Howmet Aerospace 10-K 2020-12-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 1-3610

HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

201 Isabella Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212-5872

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Investor Relations----------------(412) 553-1950

Office of the Secretary-----------(412) 553-1940

(Registrant’s telephone numbers, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ✓ No .

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Yes No ✓ .

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ✓ No .

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ✓ No .

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☑ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐

Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ✓

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ✓.

The aggregate market value of the outstanding common stock, other than shares held by persons who may be deemed affiliates of the registrant, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $7 billion. As of February 12, 2021, there were 433,614,667 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the registrant outstanding.

Documents incorporated by reference.

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A (Proxy Statement).

Explanatory Note

On April 1, 2020, Arconic Inc. completed the separation of its business into two independent, publicly-traded companies: Howmet Aerospace Inc. (the new name for Arconic Inc.) and Arconic Corporation. The financial results of Arconic Corporation for all periods prior to April 1, 2020, have been retrospectively reflected in the Statement of Consolidated Operations as discontinued operations and, as such, have been excluded from continuing operations and segment results for all periods prior to April 1, 2020. Additionally, the related assets and liabilities associated with Arconic Corporation in the December 31, 2019 Consolidated Balance Sheet are classified as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations. The cash flows, comprehensive income, and equity related to Arconic Corporation have not been segregated and are included in the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows, Statement of Consolidated Comprehensive Income, and Statement of Changes in Consolidated Equity, respectively, for all periods prior to April 1, 2020.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Note on Incorporation by Reference

In this Form 10-K, selected items of information and data are incorporated by reference to portions of the Proxy Statement. Unless otherwise provided herein, any reference in this report to disclosures in the Proxy Statement shall constitute incorporation by reference of only that specific disclosure into this Form 10-K.

PART I

General

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (formerly known as Arconic Inc.) is a Delaware corporation with its principal office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the successor to Arconic Pennsylvania (as defined below) which was formed in 1888 and formerly known as Alcoa Inc. In this report, unless the context otherwise requires, “Howmet”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Howmet Aerospace Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries.

The Company’s Internet address is http://www.howmet.com. Howmet makes available free of charge on or through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as proxy statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company electronically files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The Company's website is included in this annual report on Form 10-K as an inactive textual reference only. The information on, or accessible through, the Company’s website is not a part of, or incorporated by reference in, this annual report on Form 10-K. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains these reports at http://www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains (and oral communications made by Howmet may contain) statements that relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “outlook,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “sees,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” “would,” or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect Howmet’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements, forecasts and outlook relating to the condition of end markets; future financial results, operating performance, or estimated or expected future capital expenditures; future strategic actions; and Howmet's strategies, outlook, and business and financial prospects. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on Howmet’s perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors Howmet believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Although Howmet believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will be attained and it is possible that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties.

For a discussion of some of the specific factors that may cause Howmet’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements, see the following sections of this report: Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors), Part II, Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations), including the disclosures under Segment Information and Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, and Note V to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8. Market projections are subject to the risks discussed in this report and other risks in the market. Howmet disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Overview

Howmet is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. The Company’s primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, and titanium structural parts necessary for mission-critical performance and efficiency in aerospace and defense applications, as well as forged wheels for commercial transportation.

Howmet is a global company operating in 20 countries. Based upon the country where the point of shipment occurred, the United States and Europe generated 68% and 21%, respectively, of Howmet’s sales in 2020. In addition, Howmet has operating activities in numerous countries and regions outside the United States and Europe, including Canada, Mexico, China and Japan. Governmental policies, laws and regulations, and other economic factors, including inflation and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, affect the results of operations in countries with such operating activities.

Background

The Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction

Howmet Aerospace Inc. is the new name for Arconic Inc., following Arconic Inc.’s separation of its businesses on April 1, 2020 (the “Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction”) into two independent, publicly traded companies – Howmet Aerospace Inc. and Arconic Corporation. Following this separation, Howmet retains the Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered

Structures, and Forged Wheels businesses; and Arconic Corporation holds the Rolled Products, Aluminum Extrusions, and Building and Construction Systems businesses. The Company trades under the symbol “HWM” on the New York Stock Exchange, and Arconic Corporation trades under the symbol “ARNC” on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction was effected by a distribution of all outstanding shares of Arconic Corporation common stock to the Company’s stockholders (the “Distribution of Arconic”). The Company’s stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 19, 2020 (the “2020 Record Date”) received one share of Arconic Corporation common stock for every four shares of the Company’s common stock held as of the 2020 Record Date. The Company did not issue fractional shares of Arconic Corporation common stock in the Distribution of Arconic. Instead, each stockholder otherwise entitled to receive a fractional share of Arconic Corporation common stock received cash in lieu of fractional shares.

In connection with the Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction, Howmet and Arconic Corporation entered into several agreements that govern the relationship of the parties following the separation, including the following: Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement, certain Patent, Know-How and Trade Secret License Agreements, certain Trademark License Agreements, Raw Material Supply Agreements, Second Supplemental Tax and Project Certificate and Agreement, and Lease and Property Management Agreement.

The 2017 Reincorporation of Howmet (then known as Arconic Inc.)

On December 31, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), Arconic Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Arconic Pennsylvania”), effected the change of Arconic Pennsylvania’s jurisdiction of incorporation from Pennsylvania to Delaware (the “Reincorporation”) by merging (the “Reincorporation Merger”) with a direct wholly owned Delaware subsidiary, Arconic Inc. (in this section, “Arconic Delaware” or, following the Reincorporation, the “Company”), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 12, 2017, by and between Arconic Pennsylvania and Arconic Delaware. Arconic Pennsylvania shareholders approved the Reincorporation Merger to effect the Reincorporation at a Special Meeting of Shareholders held on November 30, 2017. As a result of the Reincorporation, (i) Arconic Pennsylvania ceased to exist, (ii) Arconic Delaware automatically inherited the reporting obligations of Arconic Pennsylvania under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and (iii) Arconic Delaware is deemed to be the successor issuer to Arconic Pennsylvania.

The common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Arconic Pennsylvania (the “Arconic Pennsylvania Common Stock”) was listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the symbol “ARNC.” As of the Effective Date, this symbol, without interruption, represented shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of Arconic Delaware (the “Arconic Delaware Common Stock”). There was no change in the Exchange Act File Number assigned by the SEC as a result of the Reincorporation.

