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Contingencies and Commitments
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies and Commitments Contingencies and Commitments
Contingencies
Environmental Matters. Howmet participates in environmental assessments and cleanups at more than 30 locations. These include owned or operating facilities and adjoining properties, previously owned or operated facilities and adjoining properties, and waste sites, including Superfund (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”)) sites.
A liability is recorded for environmental remediation when a cleanup program becomes probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. As assessments and cleanups proceed, the liability is adjusted based on progress made in determining the extent of remedial actions and related costs. The liability can change substantially due to factors such as the nature and extent of contamination, changes in remedial requirements, and technological changes, among others.
The Company's remediation reserve balance was $15 and $10 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (of which $6 and $5, respectively, were classified as a current liability), and reflects the most probable costs to remediate identified environmental conditions for which costs can be reasonably estimated. The increase in 2021 is primarily associated with site monitoring costs at previously owned properties in California, which will determine if any additional remediation is required. Payments related to remediation expenses applied against the reserve were $2 in each of 2021 and 2020, and included expenditures currently mandated, as well as those not required by any regulatory authority or third party.
Included in annual operating expenses are the recurring costs of managing hazardous substances and environmental programs. These costs are estimated to be less than 1% of Cost of goods sold.
Tax. As previously reported, in July 2013, following a Spanish corporate income tax audit covering the 2006 through 2009 tax years, an assessment was received mainly disallowing certain interest deductions claimed by a Spanish consolidated tax group owned by the Company. The Company appealed this assessment to Spain's Central Tax Administrative Court, and subsequently to Spain's National Court, each of which was denied.
The Company then appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Spain. In November 2020, the Supreme Court of Spain rendered a decision in favor of the taxpayer, removing the assessment in its entirety. The decision is final and cannot be further appealed.
As a result of the favorable decision, in the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company released an income tax reserve, including interest, of $64 (€54), which was recorded in Provision (benefit) for income taxes in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, that was previously established in the third quarter of 2018. In addition, the Company reversed a combined indemnification receivable of $53 (€45) for Alcoa Corporation's 49% share and Arconic Corporation's 33.66% share of the total reserve, which was recorded in Other expense, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations, that were previously established pursuant to the October 31, 2016 and March 31, 2020 Tax Matters Agreements, respectively. As of the end of 2020, the Company no longer has a balance recorded for this matter.
Indemnified Matters. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated October 31, 2016, entered into between the Company and Alcoa Corporation in connection with the Alcoa Inc. Separation Transaction, provides for cross-indemnities between the Company and Alcoa Corporation for claims subject to indemnification. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated March 31, 2020, entered into between the Company and Arconic Corporation in connection with the Arconic Inc. Separation Transaction, provides for cross-indemnities between the Company and Arconic Corporation for claims subject to indemnification. Among other claims that are covered by these indemnities, Arconic Corporation indemnifies the Company (f/k/a Arconic Inc. and f/k/a Alcoa Inc.) for all potential liabilities associated with the fire that occurred at the Grenfell Tower in London, U.K. on June 14, 2017 (“Grenfell Fire”), including the following:
(i) Regulatory Investigations. Arconic Architectural Products SAS ("AAP SAS") (now a subsidiary of Arconic Corporation) supplied Reynobond PE to its customer who used the product as one component of the overall cladding system on Grenfell Tower. Regulatory Investigations into the overall Grenfell Fire are being conducted, including a criminal investigation by the London Metropolitan Police Service and a Public Inquiry by the British government (regarding which AAP SAS is a participant). (ii) United Kingdom Litigation. On December 23, 2020, survivors and estates of decedents of the Grenfell Fire filed suit against 23 defendants, including the Company. No substantive allegations or requests for relief have been provided. The suits are stayed with a conference to be held after April 4, 2022. (iii) Behrens et al. v. Arconic Inc. et al. (United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania). On June 6, 2019, 247 survivors and estates of decedents of the Grenfell
