATI:
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Sales reached over $4.9 billion, an improvement of 40%
compared to 2005.
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Operating profit improved to over one billion dollars,
nearly double last years results.
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Earnings per share reached $5.59.
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These results were achieved even with a LIFO inventory valuation
reserve charge of $197 million. Said in another way, without LIFO, our
segment operating profit would be 20% highermore reflective of future
earning power.
To give some perspective on ATIs growth...sales in 2003 were $1.9
billion; in 2004 $2.7 billion, and in 2005 $3.5 billion. Add another
40%, and ATIs 2006 sales of $4.9 billion reached another growth
milestone. We believe ATI continues to be well positioned for
sustained profitable growth.
Page 2
In 2006, we generated strong cash flow to support our self-funded
growth strategies:
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Cash on hand at the end of the year was $502 million, an
increase of $140 million from the end of 2005. This cash
position is after:
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1.
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$534 million invested in
managed working capital.
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2.
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$235 million invested in
new capital projects.
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3.
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A $100 million voluntary
contribution to our US defined pension plan.
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4.
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$43 million paid in
dividends. Keep in mind, we increased our dividend in
each of the past two years.
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5.
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As a result of our strong
earnings and cash flow, ATIs net debt to total
capitalization at the end of 2006 is only 3.3%.
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Two important financial metrics used to measure our performance were
outstanding for 2006:
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Annual return on capital employed was 34.5%.
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Annual return on stockholders equity was 50%.
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(both after tax measures)
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While 2006 was a record year, we believe we are still in the early
stages of growth.
We continue to build a foundation for further
profitable growth:
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1.
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Our major markets remain strong.
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2.
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Our businesses are delivering on their
operating plans.
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3.
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Several long-term customer supply
agreements are in place.
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4.
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We are growing our presence and sales
around the world.
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5.
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We plan to spend $400 to $450 million in
2007 for capital investments that support our growth
objectives. That is new titanium sponge capacity, new
titanium and nickel-based alloy melt capacity, new plate
capacity, and new forging capacity.
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6.
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These capital projects are self funded.
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Page 3
My comments during todays conference call are focused on two important drivers:
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1.
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Recently announced capital projects and
their accompanying long-term agreements.
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2. Our markets and products.
First, lets review recently announced capital projects and long-term agreements.
In October 2006, we signed an LTA with Boeing, valued at
approximately $2.5 billion over the next 9 years. Under this LTA we
provide titanium products for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and other
Boeing aircraft. A significant portion of this contract is for the
supply of titanium plate.
On January 17, 2007, we announced a $60 million investment to
expand our titanium and specialty plate facility in Washington, PA.
This investment helps to illustrate the transformation of ATI and the
direction in which we are going. The plate business has traditionally
been a stainless business with some specialty metals.
Today, this is a Specialty Plate business with high-value
products, (including titanium), driving nearly 75% of total plate
sales. These sales are to the chemical process, oil and gas,
electrical energy, defense, and now the airframe markets.
The expansion at our plate facility is an enabling strategy. It
allows us to continue to grow our existing Specialty Plate business
plus grow in the airframe market.
Page 4
On January 22, we announced a long-term sourcing agreement with GE
Aviation valued at approximately $2 billion over the next five years.
This agreement calls for the supply of our premium titanium alloys and
nickel-based-superalloys used for commercial and military jet engines.
ATI has been a preferred supplier to GE Aviation for many years.
Because of this unprecedented aerospace cycle, we both decided that a
longer term agreement is in the best interest of both companies. We
value our partnering relationship with GE Aviation and expect it to
continue to grow in the future.
Yesterday, we announced a further expansion of our premium
titanium and nickel-based superalloy melting and forging capabilities.
The total cost of this 3-year capital project is approximately $215
million.
This strategic growth project further strengthens ATIs leadership
position in the production of technically demanding premium titanium
and nickel-based superalloy long products. This investment at Allvac
enhances our ability to meet our customers current and future
technical requirements and creates a new and broader platform or
capability for further innovation.
As you can see, we are staying in front of this aerospace cycle.
In addition, these investments also support further growth in other key
markets.
