Century Aluminum Reports Third Quarter 2013 Results

Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX) reported a net loss of $9.5 million ($0.11 per basic and diluted common share) for the third quarter of 2013. Cost of sales for the quarter included a $5.8 million benefit for lower of cost or market inventory adjustments and an $11.7 million benefit for deferred power contract liability amortization.

In the third quarter of 2012, Century reported a net loss of $12.0 million ($0.14 per basic and diluted share). Financial results were positively impacted by a net benefit of $4.1 million related to certain litigation items. Cost of sales for the quarter included an $8.2 million benefit for lower of cost or market inventory adjustments.

Sales for the third quarter of 2013 were $399.9 million, compared with $304.6 million for the third quarter of 2012. Shipments of primary aluminum for the 2013 third quarter were 212,797 tonnes, compared with 163,431 tonnes shipped in the year-ago quarter. Sales and shipments of primary aluminum for the third quarter of 2013 both benefited from the June 2013 acquisition of the Sebree, KY aluminum smelter. During the quarter, the Sebree acquisition added $101.5 million in sales and 45,843 tonnes in primary aluminum shipments.

For the first nine months of 2013, Century reported a net loss of $30.6 million ($0.35 per basic and diluted share). These results were positively impacted by an unrealized gain of $16.2 million primarily related to a LME-based contingent obligation, a gain on bargain purchase of $5.3 million and deferred power contract liability amortization of $14.5 million. Results were negatively impacted by a non-cash charge of $3.3 million for the early extinguishment of our 8.0% Senior Notes and a charge of $4.7 million for severance and other expenses related to our corporate headquarters relocation. Cost of sales in the first nine months of 2013 included a $10.3 million charge for lower of cost or market inventory adjustments.

This result compares to a net loss of $28.7 million ($0.32 per basic and diluted share) for the first nine months of 2012. These results were negatively impacted by an unrealized net loss on forward contracts of $3.2 million primarily related to the mark to market of aluminum price protection options. Results were positively impacted by a net benefit of $4.1 million related to certain litigation items. Cost of sales in the first nine months of 2012 included a $19.8 million benefit for lower of cost or market inventory adjustments.

Sales in the first nine months of 2013 were $1,053.1 million compared with $954.4 million in the same period of 2012. Shipments of primary aluminum for the first nine months of 2013 were 547,843 tonnes compared with 484,226 tonnes for the comparable 2012 period. Sales and shipments of primary aluminum for the first nine months were higher by $140.3 million and 63,522 tonnes, respectively, as a result of the Sebree smelter acquisition.

"We continue to operate in an uncertain global environment," commented Michael A. Bless, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Widespread and consistent recovery in developed and developing economies has been elusive. China has not developed momentum in driving more robust consumer activity, and potential problems in the financial system remain a concern. In the U.S. and Europe, political instability has led to predictable uncertainty on the part of people making investment decisions. In our sector, we have seen some hopeful signs. Demand continues to be relatively strong in most markets. Supply closures, though each individually small in the context of the broader market, have continued to build. Volatility caused by the potential for changes in the LME's warehousing rules has diminished. On balance, however, we will continue to manage the company with a bias toward downside risk in broad market conditions.

"We believe we have made good progress managing those items under our control," continued Mr. Bless. "Safety performance improved throughout the quarter, after a rough start at Sebree. Key performance indicators have been uniformly good; recent high purity production at Hawesville and billet production at Sebree have been at record levels. Most importantly, production costs have improved. As previously announced, we received approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission for Hawesville's new power contract, and have been successfully purchasing market-based power since late August. Grundartangi's investment projects continue on track; we expect to produce finished anodes at our new plant in the Netherlands in December.

"We are focused on the important next steps for our power arrangements in Kentucky. For Hawesville, we are working with the regulators toward finalizing the procedures necessary for future grid stability and energy import capability; we expect to complete this process in late 2013 or early 2014. Century and Big Rivers plan to file the market-based power contract for Sebree soon, allowing for approval by the PSC before the termination of the current contract on January 31, 2014. We continue to work toward creating the conditions necessary for a restart of Ravenswood and of the Helguvik project; while there is not a solution at hand on either matter, discussions with the various parties remain active and we are committed to finding a solution."