As of the Effective Date, the rights of the Company’s stockholders began to be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation of Arconic Delaware and the Bylaws of Arconic Delaware.

Other than the change in corporate domicile, the Reincorporation did not result in any change in the business, physical location, management, financial condition or number of authorized shares of the Company, nor did it result in any change in location of its current employees, including management. On the Effective Date, (i) the directors and officers of Arconic Pennsylvania prior to the Reincorporation continued as the directors and officers of Arconic Delaware after the Reincorporation, (ii) each outstanding share of Arconic Pennsylvania Common Stock was automatically converted into one share of Arconic Delaware Common Stock, (iii) each outstanding share of Serial Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, of Arconic Pennsylvania was automatically converted into one share of Serial Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, of Arconic Delaware and (iv) all of Arconic Pennsylvania’s employee benefit and compensation plans immediately prior to the Reincorporation were continued by Arconic Delaware, and each outstanding equity award and notional share unit relating to shares of Arconic Pennsylvania Common Stock was converted into an equity award or notional share unit, as applicable, relating to an equivalent number of shares of Arconic Delaware Common Stock on the same terms and subject to the same conditions. Beginning on the Effective Date, each certificate representing Arconic Pennsylvania Common Stock or Arconic Pennsylvania Preferred Stock was deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of Arconic Delaware Common Stock or Arconic Delaware Preferred Stock, as applicable. The Company’s stockholders may, but are not required to, exchange their stock certificates as a result of the Reincorporation.

The Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction

On November 1, 2016, Alcoa Inc. completed the separation of its business into two independent, publicly traded companies (the “Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction”) – Arconic Inc. (the new name for Alcoa Inc. and which, through the transactions described above, later became Howmet Aerospace Inc.) and Alcoa Corporation. Following the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction, the Company retained the Global Rolled Products (other than the rolling mill at the Warrick, Indiana operations and the 25.1% ownership stake in the Ma’aden Rolling Company), the Engineered Products and Solutions and the Transportation and Construction Solutions segments. Alcoa Corporation comprised the Alumina and Primary Metals segments,

the rolling mill at the Warrick, Indiana operations, and the 25.1% stake in the Ma’aden Rolling Company in Saudi Arabia previously held by the Company.

The Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction was effected by a pro rata distribution of 80.1% of the outstanding shares of Alcoa Corporation common stock to the Company’s shareholders (the “Distribution of Alcoa”). The Company’s shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 20, 2016 (the “2016 Record Date”) received one share of Alcoa Corporation common stock for every three shares of the Company’s common stock held as of the 2016 Record Date. The Company did not issue fractional shares of Alcoa Corporation common stock in the Distribution of Alcoa. Instead, each shareholder otherwise entitled to receive a fractional share of Alcoa Corporation common stock received cash in lieu of fractional shares.

The Company distributed 146,159,428 shares of common stock of Alcoa Corporation in the Distribution of Alcoa and retained 36,311,767 shares, or approximately 19.9%, of the common stock of Alcoa Corporation immediately following the Distribution of Alcoa. During 2017, the Company disposed all of its retained interest in Alcoa Corporation.

As a result of the Distribution of Alcoa, Alcoa Corporation became an independent public company trading under the symbol “AA” on the New York Stock Exchange, and the Company traded under the symbol “ARNC” on the New York Stock Exchange.

On October 31, 2016, in connection with the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction, Arconic Inc. entered into several agreements with Alcoa Corporation or its subsidiaries that govern the relationship of the parties following the Distribution of Alcoa, including the following: Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Matters Agreement, Employee Matters Agreement, and certain Patent, Know-How, Trade Secret License and Trademark License Agreements.

Description of the Business

The Company produces products that are used primarily in the aerospace (commercial and defense), commercial transportation, and industrial and other end markets. Such products include fastening systems (titanium, steel, and nickel superalloys), seamless rolled rings (mostly nickel superalloys); investment castings (nickel superalloys, titanium, and aluminum), including airfoils and structural parts; forged jet engine components (e.g., jet engine disks); machined and forged aircraft parts (titanium and aluminum); and forged aluminum commercial vehicle wheels, all of which are sold directly to customers and/or through distributors.

Aerospace (Commercial and Defense) End Market. Howmet’s largest end market is aerospace, which represented approximately 69% of the Company’s revenue in 2020. The Company produces a range of high performance multi-materials, highly engineered products, and vertically integrated machined solutions for aero engines and airframe structures, ranging from investment castings, advanced coatings, seamless rings, forgings, titanium extrusions, and titanium mill products, to fasteners that hold aircraft together. Wingtip to wingtip, nose to tail, Howmet can produce more than 90% of all structural and rotating aero engine components. Modernization of the commercial and defense platforms is driven by an array of challenging performance requirements. With its precision engineering, materials science expertise and advanced manufacturing processes, Howmet aims to help its customers achieve greater fuel economies, reduced emissions, passenger comfort and maintenance efficiencies.

Commercial Transportation End Market. The commercial transportation end market represented approximately 16% of the Company’s revenue in 2020. The Company invented the forged aluminum wheel in 1948, and continues to advance technology to deliver breakthrough solutions that make trucks and buses lighter, more fuel efficient and sharper-looking. Howmet’s forged aluminum wheels are a leading choice for commercial trucks and mass transportation vehicles because they can reduce weight and save fuel. The strength of the Company’s rivets, bolts and fasteners offers another light-weighting solution that delivers performance.

Industrial and Other End Markets. Industrial and other end markets include industrial gas turbines, oil and gas, and other industrials, which represented approximately 15% of the Company’s revenue in 2020.

Howmet has four reportable segments, which are organized by product on a worldwide basis: Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures and Forged Wheels.

Engine Products

Engine Products produces investment castings, including airfoils, and seamless rolled rings primarily for aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. Engine Products produces rotating parts as well as structural parts. Engine Products principally serves the commercial and defense aerospace as well as industrial gas turbine end markets.

Fastening Systems

Fastening Systems produces aerospace and industrial fasteners, latches, bearings, fluid fittings and installation tools. A leading producer of highly engineered aerospace fasteners with a broad range of fastening systems, the segment also supplies the commercial transportation, renewable, and material handling industries. The business’s high-tech, multi-material fastening

systems are found nose to tail on commercial and military aircraft, as well as on jet engines, industrial gas turbines, automobiles, commercial transportation vehicles, wind turbines, solar power systems, and construction and industrial equipment.

