Exhibit 99.1
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
If you believe that the global capital goods markets are likely to remain
strong over the next several years, if you believe the world is in the early
stages of an extended commercial aerospace build cycle, if you believe in the
global infrastructure build and rebuild, and if you believe that developed
and developing economies need more electrical energy, then you should like
the fundamentals that drive ATIs major businesses.
2007 A Record Year; Strong Balance Sheet
In 2007, we strengthened our position in key global markets, launched new
production facilities, and further strengthened our balance sheet while
achieving record sales and earnings. Highlighting our financial performance
in 2007, sales reached an all-time high of $5.5 billion and net income
increased 30% to $747 million, or $7.26 per share.
Our balance sheet is in the best shape it has ever been with stockholders
equity of $2.2 billion. We had more cash than debt at the end of 2007. ATI
has an investment grade credit rating from the rating agencies. Our
U.S. defined benefit
pension plan was 111% funded at the end of 2007. Return on shareholders
equity at the end of 2007 was 40% and return on capital employed was 31%.
We are investing for profitable growth to continue to increase the value of
ATI. We have invested more than $800 million in the last three years, and
currently plan capital investments of approximately $500 million in 2008.
Our capital investments are expected to be self-funded. We increased our
dividend nearly 40% in 2007, which was the third consecutive year of
significant increase, and we announced a $500 million share repurchase
program in November 2007.
Our ATI Business System efforts continued to drive improved safety
performance, cost reduction, and lean manufacturing throughout our
operations. As a result of our ongoing focus and commitment to a safe
workplace, our OSHA Lost Time Case Rate was 0.52 in 2007, which we believe to
be competitive with world-class performance. We also achieved $112 million
in gross cost reductions in 2007, which exceeded our $100 million target for
2007. We remain focused on cost reductions and have a $100 million cost
reduction target for 2008.
Strong Diversified Markets
ATIs performance is being driven by four major global, diversified markets.
In 2007, the aerospace and defense market accounted for 31% of ATI sales; the
chemical process industry and oil & gas market represented 24% of sales;
sales to the electrical energy market, both power generation and
distribution, were 13% of sales; and sales to the
medical market represented
3% of sales. So, more than 70% of ATIs sales in 2007 were from the global
aerospace and defense, infrastructure, energy, and medical markets.
In 2007, we derived one of every four sales dollars, or $1.5 billion, from
direct international sales. When we analyze where the products of our
customers eventually end up, we believe that international economies are
responsible for at least 50% of ATIs total sales. For example, todays
commercial aircraft orders and deliveries are primarily driven by non-U.S.
airlines. Another example, our ATI 2003 Lean Duplex Alloy is being used for
the largest stainless roof in the world, which is on an airport in the Middle
East. Our direct customer, the roofs fabricator, is located in the United States.
In order to better focus ATIs products and technologies on our key global
growth markets, we operate with market sector teams: ATI Aerospace & Defense,
ATI Electrical Energy, ATI Chemical Processing, ATI Oil & Gas, and ATI
Medical. We believe that successfully meeting a customers needs in one
application can create new opportunities for other ATI products.
Market sector teams bring to customers the full breadth of our capabilities
from our specialty metals mill products to our tungsten cutting tools. To
better serve customers in key growth markets, our cutting tools business has
developed unique capabilities for difficult-to-machine specialty metals, such
as titanium alloys and nickel-based alloys. No other company can offer
customers such a span of specialty metals and cutting tool technology
capabilities.
These teams broaden our perspective of global markets and growth
opportunities by combining ATIs knowledge and understanding of customer
needs with market opportunities and trends. Simultaneously, the teams
present the customer with a more comprehensive view of ATIs products and
services.
Outlook for 2008 and Beyond
As I write this letter in March 2008, we hear about turmoil in the financial
markets; we are awaiting the first flight of Boeings 787 Dreamliner; and the
U.S. economy is working through a slowdown in housing and existing and
potential additional credit issues. We are pragmatic on the fundamentals and
drivers of ATIs business over the long-term. Our outlook for 2008 and
beyond is positive.
