Allison Announces First Quarter Results

Indianapolis-based Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ALSN) is reporting first quarter net income of $68.4 million, compared to $52.1 million in the same period a year earlier. Chief Executive Officer Larry Dewey says the results were boosted by continued recovery in key North American markets.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ALSN), the largest global provider of commercial duty fully-automatic transmissions, today reported net sales for the first quarter of $504 million, a 2 percent increase from the same period in 2014. The increase in net sales was principally driven by the continued recovery in the North America On-Highway end market, higher demand in the North America Off-Highway end market and price increases on certain products partially offset by lower demand in other end markets.

Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $150 million, compared to Adjusted Net Income of $108 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $42 million. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $190 million, or 37.7 percent of net sales, compared to $166 million, or 33.6 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2014. Excluding $3 million of technology-related license expenses, Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2014 was $169 million, or 34.3 percent of net sales. Adjusted Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, for the quarter was $87 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, compared to $96 million for the same period in 2014, or $0.52 per diluted share.

Lawrence E. Dewey, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allison Transmission commented, “Our first quarter 2015 results are within the full year guidance ranges we provided to the market on February 9. Net sales improved on a year-over-year basis for the sixth consecutive quarter led by the continued recovery in the North America On-Highway end market, higher demand in the North America Off-Highway end market and price increases on certain products partially offset by lower demand in other end markets. During the first quarter Allison started to experience the unfavorable impact of lower energy prices in the global Off-Highway and Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end markets. We continued our prudent and well-defined approach to capital allocation during the first quarter by settling $35 million of share repurchases, paying a dividend of $0.15 per share, repaying $52 million of debt and commencing a refinancing of Allison's Senior Notes due 2019. Given the increased level of uncertainty and lack of near-term visibility in the global Off-Highway and Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end markets, we are updating our full year net sales guidance to a decrease in the range of 4 to 8 percent year-over-year, and executing several initiatives to align costs and programs across our business with those challenging end markets demand conditions.”First Quarter Highlights

North America On-Highway end market net sales were up 15 percent from the same period in 2014 and up 5 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by higher demand for Rugged Duty Series models.

North America Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus end market net sales were down 25 percent from the same period in 2014 principally driven by lower demand due to engine emissions improvements and non-hybrid alternatives that generally require a fully-automatic transmission (e.g. xNG), and flat sequentially.

North America Off-Highway end market net sales were up 83 percent from the same period in 2014 principally driven by higher demand from hydraulic fracturing applications and down 39 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand from hydraulic fracturing applications.

Defense end market net sales were down 26 percent from the same period in 2014 and down 34 percent sequentially principally driven by reductions in U.S. defense spending to longer term averages experienced during periods without active conflicts.

Outside North America On-Highway end market net sales were down 11 percent from the same period in 2014 principally driven by weakness in China and down 12 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand in China and South America.

Outside North America Off-Highway end market net sales were down 24 percent from the same period in 2014 principally driven by lower demand in the mining sector and down 16 percent sequentially principally driven by lower demand in the China energy sector partially offset by higher demand in the mining sector.

Service Parts, Support Equipment & Other end market net sales were down 8 percent from the same period in 2014 principally driven by lower demand for North America service parts and down 13 percent on a sequential basis principally driven by lower demand for North America Off-Highway service parts.

Gross profit for the quarter was $239 million, an increase of 8 percent from $223 million for the same period in 2014. Gross margin for the quarter was 47.5 percent, an increase of 240 basis points from a gross margin of 45.1 percent for the same period in 2014. The increase in gross profit from the same period in 2014 was principally driven by price increases on certain products and increased net sales.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter were $73 million, a decrease of 12 percent from $83 million for the same period in 2014, principally driven by lower product warranty expense, a warranty expense reduction for the dual power inverter module (“DPIM”) extended coverage program and decreased global commercial spending activities. The DPIM warranty expense reduction is attributable to favorable claims experience with the DPIM replacement introduced in late 2008.

Engineering – research and development expenses for the quarter were $22 million, an increase of $1 million after excluding the 2014 technology-related license expenses of $3 million to expand our position in transmission technologies, from $24 million for the same period in 2014. The increase was principally driven by increased product initiatives spending.

First Quarter Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Net Income for the quarter was $150 million, compared to $108 million for the same period in 2014, an increase of $42 million. The increase was principally driven by increased Adjusted EBITDA and decreased cash interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $190 million, or 37.7 percent of net sales, compared to $166 million, or 33.6 percent of net sales, for the same period in 2014. Excluding $3 million of technology-related license expenses, Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2014 was $169 million, or 34.3 percent of net sales. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA from the same period in 2014 was principally driven by price increases on certain products, increased net sales, lower product warranty expense, $3 million of 2014 technology-related license expenses and decreased global commercial spending activities partially offset by increased product initiatives spending.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the quarter was $87 million compared to $96 million for the same period in 2014. The decrease was principally driven by decreased net cash provided by operating activities and $3 million of 2014 technology-related license expenses partially offset by decreased capital expenditures and increased excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation.

Full Year 2015 Guidance

Our updated full year 2015 guidance includes a year-over-year net sales decrease in the range of 4 to 8 percent, an Adjusted EBITDA margin in the range of 34.5 to 35.5 percent, an Adjusted Free Cash Flow in the range of $460 to $510 million, capital expenditures in the range of $60 to $70 million, and cash income taxes in the range of $10 to $15 million.

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