Engineered Structures

Engineered Structures produces titanium ingots and mill products for aerospace and defense applications and is vertically integrated to produce titanium forgings, extrusions forming and machining services for airframe, wing, aero-engine, and landing gear components. Engineered Structures also produces aluminum forgings, nickel forgings, and aluminum machined components and assemblies for aerospace and defense applications. The principal end markets served by Engineered Structures are commercial aerospace, defense aerospace, and land and sea defense.

Forged Wheels

Forged Wheels manufactures forged aluminum truck, bus, and trailer wheels and related products for the commercial transportation end market globally. The Company’s portfolio of wheels is sold under the product brand name Alcoa® Wheels. Its Ultra ONE® Wheel with MagnaForce® alloy is the lightest portfolio of wheels on the market. The Company’s proprietary Dura-Bright® surface treatment is unmatched in appearance and corrosion protection.

For additional discussion of each segment's business, see “Results of Operations—Segment Information” in Part II, Item 7 (Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) and Note D to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8.

Sales by End Market and Significant Customer Revenue

Sales by end markets for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019, and 2018, were:

In 2020, General Electric Company, Raytheon Technologies Corporation and The Boeing Company represented approximately 11%, 9% and 8%, respectively, of the Company’s third-party sales. The loss of any such significant customer could have a material adverse effect on such businesses. See Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors).

The Company's Principal Facilities****1

1Principal facilities are listed by location, with certain locations having more than one facility. The list in the above table does not include 20 locations that serve as sales and administrative offices, distribution centers or warehouses.

2Leased property or partially leased property.

3Canton Ferro-Titanium Alloys was sold on February 1, 2021.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

Important raw materials purchased in 2020 for each of the Company’s reportable segments are listed below.

Generally, raw materials are purchased from third-party suppliers under competitively priced supply contracts or bidding arrangements. The Company believes that the raw materials necessary to its business are and will continue to be available.

Patents, Trade Secrets and Trademarks

The Company believes that its domestic and international patent, trade secret and trademark assets provide it with a significant competitive advantage. The Company’s rights under its patents, as well as the products made and sold under them, are important to the Company as a whole and, to varying degrees, important to each business segment. The patents owned by Howmet generally concern particular products, manufacturing equipment or techniques. Howmet’s business as a whole is not, however, materially dependent on any single patent, trade secret or trademark. As a result of product development and technological advancement, the Company continues to pursue patent protection in jurisdictions throughout the world. As of the end of 2020, the Company’s worldwide patent portfolio consists of approximately 959 granted patents and 183 pending patent applications.

The Company also has a significant number of trade secrets, mostly regarding manufacturing processes and material compositions that give many of its businesses important advantages in their markets. The Company continues to strive to improve those processes and generate new material compositions that provide additional benefits. With respect to domestic and international registered trademarks, the Company has many that have significant recognition within the markets that are served. Examples include the name Howmet® metal castings, Huck® fasteners, and Dura-Bright® wheels with easy-clean surface treatments. A significant trademark filing campaign for the names “Howmet” and “Howmet Aerospace” along with its “H” logo was initiated in 2019, in support of the corporate launch of Howmet Aerospace Inc. As of the end of 2020, the Company’s worldwide trademark portfolio consists of approximately 1,372 registered trademarks and 329 pending trademark applications. The Company’s rights under its trademarks are important to the Company as a whole and, to varying degrees, important to each business segment.

Competitive Conditions

The Company’s segments - Engine Products, Fastening Systems, Engineered Structures and Forged Wheels - are subject to substantial and intense competition in the markets they serve. Although Howmet believes its advanced technology, manufacturing processes and experience provide advantages to Howmet’s customers, such as high quality and superior mechanical properties that meet the Company’s customers’ most stringent requirements, many of the products Howmet makes can be produced by competitors using similar types of manufacturing processes as well as alternative forms of manufacturing. Despite intense competition, Howmet continues as a market leader in most of its principal markets. Several factors, including Howmet’s technological expertise, state-of-the-art capabilities, engaged employees and long-standing customer relationships, enable the Company to maintain its competitive position.

Principal competitors include Berkshire Hathaway Inc., through its 2016 acquisition of Precision Castparts Corporation and subsidiaries, for titanium and titanium-based alloys, precision forgings, seamless rolled rings, investment castings and aerospace fasteners; VSMPO (Russia) for titanium and titanium-based alloys and precision forgings; the High-Performance Materials & Components segment of Allegheny Technologies, Inc. for titanium and titanium-based alloys, precision forgings, and investment castings; Lisi Aerospace (France) for aerospace fasteners; and Aubert & Duval (part of Eramet Group in France) for precision forgings. Other competitors include Doncasters Group Ltd. (UK) and Consolidated Precision Products Corp. (owned by Warburg Pincus and Berkshire Partners) for investment castings; Weber Metals (part of Otto Fuchs) for precision forgings; and Forgital and Frisa (Mexico) for seamless rings.

Forged Wheels competes against aluminum and steel wheel suppliers in the commercial transportation industry under the product brand name Alcoa® Wheels for the major regions that it serves (Americas, Europe, Japan, China, and Australia). Its larger aluminum wheel competitors are Accuride Corporation, Speedline (member of the Ronal Group), Nippon Steel Corporation, Dicastal, Alux, and Wheels India Limited. In recent years, Forged Wheels has seen an increase in the number of

aluminum wheel suppliers (both forged and cast aluminum wheels) from China, Taiwan, India and South Korea attempting to penetrate the global commercial transportation market.

Several of Howmet’s largest customers have captive superalloy furnaces for producing airfoil investment castings for their own use. Many other companies around the world also produce superalloy investment castings, and some of these companies currently compete with Howmet in the aerospace and other markets, while others are capable of competing with the Company should they choose to do so.

International competition in the investment castings**,** fasteners, rings and forgings markets may also increase in the future as a result of strategic alliances among engine original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), aero-structure prime contractors, and overseas companies, especially in developing markets, particularly where “offset” or “local content” requirements create purchase obligations with respect to products manufactured in or directed to a particular country.

