Allison Transmission Holdings Inc - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2017

OR

Commission File No. 001-35456

ALLISON TRANSMISSION HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

One Allison Way

Indianapolis, IN 46222

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

(317) 242-5000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, 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 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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), 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 and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ☐

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

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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $5,575 million as of June 30, 2017.

As of February 2, 2018, there were 140,066,567 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2018 annual meeting of stockholders will be incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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INDEX

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” and other expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends and that do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements reflect management’s good faith beliefs, reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: uncertainty in the global regulatory and business environments in which we operate; our participation in markets that are competitive; the highly cyclical industries in which certain of our end users operate; the failure of markets outside North America to increase adoption of fully-automatic transmissions; the concentration of our net sales in our top five customers and the loss of any one of these; future reductions or changes in government subsidies for hybrid vehicles and other external factors impacting demand; U.S. and foreign defense spending; general economic and industry conditions; the discovery of defects in our products, resulting in delays in new model launches, recall campaigns and/or increased warranty costs and reduction in future sales or damage to our brand and reputation; our ability to prepare for, respond to and successfully achieve our objectives relating to technological and market developments, competitive threats and changing customer needs; risks associated with our international operations; labor strikes, work stoppages or similar labor disputes, which could significantly disrupt our operations or those of our principal customers; risks related to our substantial indebtedness; and our intention to pay dividends and repurchase shares of our common stock.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements as well as other cautionary statements that are made from time to time in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings or public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in the context of these risks and uncertainties.

Certain Trademarks

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes trademarks, such as Allison Transmission and ReTran, which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are our property and/or the property of our subsidiaries. This report also contains trademarks, service marks, copyrights and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, service marks, copyrights or trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. Solely for convenience, our trademarks and trade names referred to in this report may appear without the ^® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names.

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PART I.

ITEM 1. Business

Overview

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Allison,” the “Company” or “we”) design and manufacture commercial and defense fully-automatic transmissions. The business was founded in 1915 and has been headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana since inception. Allison was an operating unit of General Motors Corporation from 1929 until 2007, when Allison once again became a stand-alone company. In March 2012, Allison began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, “ALSN”.

We have approximately 2,700 employees and 13 different transmission product lines. Although approximately 79% of revenues were generated in North America in 2017, we have a global presence by serving customers in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. We serve customers through an independent network of approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide.

Our Business

We are the world’s largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. defense vehicles. Allison transmissions are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (primarily school, transit and electric hybrid-transit), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (primarily energy, mining and construction) and defense vehicles (wheeled and tracked). We estimate that globally, in 2017, we sold approximately 60% of all fully-automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty on-highway commercial vehicle applications. We believe the Allison brand is one of the most recognized in our industry as a result of the performance, reliability and fuel efficiency of our transmissions and is associated with high quality, durability, vocational value, technological leadership and superior customer service.

We introduced the world’s first fully-automatic transmission for commercial vehicles over 60 years ago. Since that time, we have driven the trend in North America and Western Europe towards increasing automaticity by targeting a diverse range of commercial vehicle vocations. Allison transmissions are optimized for the unique performance requirements of end users, which typically vary by vocation. Our products are highly engineered, requiring advanced manufacturing processes, and employ complex software algorithms for our transmission controls to maximize end user performance. We have developed over 100 different models that are used in more than 2,500 different vehicle configurations and are compatible with more than 500 combinations of engine brands, models and ratings (including diesel, gasoline, natural gas and other alternative fuels). Additionally, we have created thousands of unique Allison-developed calibrations available to be used with our transmission control modules.

Our Industry

Commercial vehicles typically employ one of three transmission types: manual, automated manual transmissions (“AMT”) or fully-automatic. Manual transmissions are the most prevalent transmission type used in Class 8 tractors in North America and in medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, generally, outside North America. Manual transmissions utilize a disconnect clutch causing power to be interrupted during each gear shift resulting in energy loss-related inefficiencies and less work being accomplished for a given amount of fuel consumed. In long-distance trucking, this power interruption is not a significant factor, as the manual transmission provides its highest degree of fuel economy during steady-state cruising. However, steady-state cruising is only one part of the duty cycle. When the duty cycle requires a high degree of “start and stop” activity or speed transients, as is common in many vocations as well as in urban environments, we believe manual transmissions result in reduced performance, lower fuel efficiency, lower average speed for a given amount of fuel consumed and inferior ride quality. Moreover, the clutches must be replaced regularly, resulting in increased maintenance expense and vehicle downtime. Manual transmissions also require a skilled driver to operate the disconnect clutch when launching the vehicle and shifting gears. AMTs are manual transmissions that feature automated operation of the disconnect clutch. Fully-automatic transmissions utilize technology that smoothly shifts gears instead of a disconnect clutch, thereby delivering uninterrupted power to the wheels during gear shifts and requiring minimal driver input. These transmissions deliver superior acceleration, higher productivity, increased fuel efficiency, reduced operating costs, less driveline shock and smoother shifting relative to both manual transmissions and AMTs in vocations with a high degree of “start and stop” activity, as well as in urban environments.

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Emerging technologies in commercial-duty transmissions and powertrains include dual clutch transmissions (“DCT”) and electric drive powertrains. DCTs are variants of manual transmissions and AMTs that incorporate a “dual clutch” mechanism to facilitate shifting the manual transmission gearbox. Electric drive powertrains are also emerging in certain end markets, such as transit buses, and are in part driven by efforts to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Electric drive powertrains differ from “electric hybrid” powertrains because they only propel the vehicle with an electric motor; while “electric hybrids” generally utilize both a conventional internal combustion power source and powertrain as well as the means to propel the vehicle electrically. While both emerging technologies are gaining use in niche automotive markets, they are just beginning to evolve and become proven in commercial vehicle markets.

Fuel efficiency, reduction in fuel consumption and reduced emissions are important considerations for commercial vehicles everywhere and they tend to go together. We believe fuel efficiency, the measure of work performed for a given amount of fuel consumed, is the best method to assess fuel consumption of commercial vehicles as compared to the more commonly-used fuel economy metric of miles-per-gallon (“MPG”). MPG is inadequate for commercial vehicles because it does not encompass two key elements of efficiency that we believe are important to vehicle owners and operators: payload and transport time. For example, if more work can be completed or more payload hauled using the same amount of fuel and/or over a shorter period of time, then we believe the vehicle is more fuel efficient. Since fuel economy only accounts for distance traveled and fuel consumed, ignoring time and work performed, we believe it is therefore an inferior metric to fuel efficiency when it comes to assessing commercial vehicles. Markets, regulations, policies and technology continue to evolve with respect to these topics.

Our Served Markets

We sell our transmissions globally for use in medium- and heavy-duty on-highway commercial vehicles, off-highway vehicles and equipment and defense vehicles. In addition to the sale of transmissions, we also sell branded replacement parts, support equipment and other products necessary to service the installed base of vehicles utilizing our transmissions. The following table provides a summary of our business by end market, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

Refer to NOTE 17, “Concentration of Risk” and NOTE 21, “Geographic Information” in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on our significant original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) customers and net sales by geographical areas.

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North America

On-Highway. We are the largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for the on-highway medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle market in North America. The following is a summary of our on-highway net sales by vehicle class in North America.

Our core North American on-highway market includes Class 4-5, Class 6-7 and Class 8 straight trucks, conventional transit, shuttle and coach buses, school buses and motorhomes. Class 8 trucks are subdivided into two markets: straight and tractor. Class 8 straight trucks are those with a unified body (e.g., refuse, construction, and dump trucks), while tractors have a vehicle chassis that is separable from the trailer they pull. We have been supplying transmissions for Class 8 straight trucks for decades, and it is a core end market for us. Today, we have very limited exposure to the Class 8 line-haul tractor market because lower priced manual transmissions and AMTs generally meet the needs of these vehicles which are primarily used in long distance hauling. However, we have identified a portion of the Class 8 tractor market that we call metro tractors that are used in urban environments the majority of the time and developed a fully-automatic transmission (the “TC10”) that meets the unique duty cycle requirements of the Class 8 metro tractor market. Combining the startability and continuous, uninterrupted power qualities of a fully-automatic transmission with the cruising aspects of a manual transmission, the TC10 offers an alternative to traditional manual and automated manual transmissions in tractor applications.

We sell substantially all of our transmissions in the North American on-highway market to OEMs. These OEMs, in turn, install our transmissions in vehicles in which our transmission is either the exclusive transmission available or is specifically requested by end users. In 2017, OEM customers representing over 95% of our North American on-highway unit volume participated in long-term supply agreements (“LTSA”) with us. Generally, these LTSAs offer the OEM customer defined levels of mutual commitment with respect to growing Allison’s presence in the OEMs’ products and promotional efforts, pricing and sharing of commodity cost risk. The length of our LTSAs is typically between three and five years. We often compete in this market against independent manufacturers of manual transmissions, AMTs, DCTs, electric drive systems, fully-automatic transmissions manufactured by Ford Motor Company (“Ford”), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (“ZF”) and Voith GmbH, and against vertically integrated OEMs in certain weight classes that use their own internally manufactured transmissions in certain vehicles.

The following table presents a summary of our competitive position by vehicle class in the North America on-highway end market.

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Electric Hybrid Transit Buses. The interest in conserving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is driving demand for more fuel efficient commercial vehicles. Our customers in this North American end market are typically city, state and federal governmental entities. In this market, we compete primarily with BAE Systems plc and manufacturers of electric drive systems.

Off-Highway. We have provided products used in vehicles and equipment that serve energy, mining and construction applications in North America for over 60 years. Off-highway energy applications include hydraulic fracturing equipment, well-stimulation equipment, pumping equipment, and well-servicing rigs, which often use a fully-automatic transmission to propel the vehicle and drive auxiliary equipment. We maintain a leadership position in this end market, with nearly all producers of well-stimulation and well-servicing equipment utilizing our heavy duty off-highway transmissions. Competition includes Caterpillar Inc. (“Caterpillar”) and Twin Disc, Inc. (“Twin Disc”).

We also provide heavy-duty transmissions used in mining trucks, specialty vehicles and construction vehicles. Mining applications include trucks used to haul various commodities and other products, including rigid dump trucks, underground trucks and long-haul tractor trailer trucks with load capacities between 40 to 110 tons. Our major competitors in this end market are Caterpillar and Komatsu Ltd. (“Komatsu”), both of which are vertically integrated and manufacture fully-automatic transmissions for their own vehicles. Specialty vehicles using our heavy-duty transmissions include airport rescue and firefighting vehicles and heavy-equipment transporters. Our major competitor in this end market is Twin Disc. Construction applications include articulated dump trucks, with Caterpillar, Volvo Group (“Volvo”) and ZF as competitors.

Outside North America

Outside North America we serve several different markets, including: Europe, Middle East, Africa (“EMEA”), Asia-Pacific, South America and India.

On-Highway. We are the largest manufacturer of fully-automatic transmissions for the commercial vehicle market outside of North America. While the use of fully-automatic transmissions in the medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle market has been widely accepted in North America, the markets outside North America continue to be dominated by manual transmissions. In 2017, fully-automatic transmission-equipped medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles represented less than 5% of the vehicles in markets outside North America and are concentrated in certain vocational end markets. The following is a summary of our on-highway net sales by region outside of North America.

Europe, Middle East, Africa. EMEA is composed of several different markets, each of which differs from our core North American market by the degree of market maturity, sophistication and acceptance of fully-automatic transmission technology. Within Europe, we serve Western European developed markets, as well as Russian and Eastern European emerging markets, principally in the refuse, emergency, bus, coach, distribution and utility markets. Competition in Western Europe is most notably characterized by a high level of vertical powertrain integration with OEMs often utilizing their own manual transmissions and AMTs in their vehicles. The Middle East and Africa regions are generally characterized by very limited local vehicle production, with imports from the U.S., South America, Turkey, China, India and Europe accounting for the majority of vehicles.

