AK Steel Reports Fourth Quarter And Full-Year 2012 Financial Results

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, Jan. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) today reported a net loss of $230.4 million, or $1.89 per diluted share of common stock, for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to a net loss of $193.9 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2011. The fourth quarter 2012 results include a pre-tax pension corridor charge of $157.3 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, compared to a pre-tax pension corridor charge of $268.1 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2011. Neither charge had any current cash flow impact. The fourth quarter 2012 results also include a non-cash income tax charge of $96.4 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, as a result of a change in a deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which includes income taxes associated with the pension corridor charge. Excluding these pension corridor and income tax charges, and as reconciled below, AK Steel had an adjusted net loss of $36.6 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2012.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 were $1.42 billion on shipments of 1,406,100 tons, compared to sales of $1.51 billion on shipments of 1,409,900 tons for the year-ago fourth quarter. The company said its average selling price for the fourth quarter of 2012 was $1,011 per ton, approximately 6% lower than the $1,070 per ton reported for the fourth quarter of 2011 and the $1,073 per ton reported for the third quarter of 2012. The lower average selling price for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the fourth quarter of 2011 was primarily due to lower spot market prices for carbon steel products and reduced raw material surcharges. The lower average selling price for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2012 was primarily due to lower spot market prices for carbon steel products, reduced raw material surcharges and a less rich value-added product mix.

The company reported adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below) of $16.8 million, or $12 per ton, for the fourth quarter of 2012 compared to $12.1 million, or $9 per ton, for the fourth quarter of 2011. The 2012 fourth quarter results include a LIFO credit of $30.8 million, compared to a LIFO credit of $44.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2011.

"Sluggish economic conditions impacted global demand and selling prices for steel products during the fourth quarter and the full-year of 2012," said James L. Wainscott, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AK Steel. "That said, AK Steel remains well-positioned to take advantage of market opportunities with its high quality, valued-added steels as the economy continues to slowly recover. Taking everything into account, we expect a significantly better first quarter and full-year 2013."

The company ended 2012 with total liquidity of $1,098.9 million, consisting of $227.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and $871.9 million of availability under the company's revolving credit facility. There were no outstanding borrowings under the company's revolving credit facility as of the end of 2012. Liquidity nearly doubled from the end of the third quarter of 2012 as a result of the successful completion of several capital market transactions during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Full-Year 2012 Results

For the full year, AK Steel reported a net loss of $1,027.3 million, or $9.06 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $155.6 million, or $1.41 per diluted share for 2011. These results include the pre-tax pension corridor charges described above of $157.3 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, for 2012, and $268.1 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, for 2011. The 2012 results also include non-cash income tax charges of $865.5 million, or $7.63 per diluted share, as a result of deferred tax asset valuation allowance changes. Neither charge had any current cash flow impact. Excluding these pension corridor and income tax charges, and as reconciled below, AK Steel had an adjusted net loss of $64.4 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, for the full year 2012.

Sales for 2012 were $5.93 billion, a decrease of 8% compared to $6.47 billion for 2011. Shipments for 2012 were 5,431,300 tons, a decrease of 5% compared to 5,698,800 tons in 2011 as a result of a weaker carbon spot market. The company said its average selling price for full-year 2012 was $1,092 per ton, approximately 3% lower than the $1,131 per ton reported for 2011. The lower average selling price for full-year 2012 was primarily due to lower spot market selling prices and reduced raw material surcharges. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $181.2 million, or $33 per ton, for 2012 compared to adjusted EBITDA of $265.7 million, or $47 per ton, for 2011.

Earnings for 2012 were negatively affected compared to 2011 by the decrease in shipments and spot market selling prices along with higher coke costs. This negative impact was partially offset by decreases in costs for carbon scrap, iron ore and energy.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In certain of its disclosures in this news release, the company has reported adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) that excludes the effects of a pension corridor charge and a deferred tax asset valuation allowance charge. The company has made these adjustments because management believes that doing so enhances the understanding of the company's financial results.

EBITDA is an acronym for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. It is a metric that is sometimes used to compare the results of companies by removing the effects of different factors that might otherwise make comparisons inaccurate or inappropriate. For purposes of this news release, the company has made an adjustment to EBITDA in order to exclude the effect of noncontrolling interests. For purposes of this report, "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined as net income (loss) attributable to AK Holding, plus income tax provision (benefit), net interest expense, depreciation and amortization and pension corridor charges. Adjusted EBITDA is presented because the company believes it is a useful indicator of its performance and ability to meet debt service and capital expenditure requirements. It is not, however, intended as an alternative measure of operating results or cash flow from operations as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Management believes that reporting adjusted net income (as a total and on a per share basis) with the pension corridor charge and charge for deferred tax asset valuation allowance excluded more clearly reflects the company's current operating results and provides investors with a better understanding of the company's overall financial performance. In addition, the adjusted results, although not a financial measure under GAAP, facilitate the ability to analyze the company's financial results in relation to those of its competitors and to the company's prior financial performance by excluding items which otherwise would distort the comparison. Also, although the tax valuation charge reduces reported net income, it is a non-cash charge.

Management views the reported results of Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) as important operating performance measures and believes that the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable is net income (loss) (as a total and on a per share basis). Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) are used by management as a supplemental financial measure to evaluate the performance of the business. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures, when analyzed in conjunction with the company's GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, provides additional insight into the financial trends of the company's business versus the GAAP results alone.

Neither current shareholders nor potential investors in the company's securities should rely on the Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) results as a substitute for any GAAP financial measure and the company encourages investors and potential investors to review the reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income (loss) to the comparable GAAP financial measure.

The following schedules reflect the reconciliations of the non-GAAP quarterly financial measures discussed in this news release:

First Quarter 2013 Outlook

Consistent with its current practice, the company said that it will provide detailed guidance for its first quarter in March.

Safe Harbor Statement

The statements in this release with respect to future results reflect management's estimates and beliefs and are intended to be, and hereby are identified as "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "plans," "estimates" and other similar references to future periods typically identify such forward-looking statements. The company cautions readers that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently expected by management, including those risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as updated in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, the company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or events.

AK Steel

AK Steel produces flat-rolled carbon, stainless and electrical steels, primarily for automotive, infrastructure and manufacturing, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6,100 men and women in Middletown, Mansfield, Coshocton and Zanesville, Ohio; Butler, Pennsylvania; Ashland, Kentucky; Rockport, Indiana; and its corporate headquarters in West Chester, Ohio. Additional information about AK Steel is available on the company's web site at www.aksteel.com.

AK Tube LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, employs about 300 men and women in plants in Walbridge, Ohio and Columbus, Indiana. AK Tube produces carbon and stainless electric resistance welded (ERW) tubular steel products for truck, automotive and other markets. Additional information about AK Tube LLC is available on its web site at www.aktube.com.

AK Coal Resources, Inc., another wholly-owned subsidiary of AK Steel, controls and is developing metallurgical coal reserves in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. AK Steel also owns 49.9% of Magnetation LLC, a joint venture headquartered in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, which produces iron ore concentrate from previously-mined ore reserves.

(1) As of December 31, 2012, the advances in SunCoke Middletown were classified as noncontrolling interests as a result of financing activities performed by its parent, SunCoke Energy, Inc. This was included in other non-current liabilities in the prior period.

SOURCE AK Steel

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