Press Release

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA), a global leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products, today reported first quarter 2020 results.

“While we reported a solid first quarter with a strong cash balance, the world has fundamentally shifted due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, and we are taking decisive actions to address this crisis," said Alcoa President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Harvey.

“Most importantly, we are focusing on the care and safety of our workforce, our operations, and our communities. We have implemented numerous steps for business continuity and are acting quickly to protect financial stability.

“We took action before this crisis to drive savings by deploying a new operating model and launching processes to sell non-core assets, review our portfolio, lower production costs and reduce working capital. Today, we are announcing new actions to effectively manage cash through the economic uncertainty from the pandemic. Taken together, these new and existing initiatives, including the sale earlier this year of our former Gum Springs plant, will total $900 million in cash actions for the year.

“We know how to manage through downcycles, and we’ve used our strategic priorities to strengthen our company, creating a stronger foundation to address these challenges.”

In the first quarter of 2020, Alcoa reported net income of $80 million, or $0.43 per share, compared with a net loss of $303 million, or $1.63 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2019. The 2020 first quarter results include the net positive impact of $122 million of special items, stemming primarily from the gain on the previously announced sale of the waste treatment facility in Gum Springs, Arkansas, partially offset by costs related to the restart of the Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc. (ABI) smelter in Quebec, Canada and interim period tax impacts.

Excluding the impact of special items, first quarter 2020 adjusted net loss was $42 million, or $0.23 per share, improved from fourth quarter 2019 adjusted net loss of $57 million, or $0.31 per share.

Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items for the first quarter of 2020 was $321 million, a 7 percent sequential decrease. Favorable currency and lower costs for raw materials and energy did not completely offset lower prices, product mix, and volume, or higher production costs.

Alcoa reported first quarter 2020 revenue of $2.4 billion, down 2 percent sequentially, primarily due to lower alumina and aluminum prices and lower volume, partially offset by favorable currency.

Cash used for operations in first quarter 2020 was $90 million. Cash used for financing activities was $44 million and cash provided from investing activities was $107 million. Free cash flow was negative $181 million.

Alcoa ended the quarter with cash on hand of $829 million and debt of $1.8 billion, for net debt of $973 million. The Company reported 31 days working capital, a 4-day decrease year-over-year, primarily due to less days sales outstanding and lower inventory days on hand.

COVID-19 Update

Alcoa is taking strong measures to protect its workforce and its locations from the threat caused by COVID-19.

All of Alcoa’s bauxite mines, alumina refineries, aluminum smelters, casthouses, energy assets and rolling operations remain operational. The Company continues to prioritize health and safety in accordance with public health and governmental regulations, including adjusting patterns to socially distance, increasing hygiene protocols, and encouraging remote work where practical.

The Company is implementing new actions in 2020 to effectively manage cash during the economic downcycle caused by the pandemic: Those actions include:

• Reducing $100 million of non-critical capital expenditures
• Delaying non-regulated environmental and Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO) spending of $25 million
• Deferring $220 million in pension contributions in the United States under provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Company also continues to evaluate other governmental support programs.
• Implementing hiring, travel and other spending restrictions targeted to save or defer approximately $35 million

In addition to these immediate cash improvement actions, Alcoa amended its Revolving Credit Facility agreement in April 2020 to temporarily increase borrowing base availability for the next four quarters and provide improved flexibility.

Strategic Actions and 2020 Programs Update

Alcoa has fully deployed its new operating model announced in September 2019 that will reduce annual overhead expense by $60 million beginning in the second quarter of 2020.

The Company is also continuing the review of its asset portfolio to drive lower costs and sustainable profitability. The asset review includes two components: Potential sales of non-core assets to generate between $500 million and $1 billion in cash by early 2021, and an evaluation of the competitiveness of existing production capacities, focusing on 1.5 million metric tons of global smelting capacity and 4 million metric tons of global alumina refining capacity.

Non-Core Asset Sales

As previously announced, on January 31, 2020, the Company closed the sale of its waste treatment facility in Gum Springs, Arkansas, in a transaction valued at $250 million. Alcoa received $200 million in cash upon closing. The remaining $50 million will be paid to Alcoa if certain post-closing conditions are satisfied. The Company recorded a gain in the first quarter of 2020 of $180 million (pre- and after-tax).

Portfolio Actions

Alcoa today announced that it will curtail the remaining 230,000 metric tons of uncompetitive smelting capacity at its Intalco smelter in Ferndale, Washington amid declining market conditions. The full curtailment, which includes 49,000 metric tons of earlier-curtailed capacity, is expected to be complete by the end of July 2020. The smelter recorded a net loss of $24 million in the first quarter of 2020.

“While our employees have worked diligently to improve the facility, the smelter is uncompetitive, and current market conditions have exacerbated the facility’s challenges,” Harvey said. “This is difficult because of the impact on our employees, and we will ensure appropriate support as we work to safely curtail the facility.”

The action will bring Alcoa’s total curtailed smelting capacity to 880,000 metric tons, or approximately 30 percent of its total global smelting capacity.

The Company will record estimated restructuring charges of approximately $25 million (pre- and after-tax), or $0.13 per share, in the second quarter of 2020 associated with the curtailment, for employee-related costs and contract termination costs, which are all cash-based charges expected be paid primarily in the third quarter of 2020.

Intalco employs approximately 700 people, and the workforce will be significantly reduced due to the curtailment.

