Alcoa Reports Third Quarter Profit Driven by Strong Operating Performance; Net Income of $0.02 Per Share; Excluding Special Items, Net Income of $0.11 Per Share

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) today reported a sequential and year-over-year increase in third quarter profit for 2013 driven by strong operating performance and productivity gains, in spite of lower metal prices. Alcoa reported third quarter 2013 net income of $24 million, or $0.02 per share, which includes $96 million of special items primarily tied to optimizing the Company’s upstream portfolio.

Excluding the impact of special items, net income was $120 million, or $0.11 per share. Results were led by continued strength in Engineered Products and Solutions and Global Rolled Products, despite traditional third quarter weakness. Global Primary Products overcame falling metal prices and lower premiums to deliver significant performance improvement through productivity gains.

The Company reported third quarter 2013 revenue of $5.8 billion, steady compared to second quarter 2013 and the year ago period, despite a 3 percent sequential and 7 percent year-over-year decline in the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price of aluminum.

“Our performance this quarter shows our repositioning of the Company is on the right path,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We continued to build our value-add businesses, capturing demand for innovative material solutions across multiple markets. Our commodity business delivered better performance in a tougher market environment, and we continued to reshape the portfolio to lower the cost base. Across the board, productivity was exceptional – achieving our full year target in the first nine months.”

In the first three quarters of 2013, Alcoa’s value-add businesses, comprising Engineered Products and Solutions and Global Rolled Products, accounted for 57 percent of total revenues and 79 percent of segment after-tax operating income (ATOI). Over the last 10 years, Alcoa has grown its value-add businesses to be more meaningful contributors to the Company’s overall profitability. ATOI for the value-add businesses has nearly tripled since 2003.

Third quarter 2013 net income of $24 million, or $0.02 per share, compares to a net loss of $119 million, or $0.11 per share, in second quarter 2013, and a net loss of $143 million, or $0.13 per share, in third quarter 2012.

In third quarter 2013, Alcoa recorded $109 million in after-tax restructuring-related charges to improve upstream competitiveness. Alcoa completed the previously announced closure of the two Soderberg potlines at the Baie-Comeau smelter in Québec, representing 105,000 metric tons per year of smelting capacity. Alcoa also closed one Soderberg potline, representing 41,000 metric tons per year of smelting capacity, at the Massena East plant in New York.

Other special items in third quarter 2013 included an insurance recovery related to the March 2012 fire at the Massena, New York, location and a positive impact of mark-to-market changes on certain energy contracts, somewhat offset by a net discrete income tax charge. These items provided a net benefit of $13 million.

Excluding special items, third quarter 2013 net income of $120 million, or $0.11 per share, rose 58 percent compared to $76 million, or $0.07 per share, in second quarter 2013, despite lower realized aluminum prices.

Year-over-year, third quarter 2013 net income excluding special items was up $88 million compared to the same period last year. The year-over-year increase was driven by strong operating performance, productivity savings, and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by cost increases and lower LME-based pricing.

Continued Growth Across End Markets

Alcoa reaffirms its 7 percent global aluminum demand growth forecast for 2013 and sees essentially balanced alumina and aluminum markets.

Alcoa continues to project global growth this year across the aerospace (9-10 percent), automotive (1-4 percent), packaging (1-2 percent), commercial building and construction (4-5 percent), and industrial gas turbine (3-5 percent) end markets. In the heavy truck and trailer market, Alcoa is raising its 2013 growth expectation, (5-9 percent, previously 3-8 percent), on improvements in the European market and a stronger Chinese market.

Strong Execution on Capital Investments and Against Strategic Goals

Alcoa made progress on its capital investments to capture value-add growth opportunities, and continued to take definitive actions in third quarter 2013 to improve its position on the aluminum cost curve.

The $300 million automotive expansion of Alcoa’s Davenport, Iowa, plant is set to be completed by the end of 2013 with the commissioning process currently underway. Construction also began on the Company’s $275 million automotive expansion at its Alcoa, Tennessee, rolling mill. Both will support the growing demand for aluminum sheet for automotive production. Aluminum sheet per vehicle is expected to grow 10 fold by 2025 in North America alone. The projects will incorporate, through Alcoa’s supply chain, the proprietary Alcoa 951 pretreatment bonding technology, enabling the mass production of aluminum-intensive vehicles. Much of the volume for the automotive expansions is secured under long-term supply agreements.

