Kaiser Aluminum Reports Results for Second Quarter of 2002

SOURCE: Kaiser Aluminum
Tuesday August 13, 7:07 pm Eastern Time

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 13, 2002--Kaiser Aluminum today reported a net loss of $50.4 million, or $.63 per share, for the second quarter of 2002, compared to a net loss of $64.1 million, or $.80 per share, for the second quarter of 2001. Results for the year-ago quarter included a number of special items and significant adjustments, as detailed in tables accompanying this press release.

For the first six months of 2002, Kaiser reported a net loss of $114.5 million, or $1.42 per share, compared to net income of $55.5 million, or $.70 per share, for the first six months of 2001. The year-ago period included a number of special items and significant adjustments, as detailed in tables accompanying this press release.

Net sales in the second quarter and first six months of 2002 were $386.3 million and $756.9 million, compared to $446.8 million and $927.1 million, for the comparable periods of 2001.

In commenting on the company's performance in the second quarter of 2002, Kaiser President and Chief Executive Officer Jack A. Hockema said, "The company continued to experience very challenging business conditions characterized by substantially lower realized prices and lackluster demand in many market segments, especially aerospace. In addition, primary aluminum shipments were lower than those of the year-ago period because of the March 2002 curtailment of one potline at the 90%-owned Valco smelter in Ghana. Further, the 65%-owned Alpart alumina refinery experienced unfavorable cost performance in connection with higher fuel oil prices and maintenance and turnaround work.

"On a more favorable note," said Hockema, "despite experiencing lower realized prices, the Engineered Products business unit reported operating income more than triple that of the year-ago period due to a reduction in energy and overhead costs combined with improved demand in certain market segments, particularly ground transportation and electrical markets. In fact, this was the strongest earnings performance by this business unit since the second quarter of 2000. Also, the Gramercy alumina refinery reached a generally sustained operating rate of 100% of its rebuilt capacity during the quarter, and Valco continued to operate at record levels of efficiency despite the recent curtailment of one potline.

"I want to emphasize again that the company's Chapter 11 filing on February 12, 2002 has not affected the way we are operating our plants. We remain as focused as ever on meeting the needs of our customers through such programs as 'Best in Class,' where we have maintained on-time delivery performance that's unmatched by our competitors in the fabricated products business," said Hockema. "At the risk of repeating myself, I thank the customers, suppliers, employees and others who have demonstrated their ongoing support as we work to strengthen the company and emerge from Chapter 11.

"The Chapter 11 process continues as expected. We have established productive relationships with the unsecured creditors committee and the asbestos claimants committee and appreciate their support of our initial efforts," said Hockema.

As of July 31, 2002, the company had approximately $115.9 million of cash and cash equivalents and unused availability of $204.6 million under its Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) credit facility. This amount compares with cash and cash equivalents of $147.3 million and unused DIP availability of $204.8 million at June 30, 2002. The change in the cash position from June to July is primarily due to $30 million in payments to the company's 20%-owned affiliate, Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL), in July 2002 to fund the company's share of QAL's scheduled debt maturities.

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation is a leading producer of alumina, primary aluminum and fabricated aluminum products.

Company press releases may contain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company cautions that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve significant risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors.

Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss), Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets And Selected Operational and Financial Information Follow


         KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

                   STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
                              (Unaudited)
            (In millions of dollars, except share amounts)

                           Quarter Ended           Six Months Ended
                              June 30,                 June 30,
                      -----------------------   ---------------------
                          2002         2001        2002        2001
                      ----------    ---------   ---------   ---------
Net sales                 $386.3       $446.8      $756.9      $927.1
                      ----------    ---------   ---------   ---------
Costs and expenses:
 Cost of products sold     363.7        418.8       705.7       863.3
 Depreciation and
  amortization              22.5         22.2        45.0        43.5
 Selling,
  administrative,
  research and
  development and
  general                   29.3         25.4        70.5        52.7
 Other non-recurring
  operating items,
  net(1)                     7.5          8.0         9.1      (220.2)
                      ----------    ---------   ---------   ---------
   Total cost and
    expenses               423.0        474.4       830.3       739.3
                      ----------    ---------   ---------   ---------
Operating income
 (loss)                    (36.7)       (27.6)      (73.4)      187.8

Other income (expense):
 Interest expense
  (excluding unrecorded
  contractual interest
  of $23.7 and $36.5
  in 2002)                  (2.5)       (27.1)      (16.0)      (55.0)
 Reorganization items       (6.5)          --       (16.1)         --
 Other - net(2)              0.3        (51.7)        2.5       (44.4)
                      ----------    ---------   ---------   ---------
Income (loss) before
 income taxes and
 minority interests        (45.4)      (106.4)     (103.0)       88.4

