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Contingencies and Commitments
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Contingencies and Commitments Contingencies and Commitments
Contingencies
The following information supplements and, as applicable, updates the discussion of the contingencies and commitments in Note V to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Form 10-K”), and should be read in conjunction with the complete descriptions provided in the Form 10-K.
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 at both September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and was recorded in Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (of which $7 and $6, respectively, was classified as a current liability), and reflects the most probable costs to remediate identified environmental conditions for which costs can be reasonably estimated. Payments related to remediation expenses applied against the reserve were less than $1 in the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 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.
Indemnified Matters. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated October 31, 2016, that the Company entered into with Alcoa Corporation in connection with its separation from Alcoa Corporation, provides for cross-indemnities between the Company and Alcoa Corporation for claims subject to indemnification. The Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated March 31, 2020, that the Company entered into with Arconic Corporation in connection with its separation from Arconic Corporation, 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, including the following legal proceedings, as updated from the Form 10-K:
United Kingdom Litigation (various claims on behalf of survivors and estates of decedents). The suits are stayed. A case management conference was held during the week of April 26, 2022. On July 28, 2022, the stay was extended.
Behrens et al. v. Arconic Inc. et al. (various claims on behalf of survivors and estates of decedents). On September 16, 2020, the court dismissed the U.S. case, determining that the U.K. is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. On July 8, 2022, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal. A petition for a rehearing was filed before the Third Circuit Court, which the Third Circuit Court denied on October 7, 2022.
Howard v. Arconic Inc. et al. (securities law related claims). The court held a status conference on September 14, 2022, and the parties are currently awaiting an order from the court setting the schedule for class certification briefing and discovery.
With respect to the Raul v. Albaugh, et al. (derivative related claim) proceeding, the regulatory investigations and the stockholder demands specified in the Form 10-K, there are no updates.
Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (“LBIE”) Legal Proceeding. On June 26, 2020, Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (“LBIE”) filed proceedings in the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts of England and Wales (the “Court”) against two subsidiaries of the Company, FR Acquisitions Corporation (Europe) Ltd and JFB Firth Rixson Inc. (collectively, the “Firth Rixson Entities”). The proceedings concern two interest rate swap transactions with LBIE (collectively, the “ISDAs”). In 2007 and 2008, the Firth Rixson Entities, then owned by Oak Hill, entered into the ISDAs in order to meet their obligation to hedge interest rate exposure under a lending agreement with LBIE. When LBIE went into bankruptcy in 2008, the Firth Rixson Entities entered into alternative swap agreements with another counterparty in order to meet this hedging obligation. The Firth Rixson Entities were acquired by the Company as part of its acquisition of the Firth Rixson business from Oak Hill in 2014. In the LBIE legal proceeding, LBIE claims the amounts owing by the Firth Rixson Entities under the ISDAs to be approximately $64, plus applicable interest. The Court issued its ruling in these proceedings on October 11, 2022 (the “Judgment”). In its ruling, the Court determined that the event of default under the ISDAs caused by LBIE as a result of its insolvency in 2008 and other defaults will conclude upon LBIE’s expected emergence from administration under the Insolvency Act of 1986. The Court ruled that upon such future event and other relevant steps being completed, the timing of which is unknown, the Firth Rixson Entities will be obligated to pay amounts due under the ISDAs. The Company recorded $65 in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, and took a pre-tax charge of this amount in Other expense, net in the Statement of Consolidated Operations in the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2022. The matter of interest was not specifically addressed in the proceeding and no related amounts have been reserved. The Company vigorously disagrees with the ruling including as to any payment obligation in respect of the principal as well as any interest. The Company intends to apply to appeal the Judgment to the Court of Appeal and will request that payment of all amounts be stayed until the appeal is concluded. This application is expected to be addressed at a hearing before the Court by the end of this year, and any appeal proceedings would continue into 2023.
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
Guarantees
At September 30, 2022, 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 $11 at September 30, 2022.
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 at both September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, 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 at both September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 in the event of an Alcoa Corporation default. 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 and 2023, was $123 at September 30, 2022.
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 $123 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 also included in the $123 in the above paragraph).
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 $43 at September 30, 2022.
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 $22 (which are included in the $43 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 claims and surety bond fees paid by the Company are proportionately billed to, and are reimbursed by, Arconic Corporation and Alcoa Corporation, respectively.