PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alcoa Corporation, a global leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products, today announced that it has amended its joint venture with the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) in which Alcoa holds a minority, 25.1 percent stake.
The joint venture was created in 2009 as a fully integrated aluminum complex in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, comprised of three entities: the Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC; the bauxite mine and alumina refinery), the Ma’aden Aluminium Company (MAC; the aluminum smelter and cast house), and the Ma’aden Rolling Company (MRC; the can and auto sheet mill).
As a result of the amended joint venture agreements, signed June 26, 2019, and expected to close by month end:
- Alcoa will transfer its 25.1 percent interest in MRC to Ma’aden
- Alcoa to make a contribution to MRC in the amount of $100 million paid in two installments: 1) $34 million paid on June 17, 2019 to fund its 25.1 percent share of MRC’s current cash requirements, and 2) $66 million paid at closing
- Alcoa is released from all future MRC obligations, including Alcoa’s sponsor support of approximately $295 million of MRC debt and its share of any future MRC cash requirements
- Alcoa will avoid future capital contributions in any MRC debt restructuring and recapitalization
- Alcoa and Ma’aden further defined MBAC and MAC shareholder rights, including the dividend policy
The parties will maintain their commercial relationship, which includes Alcoa providing sales, logistics and customer technical services support for MRC products for the North American can sheet market.
The Company will retain its 25.1 percent minority interest in MBAC and MAC, and Ma’aden will continue to own a 74.9 percent interest.
“The Ma’aden joint venture aluminum complex has been an integral part of our portfolio, and we greatly value our relationship with our Saudi partners,” said Alcoa President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Harvey. “As we look ahead, divesting Alcoa’s investment in MRC enables us to pursue future returns in our bauxite mining, alumina refining, and aluminum smelting businesses and gives Ma’aden more strategic flexibility to further develop the rolling business.”
Alcoa will record an estimated charge associated with the disposition of its interest of approximately $320 million (pre- and after-tax), or $1.72 per share, in the second quarter of 2019. The charge includes the write-off of Alcoa’s investment in MRC, the cash contributions noted above, and the write-off of Alcoa’s share of MRC’s delinquent payables due to MAC of $59 million that were forgiven as part of this transaction. Investment losses attributable to MRC included in net income totalled $34 million (pre- and post-tax) in 2018.
About Alcoa
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 to 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. Visit us online on www.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.
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