Bottom line, ATI is truly investing and
Building the Worlds Best
Specialty Metals Company
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Page 5
Now, some comments on ATIs markets and products.
While most of our focus for the conference call today is on the
full year 2006 and our strategic outlook, I will highlight some
accomplishments from the fourth quarter 2006:
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In the High Performance Metals segment our
strategic capital projects are beginning to have an impact
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Comparing the fourth quarter 2006 to the third
quarter 2006: Quarter on quarter shipments of titanium
alloys increased 15% and shipments of nickel-based alloys
and superalloys increased 6%.
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In the Flat-Rolled Products segment our
strategy of redirecting the business to specialty metals is
paying off. Our Flat-Rolled Products segment recorded its
second straight quarter of $100 million+ in operating profit.
This was achieved even with extremely high LIFO inventory
valuation reserve charges in both quarters.
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Our Engineered Products segment had a reasonably
good fourth quarter. Segment operating profit continued to be
adversely affected by high costs of APT, which offset increased
sales in our tungsten products business. Our new APT plant is
now up and running, and as we said, its cost structure
significantly improves operating profit.
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On another note, our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan is
essentially fully funded as of the end of 2006. As a result, retirement
benefit expense is expected to decline by $50 million in 2007. ($32 million
vs. $82 million in 2006.)
This is significant because the pensions funded status previously had a
significant negative impact on our balance sheet. Getting our U.S.
qualified defined benefit pension plan to fully funded status was a key goal
of our three-year plan to fix the balance sheet.
Page 6
Now, looking forward, we currently have good visibility of the demand for
our products from most of our markets.
In the High Performance Metals segment, the aerospace and defense, chemical
process, oil and gas, electrical energy, and medical markets all look
strong with commercial aero-engine and airframe ramping further.
In the Flat-Rolled Products segment:
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Our grain-oriented electrical steel is essentially booked for
the next two years with higher contract prices than in 2006.
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The specialty plate business is busy with global activity
remaining brisk. That business unit is focused on optimizing mix
to maximize profitabilityschedules remain extended.
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The specialty and titanium sheet business is busy with strong
demand and growth in our key markets.
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The Precision Rolled Strip
®
business unit is positioned to have
another solid year.
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For commodity stainless sheet, the record high cost of nickel,
and the resulting record raw material surcharge, is causing some of
our domestic service center customers to be conservative with their
inventories in the first quarter 2007. In short, based upon what
we hear from them, some of our service center customers are buying
less stainless sheet than they are selling. Demand from
end-use markets remains good. We expect to offset much of the
domestic service center inventory management actions, (1) through
market penetration of our low nickel 201 alloy, and (2) by selling
stainless sheet in stronger global markets.
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In the Engineered Products segment:
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Business conditions in our tungsten product business remain good
and our new APT plant is producing 100% of our needs.
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The forged products business is growing its presence in the
construction and mining, oil and gas, and electrical energy market,
which should offset expected decline in demand from the Class 8
truck market.
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Opportunities from the wind energy market are driving further
growth in our castings business and demand for locomotive engine
blocks is good.
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Demand remains robust in our titanium precision metal processing
conversion services.
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Summarizing
Here are my takeaways:
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Our key growth markets are strong.
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Operating margins are being sustained or are increasing.
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The Flat Rolled Products business is demonstrating new
earnings potential and is globally positioning itself for less
cyclicality. I expect the 1
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quarter, without
extremely high LIFO influences, to be better than last quarter.
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Important long-term agreements are in place.
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We are investing for our future, creating new and larger
platforms for sustained profitable growth.
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We like what we see in our major markets, and believe ATI is
positioned, and on track, for another revenue and earnings
growth year in 2007.
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Operator, may we have the first question, please .
Page 8
Q&A
Portion of Conference Call
PAT HASSEY:
Thank you for joining us today, and thank you for your continuing
interest in ATI.
Dan Greenfield:
Thank you, Pat. And thanks to all the listeners for joining us this
afternoon. As always, news releases may be obtained by email and are
available on our website, www.alleghenytechnologies.com. Also a
rebroadcast of this conference call is available on our website. That
concludes our conference call.
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