Novelis reported net income attributable to its common shareholder of $13 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014.
Excluding certain tax-effected items, net income was $23 million for the quarter, up $14 million compared to $9 million reported in the same period a year ago.
Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was $203 million, up 10 percent compared to $185 million reported for the same period in the prior year. The increase was driven primarily by higher global shipments partially offset by continued pricing pressures in North America and Asia and reduced scrap benefits from lower aluminum prices.
“Our execution in the third quarter was excellent,” said Phil Martens, president and chief executive officer for Novelis, “with year-over-year shipment growth in every operating region. We have made great progress in the commissioning of our major expansions and we are now seeing the benefits of some of these projects in our results. While external market pressures partially offset the bottom line impact of this volume growth, we are confident about the realizable potential for this business as the new projects come on-line.”
Shipments of aluminum rolled products totaled 721 kilotonnes for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of 11 percent compared to 647 kilotonnes for the same period last year. Despite being a seasonally low production quarter, shipments were up one percent sequentially compared to the second quarter. Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 were $2.4 billion, up 4 percent compared to the prior year resulting from higher shipments partially offset by a 12 percent decrease in average aluminum prices and lower conversion premiums.
The Company continues to see strong demand for aluminum flat rolled products globally, particularly in the automotive segment. In December, the Company announced a $205 million investment to further expand its global automotive aluminum capacity to 900,000 tons annually.
For the third quarter of fiscal 2014, Novelis reported liquidity of $806 million. Free cash flow was negative $61 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, in part due to $107 million in semi-annual bond interest payments and $157 million in capital expenditures.
Published in the March 2014 Edition of American Recycler News