The Ma’aden-Alcoa joint venture project that will create the world’s lowest-cost integrated aluminum facility is on time and on budget. The smelter is 99 percent complete and full operating capacity of 740,000 metric tons per year (mtpy) is expected in 2014. This smelter will be the lowest-cost in the world. It will contribute an estimated two percentage points toward the Company’s 2015 goal of lowering its position on the world aluminum production cost curve by 10 percentage points overall.

The joint venture’s 380,000 mtpy integrated rolling mill is 88 percent complete. First hot coil for the rolling mill is anticipated in the fourth quarter of this year. Construction of the alumina refinery and bauxite mine are also on schedule. First alumina out of the facility and bauxite out of the mine are expected in 2014.

To further improve competitiveness in the upstream, Alcoa continues to review its global smelting capacity and take action on higher-cost plants and plants with long-term risk due to factors such as energy costs or regulatory uncertainties. In the first five months since announcing the 460,000 metric ton smelting capacity review, Alcoa has taken swift action and has closed or curtailed 274,000 metric tons, equal to 60 percent, of the capacity under review. Most recent actions include the permanent closure of one potline representing 41,000 metric tons at the Massena East plant in New York and the temporary curtailment of 128,000 metric tons of capacity in Brazil.

Alcoa now has 16 percent, or 651,000 metric tons, of smelting capacity offline.

Performance Against 2013 Financial Targets

In third quarter 2013, days working capital, which ultimately equates to cash, was a third quarter record low of 28 days, 5 days lower than third quarter 2012. This milestone was the 16^th successive year-over-year improvement and equates to approximately $300 million in cash. Cash from operations in third quarter 2013 was $214 million. Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $36 million after a $173 million cash contribution to the Company’s pension plan.

Through third quarter 2013, Alcoa achieved $825 million in productivity savings against a $750 million annual target; managed growth capital expenditures of $289 million against a $550 million annual plan; and controlled sustaining capital expenditures of $482 million against a $1.0 billion annual plan. Progress and expenditures on the Saudi Arabia joint venture project were on track with $146 million year-to-date invested against a $350 million annual plan. Alcoa’s debt-to-capital ratio stood at 34.5 percent, flat with second quarter 2013, and 160 basis points lower than third quarter 2012. Net debt-to-capital stood at 31.6 percent. Alcoa ended the quarter with cash on hand of $1.0 billion.

Segment Performance

Engineered Products and Solutions

ATOI was a third quarter record of $192 million, essentially flat sequentially and up $34 million, or 22 percent, year-over-year. Sequentially, continued productivity improvements across all market segments were offset by volume declines and cost increases. Innovation continues to drive share gains across all markets. This segment reported a record quarterly adjusted EBITDA margin of 22.5 percent, compared to 22.2 percent and 20 percent, respectively, for second quarter 2013 and the same quarter last year.

Global Rolled Products

ATOI in the third quarter was $71 million compared to $79 million in second quarter 2013 and $89 million in third quarter 2012. Sequentially, lower metal prices continued to impact the segment, albeit less significantly than the prior quarter. Strong automotive and seasonal demand in packaging were offset by lower volume in aerospace and industrial markets and price pressures in packaging. Adjusted EBITDA per metric ton decreased to $312 from $322 in second quarter 2013. This segment reported its best third quarter ever in days working capital, which improved by 1 day compared with third quarter 2012.

Alumina

ATOI in the third quarter was $67 million, up from $64 million in second quarter 2013, and up from negative $9 million in third quarter 2012. The sequential increase was driven by the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates, strong productivity savings, and sales at Alumina Price Index-based pricing, despite lower LME-based prices. Strong performance across the business also offset increased costs in mining due to the operation of two crusher sites in Australia and higher bauxite costs in Suriname. Adjusted EBITDA per metric ton was $44, down from $47 in second quarter 2013 and up from $21 in third quarter 2012. Days working capital remained at record lows, improving by 11 days compared with third quarter 2012.

Primary Metals

ATOI in the third quarter was $8 million compared to negative $32 million in second quarter 2013 and negative $14 million in third quarter 2012. Despite lower metal prices, the sequential improvement was driven by significant productivity gains, non-recurring power plant outages, and the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates. Third-party realized price in the third quarter was $2,180 per metric ton, down 3 percent sequentially. Adjusted EBITDA per metric ton increased to $154 from $88 in second quarter 2013, and was up from $111 in third quarter 2012. Days working capital improved by 2 days compared with third quarter 2012.

