Approximately $8.6 billion of debt placed under review
New York, December 18, 2012 -- Moody's Investors Service placed Alcoa's Baa3 senior unsecured
and Prime-3 short-term rating under review for downgrade.
On Review for Downgrade:
..Issuer: Alcoa Inc.
.... Commercial Paper, Placed on Review
for Downgrade, currently P-3
....Multiple Seniority Shelf, Placed
on Review for Downgrade, currently (P)Baa3
....Pref. Stock Preferred Stock,
Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently Ba2
....Senior Unsecured Conv./Exch.
Bond/Debenture, Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently
Baa3
....Senior Unsecured Commercial Paper,
Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently P-3
....Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note
Program, Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently (P)Baa3
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture,
Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently Baa3
..Issuer: Chelan County Development Corporation,
WA
....Senior Unsecured Revenue Bonds,
Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently Baa3
..Issuer: Iowa Finance Authority
....Senior Unsecured Revenue Bonds,
Placed on Review for Downgrade, currently Baa3
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Alcoa Inc.
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
RATINGS RATIONALE
The review reflects the challenging headwinds facing Alcoa given the decline
in aluminum prices that has occurred, on a sequential quarterly
basis, through September 30, 2012 (dropping almost 22%
to an average of roughly $0.92/lb from the comparable 2011
average) and the adverse impact this has had on Alcoa's earnings
performance and earnings based debt protection metrics in particular.
Based upon Moody's standard adjustments, EBIT/interest has
declined to 0.8x while debt/EBITDA has increased to roughly 6x
for the twelve months through September 30, 2012 as compared with
2.4x and 3.8x respectively in 2011. Global economic
conditions remain relatively weak and recovery in the aluminum industry
remains slow and uneven. Europe's recession and sovereign
debt crisis, sluggish performance in the US economy and slower growth
in China are expected to continue to adversely impact the aluminum industry.
We do not see a material, sustainable improvement in aluminum prices
over the next several quarters and expect Alcoa's earnings performance
and debt protection metrics to remain challenged.
Although the midstream Global Flat Rolled Products and downstream Engineered
Products and Solutions segments have generated good after tax operating
income performance and are expected to continue to exhibit reasonably
stability in earnings, the alumina and primary metals segments remain
susceptible to underperformance given current aluminum prices.
We expect prices to remain range bound within trading levels of approximately
$0.85/lb/$0.95/lb for the next several quarters.
The review will focus on Alcoa's cost position, particularly
in its Alumina and Primary segments, and its ability to improve
its earnings position on its asset base as well as reduce debt to levels
more commensurate with the lower earnings run rate. The review
will also encompass the company's cash outflow requirements,
including capital expenditures and cash payments under the settlement
with the Italian government for Italy recouping electricity tariffs and
overall liquidity position.
The principal methodology used in rating Alcoa was the Global Mining Industry
Methodology published in May 2009. Please see the Credit Policy
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Headquartered in New York City, New York, Alcoa is a leading
global integrated aluminum producer active in all major aspects of the
industry, including the mining of bauxite, refining into alumina,
smelting and recycling. Through its Global Flat Rolled Products
and Engineered Products and Solutions segments, the company provides
value added products to a diversity of end markets. Revenues for
the twelve months through September 30, 2012 were approximately$24
billion.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
The Global Scale Credit Ratings on this press release that are issued
by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU are endorsed by Moody's
Investors Service Ltd., One Canada Square, Canary Wharf,
London E 14 5FA, UK, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
office that has issued a particular Credit Rating is available on www.moodys.com.
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides relevant regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
have affected the rating. For further information please see the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
Moody's considers the quality of information available on the rated
entity, obligation or credit satisfactory for the purposes of issuing
a rating.
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uses in assigning a rating is of sufficient quality and from sources Moody's
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information received in the rating process.
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Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has
issued the rating.
Carol Cowan
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Brian Oak
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's reviews Alcoa's ratings for downgrade