Alcoa acquires Firth Rixson, grows global aerospace portfolio

Lightweight metals leader Alcoa today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Firth Rixson, a global leader in aerospace jet engine components. The Company closed the transaction, which was announced on June 26, 2014, after receiving all of the required global regulatory approvals and arranging financing for the deal.

Firth Rixson strengthens Alcoa’s robust aerospace portfolio and positions the Company to capture greater profitable growth from its expanding value-add business. The transaction doubles Alcoa’s average revenue content on high-growth engine programs. Accelerating Alcoa’s transformation to a multi-material enterprise, the acquisition increases its offerings made of nickel-based superalloys, titanium, stainless steel and advanced aluminum alloys, produced using the most advanced isothermal forging technology and ring production capabilities.

“By combining the talent and cutting-edge technology of our two innovation-driven companies, we are taking our aerospace business to new heights,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “This transaction is creating a more profitable future for Alcoa by delivering greater sustainable value for our customers, employees and shareholders.”

With this acquisition, Alcoa’s revenues are expected to increase by $1.6 billion with an additional $350 million EBITDA in 2016, and to increase by $2 billion in revenues by 2019. Approximately 70 percent of this growth is secured by long-term agreements.

A majority of these new revenue streams come from aerospace sales, enabling Alcoa to further capitalize on strong growth in the commercial aerospace sector. Alcoa projects a compounded annual commercial jet growth rate of 7 percent through 2019 and sees a current 9-year production order book at 2013 delivery rates.

Alcoa is implementing a robust integration plan to realize significant synergy cost savings, primarily driven by purchasing and productivity improvements, optimizing internal metal supply and leveraging Alcoa’s global shared services. These cost savings are expected to reach approximately $100 million annually by year five. The transaction is expected to be neutral to earnings the first year and accretive thereafter and will generate a return in excess of cost of capital. Firth Rixson’s businesses will be integrated into Alcoa’s Engineered Products and Solutions (EPS) segment.

Alcoa’s aerospace business holds the number one global position in aluminum forgings and extrusions, jet engine airfoils and fastening systems and is a leading supplier of structural castings made of titanium, aluminum and nickel-based superalloys and aluminum sheet and plate. Through this acquisition, it now also holds the number one global position in seamless rolled jet engine rings, engineered from nickel-based superalloys and titanium, and is one of the world’s leading suppliers of vacuum melted superalloys used to make aerospace, industrial gas turbine, oil and gas products and structural components for landing gear applications. It also has entered into a highly specialized segment of jet engine forgings that require isothermal forging technology.

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