Environmental Matters

Information relating to environmental matters is included in Note V to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption “Environmental Matters.” Capital expenditures for new or expanded facilities for environmental control for 2021 and 2022 are estimated to be less than $5 million per year.

Human Capital

To recruit, attract, develop and retain world-class talent, the Company has created a culture that embraces diversity, drives inclusion, and empowers and engages our employees.

Training and Development

The Company offers an integrated approach, enabling our employees to own their development and create rewarding careers that draw on their aptitudes and support their ambitions. We provide learning and development opportunities and equip our managers to provide ongoing coaching and feedback, so employees maximize their performance and potential, delivering success for Howmet.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Events in 2020, particularly in the United States, underscored the importance and power of diversity, equity and inclusion ("DEI"). Howmet’s inclusive, respectful and values-based company culture fosters inclusive work environments that leverage the diversity of backgrounds, experience and thought within our organization. The Company partners with key external organizations that focus on DEI, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Hispanic Corporate Council and Diversity Best Practices, to review and continuously improve our DEI initiatives. We continue to seek additional partners to further eliminate discrimination and implicit bias from the Company’s policies and processes.

During 2020, we renewed our commitment to supporting our six employee resource groups ("ERGs") – Howmet African Heritage Network, Howmet Hispanic Network, Howmet Next Generation Network, Howmet Pride Network, Howmet Veterans Network and Howmet Women’s Network. The ERGs provide workplace networks for employees who have shared characteristics, special interests or life experiences. They offer a conduit to professional development, strengthen business impact internally and externally, and promote commitments to a diverse workplace. During 2020, the ERGs provided a positive way for the Company to direct dedicated company resources toward employee education, community building and social impact initiatives.

The Company also provided diversity awareness training on implicit bias and added inclusion to our leadership competency development in 2020.

Health and Safety

Howmet’s strong health and safety culture empowers our employees and contractors to take personal responsibility for their actions and the safety of their coworkers. This culture is supported by internal policies, standards, rules and procedures that clearly articulate our stringent requirements for working safely in all of our facilities worldwide. The Company embeds annual health and safety goals and objectives into its operating plans to progress against our ultimate goal of zero incidents. We prioritize our risk management processes toward the prevention of fatality and serious injury potential to focus on the hazards that have the potential for life-altering outcomes.

COVID-19 represented the biggest health challenge in the history of our Company, impacting our employees, suppliers and customers. This adverse situation became a unifying moment, as our employees worked tirelessly to establish internal and external programs and protocols to protect our people and processes, which were deemed essential for the aerospace, defense and transportation industries. Through our pandemic deployment system, the Company readied our plants around the world with a comprehensive toolbox based on risk. We structured our location pandemic programs around entry screening, self- assessment of symptoms, hygiene, masks, social distancing and robust implementation of tracing and quarantine protocols.

Special pandemic-related policies for leave and alternative schedules were put in place to incentivize staying at home when sick. In addition, for employees who could meet their work commitments remotely, we provided resources and equipment to enable them to work from home. Access to mental health and resilience support was communicated and made available through our employee assistance partners.

Employees

Total worldwide employment at the end of 2020 was approximately 19,700 employees in 24 countries. Many, but less than 50%, of these employees are represented by labor unions. The Company believes that relations with its employees and any applicable union representatives generally are good.

There are nine collective bargaining agreements in the United States with varying expiration dates. In the United States, the largest collective bargaining agreement is the agreement between Howmet and the United Autoworkers ("UAW") at our Whitehall, Michigan location. The Whitehall UAW agreement covers approximately 1,000 employees; the current agreement expires on March 31, 2023. In addition to the employees covered by the Whitehall UAW agreement, approximately 1,600 other employees in the United States are also represented by labor unions.

On a regional basis, collective bargaining agreements with varying expiration dates cover employees in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The names, ages, positions and areas of responsibility of the executive officers of the Company as of February 16, 2021 are listed below. The Company’s executive officers are elected or appointed to serve until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors (held in conjunction with the annual meeting of shareholders), except in the case of earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal.

Ken Giacobbe, 55, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Giacobbe was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Howmet effective November 1, 2016. Mr. Giacobbe joined Howmet in 2004 as Vice President of Finance for Global Extruded Products, part of Alcoa Forgings and Extrusions. He then served as Vice President of Finance for the Company’s Building and Construction Systems business from 2008 until 2011. In 2011, he assumed the role of Group Controller for the Engineered Products and Solutions segment. From January 2013 until October 2016, Mr. Giacobbe served as Chief Financial Officer of the Engineered Products and Solutions segment. Before joining Howmet, Mr. Giacobbe held senior finance roles at Avaya and Lucent Technologies.

Neil E. Marchuk, 63, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Mr. Marchuk was elected Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Howmet effective March 1, 2019. Prior to joining Howmet, from January 2016 to February 2019, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Adient, an automotive manufacturer. From July 2006 to May 2015, Mr. Marchuk was Executive Vice President of Human Resource at TRW Automotive, and served as TRW’s Vice President, Human Resources from September 2004 to July 2006. Prior to joining TRW, from December 2001 to August 2004, Mr. Marchuk was Director Corporate Human Resources for E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company (“E.I. Du Pont”). From September 1999 to November 2001, Mr. Marchuk was Director Global HR Delivery for E.I. Du Pont. From February 1999 to August 1999, Mr. Marchuk served E.I. Du Pont as its Global HR Director Global Services Division.

Paul Myron, 54, Vice President and Controller. Mr. Myron was elected Vice President and Controller of Howmet effective November 1, 2016. Mr. Myron joined Howmet as a systems analyst in Pittsburgh and in 1992 relocated to the Company’s Davenport, Iowa facility as a product accountant. He served in numerous financial management positions from 1995 until 2000 when he was named Commercial Manager and Controller for the Atlantic division of the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals business. In 2002, Mr. Myron was appointed Vice President of Finance, Alcoa Primary Metals and later became Vice President of Finance, Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals. In 2005 Mr. Myron was named Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, accountable for the Company’s financial planning, analysis, and reporting worldwide. In February 2012, he became Director of Finance Initiatives for the Engineered Products and Solutions segment, overseeing specific financial initiatives and projects within the group. From July 2012 until his most recent appointment, Mr. Myron served as Vice President, Finance and Business Excellence for the Arconic Power and Propulsion business.