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Asia-Pacific. Our key Asia-Pacific markets include China, Japan, India, and South Korea; however, we actively participate in several other important Asia-Pacific countries including Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, which are primarily importers of commercial vehicles. Within Asia-Pacific, our sales efforts are principally focused on the transit bus and vocational truck markets. Currently, manual transmissions are the predominant transmissions used in commercial vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region.

South America. The South American region is characterized by a high level of OEM integration, with captive manual transmission and AMT manufacturing. Currently, manual transmissions are the predominant transmissions used in commercial vehicles in South America.

Off-Highway. The following is a summary of our off-highway net sales by region outside of North America.

Europe, Middle East, Africa. Our off-highway markets in EMEA are mining and construction. Our major off-highway competitors are Caterpillar and Komatsu, both of which are vertically integrated manufacturers of off-highway mining vehicles, including the specific fully-automatic transmission used in their mining trucks. A typical construction application is the articulated dump truck, with competition from Caterpillar, Volvo and ZF transmissions.

Asia-Pacific. Off-highway markets in Asia are shared by energy, mining and construction applications. Our primary competitors are Caterpillar, Danyang Winstar Auto Parts Co., Ltd. and Twin Disc in energy applications, Caterpillar, Komatsu and Danyang Winstar Auto Parts Co., Ltd. in mining applications and Caterpillar, Volvo and ZF in construction applications.

Defense

We have a long-standing relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense (“DOD”) dating back to 1946, when we began developing our first-generation tank transmission. Today, we sell substantially all of the transmissions for medium- and heavy-tactical wheeled vehicle platforms including the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, Armored Security Vehicles, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, Heavy Equipment Transporters, Palletized Loading Systems, M915 Series Trucks, Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements and the Logistic Vehicle System Replacement. Additionally, we supplied transmissions for the majority of Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (“MRAP”) Vehicles, the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, which is the replacement vehicle for Humvee personnel transport. Transmissions for our wheeled vehicle platforms are typically sold to OEMs.

We are also the supplier on two of the three key tracked vehicle platforms, the Abrams tank and the M113 family of vehicles, which are sold directly to the DOD. Additionally, we sell parts kits to licensees for the production of transmissions for tracked vehicles manufactured outside North America. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of risks associated with our contracts with the U.S. DOD.

Globally, we face competition for the supply of our transmissions in tracked defense vehicles primarily from L3 Technologies, Inc., Renk AG and ZF. Additionally, we face limited competition from Caterpillar and ZF in certain defense wheeled vehicle platforms.

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Service Parts, Support Equipment and Other

The aftermarket provides us with a relatively stable source of revenues as the installed base of vehicles and equipment utilizing our transmissions continues to grow. The need for replacement parts is driven by normal vehicle and equipment maintenance requirements. Uninterrupted operation is generally critical for end users’ profitability. End users focus on getting the vehicle or equipment back in service, which in some cases results in the aftermarket purchase decision being less price-sensitive.

The sale of Allison-branded parts and fluids, remanufactured transmissions and support equipment is fundamental to our brand promise. We have assembled a worldwide network of approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations to sell, service and support our transmissions. As part of our brand strategy, our distributors and dealers are required to sell genuine Allison-branded parts. Within the aftermarket, we offer remanufactured transmissions under our ReTran brand, which provides a cost-effective alternative for transmission repairs and replacements. We also provide support equipment to our OEMs to assist in installing new Allison transmissions into vehicles, and, therefore, sales of support equipment are dependent upon sales of new transmissions. The competition for service parts and ReTran transmissions comes from a variety of smaller-scale companies sourcing non-genuine “will-fit” parts from unauthorized manufacturers. These “will-fit” parts often do not meet our product specifications, and therefore may be of lesser quality than genuine Allison parts.

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Our Product Offerings

Allison transmissions are sold under the Allison Transmission brand name and remanufactured transmissions are sold under the ReTran brand name. The following is a summary of our 13 transmission product lines.

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Product Development and Engineering

We maintain product development and engineering capability dedicated to the design, development, refinement and support of our fully-automatic transmissions and electric hybrid-propulsion systems. We believe our customers expect our products to provide unparalleled performance and value defined in various ways, including delivering maximum cargo in minimum time, using the least amount of fuel possible while employing the fewest vehicles possible and experiencing maximum vehicle uptime. In response to those needs and the evolving customer focus on fuel efficiency, we provide vehicle specification guidelines, transmission control software and mechanical components to optimize fuel economy while delivering desired vehicle performance. Further, we are developing new technology to improve fuel efficiency and fuel economy by allowing engines to operate more efficiently and at lower speeds to avoid consuming fuel without compromising performance. Building on our engineering capabilities, we pioneered electric hybrid-propulsion in commercial vehicles and are developing new alternative technologies for use in our global commercial vehicle markets. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, we have invested $105 million, $88 million and $93 million in engineering – research and development, respectively. From time to time, we also acquire certain licenses to provide us with technology to complement our portfolio of products and product initiatives.

Sales and Marketing Organization

Our sales and marketing effort is organized along geographic and customer lines and is comprised of marketing, sales and service professionals, supported by application engineers worldwide. In North America, selling efforts in the on-highway end market are organized by distributor area responsibility, OEM sales and, for our large end users, national accounts. Outside North America, we manage our sales, marketing, service and application engineering professionals through regional areas of responsibility. These regional management teams distribute OEM service and application engineering resources globally. We manage our defense products sales, marketing, service and application engineering through professionals based in Indianapolis, Indiana and Detroit, Michigan.

We have developed a marketing strategy to reach OEM customers as well as end users. We target our end users primarily through marketing activities by our sales staff, who directly call on end users and attend local trade shows, targeting specific vocations globally and through our plant tour programs, where end users may test our products on the Indianapolis test track and our enhanced customer experience demonstration track at our Hungary facility.

While our marketing management uses the term “customer” interchangeably for OEMs and end users, the primary objective of our marketing strategy is to create demand for fully-automatic transmissions through:

The process is interactive, as Allison representatives, Allison distributors, OEMs and dealers educate customers and respond to the specific applications, requirements and needs of numerous specialty markets.

Similarly, we work with customers, dealers and OEMs to educate, improve and simplify how they specify vehicles and vehicle systems in order to optimize vehicle performance and fuel consumption. Our field organization also works closely with distributors who, in turn, work with dealers to provide end users with education, parts, service and warranty support. The defense marketing group follows a defined plan that identifies country, vehicle and specific OEMs and then approaches the ultimate end user through a variety of channels.

Manufacturing

Our manufacturing strategy provides for distributed capability in manufacturing and assembly of our products for the global commercial vehicle market. Our primary manufacturing facilities, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, consist of approximately 2.3 million square feet of usable manufacturing space in six plants. We also have established customization and parts distribution in the United States, The Netherlands, Brazil, China, Hungary, India and Japan, and plants in Chennai, India and Szentgotthard, Hungary. Our high volume on-highway products are produced in multiple global locations while off-highway, electric hybrid-propulsion and defense tracked and wheeled products are produced in Indianapolis.

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Suppliers and Raw Materials

A significant amount of the part numbers that make up our transmissions are purchased from outside suppliers, and during 2017, we purchased approximately $735 million of direct materials and components from outside suppliers. The largest elements of our direct spending are aluminum and steel castings and forgings that are formed by our suppliers into our larger components and assemblies for use in our transmissions. However, our spending on aluminum and steel raw materials directly and indirectly through our purchase of these components constituted approximately 11% of our direct material and component costs in 2017. The balance of our direct and indirect materials and components costs are primarily composed of value-added services and conversion costs. Our supply contracts, along with an intensive supplier selection and performance monitoring process, have enabled us to establish and maintain close relationships with suppliers and have contributed to our overall operating efficiency and quality.

Intellectual Property

Patents and other proprietary rights are important to the continued success of our business. We also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovation and licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our competitive position. We protect our proprietary rights through a variety of methods, including confidentiality agreements and proprietary information agreements with suppliers, employees, consultants and others who may have access to proprietary information. We own over 400 issued patents worldwide, and we have licensing arrangements with respect to more than 600 additional patents and patent applications. We have more than 400 pending patent applications throughout the world that relate to aspects of the technology incorporated in many of our products.

We have an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license of more than 250 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, as well as certain unpatented technology and know-how, owned by General Motors Company (“GM”) to manufacture, use and sell fully-automatic transmissions and certain electric hybrid-propulsion systems for use in vocational and defense vehicles and off-highway products. Such licenses are subject to certain limitations. See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of these risks and limitations. We also acquired from GM an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide license under computer software programs that we use to run our business, including product design. In addition, GM has a license to use certain Allison trademarks.

Seasonality

Overall, the demand for our products is relatively consistent over the year. However, in typical market conditions, the North American truck market experiences a higher level of production in the first half of the year due to fewer holidays and the practice of plant shutdowns in July and December. Working capital levels do not fluctuate significantly in the normal course for our business.

Employees

As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 2,700 employees, with approximately 89% of those employees in the U.S. Approximately 59% of our U.S. employees are represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (“UAW”) and are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. In December 2017, we entered into a six year collective bargaining agreement with UAW Local 933 that expires in November 2023. As approximately 39% of our represented employees are currently retirement eligible, we anticipate a shift toward increasing the number of multi-tier employees over the coming years. There have been no strikes or work stoppages due to Allison-specific issues in over 30 years.

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Environmental Compliance

We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air or water, the management and disposal of hazardous substances or wastes, and the cleanup of contaminated sites. Some of our operations require environmental permits and controls to prevent and reduce air and water pollution. These permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation by issuing authorities. In addition, certain of our products and our customer’s products are subject to certification requirements by a variety of regulatory bodies. We believe we are in substantial compliance with all material environmental laws and regulations applicable to our plants and operations. Historically, our annual costs of achieving and maintaining compliance with environmental, health and safety requirements have not been material to our results.

Increasing global efforts to control emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrogen oxide and other greenhouse gases and pollutants, as well as the shifting focus of regulatory efforts towards total emissions output, have the potential to impact our facilities, costs, products and customers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has taken action to control greenhouse gases from certain stationary and mobile sources. In addition, several states have taken steps, such as adoption of cap and trade programs or other regulatory systems, to address greenhouse gases. There have also been international efforts seeking legally binding reductions in emissions of greenhouse gases. These developments and further actions that may be taken in the U.S. and in other countries, states or provinces could affect our operations both positively and negatively (e.g., by affecting the demand for or suitability of some of our products).

We also may be subject to liability as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and similar state or foreign laws for contaminated properties that we currently own, lease or operate or that we or our predecessors have previously owned, leased or operated, and sites to which we or our predecessors sent hazardous substances. Such liability may be joint and several so that we may be liable for more than our share of any contamination, and any such liability may be determined without regard to causation or knowledge of contamination. We or our predecessors have been named potentially responsible parties at contaminated sites from time to time. We do not anticipate our liabilities relating to contaminated sites will be material to our results.

In January 2016, we assumed all responsibility for operating, monitoring and maintaining the ongoing activities at our Indianapolis, Indiana manufacturing facilities relating to historical soil and ground water contamination. We entered into an administrative order of consent with the EPA that requires us to provide financial assurance to complete the operation, monitoring and maintenance in the event we fail to do so. In December 2016, we issued a letter of credit to the EPA in the amount of $15 million.

