☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (404) 760-4000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ¨

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 has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.  ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE: None

(1)This represents the average of the 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time buying rates on the last day of each month during the period.

•hot mills — which require sheet ingot, a rectangular slab of aluminum, as starter material; and

•continuous casting mills — which can convert molten metal directly into semi-finished sheet.

Packaging. Aluminum is used in beverage cans and bottles, food cans, beverage screw caps, and foil, among others. Packaging is the largest aluminum rolled products application, according to market data from Commodity Research Unit International Limited, an independent business analysis and consultancy group. Beverage cans are one of the largest aluminum rolled products applications. Aluminum remains the most sustainable packaging material for beverage brands. In addition to their recyclability, aluminum beverage cans offer advantages in fabricating efficiency and product shelf life. Fabricators are able to produce and fill beverage cans at very high speeds, and non-porous aluminum cans provide longer shelf life than glass or polyethylene terephthalate plastic containers. Additionally, the use of aluminum to package beverages such as craft beer is increasing, as aluminum blocks sunlight and therefore maintains the quality and taste of the product longer. Aluminum cans are light, stackable and use space efficiently, making them convenient and cost-efficient to ship.

Transportation. Aluminum rolled products are used in vehicle structures (also known as "body-in-white") as well as automotive body panel applications, including hoods, doors, deck lids, fenders, and lift gates. Flat-rolled aluminum sheet is also used in the production of battery enclosures for the growing electric vehicle market. These uses typically result from cooperative efforts between aluminum rolled products manufacturers and their customers that yield solutions for specific requirements in alloy selection, fabrication procedure, surface quality and joining. There has been recent growth in certain geographic markets in passenger and commercial vehicle applications due to the lighter weight, better fuel economy and improved emissions performance associated with these applications. We expect increased growth in this end-use market driven by the increased adoption of electric vehicles, which use higher amounts of aluminum, as well as government regulations requiring improved emissions and better fuel economy for internal combustion engine vehicles, while also maintaining or improving vehicle performance and safety.

Architectural. Construction is the largest application within this end-use market. Aluminum rolled products developed for the construction industry are often decorative and non-flammable, offer insulating properties, are durable and corrosion resistant, and have a high strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum siding, gutters, and downspouts comprise a significant amount of construction volume. Other applications include doors, windows, awnings, canopies, facades, roofs, and ceilings.

Industrial. Industrial applications include heat exchangers, process and electrical machinery, lighting fixtures, furniture, and insulation.

Consumer Durables and Other. Aluminum's lightweight characteristics, high formability, ability to conduct electricity and dissipate heat and its corrosion resistance makes it useful in a wide variety of electronic applications. Uses of aluminum rolled products in electronics include flat screen televisions, personal computers, laptops, and mobile devices. Other uses of aluminum rolled products in consumer durables include microwaves, coffee makers, air conditioners, and cooking utensils.

Production Capacity and Alternative Technology. The addition of rolling capacity requires large capital investments and significant plant construction or expansion, and typically requires long lead-time equipment orders. Advances in technological capabilities allow aluminum rolled products producers to better align product portfolios and supply with industry demand. There are lower cost ways to enter the industry such as continuous casting, which offers the ability to increase capacity in smaller increments than is possible with hot mill additions. However, the continuous casting process results in a more limited range of products.

Trade. Some trade flows occur between regions despite shipping costs, import duties, tariffs, and the lack of localized customer support. Higher value-added products are more likely to be traded internationally, especially if demand in certain markets exceeds local supply. With respect to less technically demanding applications, emerging markets with low cost inputs may export commodity aluminum rolled products to larger, more mature markets as we have seen with China.

Economic Growth. We believe that economic growth is a significant driver of aluminum rolled products demand. In mature markets, growth in demand has typically correlated closely with industrial production growth. In many emerging markets, growth in demand typically exceeds industrial production growth largely because of expanding infrastructures, capital investments and rising incomes that often accompany economic growth in these markets.

Substitution Trends. Manufacturers' willingness to substitute other materials for aluminum in their products and competition from substitution materials suppliers also affect demand. There has been a strong substitution trend toward aluminum in the use of vehicles as automobile manufacturers look for ways to meet fuel efficiency regulations; improve performance; reduce carbon emissions in a cost-efficient manner; and lower vehicle weight, particularly in electric vehicles. As a result of aluminum's durability, strength and light weight, automobile manufacturers are substituting heavier alternatives, such as steel and iron, with aluminum. Carbon fiber and plastics are other lightweight material options, but their relatively high cost and limited end-of-life recyclability reduce their competitiveness as widespread material substitutes today. Consequently, demand for flat-rolled aluminum products has increased. We also see strong substitution trends toward aluminum in the beverage can market. With aluminum being the most sustainable packaging material for beverages, demand for infinitely recyclable aluminum remains strong. Package mix shift from other materials like glass, steel and polyethylene terephthalate into aluminum, and new beverage introductions – such as energy drinks, canned cocktails, spiked seltzer, and sparkling waters – all support demand levels.