Tolga I. Oal, 49, Co-Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Oal was appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer of Howmet effective April 1, 2020. He served as President of Arconic Engineered Structures from May 2019 to April 2020. Prior to joining Howmet, Mr. Oal held leadership roles as President Driveline, President Americas and Senior Vice President Purchasing for American Axle & Manufacturing in Detroit, Michigan from September 2015 to April 2019. From June 2008 to September 2015, Mr. Oal held several leadership positions at TRW Automotive, including Vice President and General Manager of the Global Electronics Business Unit. Prior to his experience at TRW, Mr. Oal spent several years at Siemens VDO Automotive in Europe and the United States.

John C. Plant, 67, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Plant was appointed Co-Chief Executive Officer of Howmet effective April 1, 2020. He was the Company’s Chief Executive Officer from February 6, 2019 to April 1, 2020. He has served as Howmet's Chairman since October 2017 and as a member of the Board since February 2016. Mr. Plant previously served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of TRW Automotive from 2011 to 2015, and as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 2003 to 2011. TRW Automotive was acquired by ZF Friedrichshafen AG in May 2015. Mr. Plant was a co-member of the Chief Executive Office of TRW Inc. from 2001 to 2003 and an Executive Vice President of TRW from the company's 1999 acquisition of Lucas Varity to 2003. Prior to TRW, Mr. Plant was President of Lucas Varity Automotive and managing director of the Electrical and Electronics division from 1991 through 1997.

Katherine H. Ramundo, 53, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. Ms. Ramundo was elected Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Howmet effective November 1, 2016. Prior to joining Howmet, from January 2013 through August 2015, she was Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of ANN INC., the parent company of ANN TAYLOR and LOFT brands, based in New York. Prior to ANN INC., she served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Colgate-Palmolive, where she held various legal roles from November 1997 to January 2013. She began her career as a litigator in New York, practicing at major law firms, including Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Sidley & Austin.

On January 13, 2021, Ms. Ramundo notified the Company of her intention to resign from the Company, effective as of February 19, 2021, to pursue another professional opportunity.

Howmet’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be impacted by a number of factors. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this report, the following risks and uncertainties could materially harm the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations, including causing its actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. The following list of risk factors is not all-inclusive or necessarily in order of importance. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Howmet or that Howmet currently deems immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company in future periods.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

Our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows have been and could continue to be materially adversely affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Any outbreaks of contagious diseases, public health epidemics or pandemics and other adverse public health developments in countries where we, our employees, customers and suppliers operate could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows. Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the global community, including the United States, Europe and South America, is adversely impacting our operations, and the nature and extent of the impact over time is highly uncertain and beyond our control. The extent to which COVID-19 further affects our operations over time will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including the duration of the pandemic, the continued severity of the virus, resurgences and emergence of variants of the virus, the efficacy and availability of vaccines, and the extent of actions that may be taken to contain its impact. These actions include, but are not limited to, declarations of states of emergency, business closures, manufacturing restrictions and a prolonged period of travel, commercial and/or other similar restrictions and limitations, many of which have been implemented across much of the globe and all of which have negatively affected our business. The longer the duration, the greater the impact on our business and the more heightened the risk of a continuing material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial conditions and/or cash flows, as well as on our business strategies and initiatives. We continue to monitor guidelines proposed by federal, state and local, as well as foreign, governments with respect to measures for continued operation, which may change over time depending on public health, safety and other considerations. We are continuing to focus on the safety and protection of our workforce by continuing to implement additional safety protocols in light of COVID-19.

As a result of COVID-19 and the measures designed to contain its spread, our global sales, including to customers in the aerospace and commercial transportation industries that are impacted by COVID-19, have been and are expected to continue to be negatively impacted due to the disruption in demand, which has had and over time could continue to have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows. The COVID-19 pandemic has subjected our operations, financial performance and financial condition to a number of risks, including, but not limited to, those discussed below:

• Business and operations risks: We continue to monitor the evolving situation relating to COVID-19 to determine whether we will need to significantly modify our business practices or take actions as may be required by government authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners, suppliers and shareholders. We have had a number of smaller manufacturing locations that have experienced periods of shutdowns. Future shutdowns will be dependent on facts and circumstances as they unfold, including based on the restrictions and limitations noted above. Additional shutdowns, while not required by governmental authorities, may be necessary to match our production to the reduced demand of our customers. In addition, due to the foregoing factors and potential further disruptions, we may be unable to perform fully on our contracts and our costs may increase. We may also face challenges in restoring our production levels if and when COVID-19 abates, including as a result of government-imposed or other limitations that prevent the return of all or a portion of our workforce, continue to disrupt demand and/or limit the capabilities of our suppliers. As a result of COVID-19 and its potential impact on the aerospace industry, the possibility exists that a sustained impact to our operations, financial results and market capitalization may require material impairments of our assets, including, but not limited to, goodwill, intangible assets, long-lived assets, and right-of-use assets. While we have already implemented plans to reduce costs, including certain headcount reductions, reductions in certain cash outflows, suspension of our common stock dividend and reductions in the levels of our capital expenditures, the longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, but could continue to have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and/or cash flows.

• Customer and supplier risks: We have limited visibility into future demand due to the disruptions resulting from COVID-19. The sharp decrease in air travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures that governments and private organizations worldwide have implemented in an attempt to contain its spread is adversely affecting, and will likely continue to adversely affect, airlines and airframers and their respective demand for our customers’ products and services. Aircraft manufacturers are reducing production rates due to fewer expected aircraft deliveries and, as a result, demand for products in the OEM market has significantly decreased. Several of our aerospace and commercial transportation customers temporarily suspended operations at certain production sites,

reduced operations and production rates, and/or took cost-cutting actions, including, but not limited to, General Electric Company, Raytheon Technologies Corporation and The Boeing Company, which represented approximately 11%, 9% and 8%, respectively, of our third-party sales in 2020. Due to the foregoing factors and other cost-cutting measures, we are experiencing, and expect to continue experiencing, lower demand and volume for our products, customer requests for potential payment deferrals, pricing concessions or other contract modifications, and delays in deliveries and the achievement of other billing milestones. COVID-19 may also limit the ability of our counterparties generally to perform their obligations to us, including, but not limited to, our customers’ ability to make timely payments to us. These trends may lead to charges, impairments and other adverse financial impacts over time, as noted above, as we have historically depended upon the strength of these industries, particularly the commercial aerospace industry. In addition, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact customer contract negotiations, including the ability to negotiate acceptable terms in contract renewal negotiations and our ability to obtain new customers. Similarly, our suppliers may not have the materials, capacity, or capability to manufacture our products according to our schedule and specifications. To date, we have not experienced significant disruption to our supply chain. If our suppliers’ operations were to be impacted, we may need to seek alternate suppliers, which may be more expensive, may not be available or may result in delays in shipments to us and subsequently to our customers, each of which would adversely

Showing the first 8K of 92K characters. Open the full section

None.