Competition

We compete on the basis of product performance, quality, price, distribution capability and service in addition to other factors. We face competition from numerous manufacturers of various types of transmissions for commercial vehicles. We also face competition from manufacturers in our international operations and from international manufacturers entering our domestic market. Furthermore, we face an increasing amount of competition from vertical integration, as some of our customers are OEMs that manufacture transmissions for their own products, and from powertrains that do not require a transmission. Despite their transmission manufacturing capabilities, our existing OEM customers have chosen to purchase certain transmissions from us due to the quality, reliability and strong brand of our transmissions and in order to limit fixed costs, minimize production risks and maintain company focus on commercial vehicle design, production and marketing.

Corporate Information

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on June 22, 2007. Our principal executive offices are located at One Allison Way, Indianapolis, IN 46222 and our telephone number is (317) 242-5000. Our internet address is www.allisontransmission.com. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”). These periodic and current reports and all amendments to those reports are available free of charge on the investor relations page of our website at http://ir.allisontransmission.com. We have included our website address throughout this filing as textual references only. The information contained on, or accessible through, our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

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ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

The following is a cautionary discussion of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we believe are significant to our business. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following are the important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, we believe could make our actual results differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements.

Risks Related to Our Business

We participate in markets that are competitive, and our competitors’ actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our business operates in competitive markets. We compete against other existing or new global manufacturers of transmissions for commercial vehicles on the basis of product performance, quality, price, distribution capability and service in addition to other factors. In addition, we compete with manufacturers developing alternative technologies, including electric drivetrains, that may or may not require a transmission. Actions by our competitors could lead to downward pressure on prices and/or a decline in our market share, either or both of which could adversely affect our results.

In addition, some of our customers or future customers are OEMs that manufacture or could in the future manufacture transmissions for their own products. Despite their transmission manufacturing capabilities, our existing OEM customers have chosen to purchase certain transmissions from us due to customer demand, resulting from the quality of our transmission products and in order to reduce fixed costs, eliminate production risks and maintain company focus. However, we cannot be certain these customers will continue to purchase our products in the future. Increased levels of production insourcing by these customers could result from a number of factors, such as shifts in our customers’ business strategies, acquisition by a customer of another transmission manufacturer, the inability of third-party suppliers to meet specifications and the emergence of low-cost production opportunities in foreign countries. As a result, these OEMs may use transmissions produced internally or by another manufacturer and no longer choose to purchase transmissions from us. A significant reduction in the level of external sourcing of transmission production by our OEM customers could significantly impact our net sales and cash flows and, accordingly, have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Certain of our end users operate in highly cyclical industries, which can result in uncertainty and significantly impact the demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Some of the markets in which we operate, including energy, mining, construction, distribution and motorhomes, exhibit a high degree of cyclicality. Decisions to purchase our transmissions are largely a result of the performance of these and other industries we serve. If demand for output in these industries decreases, the demand for our products will likely decrease. Demand in these industries is impacted by numerous factors including prices of commodities, rates of infrastructure spending, housing starts, real estate equity values, interest rates, consumer spending, fuel costs, energy demands, municipal spending and commercial construction, among others. Increases or decreases in these variables globally may significantly impact the demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. If we are unable to accurately predict demand, we may be unable to meet our customers’ needs, resulting in the loss of potential sales, or we may manufacture excess products, resulting in increased inventories and overcapacity in our production facilities, increasing our unit production cost and decreasing our operating margins.

Volatility in and disruption to the global economic environment and changes in the regulatory and business environments in which we operate may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The commercial vehicle industry as a whole has been more adversely affected by volatile economic conditions than many other industries, as the purchase or replacement of commercial vehicles, which are durable items, can be deferred for many reasons, including reduced spending by end users. Future changes in the regulatory and business environments in which we operate may adversely affect our ability to sell our products or source materials needed to manufacture our products. Furthermore, financial instability or bankruptcy at any of our suppliers or customers could disrupt our ability to manufacture our products and impair our ability to collect receivables, any or all of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, some of our customers and suppliers may experience serious cash flow problems and, thus, may find it difficult to obtain financing, if financing is available at all. As a result, our customers’ need for and ability to purchase our products or services may decrease, and our suppliers may increase their prices, reduce their output or change their terms of sale. Any inability of customers to pay us for our products and services, or any demands by suppliers for different payment terms, may materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, our suppliers may not be successful in generating sufficient

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sales or securing alternate financing arrangements, and therefore may no longer be able to supply goods and services to us. In that event, we would need to find alternate sources for these goods and services, and there is no assurance we would be able to find such alternate sources on favorable terms, if at all. Any such disruption in our supply chain could adversely affect our ability to manufacture and deliver our products on a timely basis, and thereby affect our results of operations.

Our long-term growth prospects and results of operations may be impaired if the rate of adoption of fully-automatic transmissions in commercial vehicles outside North America does not increase.

Our long-term growth strategy depends in part on an increased rate of automaticity outside North America. As part of that strategy, we have established manufacturing facilities in India and Hungary. We have also dedicated significant human resources to serve markets where we anticipate increased adoption of automaticity, including China, India, Brazil and Russia. However, manual transmissions remain the market leader outside North America and there can be no assurance that adoption of automatic transmissions will increase. Factors potentially impacting adoption of automatic transmissions outside of North America include the large existing installed base of manual transmissions, customer preferences for manual transmissions, commercial vehicle OEM vertical integration into manual transmission and AMT manufacturing, increased competition from AMTs, DCTs, electric driving systems, and other alternative transmission technologies and failure to further develop the Allison brand. If the rate of adoption of fully-automatic transmissions does not increase as we have anticipated, our long-term growth prospects and results of operations may be impaired.

Our sales are concentrated among our top five OEM customers and the loss or consolidation of any one of these customers or the discontinuation of particular vehicle models for which we are a significant supplier could reduce our net sales and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We have in the past and may in the future derive a significant portion of our net sales from a relatively limited number of OEM customers. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, our top five customers accounted for approximately 49%, 52% and 52% of our net sales, respectively. Our top three customers, Daimler AG, PACCAR Inc. and Volvo Group, accounted for approximately 20%, 9% and 8%, respectively, of our net sales during 2017. The loss of, or consolidation of, any one of these customers, or a significant decrease in business from, one or more of these customers could harm our business. In addition, the discontinuation of particular vehicle models for which we are a significant supplier could reduce our net sales and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

We may not be successful in introducing our new products and technologies and responding to customer needs.

We currently have new products and technologies under development. The development of new products and technologies is difficult and the timetable for commercial release is uncertain, and we may not be successful in introducing our new products and responding to customer needs. In addition, it often takes significant time, in some cases multiple fleet buy cycles, before customers gain experience with new products and technologies and those new products and technologies become widely-accepted by the market, if at all. If we do not adequately anticipate the changing needs of our customers by developing and introducing new and effective products and technologies on a timely basis, our competitive position and prospects could be harmed. If our competitors are able to respond to changing market demands and adopt new technologies more quickly than we do, demand for our products could decline, our competitive position could be harmed, and we will not be able to recoup a return on our development investments. Moreover, changing customer demands as well as evolving safety and environmental standards could require us to adapt our products and technologies to address such changes. As a result, in the future we may experience delays in the introduction of some or all of our new products or modifications or enhancements of existing products. Furthermore, there may be production delays due to unanticipated technological setbacks, which may, in turn, delay the release of new products to our end users. If we experience significant delays in production, our net sales and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

Our success depends on continued research and development efforts, the outcome of which is uncertain.

Our success depends on our ability to improve the efficiency and performance of our transmissions, and we invest significant resources in research and development in order to do so. Nevertheless, the research and development process is time-consuming and costly, and offers uncertain results. We may not be able through our research and development efforts to keep pace with improvements in transmission-related technology of our competitors, and licenses for technologies that would enable us to keep pace with our competitors may not be available on commercially reasonable terms if at all. Finally, our research and development efforts, and generally our ability to introduce improved products in the marketplace, may be constrained by the patents and other intellectual property rights of competitors and others.

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Our sales to the Defense end market are to government entities and contractors for the U.S. and foreign governments, and the loss of a significant number of our contracts, or budgetary declines or future reductions or changes in spending by the U.S. or foreign governments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our net sales to the Defense end market are derived from contracts (revenue arrangements) with agencies of, and prime system contractors for, the U.S. government and foreign governments. If a significant number of our DOD contracts and subcontracts are simultaneously delayed or cancelled for budgetary, performance or other reasons, it would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Approximately 5%, or $117 million, of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2017 were from our Defense end market.

Our future financial results may be adversely affected by:

Increases in cost, disruption of supply or shortage of raw materials or components used in our products could harm our business and profitability.

Our products contain various raw materials, including corrosion-resistant steel, non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and nickel, and precious metals such as platinum and palladium. We use raw materials directly in manufacturing and in transmission components that we purchase from our suppliers. We generally purchase components with significant raw material content on the open market. The prices for these raw materials fluctuate depending on market conditions. Volatility in the prices of raw materials such as steel, aluminum and nickel could increase the cost of manufacturing our products. We may not be able to pass on these costs to our customers, and this could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Even in the event that increased costs can be passed through to customers, our gross margin percentages would decline. Additionally, our suppliers are also subject to fluctuations in the prices of raw materials and may attempt to pass all or a portion of such increases on to us. In the event they are successful in doing so, our margins would decline.

In 2017, approximately 75% of our total spending on components was sourced from approximately 38 suppliers, some of which are the single source for such components. All of the suppliers from which we purchase materials and components used in our business are fully validated suppliers, meaning the suppliers’ manufacturing processes and inputs have been validated under a production part approval process (“PPAP”). Furthermore, there are only a limited number of suppliers for certain of the materials used in our business, such as corrosion-resistant steel. As a result, our business is subject to the risk of additional price fluctuations and periodic delays in the delivery of our materials or components if supplies from a validated supplier are interrupted and a new supplier, if one is available, must be validated or materials and components must be purchased from a supplier without a completed PPAP, which could increase our risk of purchasing non-conforming components. Any such price fluctuations or delays, if significant, could harm our profitability or operations. In addition, the loss of a supplier could result in significant material cost increases or reduce our production capacity. We also cannot guarantee we will be able to maintain favorable arrangements and relationships with these suppliers. An increase in the cost or a sustained interruption in the supply or shortage of some of these raw materials or components that may be caused by a deterioration of our relationships with suppliers or by events such as natural disasters, power outages, labor strikes, or the like could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. Although we have agreements with many of our customers that we will pass such price increases through to them, such contracts may be canceled by our customers and/or we may not be able to recoup the costs of such price increases. Additionally, if we are unable to continue to purchase our required quantities of raw materials on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, if we are unable to maintain or enter into purchasing contracts for commodities, or if delivery of materials from suppliers is delayed or non-conforming, our operations could be disrupted or our profitability could be adversely impacted.

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Our international operations, in particular our emerging markets, are subject to various risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our business is subject to certain risks associated with doing business internationally, particularly in emerging markets. Outside-North America net sales represented approximately 21% of our net sales for 2017. Most of our operations are in the U.S., but we also have manufacturing and customization facilities in India and Hungary with a services agreement with Opel Szentgotthard Automotive Manufacturing Ltd., formerly GM-PTH, and customization capability in Brazil, The Netherlands, China and Japan. Further, we intend to continue to pursue growth opportunities for our business in a variety of business environments outside the U.S., which could exacerbate the risks set forth below. Our international operations are subject to, without limitation, the following risks:

Any one of these factors could materially adversely affect our sales of products or services to international customers or harm our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our international operations require us to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations of the U.S. government and various international jurisdictions.