(Provision) benefit
 for income taxes (3)       (6.4)        41.5       (14.4)      (34.5)

Minority interests           1.4          0.8         2.9         1.6
                      ----------    ---------   ---------   ---------
Net income (loss)         $(50.4)      $(64.1)    $(114.5)      $55.5
                      ==========    =========   =========   =========
Earnings(loss) per
 share:
  Basic/Diluted           $(0.63)      $(0.80)     $(1.42)       $.70
                      ==========    =========   =========   =========
Weighted average
 shares
 outstanding (000):
  Basic/Diluted           80,604       79,780      80,663      79,696


(1) Operating income (loss) for the quarter and six-month periods
    ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, included the following items. The
    business unit to which the items are applicable is indicated:

                                    Quarter Ended  Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,       June 30,
                                    -------------- ----------------
                                     2002   2001     2002    2001
                                    ------ ------   ------  ------
Net gains (losses) on power
 sales (Primary Aluminum)           $ --   $(5.5)   $ --    $222.7
Restructuring charges -
    Bauxite & Alumina               (0.3)   (2.0)   (1.9)     (2.0)
    Primary Aluminum                (1.7)     --    (1.7)       --
    Flat-Rolled Products            (3.9)     --    (3.9)       --
      Corporate                       --    (0.5)     --      (0.5)
Impairment charge associated
 with product lines exit
 (Flat-Rolled Products)             (1.6)     --    (1.6)       --
                                  ------  ------  ------    ------
  Non-recurring operating items    $(7.5)  $(8.0)  $(9.1)   $220.2
                                  ======  ======  ======    ======

(2) Other income (expense) for the quarter and six month periods ended
    June 30, 2002 and 2001, included the following pre-tax gains
    (losses):

                                   Quarter Ended     Six Months Ended
                                      June 30,           June 30,
                                   -------------     ----------------
                                    2002    2001    2002      2001
                                   ------  ------  ------    ------
Gains on sale of real
 estate                             $ --    $ --    $4.0      $ --
Mark-to-market gains
 (losses)                             --     3.1    (0.4)     18.4
Asbestos related charges              --   (45.8)     --     (53.3)
Adjustment to environment
 liabilities                          --    (8.0)     --      (8.0)
MetalSpectrum investment
 write-off                            --    (2.8)     --      (2.8)
                                  ------  ------  ------    ------
  Special items, net                  --   (53.5)    3.6     (45.7)
All Other, net                       0.3     1.8    (1.1)      1.3
                                  ------  ------  ------    ------
  Other - net                       $0.3  $(51.7)   $2.5    $(44.4)
                                  ======  ======  ======    ======

(3) The income tax provisions for the quarter and six-month periods
    ended June 30, 2002 of $6.4 and $14.4, respectively, relate to
    foreign income taxes. For the quarter and six-month periods ended
    June 30, 2002, as a result of the Cases, the Company did not
    recognize income tax benefits for the losses incurred from its
    domestic operations or any U.S. tax benefits for foreign income
    taxes. Instead, the increases in federal and state deferred tax
    assets as a result of the losses were offset by equal increases in
    the valuation allowances.


         KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
            SELECTED OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                             (Unaudited)
         (In millions of dollars, except shipments and prices)

