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AK Steel Reports Net Income of $145.2 Million for the Second Quarter of 2008

July 22, 2008

WEST CHESTER, Ohio, July 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — AK Steel today reported net income of $145.2 million, or $1.29 per diluted share of common stock, for the second quarter of 2008, compared to net income of $109.9 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2007.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2008 were a record $2,236.6 million on shipments of 1,737,800 tons, also a record, compared to sales of $1,869.5 million on shipments of 1,711,400 tons for the year-ago quarter. The company said its average selling price for the second quarter of 2008 was a record $1,287 per ton, a 13% increase over the $1,135 per-ton mark set in the first quarter of 2008, and about 18% higher than the $1,092 per-ton price for the second quarter of 2007. The increase in per-ton selling prices resulted from higher contract and spot market pricing driven by strong demand and record raw material and energy cost increases.

Second-quarter 2008 operating profit was $237.9 million, or $137 per ton, both records, compared to $187.4 million, or $109 per ton, in the second quarter of 2007. The year-ago quarter was impacted by a pre-tax, non-cash pension curtailment charge of $24.7 million related to a labor agreement for the company’s Middletown Works. The year-over-year operating profit improvement was primarily the result of higher spot market shipments and overall higher selling prices in all markets the company serves, coupled with continued strong cost controls.

“Despite unprecedented raw material and energy cost increases and weakness in several markets, AK Steel employees have shown they can ‘forge ahead’ and deliver record operating and financial performances,” said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO. “AK Steel has once again demonstrated its expertise as a world-class steelmaker.”

Six-Month Results

For the first six months of 2008, the company reported net income of $246.3 million, or $2.19 per diluted share. Net income for the corresponding 2007 period was $172.6 million, or $1.55 per diluted share.

First-half 2008 sales were a record $4,028.0 million compared to $3,589.4 million in the first half of 2007. Operating profit in the first six months of 2008 was $407.6 million, or $123 per ton, compared to $307.4 million, or $93 per ton, for the first half of 2007. This improvement is primarily the result of higher shipments, higher selling prices and lower operating costs. Operating profit for the first half of 2007 was impacted by pre-tax, non-cash pension curtailment charges totaling $39.8 million related to new labor agreements for the company’s Middletown Works and Mansfield Works. During the first half of 2008, the company made $150.0 million in early pension fund contributions and ended the second quarter with $380.8 million of cash on hand and $680.9 million of availability under its credit facility.

Third-Quarter 2008 Outlook

AK Steel said it expects shipments for the third quarter of 2008 to be approximately 1,550,000 tons, which will be lower than second quarter 2008 levels. The sequential drop in shipments results primarily from expected seasonally lower automotive shipments and a planned five-day outage at the company’s Middletown Works hot strip mill. The company also expects higher raw material and energy costs relative to the second quarter. AK Steel anticipates that its third-quarter 2008 average per-ton selling prices will be about 10% higher compared to the second quarter of 2008, and the company expects to generate operating profit in a range between $170 and $175 per ton, which would represent a record performance.

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. 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. 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, appliance, construction and electrical power generation and distribution markets. The company employs about 6,500 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 http://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 http://www.aktube.com/

                           AK Steel Holding Corporation                             Statements of Operations                                   (Unaudited)       (Dollars and Shares in Millions, Except Per Share and Per Ton Data)                                       Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended                                           June 30,            June 30,                                        2008      2007      2008      2007       Shipments (000 tons)             1,737.8   1,711.4   3,316.2   3,307.6      Selling price per ton             $1,287    $1,092    $1,215    $1,085       Net sales                       $2,236.6  $1,869.5  $4,028.0  $3,589.4       Cost of products sold            1,892.3   1,552.1   3,405.5   3,033.0      Selling and administrative       expenses                           55.0      55.4     111.5     109.5      Depreciation                        51.4      49.9     103.4      99.7      Pension curtailment charges           –       24.7        –       39.8        Total operating costs          1,998.7   1,682.1   3,620.4   3,282.0       Operating profit                   237.9     187.4     407.6     307.4       Interest expense                    11.6      16.9      23.3      41.5      Other income                         3.5       4.1       9.0       8.2       Income before income taxes         229.8     174.6     393.3     274.1       Income tax provision                84.6      64.7     147.0     101.5       Net income                        $145.2    $109.9    $246.3    $172.6       Basic earnings per share:        Net income                       $1.30     $0.99     $2.21     $1.56       Diluted earnings per share:        Net income                       $1.29     $0.98     $2.19     $1.55       Weighted average shares       outstanding:        Basic                            111.6     110.8     111.5     110.6        Diluted                          112.6     111.9     112.5     111.6                            AK Steel Holding Corporation                          Consolidated Balance Sheets                (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)                                                 (Unaudited)                                                  June 30,       December 31,                                                    2008              2007    Assets   Current Assets   Cash and cash equivalents                       $380.8            $713.6   Accounts and notes receivables, net              905.6             675.0   Inventories, net                                 708.4             646.8   Other current assets                             397.0             391.4   Total Current Assets                           2,391.8           2,426.8    Property, plant and equipment                  5,202.5           5,131.1   Accumulated depreciation                      (3,164.2)         (3,065.2)   Property, plant and equipment, net             2,038.3           2,065.9   Other                                            471.6             704.7    Total Assets                                  $4,901.7          $5,197.4    Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity   Current Liabilities   Accounts payable                                $788.4            $588.2   Other accruals                                   253.8             214.0   Current portion of long term debt                 12.8              12.7   Current portion of pension & other    postretirement benefit obligations              159.7             158.0   Total Current Liabilities                      1,214.7             972.9    Long-term debt                                   652.4             652.7   Pension & other postretirement    benefit obligations                           1,567.3           2,537.2   Other liabilities                                164.1             159.9    Total Liabilities                              3,598.5           4,322.7    Shareholders’ Equity   Common stock – 2008; authorized 200,000,000    shares of $0.01 par value each; 121,264,379    shares issued; 112,206,470 shares outstanding     1.2               1.2   Additional paid-in capital                     1,889.5           1,867.6   Treasury stock – 2008; 9,057,909 shares at    cost                                           (136.3)           (126.8)   Accumulated deficit                             (687.4)           (915.1)   Accumulated other comprehensive income           236.2              47.8   Total Shareholders’ Equity                     1,303.2             874.7    Total Liabilities and Shareholders’    Equity                                       $4,901.7          $5,197.4                            AK Steel Holding Corporation                           Statements of Cash Flows                                  (Unaudited)                             (Dollars in millions)                                                       Six Months Ended                                                           June 30,                                                    2008              2007    Cash Flow From Operating Activities:   Net income                                      $246.3            $172.6   Depreciation                                     103.4              99.7   Amortization                                       5.8               9.6   Deferred taxes                                   105.2              48.4   Contributions to the pension trust              (150.0)           (180.0)   Contribution to MW retirees VEBA                (468.0)              –   Pension and other postretirement benefit    expense in excess of (less than) payments       (43.8)            (33.5)   Pension curtailment charges                        –                39.8   Tax benefits from stock-based compensation       (12.3)             (5.5)   Working capital                                  (15.1)             89.1   Other, net                                       (10.5)              9.9   Net Cash Flow From Operating Activities         (239.0)            250.1    Cash Flow From Investing Activities:   Capital investments                              (86.2)            (35.1)   Investments – net                                 (4.2)              8.6   Proceeds from sale of PP&E                         0.4               –   Proceeds from draw on restricted funds for    emission control expenditures                      –                2.5   Other, net                                         0.3               0.7   Net Cash Flow From Investing Activities          (89.7)            (23.3)    Cash Flow From Financing Activities:   Principal payments on long-term debt              (0.3)           (300.0)   Fees related to new credit facility                –                (2.6)   Proceeds from exercise of stock options            3.3               8.8   Purchase of treasury stock                        (9.5)             (1.8)   Tax benefits from stock-based compensation        12.3               5.5   Common stock dividends                           (11.2)              –   Other, net                                         1.3              (0.2)   Net Cash Flow From Financing Activities           (4.1)           (290.3)    Net Decrease in Cash                            (332.8)            (63.5)    Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning             713.6             519.4    Cash and Cash Equivalents, Ending               $380.8            $455.9                             AK Steel Holding Corporation                                  (Unaudited)                                 Steel Shipments                                          Three Months Ended  Six Months Ended                                               June 30,          June 30,                                            2008     2007     2008     2007     Tons Shipped by Product (000′s)    Stainless/Electrical                    274.7    270.5    511.8    546.5    Coated                                  717.1    686.9  1,423.4  1,354.4    Cold Rolled                             349.0    328.5    656.0    637.8    Tubular                                  34.3     38.5     67.7     78.4    Subtotal Value-added Shipments        1,375.1  1,324.4  2,658.9  2,617.1     Hot Rolled                              318.3    313.1    556.0    548.1    Secondary                                44.4     73.9    101.3    142.4    Subtotal Non Value-added Shipments      362.7    387.0    657.3    690.5     Total Shipments                       1,737.8  1,711.4  3,316.2  3,307.6     Shipments by Product (%)    Stainless/Electrical                    15.8%    15.8%    15.4%    16.5%    Coated                                  41.3%    40.1%    42.9%    40.9%    Cold Rolled                             20.1%    19.2%    19.8%    19.3%    Tubular                                  2.0%     2.2%     2.0%     2.4%    Subtotal Value-added Shipments          79.2%    77.3%    80.1%    79.1%     Hot Rolled                              18.3%    18.3%    16.8%    16.6%    Secondary                                2.5%     4.4%     3.1%     4.3%    Subtotal Non Value-added Shipments      20.8%    22.7%    19.9%    20.9%     Total Shipments                        100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%  

AK Steel

CONTACT: Media, Alan H. McCoy, Vice President, Government & PublicRelations, +1-513-425-2826, or Investors, Albert E. Ferrara, Jr., VicePresident, Finance & CFO, +1-513-425-2888, both for AK Steel

Web site: http://www.aksteel.com/http://www.aktube.com/