Howmet’s principal office and corporate center is located at 201 Isabella Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212-5858.

Howmet leases some of its facilities; however, it is the opinion of management that the leases do not materially affect the continued use of the properties or the properties’ values.

Howmet believes that its facilities are suitable and adequate for its operations. Although no title examination of properties owned by Howmet has been made for the purpose of this report, the Company knows of no material defects in title to any such properties. See Notes A and O to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

Howmet has active plants and holdings in various geographic areas. See the table regarding the Company's principal facilities in Part I, Item 1. (Business).

In the ordinary course of its business, Howmet is involved in a number of lawsuits and claims, both actual and potential. For a discussion of legal proceedings, see Note V to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, in addition to the matters set forth below.

Environmental Matters

Howmet is involved in proceedings under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as Superfund (“CERCLA”) or analogous state provisions regarding the usage, disposal, storage or treatment of hazardous substances at a number of sites in the U.S. The Company has committed to participate, or is engaged in negotiations with federal or state authorities relative to its alleged liability for participation, in clean-up efforts at several such sites. See the Environmental Matters section of Note V to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Other Matters

As previously reported, Howmet, its subsidiaries and former subsidiaries are defendants in lawsuits filed on behalf of persons alleging injury as a result of occupational or other exposure to asbestos. Howmet, its subsidiaries and former subsidiaries have numerous insurance policies over many years that provide coverage for asbestos related claims. The Company has significant insurance coverage and believes that Howmet’s reserves are adequate for its known asbestos exposure related liabilities. The costs of defense and settlement have not been and are not expected to be material to the results of operations, cash flows, and financial position of the Company.

Matters Related to Alcoa Corporation

Prior to the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction on November 1, 2016, the Company was known as Alcoa Inc. We have included the matters discussed below in which the Company remains party to proceedings relating to Alcoa Corporation. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated October 31, 2016, entered into between the Company and Alcoa Corporation in connection with the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction, provides for cross-indemnities between the Company and Alcoa Corporation for claims subject to indemnification. The Company does not expect any of such matters to result in a net claim against it.

St. Croix Proceedings

Red Dust Docket Cases, (St. Croix) f/k/a Abednego, Laurie L.A., et al. v. St. Croix Alumina, L.L.C., et al*.* On January 14, 2010, Alcoa Inc. was served with a multi-plaintiff action complaint involving several thousand individual persons claiming to be residents of St. Croix who are alleged to have suffered personal injury or property damage from Hurricane Georges or winds blowing material from the St. Croix Alumina, L.L.C. (“SCA”) facility on the island of St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands) since the time of the hurricane. This complaint, Abednego, et al. v. Alcoa, et al., was filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Division. Following an unsuccessful attempt by Alcoa Inc. and SCA to remove the case to federal court, the case has been lodged in the Superior Court. The complaint names as defendants the same entities that were sued in a February 1999 action arising out of the impact of Hurricane Georges on the island and added as a defendant the current owner of the alumina facility property.

On March 1, 2012, Alcoa Inc. was served with a separate multi-plaintiff action complaint involving approximately 200 individual persons alleging claims essentially identical to those set forth in the Abednego v. Alcoa complaint. This complaint, Abraham, et al. v. Alcoa, et al., was filed on behalf of plaintiffs previously dismissed in the federal court proceeding involving the original litigation over Hurricane Georges impacts. The matter was originally filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix Division, on March 30, 2011.

Alcoa Inc. and other defendants in the Abraham and Abednego cases filed or renewed motions to dismiss each case in March 2012 and August 2012 following service of the Abraham complaint on Alcoa Inc. and remand of the Abednego complaint to

Superior Court, respectively. By order dated August 10, 2015, the Superior Court dismissed plaintiffs’ complaints without prejudice to re-file the complaints individually, rather than as a multi-plaintiff filing. The order also preserves the defendants’ grounds for dismissal if new, individual complaints are filed. On July 7, 2017, the Court issued an order and associated memoranda on plaintiff’s multiple motions for extension of time to file the individual complaints. Following the court’s July 7, 2017 order, a total of 429 complaints were filed and accepted by the court by the deadline of July 30, 2017 (and consolidated into the Red Dust Claims docket (Master Case No.: SX-15-CV-620)). These complaints include claims of about 1,260 individual plaintiffs.

On November 5, 2018, notice of an order of reassignment was entered, transferring the claims to the newly created Complex Litigation Division of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix. On January 28, 2019, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking for a determination that expert testimony will not be required on the issue of causation, which defendants opposed. The Court has not ruled on that motion.

Not applicable.

PART II

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HWM.”

Prior to the Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction on April 1, 2020, the Company was known as Arconic Inc. and was listed under the stock symbol “ARNC.”

On October 5, 2016, the Company’s common shareholders approved a 1-for-3 reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding and authorized shares of common stock (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Company’s common stock began trading on a Reverse Stock Split-adjusted basis on October 6, 2016, in which every three shares of issued and outstanding common stock were combined into one issued and outstanding share of common stock, without any change in the par value per share.

Prior to the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction on November 1, 2016, the Company was known as Alcoa Inc. and was listed under the stock symbol “AA.”

The number of holders of record of common stock was approximately 10,920 as of February 12, 2021.

Stock Performance Graph

The following graph compares the most recent five-year performance of the Company’s common stock with (1) the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500® Index, (2) the S&P 500® Industrials Index, a group of 73 companies categorized by Standard & Poor’s as active in the “industrials” market sector, and (3) the S&P Aerospace & Defense Index, which comprises General Dynamics Corporation, Howmet Aerospace Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Textron Inc., The Boeing Company, and Transdigm Group Inc.