Fire filed a complaint against Arconic Inc., Alcoa Inc. and Arconic Architectural Products, LLC (now a subsidiary of Arconic Corporation), among others, for product liability and wrongful death. Plaintiffs seek monetary damages exceeding $75,000 (amount not in millions) for each plaintiff. On September 16, 2020, the court dismissed the U.S. case, determining that the U.K. is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Plaintiffs are appealing. (iv) Howard v. Arconic Inc. et al. (United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania). In 2017, two purported class actions were filed against Arconic Inc., Klaus Kleinfeld and other former Arconic Inc. executives and directors, and certain banks. The actions, which later were consolidated, allege violations of the federal securities laws relating to the Grenfell Fire. On June 23, 2021, the court ruled that certain claims related to a particular registration statement, other SEC filings, product brochures and websites can proceed and dismissed all other claims with prejudice. A status conference was held before the court on January 11, 2022 during which the court heard argument from both parties on the pending motion for certification of an interlocutory appeal. The motion remains pending. (v) Raul v. Albaugh, et al. (United States District Court for the District of Delaware). On June 22, 2018, a derivative complaint was filed nominally on behalf of Arconic Inc. by a purported Arconic Inc. stockholder against the then members of Arconic Inc.’s Board of Directors, Klaus Kleinfeld and Ken Giacobbe, naming Arconic Inc. as a nominal defendant. The complaint asserts claims under federal securities laws, most of which are similar to those in Howard, claims under Delaware state law for breaches of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement and abuse of control, as well as allegations that the defendants improperly authorized the sale of Reynobond PE for unsafe uses. The case has been stayed until the final resolution of the Howard case and the Regulatory Investigations. (vi) Stockholder Demands. Following the Grenfell Fire, the then Arconic Inc. Board of Directors (the “Board”) received letters, purportedly sent on behalf of stockholders, reciting allegations similar to the Howard and Raul cases and demanding that the Board authorize Arconic Inc. to initiate litigation against members of management, the Board and others. On May 28, 2019, the Board adopted the findings and recommendations of its Special Litigation Committee and rejected the stockholders’ demands. On June 28, 2021, one of the stockholders whose demand was rejected asked the current Howmet Board of Directors to reconsider the decision of the Board, which was declined. On August 4, 2021, another stockholder whose demand was rejected requested books and records relating to, among other things, the Board’s decision to reject his initial demand, which the Company declined. There has been no further correspondence with either stockholder.
Legal Proceedings. Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (“LBIE”) Proceeding. On June 26, 2020, LBIE filed formal proceedings against two Firth Rixson entities (“Firth”) in the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales. The proceedings relate to interest rate swap transactions that Firth entered into with LBIE in 2007 to 2008. In 2008, LBIE commenced insolvency proceedings, an event of default under the agreements, rendering LBIE unable to meet its obligations under the swaps and suspending Firth’s payment obligations. In the court proceedings, LBIE seeks a declaration that Firth has a contractual obligation to pay the amounts owing to LBIE under the agreements upon its emergence from insolvency proceedings which is expected to occur by 2023, which LBIE claims to be approximately $64, plus applicable interest. Firth will continue to maintain its position that multiple events of default under the agreements related to LBIE’s insolvency proceeding cannot be cured or continue indefinitely, which the Company believes are meritorious defenses. A virtual hearing in this matter occurred on January 13 and 14, 2021 in London, England, and a ruling has yet to be issued to date. Given the importance of the case for LBIE and Firth, it is expected that irrespective of the outcome of the most recent hearing, the case will be appealed and any requirement for the parties to pay amounts under the agreements will be stayed. An appeal of the case could continue into 2023. The Company intends to vigorously defend against these claims.
Other. In addition to the matters discussed above, various other lawsuits, claims, and proceedings have been or may be instituted or asserted against the Company, including those pertaining to environmental, product liability, safety and health, employment, tax and antitrust matters. While the amounts claimed in these other matters may be substantial, the ultimate liability cannot currently be determined because of the considerable uncertainties that exist. Therefore, it is possible that the Company’s liquidity or results of operations in a period could be materially affected by one or more of these other matters. However, based on facts currently available, management believes that the disposition of these other matters that are pending or asserted will not have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the results of operations, financial position or cash flows of the Company.