ATIs titanium mill products and other specialty metals are used in the
current and the new generation of commercial and military aircraft as well as
in the new fuel efficient jet engines that power them.
Our aerospace customers report record backlogs for airplanes, jet engines,
and jet engine spare parts. The new generation of aircraft, such as Boeings
787 Dreamliner, uses significantly more pounds of our titanium mill products.
In addition, next-generation jet
engines use more of our mission-critical
premium titanium alloys and nickel-based superalloys to reduce weight and
burn hotter for improved fuel efficiency.
We believe the global infrastructure build and rebuild will continue. The
worlds population is growing and more people are moving into an expanding
global middle class. This demographic and economic trend is having a
meaningful impact on end uses for our specialty metals products, such as
applications used in fertilizers and food production, and clean water. These
trends also suggest that the world requires more electricity. That means
greater demand for our products that go into power generation plants and
electrical distribution transformers.
In addition to the growing demand for electrical energy, the U.S. energy
infrastructure is aging and must become more efficient. It needs to be fixed
and upgraded. In my view, ignoring our nations energy infrastructure is not
a viable option.
ATI is a leader in enabling sustainability through those systems that lead to
greater energy production and improved energy efficiency. Our grain-oriented
electrical steel (GOES) is essential to improving the efficiency of the
electrical energy grid. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
published rules that establish requirements for more efficient transformers.
ATI is one of the leading producers in the world capable of making the
premium grade GOES required for these more efficient transformers.
We are one
of the leading manufacturers of large iron castings necessary for
wind turbines, and one of the few global producers of zirconium and hafnium
alloys required for nuclear power plants. We are a leading producer of
premium titanium alloys and nickel-
based alloys necessary for todays more fuel efficient jet engines. We are
one of a few manufacturers who produce the specialty metals used in
turbochargers that help improve automotive fuel efficiency. Our products are
also used in high efficiency appliances and gas furnaces. In addition, our
premium alloys are used in desalination plants that convert seawater to
clean, potable water.
Adding to Our Unsurpassed Manufacturing Capabilities
ATI focuses on the specialty metals that are differentiated, mission
critical
,
at the high end of technology, and difficult to produce. I have
said, and still believe, that we are in a renaissance for the specialty
metals that ATI makes.
ATI is investing for organic growth because we believe a great company needs
unsurpassed manufacturing capabilities to achieve profitable growth and to
compete more effectively in the global economy. A great company cannot have
old, tired assets even if it has leading technologies. Great companies need
smart people, the latest equipment, and the most advanced technology to
provide customers the best solutions with unparalleled service.
We are investing in the United States because we believe that a U.S.
manufacturer can effectively compete in a global economy. We have a
highly-skilled and productive workforce. We believe our customers value the
fact that ATI is a technology leader and provides a geopolitically secure
source of diversified specialty metals.
What are we doing? Lets start with titanium. We forecast annual global
demand for titanium mill products to grow by 120 million pounds, compared to
the 2006 level, to approximately 350 million pounds in 2011. In 2005, ATI
shipped 32 million pounds of titanium mill products. We expect our titanium
mill product shipments in 2008 to be approximately 50 million pounds, growing
to over 60 million pounds by 2011.
To meet this future demand, ATI is adding titanium sponge production in
Oregon and Utah. We are expanding our titanium and premium nickel alloy melt
capabilities in North Carolina, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We are
expanding our titanium and specialty plate operation in Pennsylvania, and we
are adding to our forging capacity and capabilities in North Carolina.
In addition, we restarted idle zirconium sponge capacity in 2007 in Oregon,
and we are adding new zirconium sponge capacity in 2008. Our zirconium
capacity expansion is targeted to support projected growth in the
global chemical
processing and nuclear energy markets. We believe we are at the beginning of
a global nuclear electrical energy revival.