The graph assumes, in each case, an initial investment of $100 on December 31, 2015, and the reinvestment of dividends. The historical prices of the Company presented in the graph and table have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction, the Reverse Stock Split, and the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction. The graph, table and related information shall not be deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into future filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference into such filing.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table presents information with respect to the Company’s open-market repurchases of its common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2020:

(1) Excludes commissions cost

(2) On May 20, 2019, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $500 million of the Company's outstanding common stock (the "Share Repurchase Program") by means of trading plans established from time to time in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, block trades, private transactions, open market repurchases and/or accelerated share repurchase agreements or other derivative transactions. There was no stated expiration for the Share Repurchase Program under which the Company may repurchase shares from time to time and pursuant to such terms, as and if it deems appropriate. The Share Repurchase Program may be suspended, modified or terminated at any time without prior notice. After giving effect to the share repurchases made through December 31, 2020, approximately $277 million remains available under the prior authorization by the Board for the Share Repurchase Program. The amount of share repurchases by the Company may be limited under the terms of the Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (See Note R to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional detail).

The Company has elected to comply with the Regulation S-K amendment to eliminate Item 301.

(dollars in millions, except per-share amounts)

Overview

Our Business

Howmet is a global leader in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing. Howmet’s innovative, multi-material products, which include nickel, titanium, aluminum, and cobalt, are used worldwide in the aerospace (commercial and defense), commercial transportation, and industrial and other end markets.

Howmet is a global company operating in 20 countries. Based upon the country where the point of shipment occurred, the United States and Europe generated 68% and 21%, respectively, of Howmet’s sales in 2020. In addition, Howmet has operating activities in numerous countries and regions outside the United States and Europe, including Canada, Mexico, China and Japan. Governmental policies, laws and regulations, and other economic factors, including inflation and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, affect the results of operations in countries with such operating activities.

Management Review of 2020 and Outlook for the Future

In 2020, Sales decreased 26% over 2019 primarily as a result of lower volumes in the commercial aerospace and commercial transportation markets driven by the impacts of COVID-19 and 737 MAX and 787 production declines along with a decrease in sales of $116 due to the divestiture of the forgings business in the United Kingdom in December 2019, all partially offset by 14% and 28% sales growth in the defense aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets, respectively, as well as favorable product pricing.

In the segments, Segment operating profit decreased 36% from 2019 due to lower volumes in the commercial aerospace and commercial transportation markets driven by the impacts of COVID-19 and 737 MAX and 787 production declines and unfavorable product mix, partially offset by favorable product pricing, net cost savings and 14% and 28% sales growth in the defense aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets, respectively.

Management continued its focus on liquidity and cash flows as well as improving its operating performance through cost reductions, streamlined organizational structures, margin enhancement, and profitable revenue generation. Management has continued its intensified focus on capital efficiency. This focus and the related results enabled Howmet to end 2020 with a solid financial position.

The following financial information reflects certain key highlights of Howmet’s 2020 results:

• Sales of $5,259 down 26% from 2019, with significant reductions in sales in commercial aerospace and commercial transportation markets, driven by COVID-19 and 737 MAX and 787 production declines;

• Net income from continuing operations of $211, or $0.48 per diluted share;

• Income from continuing operations before income taxes of $171, a decrease of $39, or 19%, from 2019;

• Total segment operating profit of $890, a decrease of $500, or 36%, from 2019(1);

• Cash provided from operations of $9; cash used for financing activities of $369; and cash provided from investing activities of $271;

• Cash on hand at the end of the year of $1,610; and

• Total debt of $5,075, primarily due to a decrease of $865 from 2019, reflecting repayments of $2,040 along with $20 of other debt, partially offset by issuance of debt during the second quarter of 2020 of $1,200 notes due 2025.

(1) See below in Results of Operations for the reconciliation of Total segment operating profit to Income from continuing operations before income taxes.

The Company rapidly executed on the separation plan that was announced during February 2019 with completion of the separation on April 1, 2020. The Company separated into two independent, publicly-traded companies, Howmet Aerospace Inc. and Arconic Corporation (the “Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction”). Howmet Aerospace is comprised of the Engineered Products and Forgings businesses (engine products, fastening systems, engineered structures, and forged wheels) and is listed under the stock ticker of “HWM.” Arconic Corporation is comprised of the former Global Rolled Products segment (global rolled products, aluminum extrusions, and building and construction systems) and is under the new company name Arconic Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ARNC.”

Results of Operations

Earnings Summary

Sales. Sales for 2020 were $5,259 compared with $7,098 in 2019, a decrease of $1,839, or 26%. The decrease was primarily a result of lower volumes in the commercial aerospace and commercial transportation markets driven by the impacts of

COVID-19 and 737 MAX and 787 production declines along with a decrease in sales of $116 due to the divestiture of the forgings business in the U.K. in December 2019, all partially offset by growth in the defense aerospace and industrial gas turbine markets and favorable product pricing.

Sales for 2019 were $7,098 compared with $6,778 in 2018, an increase of $320, or 5%. The increase was primarily due to volume growth in aerospace, commercial transportation, and industrial end markets; and favorable pricing when fulfilling volume above contractual share and renewing contracts; partially offset by lower sales from the divestitures of forgings businesses in the United Kingdom (divested in December 2019) and Hungary (divested in December 2018); and unfavorable foreign currency movements.

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). COGS as a percentage of Sales was 73.7% in 2020 compared with 73.5% in 2019. The increase was primarily due to the impact of COVID-19 and lower volumes, partially offset by net cost savings, favorable product pricing, intentional product exits, and the impairment of energy business assets of $10 in the second quarter of 2019. In 2019, the Company sustained a fire at a fasteners plant in France. Additionally, in mid-February 2020, a fire occurred at the Company's forged wheels plant located in Barberton, Ohio. The Company submitted insurance claims related to these plant fires and received partial settlements of $39 in 2020 compared to $25 in 2019, which were in excess of the insurance deductible. In 2020, the Company recorded charges of $41 related to plant fires compared to $26 in 2019. The downtime reduced production levels and affected productivity at the plants.

