CHICAGO, IL -- (Marketwired) -- 10/29/14 -- Century Aluminum Company (NASDAQ: CENX) reported net income of $50.4 million or $0.52 per common share for the third quarter of 2014 on higher aluminum prices and lower power prices in the Midwestern U.S.

Sales for the third quarter of 2014 were $500.6 million compared with $399.9 million for the third quarter of 2013. Shipments of primary aluminum for the third quarter of 2014 were 218,214 tonnes compared with 212,797 tonnes shipped in the third quarter of 2013.

For the third quarter of 2013, Century reported a net loss of $9.5 million or $0.11 per common share. Cost of sales for the year-ago quarter included a $5.8 million benefit for lower inventory costs and an $11.7 million benefit for deferred power contract liability amortization.

For the first nine months of 2014, the company reported net income of $50.6 million or $0.52 per common share. Cost of sales for the first nine months included a benefit of $5.5 million related to power contract amortization and $1.2 million for lower inventory costs. Results were negatively impacted by $3.6 million for a legal settlement.

Sales for the first nine months of 2014 were $1,379.8 million compared with $1,053.1 million in the same period of 2013. Shipments of primary aluminum for the first nine months of 2014 were 641,043 tonnes compared with 547,843 tonnes for the comparable 2013 period.

For the first nine months of 2013, the company reported a net loss of $30.6 million or $0.35 per common share. Results for the first nine months of 2013 were positively impacted by an unrealized gain of $16.2 million primarily related to an LME-based contingent obligation, a gain on bargain purchase of $5.3 million and deferred power contract liability amortization of $14.5 million. Results were negatively impacted by a non-cash charge of $3.3 million for the early extinguishment of our 8.0% Senior Notes and a charge of $4.7 million for severance and other expenses related to our corporate headquarters relocation. Cost of sales for the first nine months of 2013 included a $10.3 million charge for lower of cost or market inventory adjustments.

"Global economic and capital market conditions remain volatile and somewhat uncertain," commented Michael Bless, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Markets have been buffeted by recent weakness in the euro zone economies and by continuing soft data from China; various geopolitical concerns also continue to weigh. In contrast, fundamental conditions in our markets appear robust. In primary metal, we see incremental demand outstripping planned new supply for the foreseeable future. The markets in which we participate are facing even more acute shortages in the value-added products required to serve sectors forecasting strong growth. It is in this context that we are targeting our efforts."

Mr. Bless continued, "Our operations generally performed well during the quarter. Safety performance continued to improve, though we are still running below the excellent levels reached during the last few years. Power prices in the U.S. Midwest continued their downward trend from the beginning of the year. Plant operating performance was generally good, although Hawesville continued to experience pot instability caused by the power modulations we experienced several months ago. Hawesville's performance has improved during recent weeks."

"We are excited about the pending acquisition of the remaining interest in Mt. Holly," concluded Mr. Bless. "This is an excellent plant with a superb group of employees, located in a great community. The challenge of a long-term electric power structure remains, and we will be hard at work on this critical issue over the coming months. Assuming an acceptable solution, we see Mt. Holly as being well positioned to compete in the growing market opportunities in North America. This acquisition will complement the developments at all of our operating facilities as well as the hoped for restart of our smelter in Ravenswood, WV."

About Century Aluminum

Century Aluminum Company owns primary aluminum capacity in the United States and Iceland. Century's corporate offices are located in Chicago, IL. Visit www.centuryaluminum.com for more information.

Certified Advisors for the First North market of the OMX Nordic Exchange Iceland hf. for Global Depositary Receipts in Iceland:

Atli B. Gudmundsson, Senior Manager -- Corporate Finance, Landsbankinn hf.
Steingrimur Helgason, Director -- Corporate Finance, Landsbankinn hf.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements about future events and are based on our current expectations. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "target," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "seek," "estimate," "potential," "project," "scheduled," "forecast" or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," "might," or "may." Our forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to: future global and local financial and economic conditions; our assessment of the aluminum market and aluminum prices (including premiums); the future financial and operating performance of the Company, its subsidiaries and its projects; future earnings, operating results and liquidity; future inventory, production, sales, cash costs and capital expenditures; access to existing or future financing arrangements; our ability to successfully manage transmission issues and wholesale market power price risk and to control or reduce power costs; our assessment of power pricing and our ability to successfully obtain and/or implement long-term competitive power arrangements for our operations and projects; future construction investment and development, including at the Helguvik Project, the Vlissingen project and our expansion project at Grundartangi, including our discussions regarding securing sufficient amounts of power, future capital expenditures, the costs of completion or cancellation, timing, production capacity and sources of funding; our ability to successfully complete and derive benefit from the acquisition of Mt. Holly; and whether or not we are able to restart the Ravenswood plant.

Where we express an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, our forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by those forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results and events to differ from those described in such forward-looking statements can be found in the risk factors and forward-looking statements cautionary language contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we have attempted to identify those material factors that could cause actual results or events to differ from those described in such forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause results or events to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts

Kenny Barkley (media)
270-577-2070

Rick Dillon (investors)
312-696-3144

Source: Century Aluminum Company

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