Alba Update

As previously disclosed, over five years ago, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) commenced investigations of alleged corrupt payments in connection with contracts for the sale of alumina to Alba. In the past year Alcoa has been seeking settlements of both investigations. During the third quarter of 2013, settlement discussions with the DOJ and the SEC continued, although no settlements were reached. As previously reported, in the second quarter of 2013 Alcoa proposed to settle the DOJ matter by offering a cash payment of $103 million and recorded a charge of $103 million ($62 million after non-controlling interest); there is a reasonable possibility of an additional charge of between $0 and approximately $200 million to settle the DOJ matter. Based on negotiations to date, Alcoa expects any such settlement will be paid over several years. Also, as previously reported, in the second quarter of 2013 Alcoa exchanged settlement offers with the SEC, but the SEC staff rejected Alcoa’s offer of $60 million and no charge was recorded. Alcoa expects that any resolution through settlement with the SEC would be material to results of operations for the relevant fiscal period.

Although Alcoa seeks to resolve the Alba matter with the DOJ and the SEC through settlements, there can be no assurance that settlements will be reached. If settlements cannot be reached, Alcoa will proceed to trial. Under those circumstances, the final outcome cannot be predicted and there can be no assurance that it would not have a material adverse effect on Alcoa.

Alcoa will hold its quarterly conference call at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on October 8, 2013 to present quarterly results. The meeting will be webcast via alcoa.com. Call information and related details are available at www.alcoa.com under “Invest.”

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics, and industrial markets over the past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 12 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30 countries across the world. For more information, visit www.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoa, and follow Alcoa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “outlook,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect Alcoa’s expectations, assumptions or projections about the future other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, forecasts concerning global demand growth for aluminum, end market conditions, supply/demand balances, and growth opportunities for aluminum in automotive, aerospace, and other applications, trend projections, targeted financial results or operating performance, and statements about Alcoa’s strategies, outlook, and business and financial prospects. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors and are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: (a) material adverse changes in aluminum industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and fluctuations in London Metal Exchange-based prices (and premiums, as applicable) for primary aluminum, alumina, and other products, and fluctuations in indexed-based and spot prices for alumina; (b) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally; (c) unfavorable changes in the markets served by Alcoa, including aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, building and construction, distribution, packaging, defense, and industrial gas turbine; (d) the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on costs and results, particularly the Australian dollar, Brazilian real, Canadian dollar, euro, and Norwegian kroner; (e) increases in energy costs, including electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil, or the unavailability or interruption of energy supplies; (f) increases in the costs of other raw materials, including calcined petroleum coke, caustic soda, and liquid pitch; (g) Alcoa’s inability to achieve the level of revenue growth, cash generation, cost savings, improvement in profitability and margins, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations (including moving its alumina refining and aluminum smelting businesses down on the industry cost curves and increasing revenues in its Global Rolled Products and Engineered Products and Solutions segments) anticipated from its restructuring programs, productivity improvement, cash sustainability, and other initiatives; (h) Alcoa’s inability to realize expected benefits, in each case as planned and by targeted completion dates, from sales of non-core assets, or from newly constructed, expanded, or acquired facilities, including facilities supplying aluminum-lithium capacity, or from international joint ventures, including the joint venture in Saudi Arabia; (i) political, economic, and regulatory risks in the countries in which Alcoa operates or sells products, including unfavorable changes in laws and governmental policies, civil unrest, or other events beyond Alcoa’s control; (j) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government investigations, and environmental remediation; (k) the business or financial condition of key customers, suppliers, and business partners; (l) adverse changes in tax rates or benefits; (m) adverse changes in discount rates or investment returns on pension assets; (n) the impact of cyber attacks and potential information technology or data security breaches; and (o) the other risk factors summarized in Alcoa’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Alcoa disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the information included in this release is derived from Alcoa’s consolidated financial information but is not presented in Alcoa’s financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules. These non-GAAP financial measures supplement our GAAP disclosures and should not be considered an alternative to the GAAP measure. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and management’s rationale for the use of the non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the schedules to this release and on our website at www.alcoa.com under the “Invest” section.

The difference between certain segment totals and consolidated amounts is in Corporate.

* On January 1, 2013, management revised the inventory-costing method used by certain locations within the Global Rolled Products and Engineered Products and Solutions segments, which affects the determination of the respective segment’s profitability measure, ATOI. Management made the change in order to improve internal consistency and enhance industry comparability. This revision does not impact the consolidated results of Alcoa. Segment information for all prior periods presented was revised to reflect this change.

Alcoa’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is net margin plus an add-back for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. Net margin is equivalent to Sales minus the following items: Cost of goods sold; Selling, general administrative, and other expenses; Research and development expenses; and Provision for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information with respect to Alcoa’s operating performance and the Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations. The Adjusted EBITDA presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations after taking into consideration capital expenditures due to the fact that these expenditures are considered necessary to maintain and expand Alcoa’s asset base and are expected to generate future cash flows from operations. It is important to note that Free Cash Flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure.

Net income attributable to Alcoa – as adjusted is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Alcoa excluding the impacts of restructuring and other charges, discrete tax items, and other special items (collectively, “special items”). There can be no assurances that additional special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes that it is appropriate to consider both Net (loss) income attributable to Alcoa determined under GAAP as well as Net income attributable to Alcoa – as adjusted.

* Discrete tax items include the following:

• for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, an unfavorable impact related to the interim period treatment of losses in jurisdictions for which no tax benefit was recognized ($6) and a net charge for other miscellaneous items ($1);
• for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, a charge related to prior year taxes in Spain and Australia ($10), a benefit for a tax rate change in Jamaica ($2), and a net charge for other miscellaneous items ($3); and
• for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, an unfavorable impact related to the interim period treatment of losses in jurisdictions for which no tax benefit was recognized ($35), a benefit as a result of including the anticipated gain from the sale of the Tapoco Hydroelectric Project in the calculation of the estimated annual effective tax rate ($12), and a net charge for other miscellaneous items ($3).

** Other special items include the following:

• for the quarter ended September 30, 2013, insurance recovery related to the 2012 fire at the Massena, NY location ($12), a net favorable change in certain mark-to-market energy derivative contracts ($8), and the write off of inventory related to the permanent closure of two potlines at a smelter in Canada ($1);
• for the quarter ended June 30, 2013, a net unfavorable change in certain mark-to-market energy derivative contracts ($9) and the write off of inventory related to the permanent closure of two potlines at a smelter in Canada and a smelter in Italy ($5); and
• for the quarter ended September 30, 2012, an increase in the environmental reserve mostly related to the Grasse River remediation in Massena, NY and two new remediation projects at the smelter sites in Baie Comeau, Quebec, Canada and Mosjøen, Norway ($120), a litigation reserve ($15), uninsured losses related to fire damage to the cast house at the Massena, NY location ($9), and a net unfavorable change in certain mark-to-market energy derivative contracts ($3).

Days Working Capital = Working Capital divided by (Sales/number of days in the quarter).

* The deferred purchase price receivable relates to an arrangement to sell certain customer receivables to several financial institutions on a recurring basis. Alcoa is adding back this receivable for the purposes of the Days Working Capital calculation.

Net debt-to-capital is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because management assesses Alcoa’s leverage position after factoring in available cash that could be used to repay outstanding debt.

Alcoa’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is net margin plus an add-back for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. Net margin is equivalent to Sales minus the following items: Cost of goods sold; Selling, general administrative, and other expenses; Research and development expenses; and Provision for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. The Other line in the table above includes gains/losses on asset sales and other nonoperating items. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information with respect to Alcoa’s operating performance and the Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations. The Adjusted EBITDA presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Alcoa’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is net margin plus an add-back for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. Net margin is equivalent to Sales minus the following items: Cost of goods sold; Selling, general administrative, and other expenses; Research and development expenses; and Provision for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. The Other line in the table above includes gains/losses on asset sales and other nonoperating items. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure is meaningful to investors because Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information with respect to Alcoa’s operating performance and the Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations. The Adjusted EBITDA presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

* On January 1, 2013, management revised the inventory-costing method used by certain locations within the Global Rolled Products and Engineered Products and Solutions segments, which affects the determination of the respective segment’s profitability measure, ATOI. Management made the change in order to improve internal consistency and enhance industry comparability. This revision does not impact the consolidated results of Alcoa. Segment information for all prior periods presented was revised to reflect this change.

Alcoa
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Kelly Pasterick, 212-836-2674
Kelly.Pasterick@alcoa.com
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