2020 Programs

In February 2020, Alcoa announced 2020 programs to drive leaner working capital and improved productivity. Alcoa intends to improve working capital by $75 to $100 million through reduced inventories and optimized contract terms. Greater productivity and lower costs are expected to result in approximately $100 million of improvements.

2020 Outlook

The Company has updated annual Aluminum segment shipments to between 2.9 and 3.0 million metric tons from its earlier outlook of between 3.0 and 3.1 million metric tons, due to the impact of the Intalco curtailment on the second half of 2020. The Company’s 2020 shipment outlook for Bauxite and Alumina remain unchanged from the prior full-year estimates. Total annual bauxite shipments are expected to range between 48.0 and 49.0 million dry metric tons. Total alumina shipments are projected between 13.6 and 13.7 million metric tons.

In the second quarter of 2020, Alcoa expects lower quarterly results in the Bauxite segment primarily due to the non-recurrence of an annual sales contract true up. In the Alumina segment, the Company expects benefits from lower costs for raw materials. In the Aluminum segment, the Company expects performance to be nearly flat, as improvements from lower alumina costs, smelter power costs and production costs are expected to be offset by lower Brazil Hydro sales prices and lower value add pricing and volumes.

The Company recognized significant currency benefits related to the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in the first quarter 2020, and it continues to be exposed to impacts of currency rate fluctuations in the second quarter.

The Company expects its annual operational tax rate will vary with market conditions and jurisdictional profitability and is withdrawing its prior outlook of 70 to 80 percent.

The extent and duration of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is unknown. The uncertainty around the future impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows could cause actual results to differ from this outlook.

Market Update

Due to the uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the global economy, Alcoa has suspended its quarterly projections on global supply/demand balances for bauxite, alumina, and aluminum.

Conference Call

Alcoa will hold its quarterly conference call at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, to present first quarter financial results and discuss the business and market conditions.

The call will be webcast via the Company’s homepage on www.alcoa.com. Presentation materials for the call will be available for viewing on the same website at approximately 4:15 p.m. EDT on April 22, 2020. Call information and related details are available under the “Investors” section of www.alcoa.com.

Dissemination of Company Information

Alcoa intends to make future announcements regarding company developments and financial performance through its website, www.alcoa.com, as well as through press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conference calls and webcasts.

About Alcoa Corporation

Alcoa (NYSE: AA) is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products, and is built on a foundation of strong values and operating excellence dating back more than 130 years to the world-changing discovery that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life. Since developing the aluminum industry, and throughout our history, our talented Alcoans have followed on with breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to efficiency, safety, sustainability, and stronger communities wherever we operate.

Forward-Looking Statements

This presentation 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,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “outlook,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “sees,” “should,” “targets,” “will,” “would,” or other words of similar meaning. All statements by Alcoa Corporation that reflect 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 bauxite, alumina, and aluminum, and supply/demand balances; statements, projections or forecasts of future or targeted financial results or operating performance; statements about strategies, outlook, and business and financial prospects; and statements about return of capital. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on Alcoa Corporation’s perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Although Alcoa Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will be attained and it is possible that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (a) current and potential future impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the global economy and our business, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows; (b) 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 and other products, and fluctuations in indexed-based and spot prices for alumina; (c) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally and which may also affect Alcoa Corporation’s ability to obtain credit or financing upon acceptable terms or at all; (d) unfavorable changes in the markets served by Alcoa Corporation; (e) the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange and tax rates on costs and results; (f) increases in energy costs or uncertainty of energy supply; (g) declines in the discount rates used to measure pension liabilities or lower-than-expected investment returns on pension assets, or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding; (h) the inability to achieve improvement in profitability and margins, cost savings, cash generation, revenue growth, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated from portfolio actions, operational and productivity improvements, cash sustainability, technology advancements, and other initiatives; (i) the inability to realize expected benefits, in each case as planned and by targeted completion dates, from acquisitions, divestitures, facility closures, curtailments, restarts, expansions, or joint ventures; (j) political, economic, trade, legal, public health and safety, and regulatory risks in the countries in which Alcoa Corporation operates or sells products; (k) labor disputes and/or and work stoppages; (l) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government or regulatory investigations, and environmental remediation; (m) the impact of cyberattacks and potential information technology or data security breaches; and (n) the other risk factors discussed in Item 1A of Alcoa Corporation’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and other reports filed by Alcoa Corporation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Alcoa Corporation 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. Market projections are subject to the risks described above and other risks in the market.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the information included in this release is derived from Alcoa Corporation’s consolidated financial information but is not presented in Alcoa Corporation’s financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Certain of these data are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC regulations. Alcoa Corporation believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because such measures provide both additional information about the operating performance of Alcoa Corporation and insight on the ability of Alcoa Corporation to meet its financial obligations by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the impact of, among others, “special items” as defined by the Company, non-cash items in nature, and/or nonoperating expense or income items. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be a substitute for, and should not be considered in isolation from, the financial measures reported in accordance with GAAP. 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.

Net loss attributable to Alcoa Corporation – as adjusted is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Alcoa Corporation excluding the impacts of restructuring and other charges, various 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 it is appropriate to consider both Net income (loss) attributable to Alcoa Corporation determined under GAAP as well as Net loss attributable to Alcoa Corporation – as adjusted.

Alcoa Corporation’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 this measure is meaningful to investors because Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information with respect to Alcoa Corporation’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 this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations after taking into consideration capital expenditures, which are both necessary to maintain and expand Alcoa Corporation’s asset base and 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 debt is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors because management assesses Alcoa Corporation’s leverage position after considering available cash that could be used to repay outstanding debt.