Doing business on a worldwide basis requires us and our subsidiaries to comply with the laws and regulations of the U.S. government and various international jurisdictions, and our failure to comply with these rules and regulations may expose us to liabilities. These laws and regulations may apply to companies, individual directors, officers, employees and agents, and may restrict our operations, trade practices investment decisions and partnering activities. In particular, our international operations are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption laws and regulations, such as the FCPA. The FCPA prohibits U.S. companies and their officers, directors, employees and agents acting on their behalf from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to foreign officials for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The FCPA also requires companies to make and keep books, records and accounts that accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets and to maintain a system of adequate internal accounting controls. As part of our business, we deal with state-owned business enterprises, the employees and representatives of which may be considered foreign officials for purposes of the FCPA. In addition, some of the international locations in which we operate lack a developed legal system and have elevated levels of corruption. As a result of the above activities, we are exposed to the risk of violating anti-corruption laws. Violations of these legal requirements are punishable by criminal fines and imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions, debarment from government contracts as well as other remedial measures. We have established policies and procedures designed to assist us and our personnel in complying with applicable U.S. and international laws and regulations. However, our employees, subcontractors and agents could take actions that violate these legal requirements, which could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

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Sales of our electric hybrid-propulsion systems have been, and are expected to continue to be, negatively impacted by external factors, including fuel price trends, regulatory requirements, alternative technologies and governmental entities electing not to subsidize the purchase of such products by end users.

External factors, including diesel and natural gas fuel price trends, emissions and on-board diagnostics regulatory requirements, availability of compatible engine calibrations from engine manufacturers and alternative emerging green technologies, have negatively impacted, and are expected to continue to negatively impact, sales of our electric hybrid-propulsion systems. In addition, the sales of our electric hybrid-propulsion systems for use in transit buses have been, and are expected to continue to be, negatively impacted by governmental entities electing not to subsidize the purchase of such products by end users. In 2017, we derived approximately 3% of our net sales from the sale of electric hybrid-propulsion systems for use in transit buses to city, state and federal governmental end users. Such end users may be eligible to receive certain subsidies as a result of their purchase of vehicles using electric hybrid-propulsion systems. While we do not directly receive these subsidies, if any of the subsidizing entities elect to curtail such subsidies to end users for any reason including governmental budget reductions and related fiscal matters, failure of our electric hybrid technology to qualify for such subsidies or redundancy by alternative technologies created by our competitors, our sales from our electric hybrid-propulsion systems may be negatively impacted. For the year ended December 31, 2017, we experienced an increase in revenue generated from electric hybrid propulsion systems for use in transit buses of 16%. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, we experienced decreases in revenue generated from electric hybrid-propulsion systems for use in transit buses of 16% and 22%, respectively.

Any events that impact our brand name, including if the products we manufacture or distribute are found to be defective, could have an adverse effect on our reputation, cause us to incur significant costs and negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We face exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of our products has, or is alleged to have, resulted in injury, death or other adverse effects. We currently maintain product liability insurance coverage, but we cannot be assured that we will be able to obtain such insurance on acceptable terms in the future, if at all, or that any such insurance will provide adequate coverage against potential claims. Product liability claims can be expensive to defend and can divert the attention of management and other personnel for long periods of time, regardless of the ultimate outcome. An unsuccessful product liability defense could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operation, financial condition or prospects. If one of our products is determined to be defective, we may face substantial warranty costs and may be responsible for significant costs associated with a product recall or a redesign. We have had defect and warranty issues associated with certain of our products in the past, and we cannot give assurance similar product defects will not occur in the future. See NOTE 9 “Product Warranty Liabilities” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details regarding these warranty issues.

Furthermore, our business depends on the strong brand reputation we have developed. In addition to the risk of defective products, we also face significant risks in our efforts to penetrate new markets, where we have limited brand recognition. We also rely on our reputation with end users of our transmissions to specify our transmissions when purchasing new vehicles from our OEM customers. In the event we are not able to maintain or enhance our brand in these new markets or our reputation is damaged in our existing markets as a result of product defects or recalls, we may face difficulty in maintaining our pricing positions with respect to some of our products or experience reduced demand for our products, which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Additionally, we license the “Allison Transmission” name and certain related trademarks to third parties. If any third party uses the trade name “Allison Transmission” in ways that adversely affect such trade name or trademark, our reputation could suffer damage, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our brand and reputation are dependent on the continued participation and level of service of our numerous independent distributors and dealers.

We work with a network of approximately 1,400 independent distributors and dealers that provide post-sale service and parts and support equipment. Because we depend on the pull-through demand generated by end users for our products, any actions by the independent distributors or dealers, which are not in our control, may harm our reputation and damage the brand loyalty among our customer base. In the event that we are not able to maintain our brand reputation because of the actions of our independent distributors and dealers, we may face difficulty in maintaining our pricing positions with respect to some of our products or have reduced demand for our products, which could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if a significant number of independent dealers were to terminate their contracts, it could adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

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We are subject to cybersecurity risks to operational systems, security systems, or infrastructure owned by Allison or third-party vendors or suppliers.

We are at risk for interruptions, outages, and breaches of: (i) operational systems, including business, financial, accounting, product development, data processing, or manufacturing processes, owned by us or our third-party vendors or suppliers; (ii) facility security systems, owned by us or our third-party vendors or suppliers; and/or (iii) transmission control modules or other in-product technology, owned by us or our third-party vendors or suppliers. Such cyber incidents could materially disrupt operational systems; result in loss of intellectual property, trade secrets or other proprietary or competitively sensitive information; compromise personally identifiable information of employees, customers, suppliers, or others; jeopardize the security of our facilities; and/or affect the performance of transmission control modules or other in-product technology. A cyber incident could be caused by malicious third parties using sophisticated, targeted methods to circumvent firewalls, encryption, and other security defenses, including hacking, fraud, trickery, or other forms of deception. The techniques used by third parties change frequently and may be difficult to detect for long periods of time. A significant cyber incident could impact production capability, harm our reputation and/or subject us to regulatory actions or litigation, any of which could materially affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Labor unrest could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

As of December 31, 2017, approximately 59% of our U.S. employees, representing over 50% of our total employees, were represented by the UAW and are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. In December 2017, we reached an agreement on a new six-year collective bargaining agreement with UAW Local 933, which is effective through November 2023.

In addition to our unionized work force, many of our direct and indirect customers and vendors have unionized work forces. Strikes, work stoppages or slowdowns experienced by these customers or vendors or their other suppliers could result in slowdowns or closings of assembly plants that use our products or supply materials for use in the production of our products. Organizations responsible for shipping our products may also be impacted by strikes. Any interruption in the delivery of our products could reduce demand for our products and could have a material adverse effect on us.

In general, we consider our labor relations with all of our employees to be good. However, in the future we may be subject to labor unrest. If strikes, work stoppages or lock-outs at our facilities or at the facilities of our vendors or customers occur or continue for a long period of time, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially adversely affected.

In the event of a catastrophic loss of our key manufacturing facility, our business would be adversely affected.

While we manufacture our products in several facilities and maintain insurance covering our facilities, including business interruption insurance, a catastrophic loss of the use of all or a portion of one of our manufacturing facilities due to accident, labor issues, weather conditions, acts of war, political unrest, terrorist activity, natural disaster or otherwise, whether short- or long-term, would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our most significant concentration of manufacturing is around our corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, where we produce approximately 90% of our transmissions. In addition to our Indianapolis manufacturing facilities, we currently operate manufacturing facilities in both Szentgotthard, Hungary and Chennai, India. In the event of a disruption at the Indianapolis facilities, our other facilities may not be adequately equipped to operate at a level sufficient to compensate for the volume of production at the Indianapolis facility due to their size and the fact that they have not yet been tested for such significant increases in production volume.

We could be materially adversely affected by any failure to maintain cost controls.

We rely on our cost structure and operating discipline to achieve strong operating margins. There are many factors that could affect our ability to realize expected cost savings or achieve future cost savings that we are not able to control, including the need for unexpected significant capital expenditures; unexpected changes in commodity or component pricing, including an increase in export or import tariffs, that we are unable to pass on to our suppliers or customers and our inability to maintain efficiencies gained from our workforce optimization initiatives. Additionally, we have substantial indebtedness of approximately $2,576 million as of December 31, 2017. Our inability to maintain our cost controls could adversely impact our operating margins.

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Many of the key patents and unpatented technology we use in our business are licensed to us, not owned by us, and our ability to use and enforce such patents and technology is restricted by the terms of the license.

Protecting our intellectual property rights is critical to our ability to compete and succeed as a company. GM has granted us an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide license under a large number of U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, as well as certain unpatented technology and know-how, to design, develop, manufacture, use and sell fully-automatic transmissions and H 40/50 EP electric hybrid-propulsion transit bus systems for use in certain vocational vehicles, defense vehicles and off-road products. With respect to the bulk of the intellectual property licensed to us, our license is exclusive with respect to the design, development, manufacture, use and sale of fully-automatic transmissions and H 40/50 EP electric hybrid-propulsion transit bus systems in vocational vehicles above certain weight rating thresholds, certain defense vehicles and certain off-road products. It is non-exclusive with respect to certain other products that are within the scope of the licensed patents or to which the licensed technology can be applied. We consider the patents and technology licensed under such license agreement, as a whole, to be critical to preserving our competitive position in the market. However, GM continues to own such patents and technology, and GM has the right, in the first instance, to control the maintenance, enforcement and defense of such patents and the prosecution of the licensed patent applications. In addition, our ability to sublicense our rights is limited.

We rely on unpatented technology, which exposes us to certain risks.

We currently do, and may continue in the future to, rely on unpatented proprietary technology. In such regard, we cannot be assured that any of our applications for protection of our intellectual property rights will be approved or that others will not infringe or challenge our intellectual property rights. It is possible our competitors will independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to our unpatented technology.

Although we believe the loss or expiration of any single patent would not have a material effect on our business, results of operations or financial position, there can be no assurance that any one, or more, of the patents licensed from GM, or any other intellectual property owned by or licensed to us, will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by third parties. In fact, a number of the patents licensed to us by GM are set to expire in the next few years. When a patent expires, the inventions it discloses can be used freely by others. Thus, the competitive advantage that we gain from the patents licensed to us from GM will decrease over time, and a greater burden will be placed on our own research and development and licensing efforts to develop and otherwise acquire technologies to keep pace with improvements of transmission-related technology in the marketplace. We enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with employees, and into non-disclosure agreements with suppliers and appropriate customers so as to limit access to and disclosure of our proprietary information. We cannot be assured that these measures will provide meaningful protection for our trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information in the event of any unauthorized use, misappropriation or disclosure. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies, our ability to sustain margins on some or all of our products may be affected, which could reduce our sales and profitability. Moreover, the protection provided for our intellectual property by the laws and courts of foreign nations may not be as advantageous to us as the protection available under U.S. law.

Our pension and other post-retirement benefits funding obligations could increase significantly due to a reduction in funded status as a result of a variety of factors.