In order to double our capacity to produce components for electrical energy
wind turbines, we acquired production assets in Michigan to manufacture and
machine large iron castings. We are transforming this facility to serve the
growing wind energy market.
Also, we are tripling the Precision Rolled Strip
®
capacity of our STAL joint
venture in China to better serve the electronics and communication markets.
These capital projects are helping to advance ATIs technology and
manufacturing leadership in these difficult-to-produce specialty metals.
They also provide the necessary capabilities to manufacture advanced
components needed for next-generation and future- generation aircraft
airframes and jet engines, electrical power plants, alternative energy
applications, energy saving products, and other global infrastructure
projects.
We are positioned to capitalize on what we do well. Our future is being
secured by the people of ATI, and our technology and product diversification.
ATI has long been a leader in specialty metals technology and the capital
investments are aimed at maintaining and enhancing our mission-critical role.
Our future is being driven by the demands of the worlds citizens for
mobility, manufactured goods, clean air and water, and a modern
infrastructure and by our customers who make the products to meet these
demands. ATI and our customers together
are focused on developing the
technology and products that enable social progress and industrial
development.
We have a defined view of the future, and we have the financial means and
people to continue to move ATI forward.
Value-Based Leadership
Each year, I remind you how we define the guiding principles of
Building the
Worlds Best Specialty Metals Company.
These principles drive our strategy.
It starts with Value-Based Leadership. Value-Based Leaders are the true
difference in companies that move people to new levels of achievement and
success. I look for the leaders within ATI to move this company forward by
demonstrating these key attributes as individuals:
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Integrity as the Cornerstone of Leadership
...being honest and
forthright in everything. Empowering people to trust, communicate,
and take action within established boundaries.
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Accountability
for outcomes that ensure the long-term success of
ATI.
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Safety and Health and Environmental Compliance
are the
prerequisites to all operations.
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Product Quality and Excellence
are demonstrated in everything we
do.
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Technology, Creativity, Learning, and Freedom of people to reach
their individual potential
is the culture of the company.
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In
Building the Worlds Best Specialty Metals Company
,
we focus on markets
whose prospects are largely tied to long-cycle industries that are currently
in what we see as the early stages of long-term growth.
In
Building the Worlds Best Specialty Metals Company
, we aim to do more,
make our products better, and implement and execute faster through the ATI
Business System (ATIBS). ATIBS drives our lean manufacturing initiatives,
improves safety, quality and yields, further reduces overhead cost structures
and delivers excellent customer reliability and service.
Two long-time members of our Board of Directors will retire at the Annual
Stockholders Meeting in May. Bob Bozzone is retiring after serving on our
Board for over 20 years. Bob also served as Chairman and CEO of ATI in the
past. Craig McClelland will also retire after serving on our Board for over 20
years. On behalf of the Board, stockholders, and employees I want to thank
Bob and Craig for their many contributions to the success of ATI. On a
personal note, I want to thank both of them for their support and counsel,
which has been invaluable to me and the entire ATI management team. We wish
Bob and Craig a very happy, healthy, and prosperous retirement.
Tom Williams, President of ATI Allvac, announced his retirement effective
March 31, 2008, concluding a 42-year distinguished career with our Company.
Tom is a true value-based leader who guided Allvac to new levels of
achievement and success. Allvac is
recognized as the premiere supplier of
high performance metals to the aerospace and defense industry and other
global markets. Tom Williams is also a member of ATI managements executive
committee and played an important role in the execution of our strategic
growth initiatives. Hunter Dalton will succeed Tom. I am confident that
Hunter can help us achieve our goal of further profitable growth at Allvac.
I also want to personally thank our stockholders, our Board of Directors, our
employees, and the communities in which we operate our businesses for their
continued support of ATI.
/s/ Pat Hassey
Pat Hassey
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer