New Debt / Obligation · Company Update

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549       FORM 8-K       CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934   Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 27, 2023 ( November 22, 2023 )       HOWMET AEROSPACE INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)       Delaware 1-3610 25-0317820 (State of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)   201 Isabella Street , Suite 200 Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15212-5872 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)   Office of Investor Relations (412) 553-1950 Office of the Secretary ( 412 ) 553-1940 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)   (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)   Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:   ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)   ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)   ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))   ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))   Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share HWM New York Stock Exchange $3.75 Cumulative Preferred Stock , par value $100 per share HWM PR NYSE American    Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).   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. ¨           Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation or an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.   On November 22, 2023, Howmet Aerospace Inc. (“ Howmet Aerospace ” or the “ Company ”) entered into (i) a Term Loan Agreement (the “ USD Term Loan Agreement ”) by and among the Company, a syndicate of lenders named therein, and Truist Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders and syndication agent, and (ii) a Term Loan Agreement (the “ JPY Term Loan Agreement ” and, together with the USD Term Loan Agreement, the “ Term Loan Agreements ” and each, individually, a “ Term Loan Agreement ”) by and among the Company, a syndicate of lenders named therein, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as administrative agent for the lenders.   The USD Term Loan Agreement provides a $200 million senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility (the “ USD Credit Facility ”) that matures on November 22, 2026, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of the USD Term Loan Agreement. The JPY Term Loan Agreement provides a ¥33 billion senior unsecured delayed draw term loan facility (the “ JPY Credit Facility ” and, together with the USD Credit Facility, the “ Credit Facilities ”) that matures on November 22, 2026, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions of the JPY Term Loan Agreement.   Each of the Credit Facilities is unsecured and amounts payable thereunder will rank pari passu with all other unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. Borrowings under the USD Credit Facility will be denominated in U.S. dollars, and borrowings under the JPY Credit Facility will be denominated in Japanese yen. Loans under each of the Credit Facilities may be prepaid without premium or penalty.   Under the USD Credit Facility, loans will bear interest at a base rate or a rate equal to Term SOFR plus adjustment, plus, in each case, an applicable margin based on the credit ratings of the Company’s outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt. Based on the Company’s current long-term debt ratings, the applicable margin on base rate loans would be 0.750% per annum and the applicable margin on Term SOFR loans would be 1.750% per annum. Loans under the USD Credit Facility amortize 2.5% in the second year and 5.0% in the third year.   Under the JPY Credit Facility, loans will bear interest at a rate equal to the Cumulative Compounded RFR Rate utilizing the Tokyo Overnight Average Rate plus an applicable margin based on the credit ratings of the Company’s outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt. Based on the Company’s current long-term debt ratings, the applicable margin on loans under the JPY Credit Facility would be 1.750% per annum.   The obligations of the Company to pay amounts outstanding under the respective Credit Facilities may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an “Event of Default” as defined therein. Such Events of Default include, among others, (a) non-payment of obligations; (b) breach of any representation or warranty in any material respect; (c) non-performance of covenants and obligations; (d) with respect to other indebtedness in a principal amount in excess of $100 million, a default thereunder that causes such indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or a default in the payment at maturity of any principal of such indebtedness; (e) the bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company; and (f) a change in control of the Company.   The Term Loan Agreements contain respective covenants, including, among others, (a) limitations on the Company’s ability to incur liens securing indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) limitations on the Company’s ability to consummate a consolidation, merger, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets; (c) limitations on the Company’s ability to change the nature of its business; and (d) a limitation requiring the ratio of Consolidated Net Debt to Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended, to be less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00.   Capitalized terms used in this Item 2.03 and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as given in the respective Term Loan Agreement. The foregoing summary of the material terms of the respective Term Loan Agreements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the respective Term Loan Agreements, copies of which will be filed with Howmet Aerospace’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2023.           Item 8.01. Other Events   On November 27, 2023, Howmet Aerospace issued a notice of partial redemption to redeem on December 28, 2023 (the “ Redemption Date ”) $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2024 (CUSIP No. 013817AW1) (the “ 2024 Notes ”) in accordance with the terms of the 2024 Notes and the Indenture dated as of September 30, 1993, as supplemented, between Howmet Aerospace and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Indenture ”). As of November 27, 2023, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2024 Notes is approximately $705,273,000.   The redemption price (the “ Redemption Price ”) for the 2024 Notes to be redeemed shall be equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date or (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments, discounted on a semi-annual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points, plus accrued interest to the Redemption Date that has not been paid. The Company expects the aggregate Redemption Price for the 2024 Notes to be redeemed to be approximately $506 million, which the Company intends to pay with funds drawn under the Credit Facilities and cash on hand. The Company intends to enter into interest rate swaps to exchange the floating interest rates of the Credit Facilities into fixed interest rates, subject to market conditions and other considerations, before December 28, 2023.   Capitalized terms used in this Item 8.01 and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as given in the Indenture or the 2024 Notes, as the case may be.   This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute a notice of redemption of the 2024 Notes. The redemption of the 2024 Notes is made solely pursuant to the notice of redemption pursuant to the Indenture.         Forward-Looking Statements   This Current Report on Form 8-K contains 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 the Company’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, expectations relating to the planned redemption of the 2024 Notes and the Company’s intention to enter into swap agreements. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on the Company’s perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company 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, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (a) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally; (b) unfavorable changes in the markets served by Howmet Aerospace; (c) the impact of potential cyber attacks and information technology or data security breaches; (d) the loss of significant customers or adverse changes in customers’ business or financial conditions; (e) manufacturing difficulties or other issues that impact product performance, quality or safety; (f) inability of suppliers to meet obligations due to supply chain disruptions or otherwise; (g) failure to attract and retain a qualified workforce and key personnel; (h) uncertainty of the residual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Howmet Aerospace’s business, results of operations, and financial condition; (i) the inability to achieve revenue growth, cash generation, restructuring plans, cost reductions, improvement in profitability, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated or targeted; (j) inability to meet increased demand, production targets or commitments; (k) competition from new product offerings, disruptive technologies or other developments; (l) geopolitical, economic, and regulatory risks relating to Howmet Aerospace’s global operations, including geopolitical and diplomatic tensions, instabilities, conflicts, and wars, as well as compliance with U.S. and foreign trade and tax laws, sanctions, embargoes and other regulations; (m) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government or regulatory investigations, and environmental remediation, which can expose Howmet Aerospace to substantial costs and liabilities; (n) failure to comply with government contracting regulations; (o) adverse changes in discount rates or investment returns on pension assets; and (p) the other risk factors summarized in Howmet Aerospace’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company 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.         SIGNATURE   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.     HOWMET AEROSPACE INC.             Dated: November 27, 2023 By: /s/ Paul Myron   Name:  Paul Myron   Title: Vice President and Treasurer