Our earnings may be positively or negatively impacted by the amount of income or expense recorded for our defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement benefits (“OPEB”). Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) require that income or expense for defined benefit pension plans be calculated at the annual measurement date using actuarial assumptions and calculations. These calculations reflect certain assumptions, the most significant of which relate to the capital markets, interest rates, health care inflation rates and other economic conditions. Changes in key economic indicators can change these assumptions. These assumptions, along with the actual value of assets at the measurement date, will impact the calculation of pension expense for the year. Although GAAP pension expense and pension contributions are not directly related, the key economic indicators that affect GAAP pension expense also affect the amount of cash that we would contribute to our defined benefit pension plans. Because the values of these defined benefit pension plans’ assets have fluctuated and will fluctuate in response to changing market conditions, the amount of gains or losses that will be recognized in subsequent periods, the impact on the funded status of the defined benefit pension plans and the future minimum required contributions, if any, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. The magnitude of such impact cannot be determined with certainty at this time. However, the effect of a one percentage point decrease in the assumed discount rate would result in an increase in the December 31, 2017 defined benefit pension plans obligation of approximately $22 million. Likewise, a one percentage point decrease in the effective interest rate for determining defined benefit pension plans contributions would result in an increase in the minimum required contributions for 2018 of approximately $4 million. Similarly, a one percentage point decrease in the assumed discount rate would result in an increase in the December 31, 2017 OPEB obligation of approximately $15 million. As of December 31, 2017, the funded status of our defined benefit pension plans was $7 million and the unfunded status of our OPEB plan was $102 million.

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Environmental, health and safety laws and regulations may impose significant compliance costs and liabilities on us.

We are subject to many environmental, health and safety laws and regulations governing emissions to air, discharges to water, the generation, handling and disposal of waste and the cleanup of contaminated properties. Compliance with these laws and regulations is costly. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs to maintain or achieve compliance with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Moreover, if these environmental, health and safety laws and regulations become more stringent or expand to include a larger portion of our products or our customer’s products in the future, we could incur additional costs in order to ensure that our business and products comply with such regulations. In addition, we may not be successful in complying with, or the vehicle or customer OEMs to which we sell our products may choose not to comply with, such laws and regulations, which could impact our ability to sell our products in certain locations. Furthermore, if our products that are already placed in service are found to be non-compliant with certain laws, regulations and certifications, we may incur additional costs and fines. We cannot assure we are in full compliance with all environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Our failure to comply with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and permit requirements could result in civil or criminal fines, penalties or enforcement actions, third-party claims for property damage and personal injury, requirements to clean up property or to pay for the costs of cleanup or regulatory or judicial orders enjoining or curtailing operations or requiring corrective measures, including the installation of pollution control equipment or remedial actions. Our failure to comply could also result in our failure to secure adequate insurance for our business, resulting in significant exposure, diminished ability to hedge our risks and material modifications of our business operations.

We may be subject to liability as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act and similar state or foreign laws for contaminated properties that we currently own, lease or operate or that we or our predecessors have previously owned, leased or operated, and sites to which we or our predecessors sent hazardous substances. Such liability may be joint and several so that we may be liable for more than our share of any contamination, and any such liability may be determined without regard to causation or knowledge of contamination. We or our predecessors have been named potentially responsible parties at contaminated sites from time to time.

We manage the remediation of historical soil and groundwater contamination at our Indianapolis, Indiana facilities under an Agreed Order of Consent with the EPA. We recorded approximately $14 million for the estimated undiscounted environmental liabilities to be paid out over 30 years, which will be adjusted periodically as remediation efforts progress or as additional technical, regulatory or legal information becomes available. In the fourth quarter of 2016, we satisfied the financial assurance requirement under the AOC by securing a letter of credit in the amount of $15 million. See Part I, Item 1, “Business — Environmental Compliance” and Part II, Item 8, NOTE 16, “Commitments and Contingencies” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. There can be no assurances that future environmental remediation obligations will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we occasionally evaluate alternatives with respect to our facilities, including possible dispositions or closings. Investigations undertaken in connection with these activities may lead to discoveries of contamination that must be remediated, and closings of facilities may trigger remediation requirements that are not applicable to operating facilities. We may also face lawsuits brought by third parties that either allege property damage or personal injury as a result of, or seek reimbursement for costs associated with, such contamination.

Our business and financial results may be adversely affected by government contracting risks.

We are subject to various laws and regulations applicable to parties doing business with the U.S. government, including laws and regulations governing performance of U.S. government contracts, the use and treatment of U.S. government furnished property and the nature of materials used in our products. We may be unilaterally suspended or barred from conducting business with the U.S. government, or become subject to fines or other sanctions if we are found to have violated such laws or regulations. As a result of the need to comply with these laws and regulations, we are subject to increased risks of governmental investigations, civil fraud actions, criminal prosecutions, whistleblower law suits and other enforcement actions. The laws and regulations to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, Export Administration Regulations, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, International Traffic in Arms Regulations and regulations from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the FCPA.

U.S. government contracts are subject to modification, curtailment or termination by the U.S. government without prior written notice, either for convenience or for default as a result of our failure to perform under the applicable contract. If terminated by the U.S. government as a result of our default, we could be liable for additional costs the U.S. government incurs in acquiring undelivered goods or services from another source and any other damages it suffers. Additionally, we cannot assign prime U.S. government contracts without the prior consent of the U.S. government contracting officer, and we are required to register with the Central Contractor Registration Database. Furthermore, the U.S. government periodically audits our governmental contract costs, which could result in fines, penalties or adjustment of costs and prices under the contracts. The result of, or expiration of the statute of limitations for, such audits could have an impact on reported net income and cash flow from operations.

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Exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

As a result of the expansion of our international operations, currency exchange rate fluctuations could affect our results of operations and financial position. We expect to generate an increasing portion of our net sales and expenses in such foreign currencies as the Japanese Yen, Euro, Indian Rupee, Brazilian Real, Chinese Yuan Renminbi, Canadian Dollar and Hungarian Forint. Although we may enter into foreign exchange agreements with financial institutions in order to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in the value of these and other foreign currencies, these transactions, if entered into, will not eliminate that risk entirely. To the extent that we are unable to match net sales received in foreign currencies with expenses paid in the same currency, exchange rate fluctuations could have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, because our consolidated financial results are reported in U.S. Dollars, if we generate net sales or earnings in other currencies, the conversion of such amounts into U.S. Dollars can result in an increase or decrease in the amount of our net sales or earnings. Furthermore, we sell certain of our products in our non-North American markets denominated in the U.S. Dollar. To the extent that certain of the local currencies in our non-North American markets are relatively weaker than the U.S. Dollar, whether as a result of foreign governments’ influence or otherwise, we could become less price competitive, which could have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations.

An impairment in the carrying value of goodwill, other intangible assets or long-lived assets could negatively affect our consolidated results of operations and net worth.

Pursuant to GAAP, we are required to assess our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets to determine if they are impaired on an annual basis, or more often if events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the useful life and are reviewed for impairment on triggering events such as events or changes in circumstances indicating that an impairment may have occurred. If the testing performed indicates that impairment has occurred, we are required to record a non-cash impairment charge for the difference between the carrying value of the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill or the carrying value of the intangible assets and the fair value of the intangible assets in the period the determination is made. Disruptions to our business, end market conditions, protracted economic weakness and unexpected significant declines in operating results may result in charges for goodwill and other asset impairments.

Our annual goodwill and trade name impairment tests for the year ended December 31, 2017 resulted in no impairment. Although our analysis regarding the fair value of goodwill and trade name indicated that they exceeded their respective carrying values, materially different assumptions regarding the future performance of our business could result in goodwill impairment losses. See NOTE 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and NOTE 5 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

The carrying value of long-lived assets is evaluated whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that would result in an impairment review primarily include a significant change in the use of an asset, a significant change in the projected future cash flows generated by an asset or the planned sale or disposal of an asset. The asset would be considered impaired when there is no future use planned for the asset or the future net undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset or asset group are less than its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds fair value and could have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations.

As a result of events and circumstances in the fourth quarter of 2017, we reviewed certain of our long-lived assets related to the production of the TC10 product, resulting in a $32 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2017. See NOTE 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and NOTE 4 “Property, Plant and Equipment” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

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Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware law might discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or changes in our management and, as a result, depress the trading price of our common stock.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or changes in our management that the stockholders of our company may deem advantageous. These provisions:

These anti-takeover defenses could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of our company that our stockholders may believe to be in their best interests. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for our stockholders to elect directors of their choosing and cause us to take corporate actions other than those they desire.

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Risks Related to Our Indebtedness

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health, restrict our activities and affect our ability to meet our obligations.

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of December 31, 2017, we had total indebtedness of $2,576 million and we would have been able to borrow an additional $533 million, net of $17 million of outstanding letters of credit, under the revolving portion of Allison Transmission Inc.’s (“ATI”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Senior Secured Credit Facility due 2021 (“Revolving Credit Facility”), less $17 million of letters of credit. As of December 31, 2017, we had no outstanding borrowings against the Revolving Credit Facility. At December 31, 2017, $1,176 million of our total indebtedness was associated with ATI’s, Senior Secured Credit Facility Term B-3 Loan due 2022 (“Term B-3 Loan”, and together with the Revolving Credit Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facility”), $1,000 million of our total indebtedness was associated with ATI’s 5.0% Senior Notes due September 2024 (“5.0% Senior Notes”) and $400 million of our total indebtedness was associated with ATI’s 4.75% Senior Notes due October 2027 (“4.75% Senior Notes”). For a complete description of the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the 5.0% Senior Notes and the 4.75% Senior Notes, please see Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences. For example, it could:

In addition, the Revolving Credit Facility contains a maximum total senior secured leverage ratio. The Senior Secured Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 5.0% Senior Notes and the indenture governing the 4.75% Senior Notes also contain other negative and affirmative covenants that will limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our failure to comply with any of the covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our indebtedness.

Our ability to pay regular dividends on our common stock is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and may be limited by our structure and statutory restrictions and restrictions imposed by the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 5.0% Senior Notes and the indenture governing the 4.75% Senior Notes as well as any future agreements.

Our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock beginning in the second quarter of 2012, increased the quarterly dividend to $0.12 per share of common stock beginning in the second quarter of 2013 and increased the quarterly dividend again to $0.15 per share of common stock beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014. However, the payment of future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on, among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements, level of indebtedness, statutory and contractual restrictions applying to the payment of dividends and other considerations that our Board of Directors deems relevant. The Senior Secured Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 5.0% Senior Notes and the indenture governing the 4.75% Senior Notes also effectively limit our ability to pay dividends. As a consequence of these limitations and restrictions, we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce or eliminate, the payment of dividends on our common stock. Accordingly, you may have to sell some or all of your common stock after price appreciation in order to generate cash flow from your investment. You may not receive a gain on your investment when you sell your common stock and you may lose the entire amount of the investment. Additionally, any change in the level of our dividends or the suspension of the payment thereof could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

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To service our indebtedness, we will require a significant amount of cash, and our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.

Our ability to make cash payments on our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate significant operating cash flow in the future. This, to a significant extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

We cannot ensure that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under the Senior Secured Credit Facility in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. In such circumstances, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We cannot ensure that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. If we cannot service our indebtedness, we may have to take actions such as selling assets, seeking additional equity or reducing or delaying capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances. We cannot ensure that any such actions, if necessary, could be effected on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

If we fail to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness or to otherwise comply with the covenants in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we may be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation by our lenders.

If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facility could elect to terminate their commitments thereunder, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to obtain waivers from the required lenders under the Senior Secured Credit Facility to avoid being in default. If we or any of our subsidiaries breach the covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the Senior Secured Credit Facility, the lenders could exercise their rights, as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.

Despite current indebtedness levels, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur additional indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial financial leverage.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur additional indebtedness in the future because the terms of our indebtedness do not fully prohibit us or our subsidiaries from doing so. Subject to covenant compliance and certain conditions, our indebtedness permits additional borrowing, including total borrowing up to $533 million under the Revolving Credit Facility. If new debt is added to our current debt levels and our subsidiaries’ current debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face could intensify.

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None.

Our world headquarters, which we own, is located at One Allison Way, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222. As of December 31, 2017, we have a total of 17 manufacturing and certain other facilities in seven countries. The following table sets forth certain information regarding these facilities.

We believe all our facilities are suitable for their intended purpose, are being efficiently utilized and provide adequate capacity to meet demand for the next several years. The table above does not include sales offices located in various countries.

We are subject to various contingencies, including routine legal proceedings and claims arising out of the normal course of business. These proceedings primarily involve commercial claims, product liability claims, personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims. The outcome of these lawsuits, legal proceedings and claims cannot be predicted with certainty. Nevertheless, we believe the outcome of any of these currently existing proceedings, even if determined adversely, would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. See also NOTE 16, “Commitments and Contingencies” in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Not applicable.

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PART II.

ITEM 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ALSN.” The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices per share for our common stock on the NYSE and the dividends declared per share for each quarter for the periods indicated:

Holders

As of February 2, 2018, there were approximately 46,950 stockholders of record of our common stock, which includes the actual number of holders registered on the books of the Company and holders of shares in “street name” or persons, partnerships, associations, corporations or other entities identified in security position listings maintained by depositories.

Dividends

Our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share each quarter during 2017 and 2016. We expect to continue paying cash dividends on a quarterly basis; however, future dividends are subject to approval of the Board of Directors and may be adjusted as business needs or market conditions change. In addition, our Senior Secured Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 5.0% Senior Notes and the indenture governing the 4.75% Senior Notes restrict the payment of dividends under certain circumstances.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

During the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we did not offer or sell any equity securities that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On November 14, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $1,000 million of our common stock pursuant to a stock repurchase program (“2016 Repurchase Program”). On November 8, 2017, our Board of Directors increased the authorization by $500 million, bringing the total amount authorized under the 2016 Repurchase Program to $1,500 million. The terms of the 2016 Repurchase Program provide that we may repurchase shares of our common stock, from time to time depending on market conditions and corporate needs, in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. Unless earlier terminated by our Board of Directors, the 2016 Repurchase Program will expire on December 31, 2019.

The following table sets forth information related to our repurchase of our common stock on a monthly basis in the three months ended December 31, 2017:

Issuances Under Equity Compensation Plans

For information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, see Part III, Item 12 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Comparative Stock Performance Graph

The information included under the heading “Comparative Stock Performance Graph” in this Item 5 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or subject to Regulation 14A or 14C, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

Set forth below is a graph comparing the total cumulative returns of ALSN, the S&P 500 Index and an index of peer companies selected by us. Our peer group includes Donaldson Company, Inc., Graco Inc., Roper Technologies, Inc., Gentex Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Inc. and Sensata Technologies Holding N.V. The graph assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2012 in our common stock and each of the indices and that all dividends, if any, are reinvested.

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ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth certain financial information for the most recent five years. The following table should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements regarding industry trends, our expectations regarding our future performance, liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed in or implied by the forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, without limitation, those set forth under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and other matters included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the information presented under Part II, Item 6 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

We design and manufacture commercial and defense fully-automatic transmissions. The business was founded in 1915 and has been headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana since inception. Allison was an operating unit of General Motors Corporation from 1929 until 2007, when Allison once again became a stand-alone company. In March 2012, Allison began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol, “ALSN”.

We have approximately 2,700 employees and 13 different transmission product lines. Although approximately 79% of revenues were generated in North America in 2017, we have a global presence by serving customers in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. We serve customers through an independent network of approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide.

Trends Impacting Our Business

Our net sales are driven by commercial vehicle production, which tends to be highly correlated to macroeconomic conditions. During 2018, we expect continued strength in our North American On-Highway end market. We expect demand in the Defense, Outside North America On-Highway and North America Off-Highway end markets to increase, and we expect that demand in the Service Parts, Support Equipment and Other end market will decrease.

Full Year 2017 and 2016 Net Sales by End Market (in millions)

North America On-Highway end market net sales were up 15% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by higher demand for Rugged Duty Series models.

North America Electric Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus end market net sales were up 16% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by the timing of certain transit property orders.

North America Off-Highway end market net sales were up 629% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by higher demand from hydraulic fracturing applications.

Defense end market net sales were up 2% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by higher demand.

Outside North America On-Highway end market net sales were up 13% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by higher demand in Asia, Europe and South America.

Outside North America Off-Highway end market net sales were up 242% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by improved demand in the mining and energy sector.

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Service Parts, Support Equipment and Other end market net sales were up 41% for the year ended December 31, 2017 compared to the year ended December 31, 2016, principally driven by higher demand for North America service parts and global support equipment.

Key Components of our Results of Operations

Net sales

We generate our net sales primarily from the sale of transmissions, transmission parts, support equipment, defense kits, engineering services, royalties and extended transmission coverage to a wide array of OEMs, distributors and the U.S. government. Sales are recorded net of provisions for customer allowances and other rebates. Engineering services are recorded as net sales in accordance with the terms of the contract. The associated costs are recorded in cost of sales. We also have royalty agreements with third parties that provide net sales as a result of joint efforts in developing marketable products.

Cost of sales

Our primary components of cost of sales are purchased parts, the overhead expense related to our manufacturing operations and direct labor associated with the manufacture and assembly of transmissions and parts. For the year ended December 31, 2017, direct material costs were approximately 69%, overhead costs were approximately 25% and direct labor costs were approximately 6% of total cost of sales. We are subject to changes in our cost of sales caused by movements in underlying commodity prices. We seek to hedge against this risk by using commodity swap contracts and LTSAs. See Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Commodity Price Risk” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Selling, general and administrative

The principal components of our selling, general and administrative expenses are salaries and benefits for our office personnel, advertising and promotional expenses, product warranty expense, expenses relating to certain information technology systems and amortization of our intangibles.

Engineering — research and development

We incur costs in connection with research and development programs that are expected to contribute to future earnings. Such costs are expensed as incurred.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA margin to measure our operating profitability. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin provide management, investors and creditors with useful measures of the operational results of our business and increase the period-to-period comparability of our operating profitability and comparability with other companies. Adjusted EBITDA margin is also used in the calculation of management’s incentive compensation program. The most directly comparable GAAP measure to Adjusted EBITDA is Net income. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as the earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation of property, plant and equipment and other adjustments as defined by our Senior Secured Credit Facility. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales.

We use Adjusted free cash flow to evaluate the amount of cash generated by our business that, after the capital investment needed to maintain and grow our business and certain mandatory debt service requirements, can be used for repayment of debt, stockholder distributions and strategic opportunities, including investing in our business and strengthening our balance sheet. We believe that Adjusted free cash flow enhances the understanding of the cash flows of our business for management, investors and creditors. Adjusted free cash flow is also used in the calculation of management’s incentive compensation program. The most directly comparable GAAP measure to Adjusted free cash flow is Net cash provided by operating activities.

The following is a reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin and a reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted free cash flow:

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Results of Operations

The following tables set forth certain financial information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. The following tables and discussion should be read in conjunction with the information contained in our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Comparison of years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

Net sales

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $2,262 million compared to $1,840 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 23%. The increase was principally driven by a $154 million, or 41%, increase in net sales in the Service Parts, Support Equipment and Other end market principally driven by higher demand for North America service parts and global support equipment, a $144 million, or 15%, increase in net sales in the North America On-Highway end market principally driven by higher demand for Rugged Duty Series models, a $44 million increase in net sales in the North America Off-Highway end market principally driven by higher demand from hydraulic fracturing applications, a $39 million, or 13%, increase in net sales in the Outside North America On-Highway end market principally driven by higher demand in Asia, Europe and South America, a $29 million increase in net sales in the Outside North America Off-Highway end market principally driven by improved demand in the mining and energy sectors, a $10 million, or 16%, increase in net sales in the North America Electric Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus end market principally driven by the timing of certain transit property orders and a $2 million, or 2%, increase in net sales in the Defense end market principally driven by higher demand. See “Trends Impacting Our Business” above for additional information on net sales by end market.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $1,131 million compared to $976 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 16%. The increase was principally driven by increased material cost and manufacturing expenses commensurate with increased net sales, $9 million associated with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with UAW Local 933 and $6 million of higher incentive compensation expense.

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Gross profit

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $1,131 million compared to $864 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 31%. The increase was principally driven by $260 million related to increased net sales and $38 million of price increases on certain products, partially offset by $9 million of expenses associated with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement with UAW Local 933, $9 million of higher manufacturing expense commensurate with increased net sales, $6 million of higher incentive compensation expense and $7 million of unfavorable material cost. Gross profit as a percent of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased 3% compared to the same period in 2016 principally driven by favorable sales volume and price increases on certain products, partially offset by expense associated with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement, higher incentive compensation expense and unfavorable material cost.

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $342 million compared to $324 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 6%. The increase was principally driven by increased commercial activities spending, $6 million of higher incentive compensation expense, $5 million of unfavorable product warranty adjustments and $2 million of higher stock-based compensation expense, partially offset by $4 million of stockholder activism expenses in 2016 that did not recur in 2017 and $4 million of favorable DPIM adjustments.

Engineering — research and development

Engineering expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017 were $105 million compared to $88 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 19%. The increase was principally driven by increased product initiatives spending and $3 million of higher incentive compensation expense.

Loss associated with impairment of long-lived assets

During the fourth quarter of 2017, we recorded approximately $32 million of losses associated with impairment of certain of our long-lived assets related to the production of the TC10 transmission. See NOTE 4 “Property, Plant and Equipment” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional details.

Interest expense, net

Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $103 million compared to $101 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, an increase of 2%. The increase was principally driven by $36 million of higher interest expense on ATI’s 5.0% Senior Notes issued in September 2016, $8 million of higher interest expense for our interest rate derivatives that became effective in August 2016, $5 million of interest expense on ATI’s 4.75% Senior Notes issued in September 2017 and $4 million of interest expense on revolving loan balances in 2017, partially offset by $35 million lower interest expense on ATI’s Term B-3 Loan principally due to repayment of $1,200 million of principal in the third quarter of 2016 and $16 million of favorable mark-to-market adjustments for our interest rate derivatives.

Expenses related to long-term debt refinancing

In September 2016, we refinanced our Senior Secured Credit Facility, resulting in expenses of $12 million for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Other (expense) income, net

Other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $22 million compared to other income, net of $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The change was principally driven by a $15 million increase in technology-related investments expense, $5 million of unfavorable vendor settlements in 2017 and $4 million of higher foreign exchange losses on intercompany financing.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $23 million compared to $126 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, resulting in an effective tax rate of 4% and 37% for years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The decrease was a result of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted into law in 2017 and was principally driven by a $157 million decrease in net deferred tax liabilities to reflect the decrease in the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, partially offset by a $5 million increase in tax liabilities related to the deemed repatriation of accumulated foreign earnings and profits.

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Comparison of years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

Net sales

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $1,840 million compared to $1,986 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 7%. The decrease was principally driven by a $97 million, or 9%, decrease in net sales in the North America On-Highway end market driven by lower demand from Rugged Duty Series and Highway Series models partially offset by higher demand for Pupil Transport/Shuttle models, a $48 million, or 87%, decrease in net sales in the North American Off-Highway end market driven by the previously contemplated impact of low energy prices, a $23 million, or 66%, decrease in net sales in the Outside North America Off-Highway end market driven by lower demand in the mining and energy sectors, a $12 million, or 16%, decrease in net sales in the North America Hybrid-Propulsion Systems for Transit Bus end market driven by lower demand due to engine emissions improvements and other alternative technologies, and an $11 million, or 3%, decrease in net sales in the Service Parts, Support Equipment and Other end market driven by lower demand for North America Off-Highway service parts, partially offset by a $43 million, or 16%, increase in net sales in the Outside North America On-Highway end market driven by higher demand in Europe and Japan partially offset by lower demand in China and a $2 million, or 2%, increase in net sales in the Defense end market principally driven by higher demand for Wheeled Defense partially offset by lower demand for Tracked Defense.

