Alcoa Purchases Noranda Aluminum, Inc.'s Excel Extrusions Unit.

Business Editors

PITTSBURGH, Pa. and FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jan. 7, 2000

Alcoa Inc. and Noranda Aluminum, Inc. announced today that Alcoa has purchased Excel Extrusions Inc., a subsidiary of Noranda Aluminum, Inc. located in Warren, Ohio. Noranda Aluminum is a part of Noranda Inc., the Toronto-based mining and metals company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Excel's plant has the capacity to produce 35 million pounds of soft-alloy aluminum extrusions per year, which are used primarily in the building and construction industries. The plant also has a vertical paint line, with a capacity of 24 million pounds per year. Excel employs about 200 people. It will become part of Alcoa Extruded Construction Products, one of Alcoa's 24 business units.

Alcoa is the world's largest producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina. It is active in all major segments of the industry: mining, refining, smelting, fabricating and recycling.

Noranda Inc. is a leading international mining and metals company employing more than 18,000 people at its operations and offices around the world. Noranda Aluminum, Inc. has nine plants in the U.S. and one in Mexico that produce primary aluminum, aluminum foil and sheet and aluminum automotive wheels.