Commitments
Purchase Obligations. Howmet has entered into purchase commitments for raw materials, energy and other goods and services, which total $229 in 2022, $95 in 2023, $80 in 2024, $2 in 2025, and none in 2026 and thereafter.
Operating Leases. See Note Q for the operating lease future minimum contractual obligations.
Guarantees. At December 31, 2021, Howmet had outstanding bank guarantees related to tax matters, outstanding debt, workers’ compensation, environmental obligations, energy contracts, and customs duties, among others. The total amount committed under these guarantees, which expire at various dates between 2022 and 2040, was $15 at December 31, 2021.
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2016, between Howmet and Alcoa Corporation, Howmet was required to provide certain guarantees for Alcoa Corporation, which had a fair value of $6 and $12 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and were included in Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits in the
Consolidated Balance Sheet. The remaining guarantee, for which the Company and Arconic Corporation are secondarily liable in the event of a payment default by Alcoa Corporation, relates to a long-term energy supply agreement that expires in 2047 at an Alcoa Corporation facility. The Company currently views the risk of an Alcoa Corporation payment default on its obligations under the contract to be remote. The Company and Arconic Corporation are required to provide a guarantee up to an estimated present value amount of approximately $1,406 and $1,398 at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, in the event of an Alcoa Corporation payment default. In December 2020 and again in December 2021, a surety bond with a limit of $80 relating to this guarantee was obtained by Alcoa Corporation to protect Howmet's obligation. This surety bond will be renewed on an annual basis by Alcoa Corporation.
Letters of Credit. The Company has outstanding letters of credit, primarily related to workers’ compensation, environmental obligations, and leasing obligations. The total amount committed under these letters of credit, which automatically renew or expire at various dates, mostly in 2022, was $119 at December 31, 2021.
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreements between the Company and Arconic Corporation and between the Company and Alcoa Corporation, the Company is required to retain letters of credit of $53 (which are included in the $119 in the above paragraph) that had previously been provided related to the Company, Arconic Corporation, and Alcoa Corporation workers’ compensation claims that occurred prior to the respective separation transactions of April 1, 2020 and November 1, 2016. Arconic Corporation and Alcoa Corporation workers’ compensation and letters of credit fees paid by the Company are proportionally billed to, and are reimbursed by, Arconic Corporation and Alcoa Corporation, respectively. Also, the Company was required to provide letters of credit for certain Arconic Corporation environmental obligations and, as a result, the Company has $17 of outstanding letters of credit relating to such liabilities (which are included in the $119 in the above paragraph). Less than $1 of these outstanding letters of credit are pending cancellation and will be deemed cancelled once returned by the beneficiary. Arconic Corporation has issued surety bonds to cover these environmental obligations. Arconic Corporation is being billed for these letter of credit fees paid by the Company and will reimburse the Company for any payments made under these letters of credit.
Surety Bonds. The Company has outstanding surety bonds primarily related to tax matters, contract performance, workers’ compensation, environmental-related matters, and customs duties. The total amount committed under these annual surety bonds, which expire and automatically renew at various dates, primarily in 2022 and 2023, was $47 at December 31, 2021.
Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreements between the Company and Arconic Corporation and between the Company and Alcoa Corporation, the Company is required to provide surety bonds of $25 (which are included in the $47 in the above paragraph) that had previously been provided related to the Company, Arconic Corporation, and Alcoa Corporation workers’ compensation claims paid that occurred prior to the respective separation transactions of April 1, 2020 and November 1, 2016. Arconic Corporation and Alcoa Corporation workers’ compensation claims and surety bond fees paid by the Company are proportionately billed to, and are reimbursed by, Arconic Corporation and Alcoa Corporation.