Cost of sales

Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $976 million compared to $1,052 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 7%. The decrease was principally driven by $51 million of decreased direct material costs and $22 million of lower manufacturing expense, in each case consistent with historical trends and management’s expectations given the respective change in sales volume, and $10 million of favorable direct material costs, partially offset by $7 million of higher incentive compensation expense.

Gross profit

Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $864 million compared to $934 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 7%. The decrease was principally driven by $98 million related to decreased net sales and $7 million of higher incentive compensation expense, partially offset by $22 million of lower manufacturing expense commensurate with decreased net sales, $10 million of favorable direct material costs and $3 million resulting from price increases on certain products. Gross profit as a percent of net sales was flat for the year compared to 2015 principally driven by favorable direct material costs and price increases on certain products, offset by unfavorable sales volume and higher incentive compensation expense.

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Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $324 million compared to $317 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, an increase of 2%. The increase was principally driven by $15 million of higher incentive compensation expense, $4 million of stockholder activism expenses and $3 million of unfavorable adjustments related to the DPIM extended coverage program, partially offset by $5 million of lower product warranty expense, $5 million of lower intangible asset amortization, $2 million of unfavorable 2015 product warranty adjustments and reduced global commercial spending activities.

Engineering — research and development

Engineering expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $88 million compared to $93 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 4%. The decrease was principally driven by the cadence of certain product initiatives, partially offset by $3 million of higher incentive compensation expense.

Trade name impairment

During the fourth quarter of 2015, we recorded a trade name impairment charge of $80 million as a result of lower forecasted net sales for certain of our end markets. Refer to NOTE 5, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. No trade name impairment charges were recorded in 2016.

Environmental remediation

During the third quarter of 2015, we recorded approximately $14 million for environmental remediation expenses as a result of the EPA determining that GM’s environmental remediation activities at our Indianapolis, Indiana manufacturing facilities were complete, and our assumption of responsibility for future operating, monitoring and maintenance activities. Refer to NOTE 16 “Commitments and Contingencies” in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Loss associated with impairment of long-lived assets

During the first quarter of 2015, we recorded approximately $1 million of losses associated with impairment of certain of our long-lived assets related to the production of the H3000 and H4000 hybrid-propulsion systems.

Interest expense, net

Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $101 million compared to $114 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, a decrease of 12%. The decrease was principally driven by $14 million of favorable mark-to-market adjustments for our interest rate derivatives, $9 million of lower interest expense as a result of the repurchase and redemption of ATI’s 7.125% Senior Notes in the second quarter of 2015, $8 million of lower interest expense on ATI’s Term B-3 Loan due primarily to the repayment of $1,200 million of principal in the third quarter of 2016, and $1 million of lower amortization of deferred financing fees, partially offset by $14 million of interest expense on ATI’s 5.0% Senior Notes issued in September 2016 and $7 million of interest expense for our interest rate derivatives that became effective in August 2016.

Expenses related to long-term debt refinancing

In September 2016, we refinanced our Senior Secured Credit Facility, resulting in expenses of $12 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. In April 2015, we completed a cash tender offer to purchase any and all of the outstanding 7.125% Senior Notes. The tender offer resulted in the repurchase of $421 million of the 7.125% Senior Notes in April 2015. In May 2015, we redeemed the remaining $50 million of the outstanding 7.125% Senior Notes, resulting in premiums and expenses totaling $26 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense), net for the year ended December 31, 2016 was income of $2 million compared to zero for the year ended December 31, 2015. The change was principally driven by $3 million of net gains on derivative contracts and $1 million of lower foreign exchange losses on intercompany financing, partially offset by $1 million of technology-related investment expense and $1 million of miscellaneous expense, net.

Income tax expense

Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $126 million compared to $107 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, resulting in an effective tax rate of 37% for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We generate cash primarily from operations to fund our operating, investing and financing activities. Our principal uses of cash are operating expenses, capital expenditures, debt service, stock repurchases, dividends on common stock and working capital needs. We had total available cash and cash equivalents of $199 million and $205 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Of the available cash and cash equivalents, approximately $149 million and $124 million were deposited in operating accounts while approximately $50 million and $81 million were invested in U.S. government backed securities as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

As of December 31, 2017, the total of cash and cash equivalents held by foreign subsidiaries was $75 million, the majority of which was located in Europe and China. The geographic location of our cash aligns with our business growth strategy. We manage our worldwide cash requirements considering available funds among the subsidiaries through which we conduct our business and the cost effectiveness with which those funds can be accessed. As a result, we do not anticipate that local liquidity restrictions will preclude us from funding our targeted expectations or operating needs with local resources.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had approximately $62 million of undistributed earnings in foreign subsidiaries which were subject to the one-time repatriation tax on foreign earnings required by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”). As a result, we recorded a charge of $5 million for the one-time repatriation tax, to be paid to the U.S. Government over the next eight years. We have not recognized any deferred tax liabilities associated with earnings in foreign subsidiaries, except for our subsidiaries located in China and Hong Kong, as they are intended to be permanently reinvested and used to support foreign operations. We have recorded a deferred tax liability of $2 million for the tax liability associated with the remittance of previously taxed income and unremitted earnings for our subsidiaries located in China and Hong Kong.

Our liquidity requirements are significant, primarily due to our debt service requirements. As of December 31, 2017, we had $1,176 million of indebtedness associated with ATI’s Term B-3 Loan, $1,000 million of indebtedness associated with ATI’s 5.0% Senior Notes and $400 million of indebtedness associated with ATI’s 4.75% Senior Notes. The minimum required quarterly principal payment on ATI’s Term B-3 Loan through its maturity date of September 2022 is $3 million. There are no required quarterly principal payments on ATI’s 5.0% Senior Notes and 4.75% Senior Notes.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that may be beyond our control. We made net principal payments of $427 million, $215 million and $117 million on our Senior Secured Credit Facility during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Senior Secured Credit Facility provides for a $550 million Revolving Credit Facility, net of an allowance for up to $75 million in outstanding letters of credit commitments. Throughout the year ended December 31, 2017, we made periodic withdrawals and payments on the Revolving Credit Facility as part of our debt management plans. The maximum amount outstanding at any time during the year ended December 31, 2017 on the Revolving Credit Facility was $300 million. The Revolving Credit Facility was not utilized during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. As of December 31, 2017, we had $533 million available under the Revolving Credit Facility, net of $17 million in letters of credit. As of December 31, 2017, we had no revolving loans outstanding. If we have revolving loan commitments outstanding on the Revolving Credit Facility at the end of a fiscal quarter, the Senior Secured Credit Facility requires us to maintain a specified maximum total senior secured leverage ratio of 5.50x. Additionally, within the terms of the Senior Secured Credit Facility, a senior secured leverage ratio at or below 4.00x results in the elimination of excess cash flow payments on the Senior Secured Credit Facility for the applicable year. As of December 31, 2017, the senior secured leverage ratio was 1.13x. The Senior Secured Credit Facility also provides certain financial incentives based on our total leverage ratio. A total leverage ratio at or below 4.00x results in a 25 basis point reduction to the applicable margin on our Revolving Credit Facility, and a total leverage ratio at or below 3.50x results in a 12.5 basis point reduction to the Revolving Credit Facility commitment fee and an additional 25 basis point reduction to the applicable margin on our Revolving Credit Facility. These reductions would remain in effect as long as we achieve a total leverage ratio at or below the related threshold. As of December 31, 2017, our total leverage ratio was 2.74x.

In addition, the Senior Secured Credit Facility includes, among other things, customary restrictions (subject to certain exceptions) on our ability to incur certain indebtedness, grant certain liens, make certain investments, declare or pay certain dividends, or repurchase shares of our common stock. The indentures governing the 5.0% Senior Notes and 4.75% Senior Notes contain negative covenants restricting or limiting our ability to, among other things, incur or guarantee additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends on, redeem or repurchase our capital stock, make certain investments, permit payment or dividend restrictions on certain of our subsidiaries, sell assets, engage in certain transactions with affiliates, and consolidate or merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets. As of December 31, 2017, we are in compliance with all covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facility and indentures governing the 5.0% Senior Notes and 4.75% Senior Notes.

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Our credit ratings are reviewed by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”). In September 2017, our credit ratings were reviewed by Moody’s and Fitch. Moody’s held our corporate rating at ‘Ba2’ and our 5.0% Senior Notes rating at ‘Ba3’, upgraded our Term B-3 Loan rating to ‘Baa3’, and assigned ‘Ba3’ to the 4.75% Senior Notes. Fitch held our corporate rating at ‘BB’, our Term B-3 Loan rating at ‘BB+’, and our 5.0% Senior Notes rating at ‘BB’ and assigned ‘BB’ to the 4.75% Senior Notes.

On November 14, 2016, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $1,000 million of our common stock pursuant to the 2016 Repurchase Program. On November 8, 2017, our Board of Directors increased the authorization by $500 million, bringing the total amount authorized under the 2016 Repurchase Program to $1,500 million. During 2017, we repurchased approximately $885 million of our common stock under the 2016 Repurchase Program. All of the repurchase transactions during 2017 were settled in cash during the same period. As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately $554 million available under the 2016 Repurchase Program.

The following table shows our sources and uses of funds for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in millions):

Generally, cash provided by operating activities has been adequate to fund our operations. Due to fluctuations in our cash flows and the growth in our operations, it may be necessary from time to time in the future to borrow under the Senior Secured Credit Facility to meet cash demands. We anticipate cash provided by operating activities, cash and cash equivalents and borrowing capacity under the Senior Secured Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements for the next twelve months.

Cash provided by operating activities

Operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 generated $658 million of cash compared to $591 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was principally driven by increased gross profit, higher sales allowances and higher deferred revenue, partially offset by increased cash income taxes, higher inventories, increased cash interest expense, increased pension funding payments and increased incentive compensation payments.

Operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 generated $591 million of cash compared to $580 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was principally driven by higher accounts payable, lower inventories, lower incentive compensation payments, decreased excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation, lower interest paid as a result of debt repayments and refinancing, lower manufacturing expense, favorable direct material costs and higher other liabilities, net, partially offset by decreased net sales and higher accounts receivable.

Cash used for investing activities

Investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 used $94 million of cash compared to $72 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was principally driven by an increase of $20 million in capital expenditures and an increase of $2 million in technology-related initiatives. The increase in capital expenditures was principally driven by spending related to investments in productivity and replacement programs and higher product initiatives spending.

Investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 used $72 million of cash compared to $60 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was principally driven by an increase of $13 million in capital expenditures. The increase in capital expenditures was principally driven by spending related to investments in productivity and replacement programs and higher product initiatives spending.

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Cash used for financing activities

Financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 used $574 million of cash compared to $564 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. The increase was principally driven by $629 million of increased repurchases of common stock, $6 million of 2016 excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation and $5 million of decreased proceeds from common stock issuance in connection with stock option exercises, partially offset by $603 million of increased net debt borrowings, $15 million of lower debt financing fees and $11 million of decreased dividend payments.

Financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 used $564 million of cash compared to $529 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase was principally driven by $78 million of increased payments, net on long-term debt, $12 million of increased debt financing fees associated with the issuance of the 5.0% Senior Notes and the amendments to the Senior Secured Credit Facility in the third quarter of 2016, and $2 million of decreased excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation, partially offset by $50 million of lower stock repurchases, $5 million of decreased dividend payments, and $1 million of increased proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Contractual Obligations, Contingent Liabilities and Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017 (dollars in millions):

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Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Accounting Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of some assets and liabilities and, in some instances, the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the applicable reporting period. Differences between actual amounts and estimates are recorded in the period identified. Estimates can require a significant amount of judgment, and a different set of judgments could result in changes to our reported results. A summary of our critical accounting estimates is included below.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue recognition contains uncertainties because it requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to estimate the amount of sales incentives and provision for government price reductions. Distributor and customer sales incentives, consisting of allowances and other rebates, are estimated at the time of sale based upon history and experience and are recorded as a reduction to net sales. Incentive programs are generally product specific or region specific. Some factors used in estimating the cost of incentives include the number of transmissions that will be affected by the incentive program and the rate of acceptance of any incentive program. If the actual number of affected transmissions differs from this estimate, or if a different mix of incentives is actually paid, the impact on net sales would be recorded in the period that the change was identified. Assuming our current mix of sales incentives, a 10% change in sales incentives would have affected our earnings by approximately $5 million to $7 million per year for each of the prior three fiscal years.

Under terms of certain previous U.S. government contracts, there were price reduction clauses and provisions for potential price reductions which are estimated at the time of sale based upon history and experience, and finalized after completion of U.S. government audits. Potential reductions may be attributed to a change in projected sales volumes or plant efficiencies which impact overall costs. Given our current price reduction reserve for government contracts, a 10% adjustment in our price reduction reserve would have affected our earnings by approximately $6 million per year for each of the prior three fiscal years. Beginning in 2014, all of our contracts with the U.S. government are firm fixed price contracts, which do not contain price reduction clauses and provisions.

Further information is provided in NOTE 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level, which is the same as our one operating and reportable segment. We do not aggregate any components into our reporting unit. We have elected to perform our annual impairment test on October 31 of every year. A multi-step impairment test is performed on goodwill. In Step 0, we have the option to evaluate various qualitative factors to determine the likelihood of impairment. If we determine that the fair value is more likely than not less than the carrying value, then we are required to perform Step 1. If we do not elect to perform Step 0, we can voluntarily proceed directly to Step 1. In Step 1, we perform a quantitative analysis to compare the fair value of our reporting unit to our carrying value including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not considered impaired, and we are not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its carrying value of net assets, then we would record an impairment loss equal to the difference.

A qualitative assessment contains uncertainties because it requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment to assess business changes, economic outlook, financial trends and forecasts, growth rates, credit ratings, equity ratings, discount rates, industry data and other relevant qualitative factors.

A quantitative analysis contains uncertainties because it is performed utilizing a discounted cash flow model which includes key assumptions, such as net sales growth derived from market information, industry reports, marketing programs and future new product introductions; operating margin improvements derived from cost reduction programs and fixed cost leverage driven by higher sales volumes; and a risk-adjusted discount rate.

Events or circumstances that could unfavorably impact the key assumptions include lower net sales driven by market conditions, our inability to execute on marketing programs and/or a delay in the introduction of new products, lower gross margins as a result of market conditions or failure to obtain forecasted cost reductions, or a higher discount rate as a result of market conditions.

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Goodwill impairment testing for 2017 was performed using the Step 0 analysis by assessing certain qualitative trends and factors. These trends and factors were compared to, and based on, the assumptions used in prior years. After reviewing the various qualitative factors mentioned above, our 2017 annual goodwill impairment test indicated that the fair value of the reporting unit more likely than not exceeded its carrying value, indicating no impairment.

Other intangible assets have both indefinite and finite useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested annually for impairment. We have elected to perform our annual trade name impairment test on October 31 of every year and follow a similar multi-step impairment test that is performed on goodwill. While unpredictable and inherently uncertain, we believe the forecast estimates are reasonable and incorporate those assumptions that similar market participants would use in their estimates of fair value. After reviewing the various qualitative factors mentioned above, our annual 2017 trade name impairment test, as of October 31, 2017, indicated that the fair value of our trade name more likely than not exceeded the respective carrying value, indicating no impairment.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment when circumstances change that would create a triggering event. Assumptions and estimates about future values and remaining useful lives of our intangible and other long-lived assets are complex and subjective. They can be affected by a variety of factors, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors, such as changes in our business strategy and internal forecasts. Although management believes the historical assumptions and estimates are reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported financial results. Further information is provided in NOTE 2 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and NOTE 5 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The carrying value of long-lived assets is evaluated whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. Events or circumstances that would result in an impairment review primarily include a significant change in the use of an asset, or the planned sale or disposal of an asset. The asset would be considered impaired when there is no future use planned for the asset or the future net undiscounted cash flows generated by the asset or asset group are less than its carrying value. An impairment loss would be recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds fair value.

Assumptions and estimates used to determine cash flows in the evaluation of impairment and the fair values used to determine the impairment are subject to a degree of judgment and complexity. Any changes to the assumptions and estimates resulting from changes in actual results or market conditions from those anticipated may affect the carrying value of long-lived assets and could result in an impairment charge. As a result of events and circumstances in the fourth quarter of 2017, we reviewed certain of our long-lived assets related to the production of the TC10 product. We completed a test for recoverability using the undiscounted cash flows of the TC10 product line. Due to continued weak demand conditions for the TC10 product, the future undiscounted cash flows of the related assets were less than the carrying value of those assets. We used a market approach to determine the fair value of the assets, resulting in a $32 million loss for the year ended December 31, 2017. There were no impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2016.

As a result of events and circumstances in the first quarter of 2015, we reviewed certain of our long-lived assets related to the production of the H3000 and H4000 electric hybrid-propulsion systems, resulting in a $1 million loss recorded for the year ended December 31, 2015. Deteriorating market conditions for hybrid-propulsion vehicles, principally as a result of decreased fuel costs, alternative fuels and other technologies, significantly contributed to the future cash flows of the related assets being less than the carrying value of those assets.

Warranty

Provisions for estimated expenses related to product warranties are made at the time products are sold. Warranty claims arise when a transmission fails while in service during the relevant warranty period. The warranty reserve is adjusted in Selling, general and administrative based on our current and historical warranty claims paid and associated repair costs. These estimates are established using historical information including the nature, frequency, and average cost of warranty claims and are adjusted as actual information becomes available. From time to time, we may initiate a specific field action program. As a result of the uncertainty surrounding the nature and frequency of specific field action programs, the liability for such programs is recorded when we commit to an action. We review and assess the liability for these programs on a quarterly basis. We also assess our ability to recover certain costs from our suppliers and record a receivable from the supplier when we believe a recovery is probable. Warranty costs may differ from those estimated if actual claim rates are higher or lower than our historical rates. Further information is provided in NOTE 9 “Product Warranty Liabilities” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K which contains a summary of the activity in our warranty liability account for 2017, 2016 and 2015 including adjustments to pre-existing warranties.

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Pension and Post-retirement Benefit Plans

Pension and OPEB costs are based upon various actuarial assumptions and methodologies as prescribed by authoritative accounting guidance. These assumptions include discount rates, expected return on plan assets, health care cost trend rates, inflation, rate of compensation increases, population demographics, mortality rates and other factors. We review all actuarial assumptions on an annual basis.

A change in the discount rate can have a significant impact on determining our benefit obligations. Our current discount rate is determined by matching the plans’ projected cash flows to a yield curve based on long-term, fixed income debt instruments available as of the measurement date of December 31, 2017. The effect of a one percentage point decrease in the assumed discount rate would result in an increase in the December 31, 2017 defined benefit pension plans obligation of approximately $22 million. Similarly, a one percentage point decrease in the assumed discount rate would result in an increase in the December 31, 2017 OPEB obligation of approximately $15 million.

Further information is provided in NOTE 13 “Employee Benefit Plans” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which contains our review on various actuarial assumptions.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The future tax benefits associated with operating loss and tax credit carryforwards are recognized as deferred tax assets. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted into law. The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code that impact the Company, most notably a reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. The Tax Act also makes other changes including, but not limited to, the acceleration of depreciation for certain assets placed into service after September 27, 2017 as well as a one-time deemed repatriation tax on undistributed foreign earnings and profits. Beginning in 2018, the Tax Act makes other changes impacting us such as additional limitations on executive compensation, the repeal of the domestic manufacturing deduction and qualifications around certain research and development expenditures.

As of December 31, 2017, our U.S. federal income tax deductions related to our intangible assets were approximately $315 million annually through 2021 and approximately $185 million in 2022. Excluding our intangible asset deductions, our expected tax payments would have increased by approximately $110 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The need to establish a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on a more-likely-than-not realization threshold, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative accounting guidance on income taxes. Appropriate consideration is given to all positive and negative evidence related to that realization. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, and experience with tax attributes expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. The weight given to these considerations depends upon the degree to which they can be objectively verified.

Further information on income taxes is provided in NOTE 14 “Income Taxes” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to NOTE 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Our exposure to market risk consists of changes in interest rates, foreign currency rate fluctuations and movements in commodity prices.

Interest Rate Risk

We are subject to interest rate market risk in connection with a portion of our long-term debt. Our principal interest rate exposure relates to outstanding amounts under our Senior Secured Credit Facility. Our Senior Secured Credit Facility provides for variable rate borrowings of up to $1,709 million including $533 million under our Revolving Credit Facility, net of $17 million of letters of credit. A one-eighth percent increase or decrease in assumed interest rates for the Senior Secured Credit Facility, if fully drawn as of December 31, 2017, would have an impact of approximately $2 million on interest expense. As of December 31, 2017, we had no outstanding borrowings against the Revolving Credit Facility.

During December 2017, we terminated interest rate swap contracts with notional values totaling $800 million. The transaction resulted in $13 million of interest expense. As of December 31, 2017, we are not party to any interest rate swaps.

Refer to NOTE 7 “Debt” and NOTE 8 “Derivatives” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Exchange Rate Risk

While our net sales and costs are denominated primarily in U.S. Dollars, net sales, costs, assets and liabilities are generated in other currencies including Japanese Yen, Euro, Indian Rupee, Brazilian Real, Chinese Yuan Renminbi, Canadian Dollar and Hungarian Forint. The expansion of our business outside North America may further increase the risk that cash flows resulting from these activities may be adversely affected by changes in currency exchange rates.

Assuming current levels of foreign currency transactions, a 10% aggregate increase or decrease in the Japanese Yen, Euro, Indian Rupee and Chinese Yuan Renminbi would correspondingly change our earnings, net of tax, by an estimated $5 million per year. We believe other exposure to foreign currencies is immaterial.

Commodity Price Risk

We are subject to changes in our cost of sales caused by movements in underlying commodity prices. Approximately two-thirds of our cost of sales consists of purchased components with significant raw material content. A substantial portion of the purchased parts are made of aluminum and steel. The cost of aluminum parts includes an adjustment factor on future purchases for fluctuations in aluminum prices based on accepted industry indices. In addition, a substantial amount of steel-based contracts also include an index-based component. As our costs change, we are able to pass through a portion of the changes in commodity prices to certain of our customers according to our LTSAs. We historically have not entered into long-term purchase contracts related to the purchase of aluminum and steel. Assuming current levels of commodity purchases, a 10% increase or decrease in the price of aluminum and steel would correspondingly change our earnings by approximately $2 million and $5 million per year, respectively.

Many of our LTSAs have incorporated a cost-sharing arrangement related to potential future commodity price fluctuations. For purposes of the sensitivity analysis above, the impact of these cost sharing arrangements has not been included.

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ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, 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, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017 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, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

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 Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. 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 assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process 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. A 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 generally accepted accounting

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principles, 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.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Indianapolis, Indiana

February 15, 2018

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008.

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Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(dollars in millions, except share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

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Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(dollars in millions)