                               Quarter Ended         Six Months Ended
                                  June 30,                June 30,
                             ------------------     ------------------
                              2002       2001        2002      2001
                             ------     ------      ------    ------
Shipments: (000 metric tons)
  Alumina
    Third Party               648.4      664.9      1,273.6   1,328.9
    Intersegment               51.4       51.9        186.3     234.8
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
      Total Alumina           699.8      716.8      1,459.9   1,563.7
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
  Primary Aluminum
    Third party                44.7       62.8         96.0     126.7
    Intersegment                0.5        0.5          1.6       2.0
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
      Total Primary
       Aluminum                45.2       63.3         97.6     128.7
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
  Flat-Rolled Products         15.1       17.8         27.6      42.8
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
  Engineered Products          33.2       31.3         62.5      64.2
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
Average realized
 third-party sales price:
  Alumina (per ton)            $167       $190         $168      $192
  Primary aluminum (per
   pound)                      $.65       $.69         $.64      $.71
Net Sales
  Bauxite and Alumina
    Third Party (including
     net sales of bauxite)   $114.9     $132.7       $228.5    $270.3
    Intersegment                9.0        9.9         32.2      45.9
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
      Total Bauxite and
       Alumina                123.9      142.6        260.7     316.2
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
  Primary Aluminum
    Third party                64.3       96.1        135.3     199.1
    Intersegment                0.7        0.8          2.4       3.3
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
      Total Primary
       Aluminum                65.0       96.9        137.7     202.4
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
  Flat-Rolled Products         57.4       76.9        105.7     172.8
  Engineered Products         114.9      115.9        218.7     236.5
  Commodities Marketing        10.5       (1.0)        21.5      (3.6)
  Minority Interests           24.3       26.2         47.2      52.0
  Eliminations                 (9.7)     (10.7)       (34.6)    (49.2)
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
      Total Net Sales        $386.3     $446.8       $756.9    $927.1
                            =======    =======     ========  ========
Operating Income (Loss):
  Bauxite and Alumina        $(12.0)     $(6.0)      $(15.2)   $(12.8)
  Primary Aluminum             (6.8)       3.9        (10.0)      8.4
  Flat-Rolled Products         (6.9)       3.1        (16.8)      6.3
  Engineered Products           7.6        2.4         10.9       5.1
  Commodities Marketing         8.4       (7.0)        19.1      (9.0)
  Eliminations                  2.4        1.7          2.9       5.5
  Corporate and Other         (21.9)     (17.7)       (55.2)    (35.9)
  Non-Recurring Operating
   (Charges) Benefits,
   Net(1)                      (7.5)      (8.0)        (9.1)    220.2
                            -------    -------     --------  --------
      Total Operating
       Income (Loss)         $(36.7)    $(27.6)      $(73.4)   $187.8
                            =======    =======     ========  ========
 Net Income (Loss)           $(50.4)    $(64.1)     $(114.5)    $55.5
                            =======    =======     ========  ========
 Capital Expenditures         $10.4      $42.8        $19.9     $86.8
                            =======    =======     ========  ========

(1) Results for the quarter and six month periods ended June 30, 2002
    and 2001 included non-recurring operating (charges) benefits. See
    Note 1 to Statements of Consolidated Income (Loss).


         KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                       (In millions of dollars)

                                     June 30,    December 31,
                                       2002         2001
                                    ----------   ------------
        Assets (1)                  (Unaudited)

Current assets (2)                      $677.6      $759.2
Investments in and advances to
 unconsolidated affiliates                69.2        63.0
Property, plant, and
 equipment - net                       1,173.8     1,215.4
Other assets                             704.3       706.1
                                      --------    --------
  Total                               $2,624.9    $2,743.7
                                      ========    ========

       Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity (1)

Liabilities not subject to
 compromise-
 Current liabilities (3)                $368.5      $803.4
 Long-term liabilities                   102.2       919.9
 Accrued postretirement medical
  benefit obligation                        --       642.2
 Long-term debt                           42.9       700.8
Liabilities subject to compromise      2,573.9          --
Minority interests                       119.4       118.5
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity                    (582.0)     (441.1)
                                      --------    --------
     Total                            $2,624.9    $2,743.7
                                      ========    ========

(1) On February 12, 2002, the Company, KACC and 13 of KACC's
    subsidiaries filed petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11
    of the United States Federal Code. On March 15, 2002, two
    additional subsidiaries of KACC filed petitions. The balance sheet
    as of June 30, 2002, has been prepared on a "going concern"
    basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the
    liquidation of liabilities in the ordinary course of business;
    however, as a result of the Chapter 11 filings, such realization
    of assets and liquidation liabilities are subject to a significant
    number of uncertainties. Specifically, but not all inclusive, the
    balance sheet does not present: (a) the realizable value of assets
    on a liquidation basis or the availability of such assets to
    satisfy liabilities, (b) the amount which will ultimately be paid
    to settle liabilities and contingencies which may be allowed or
    (c) the effect of any changes which may occur in connection with
    the Company's capitalization or operations resulting from a plan
    of reorganization.

(2) Includes Cash and cash equivalents of $147.3 and $153.3 at June
    30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively.

(3) Includes Current portion of long-term debt of $.8 and $173.5 at
    June 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively. On February 12,
    2002, the Company and KACC entered into a $300.0 post-petition
    credit agreement with a group of lenders for debtor-in-possession
    financing (the "DIP Facility"). As of June 30, 2002, there were no
    outstanding borrowings under the DIP facility. At June 30, 2002,
    outstanding letters of credit were approximately $36.9.

Contact:
     Kaiser Aluminum, Houston
     Scott Lamb, 713/267-3826