Seasonality. During our third fiscal quarter, we typically experience seasonal slowdowns resulting in lower shipment volumes, although this has been less significant as our product portfolio shifts and diversifies. This is a result of declines in overall production output due primarily to holidays and cooler weather in North America and Europe, our two largest operating regions. We also experience downtime at our mills and customers' mills due to scheduled plant maintenance and are impacted to a lesser extent by the seasonal downturn in construction activity.

Sustainability. Growing awareness of environmentalism and demand for recyclable products has increased the demand for aluminum rolled products, particularly increased consumer preference for more sustainable beverage packaging options. Unlike other commonly recycled materials such as paper or polyethylene terephthalate plastic, aluminum can be infinitely recycled without affecting the quality of the product. Additionally, the recycling process uses approximately 95% less energy than is required to produce primary aluminum from mining and smelting, with an approximate equivalent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below and elsewhere in this Form 10-K, particularly in Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Market Data and Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors.

For a discussion of recent commitments and expenditures, see Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The input materials we use in manufacturing include primary aluminum, recycled aluminum, sheet ingot, alloying elements, and grain refiners. These raw materials are generally available from several sources and are not generally subject to supply constraints in normal market conditions. We also consume considerable amounts of energy in the operation of our facilities. For a discussion of current inflation and supply chain impacts on our materials, see Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Primary Aluminum Sourcing. We purchased or tolled approximately 1,625 kt of primary aluminum in fiscal 2022 in the form of sheet ingot, standard ingot, and molten metal.

Aluminum Products Recycling. We operate facilities in several plants to recycle post-consumer aluminum, such as UBCs collected through recycling programs. In addition, we have agreements with several of our large customers to have a closed-looped system whereby we take production scrap material from their fabricating activity and re-melt, cast, and roll it to re-supply these customers with aluminum sheet. Other sources of recycled material include lithographic plates and products with longer lifespans, like vehicles and buildings, which are starting to become high-volume sources of recycled material. We purchased or tolled approximately 2,214 kt of recycled content in fiscal 2022.

The table below shows net sales and total shipments by segment. For additional financial information related to our operating segments, see Note 23 – Segment, Geographical Area, Major Customer and Major Supplier Information to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.

(1)Net sales and total shipments by segment include intersegment sales and the results of our affiliates on a proportionately consolidated basis, which is consistent with the way we manage our business segments.

Certain financial information about geographic areas is contained in Note 23 – Segment, Geographical Area, Major Customer and Major Supplier Information to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Additional information related to our top customers is contained in Note 23 – Segment, Geographical Area, Major Customer and Major Supplier Information to our accompanying consolidated financial statements.

The table below summarizes our R&D expenses, which include mini-scale production lines equipped with hot mills, can lines, and continuous casters. 

Human Capital Resources

(1)Includes employees within our Corporate headquarters located in Atlanta, Georgia, and our R&D facility located in Kennesaw, Georgia.

•Global Accelerated Leadership Program – Designed to develop talent for possible future leadership roles.

•Global Technical Training – High-impact technical training topics, relevant for entry-level or mid-career technical employees.

•Engineering Development Program – Technical talent pipeline enhancer that exposes participants to leaders from across the organization and includes courses on a wide-variety of technical and business subjects.

•increases in costs of natural gas;

•increases in costs of supplied electricity;

•increases in fuel oil related to transportation;

•prices affected by regional markets, governmental regulations, and taxes;

•interruptions in energy supply due to equipment failure or other causes; and

•the inability to extend energy supply contracts upon expiration on favorable terms.

•incur additional debt and provide additional guarantees;

•pay dividends and make other restricted payments, including certain investments;

•create or permit certain liens;

•make certain asset sales;

•use the proceeds from the sales of assets and subsidiary stock;

•create or permit restrictions on the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us;

•engage in certain transactions with affiliates;

•make certain acquisitions;

•enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and

•consolidate, merge, or transfer all or substantially all of our assets or the assets of our restricted subsidiaries.

See Note 13 – Debt for additional discussion.

In November 2019, ALVANCE agreed to acquire Duffel for €310 million. At closing on September 30, 2020, we received €210 million ($246 million as of September 30, 2020) in cash. The parties have agreed to a post-closing arbitration process regarding the payment of the remaining €100 million. There is no assurance as to when we expect the post-closing arbitration process to conclude and whether we will receive any of the remaining €100 million payment. See Note 3 – Discontinued Operations for additional discussion.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Item 2. Properties.

North America