UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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): April 30, 2010

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-14303		36-3161171
(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)
One Dauch Drive, Detroit, Michigan		48211-1198
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(313) 758-2000

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

SECTION 2 — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 30, 2010, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., (the “Company” or “AAM”) issued a press release regarding AAM’s financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1.

SECTION 7 — REGULATION FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD

AAM’s 2010 Outlook:

•

AAM’s 2010 outlook is based on the assumption that the U.S. Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (“SAAR”) of light vehicle sales increases from approximately 10.4 million vehicle units in 2009 to a range of 11.0 million – 11.5 million vehicle units in 2010. Based on this industry sales assumption and the anticipated timing of new programs launching in AAM’s $1.0 billion new and incremental business backlog, AAM now expects full year 2010 sales to range from $2.0 billion to $2.1 billion. This represents annual sales growth of approximately 30% – 40% on a year-over-year basis as compared to the full year 2009.

AAM’s new business backlog and quoted business activity:

	•		AAM’s new and incremental business backlog for programs launching in the years 2010 – 2014 currently stands at approximately $1.0 billion.
	•		AAM is currently quoting approximately $900 million of potential new business. Approximately 90% of these new business quotes are with customers other than GM.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” and relate to the Company’s plans, projections, strategies or future performance. Such statements, made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are based on our current expectations, are inherently uncertain, are subject to risks and should be viewed with caution. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: global economic conditions; our ability to comply with the definitive terms and conditions of various commercial and financing arrangements with GM; reduced purchases of our products by GM, Chrysler or other customers; reduced demand for our customers’ products (particularly light trucks and SUVs produced by GM and Chrysler); availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes, including our ability to comply with financial covenants; our customers’ and suppliers’ availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes; the impact on us and our customers of requirements imposed on, or actions taken by, our customers in response to the U.S. government’s ownership interest, the Troubled Asset Relief Program or similar programs; our ability to achieve cost reductions through ongoing restructuring actions; additional restructuring actions that may occur; our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid future work stoppages; our suppliers’, our customers’ and their suppliers’ ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages; our ability to continue to implement improvements in our U.S. labor cost structure; supply shortages or price increases in raw materials, utilities or other operating supplies; currency rate

fluctuations; our ability or our customers’ and suppliers’ ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis; our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog; our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products; our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand; lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products; our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures; price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel; adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers’ products (such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (“CAFE”) regulations); adverse changes in the political stability of our principal markets (particularly North America, Europe, South America and Asia); liabilities arising from warranty claims, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party; changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; risks of noncompliance with environmental regulations or risks of environmental issues that could result in unforeseen costs at our facilities; our ability to attract and retain key associates; and other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete. For additional discussion, see “Risk factors related to our business” in our most recent 10K filing. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or to disclose any subsequent facts, events or circumstances that may affect their accuracy.

SECTION 9 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description		Method of Furnishing
99.1		Press release dated April 30, 2010		Furnished with this Report

SIGNATURES

     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.

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC.

Date: April 30, 2010		By:		/s/ Michael K. Simonte
		Michael K. Simonte
		Executive Vice President – Finance & Chief Financial Officer
		(also in the capacity of Chief Accounting Officer)

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.		Description		Page
99.1		Press release dated April 30, 2010		7