Charges associated with debt refinancing and restructuring reduced Novelis, the world's largest aluminum rolled products producer, to net loss of $46 million for the third quarter of its fiscal year （October-December） compared with net income of $68 million in the same period the previous year, the company said Tuesday.
The latest result included a one-time charge of $74 million associated with the refinancing of the company's debt and $20 million in restructuring activities. Novelis's fiscal year began April 1.
Shipments of aluminum rolled products were 715,000 mt in Q3 fiscal 2011, up 10% from the 649,000 mt shipped in Q3 fiscal 2010, Novelis said in its earnings statement.
It said the increase in shipments was driven by strong end-market conditions, especially in can, automotive and electronics.
Net sales at the Atlanta-based subsidiary of Indian integrated aluminum producer Hindalco were $2.6 billion in Q3 fiscal 2011, up 21% from the $2.1 billion in Q3 fiscal 2010.
Adjusted EBITDA in Q3 fiscal 2011 was $238 million, up 20% from the adjusted EBITDA of $199 million in Q3 fiscal 2010.
Liquidity at the end of Q3 fiscal 2011 rose to $848 million, up 34% from $634 million in liquidity at the end of Q3 fiscal 2010, but was down by $335 million from fiscal Q2 2011, because of the company's recapitalization in Q3.
"These are solid results, especially considering that this is our seasonally low quarter," said Phil Martens, Novelis's president and CEO.
He said that Q3 fiscal 2011 saw the closure of one of its smelters in Brazil -- the 60,000 mt/year Aratu facility -- and the decision to close its Bridgnorth aluminum foil plant in the UK, which Martens described as "another underperforming asset."
Martens said: "Both of these closures will increase operating efficiency, reduce costs and help us focus more closely on our core rolling operations."
In December, Novelis sold $2.5 billion of bonds in two parts through a private placement: the first tranche was $1.1 billion of senior notes with a coupon rate of 8.375%, maturing December 15, 2017; the second tranche was $1.4 billion of senior notes with a coupon of 8.75%, maturing December 15, 2020. The proceeds were used to refinance the company's prior secured term loan credit facility, to fund its previously announced cash tender offers and its $1.124 billion 7.25% senior notes due 2015.
Last week Novelis said it was doubling recycling capacity at its joint venture Aluminum Norf rolling operation in Germany, Europe's largest aluminum rolling facility, to 100,000 mt, with the construction of a new multi-chamber melting furnace and ancillary equipment at a cost of $18 million.
The new recycling facility is similar to a 50,000 mt/year unit built by its joint venture partner at Alunorf, Norsk Hydro in 2009. The new recycling unit is expected to start operating in late 2011.
--Anthony Poole, anthony_poole@platts.com
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