COGS as a percentage of Sales was 73.5% in 2019 compared with 75.4% in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to lower raw material costs; net costs savings; favorable product pricing; and costs incurred in 2018 that did not recur in 2019 related to settlements of certain customer claims, partially offset by an unfavorable product mix and the impairment of energy business assets of $10. Additionally, in 2019, the Company sustained a fire at a fasteners plant in France and recorded charges of $26 for higher operating costs, equipment and inventory damage, and repairs and cleanup costs. The Company submitted an insurance claim and received partial settlement of $25, which was in excess of its $10 insurance deductible. The insurance claim included $8 of margin not recognized from lost revenue due to the fire.

Selling, General Administrative, and Other Expenses (SG&A). SG&A expenses were $277, or 5.3% of Sales, in 2020 compared with $400, or 5.6% of Sales, in 2019. The decrease in SG&A of $123, or 31%, was primarily due to overhead cost reductions and lower net legal and other advisory costs related to Grenfell Tower of $20, partially offset by higher costs associated with the Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction through June 30, 2020 of $2.

SG&A expenses were $400, or 5.6% of Sales, in 2019 compared with $371, or 5.5% of Sales, in 2018. The increase in SG&A of $29, or 8%, was primarily due to costs associated with the Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction of $5 and higher annual incentive compensation accruals and executive compensation costs, partially offset by lower costs driven by overhead cost reductions and lower net legal and other advisory costs rel

Showing the first 8K of 79K characters. Open the full section

Not material.

Management’s Reports to Howmet Shareholders

Management’s Report on Financial Statements and Practices

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of Howmet Aerospace Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) were prepared by management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. The statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and include amounts that are based on management’s best judgments and estimates. The other financial information included in the annual report is consistent with that in the financial statements.

Management also recognizes its responsibility for conducting the Company’s affairs according to the highest standards of personal and corporate conduct. This responsibility is characterized and reflected in key policy statements issued from time to time regarding, among other things, conduct of its business activities within the laws of the host countries in which the Company operates and potentially conflicting outside business interests of its employees. The Company maintains a systematic program to assess compliance with these policies.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, management has conducted an assessment, including testing, using the criteria in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013), issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission ("COSO"). The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is 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. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) 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.

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.

Based on the assessment, management has concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

The effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included herein.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Howmet Aerospace Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Howmet Aerospace Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2020 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note B to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for leases in 2019.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated 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 Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and 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 U.S. 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 consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated 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 consolidated 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 assess

Showing the first 8K of 270K characters. Open the full section

None.

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Howmet’s co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this report, and they have concluded that these controls and procedures are effective.

(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K beginning on page 46.

(c) Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

The effectiveness of Howmet’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is included in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K on page 47.

(d) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2020, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

None.

PART III

The information required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K regarding directors is contained under the caption “Item 1 Election of Directors” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference. The information required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K regarding executive officers is set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this report under “Executive Officers of the Registrant.”

The information required by Item 405 of Regulation S-K is contained under the caption “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The Company’s Code of Ethics for the CEO, CFO and Other Financial Professionals is publicly available on the Company’s Internet website at www.howmet.com under the section “Investors—Corporate Governance—Governance and Policies.” The remaining information required by Item 406 of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Corporate Governance” and “Corporate Governance—Business Conduct Policies and Code of Ethics” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The information required by Items 407(c)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5) of Regulation S-K is included under the captions “Item 1 Election of Directors—Nominating Board Candidates—Procedures and Director Qualifications” and “Corporate Governance—Committees of the Board—Audit Committee” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The information required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Director Compensation”, “Executive Compensation” and “Corporate Governance—Recovery of Incentive Compensation” of the Proxy Statement. Such information is incorporated by reference.

The information required by Items 407(e)(4) and (e)(5) of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Corporate Governance—Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Item 3 Advisory Approval of Executive Compensation—Compensation Committee Report” of the Proxy Statement. Such information (other than the Compensation Committee Report, which shall not be deemed to be “filed”) is incorporated by reference.

The following table gives information about Howmet’s common stock that could be issued under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

(1) Includes the 2013 Howmet Aerospace Stock Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated (approved by shareholders in May 2019, May 2018, May 2016 and May 2013) (the “2013 Plan”) and 2009 Alcoa Stock Incentive Plan (approved by shareholders in May 2009). Also includes 5,273 stock options resulting from the merger conversion of RTI Metals employee equity. Table amounts are comprised of the following:

• 3,191,692 stock options

• 5,173,704 restricted share units

• 3,341,462 performance share awards (2,887,515 granted in 2020 at target)

(2) The 2013 Plan authorizes, in addition to stock options, other types of stock-based awards in the form of stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance awards and other awards. The shares that remain available for issuance under the 2013 Plan may be issued in connection with any one of these awards. Up to 66,666,667 shares may be issued under the plan. Any award other than an option or a stock appreciation right shall count as 2.33 shares. Options and stock appreciation rights shall be counted as one share for each option or stock appreciation right. In addition, the 2013 Plan provides the following are available to grant under the 2013 Plan: (i) shares that are issued under the 2013 Plan, which are subsequently forfeited, cancelled or expire in accordance with the terms of the award and (ii) shares that had previously been issued under prior plans that are outstanding as of the date of the 2013 Plan which are subsequently forfeited, cancelled or expire in accordance with the terms of the award.

The information required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Howmet Aerospace Stock Ownership—Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Howmet Aerospace Stock Ownership—Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The information required by Item 404 of Regulation S-K is contained under the captions “Executive Compensation” (excluding the information under the caption “Compensation Committee Report”) and “Corporate Governance— Related Person Transactions” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The information required by Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K regarding director independence is contained under the captions “Item 1 Election of Directors” and “Corporate Governance” of the Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference.

The information required by Item 9(e) of Schedule 14A is contained under the captions “Item 2 Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm—Report of the Audit Committee” and “Item 2 Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm— Audit and Non-Audit Fees” of the Proxy Statement and in its Attachment A (Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures for Audit and Non-Audit Services) thereto and is incorporated by reference.

PART IV

(a) The consolidated financial statements and exhibits listed below are filed as part of this report.

(1) The Company’s consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto and the report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are on pages 47 through 100 of this report.

(2) Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

(3) Exhibits.

Showing the first 8K of 64K characters. Open the full section

None.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

James F. Albaugh, Amy E. Alving, Joseph S. Cantie, Robert F. Leduc, David J. Miller, Jody G. Miller, Nicole W. Piasecki and Ulrich R. Schmidt, each as a Director, on February 16, 2021, by Paul Myron, their Attorney-in-Fact.*