Alcoa unveils plan to cut dividend, slash costs

[March 17, 2009]  PITTSBURGH (AP) -- For the first time in more than a quarter century, Alcoa Inc. is slashing its quarterly dividend as part of a plan to lower costs and bulk up its cash cushion amid the recession.

In addition to the 82 percent dividend cut, the Pittsburgh-based aluminum maker said it expects to sell $1.1 billion worth of stock and debt and reduce annual costs by more than $2.4 billion by 2010.

The announcement, made after the market closed Monday, follows news in January that Alcoa plans to lay off about 13 percent of its global work force by the end of 2009, further cut production and spending, and sell four of its subsidiaries.

Alcoa has been hard-hit by the weakening world economy, and orders have plummeted for the lightweight metal used in everything from cars and aircraft to window frames and beer cans. Prices have tumbled as demand has dropped in key markets such as autos and construction.

In January, Alcoa reported a fourth-quarter loss of $1.19 billion, pointing to the sinking demand and prices that had fallen 56 percent since July.

"Today's actions better prepare Alcoa to manage through a prolonged downturn," Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa's president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Alcoa will reduce its quarterly dividend to 3 cents per share from 17 cents, saving more than $400 million a year, according to the company. The dividend is payable May 25 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 8.

Alcoa, the world's third-largest aluminum company, last cut its dividend in 1983.

The news sent shares of Alcoa falling 71 cents, or 11.6 percent, to $5.41 in after-hours electronic trading, having closed the regular session at $6.12.

Kleinfeld said "the decision was made after comparisons to peer companies and consideration of the interests of our shareholders."

Alcoa is the latest component of the Dow Jones industrial average to reduce its dividend in an effort to save money and brace for a difficult 2009. Last month, General Electric Co. -- one of the country's largest companies -- cut its quarterly dividend for the first time since 1938. Some analysts had been urging Alcoa to take that step as the aluminum market worsened.

"Frankly, we knew it was coming," said Charles Bradford, an analyst at Bradford Research. "I was shocked in January when (Alcoa) announced they were continuing the dividend. Some of our clients thought that was a little irresponsible."

"The problem is, the metal price is down so much," he added.

Alcoa said its actions will reduce capital spending by $1 billion in 2010 and yield $800 million in working capital this year. By the second half of 2009, Alcoa said, it expects to cut capital spending by half, to $850 million annually. And by 2010, the company said it expects to lower procurement costs by $2 billion annually and cut overhead by $400 million annually.

Alcoa plans to offer 150 million shares of common stock, resulting in anticipated proceeds of about $850 million based on the $5.73 closing price of Alcoa stock on March 13. The company also plans to offer $250 million of convertible notes due 2014.

The company said it intends to use proceeds from the offerings to repay outstanding debt under its senior unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility. Alcoa plans to use any remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes.

[Associated Press; By DANIEL LOVERING]

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