This Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") provides information that management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations ofCentury Aluminum Company and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto. This MD&A contains "forward-looking statements" - see "Forward-Looking Statements" above. Overview We are a global producer of primary aluminum with aluminum reduction facilities, or "smelters," inthe United States andIceland . The key determinants of our results of operations and cash flow from operations are as follows: • the price of primary aluminum, which is based on theLondon Metal Exchange
("LME") and other exchanges, plus any regional premiums and value-added
product premiums;
• the cost of goods sold, the principal components of which are electrical
power, alumina, carbon products and labor, which in aggregate represent
more than 75% of our cost of goods sold; and
• our production volume.
Recent Developments InDecember 2019 , an outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, was identified inWuhan, China . Since then, COVID-19 has spread across the globe and has subsequently been recognized as a pandemic by theWorld Health Organization . While the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still unknown, the virus has already disrupted the global economy and resulted in lower prices and decreased demand for our products. For example, the average LME price for primary aluminum has fallen from an average of$1,792 per tonne in 2019 to$1,690 /MT for the quarter endedMarch 31, 2020 and$1,457 /MT forApril 2020 . Because we sell our product on a one- to three-month lag to current prices, the impact of this pricing on our financial results will not be fully reflected until future periods. While decreases in the prices of our key cost inputs are expected to partially offset the impact of decreased aluminum prices on our financial results, we have also implemented a number of other measures to help mitigate the operating and financial impact of the pandemic. Such actions include reducing discretionary spending, optimizing working capital and deferring non-essential capital projects. Our plants have maintained their pre-pandemic production rates, and we continue to sell all of our metal essentially as it is cast. We have not experienced material customer cancellations and do not currently expect a build-up of inventory in future periods. However, due to changes in customer orders related to the pandemic, we have recently moved our product mix to a higher proportion of standard products, which is expected to lower somewhat the average premium received for our products as compared to prior periods. In addition, as a precautionary measure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, inMarch 2020 we drew down a total of approximately$90.0 million under ourU.S. andIceland revolving credit facilities, the proceeds of which are available, if needed, for working capital, general corporate or other purposes. The ultimate extent of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations and financial performance is highly uncertain and will depend on future developments, and such effects could exist for an extended period of time. Due to the above circumstances and as described generally in this Form 10-Q, our results of operations for the three month period endedMarch 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year. See Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Report and Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 for additional information. Results of Operations The following discussion for the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 reflects restart activity atHawesville and no change in production capacities at our other operating facilities. Our net sales are impacted primarily by the LME price for aluminum, regional and value-added premiums, and the volume and product mix of aluminum we ship during the period. In general, our results reflect the LME and regional premium pricing on an approximately one to three month lag basis reflecting contractual terms with our customers. 35 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Electrical power, alumina, carbon products and labor are the principal components of our cost of goods sold. In general, our results reflect the market cost of alumina on an approximately three month lag reflecting the terms of our alumina contracts and inventory levels. Three months ended March 31, 2020 2019 (in millions, except per share data) NET SALES: Related parties $ 271.0$ 311.3 Other customers 150.2 178.7 Total net sales 421.2 490.0 Gross profit (loss) 4.8 (12.8 ) Net income (loss) (2.7 ) (34.6 ) EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE: Basic and Diluted $ (0.03 )$ (0.39 )
SHIPMENTS - PRIMARY ALUMINUM(1)
United States Iceland Total Net Sales (in Net Sales (in Net Sales (in Tonnes millions) Tonnes millions) Tonnes millions) 2020 1st Quarter 129,114$ 273.8 73,791$ 141.0 202,905$ 414.8 2019 1st Quarter 130,043$ 313.3 76,408$ 159.3 206,451$ 472.6
(1) Excludes scrap aluminum sales and alumina sales.
Net sales (in millions) 2020 2019
Three months ended
Net sales for the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 decreased by$68.8 million compared to the same period in 2019, primarily driven by unfavorable LME and regional premiums of$44.0 million and unfavorable volume and product mix impacts of$14.8 million . Gross profit (loss) (in millions) 2020 2019 Three months ended March 31,$ 4.8 $ (12.8 ) Gross profit for the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 increased compared to the same period in 2019 primarily due to favorable raw material prices of$47.2 million , favorable power prices of$15.1 million , and lower production costs due to decreased volume and sales mix of$9.4 million . The favorable impacts were offset by unfavorable LME and regional premiums of$44.0 million and unfavorable operating expenses of$5.0 million .
Selling, general and administrative expenses (in millions) 2020 2019
Three months ended
$ 8.9 $ 14.7 Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 decreased by$5.8 million compared to the same period in 2019 primarily driven by a decrease in compensation costs. 36 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on forward and derivative contracts (in millions) 2020
2019 Three months ended March 31,$ 3.8 $ (5.7 ) For the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 , we recorded gains of$3.8 million on our forward and derivative contracts compared to losses of$(5.7) million for the three months endedMarch 31, 2019 primarily due to decreases in LME forward prices, offset by decreases inNord Pool forward prices.
Income tax benefit (expense) (in millions) 2020 2019
Three months ended
$ 2.8 $ 2.9 We have a valuation allowance against all of ourU.S. and certain foreign deferred tax assets. The period to period change is primarily due to the change in earnings at our foreign entities that are not subject to a valuation allowance. See Note 7. Income Taxes to the consolidated financial statements included herein for additional information. Liquidity and Capital Resources Liquidity Our principal sources of liquidity are available cash and cash flow from operations. We also have access to our existing revolving credit facilities and have raised capital in the past through public equity and debt markets. We regularly explore various other financing alternatives. Our principal uses of cash include the funding of operating costs (including post-retirement benefits), debt service requirements, capital expenditures, investments in our growth activities and in related businesses, working capital and other general corporate requirements. We believe that cash provided from operations and financing will be adequate to cover our operations and business needs over the next 12 months. As ofMarch 31, 2020 , we had cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately$147.6 million and unused availability under our revolving credit facilities of$55.5 million , resulting in a total liquidity position of approximately$203.1 million . As noted above, we have also taken preemptive action to preserve our liquidity and manage our cash flow, such as reducing our discretionary spending and optimizing working capital. We believe that we could also access the financial markets to sell long-term debt or equity securities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic could continue to create uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets which may impact our ability to access capital and/or the terms under which we can do so. Adverse changes in the price of aluminum or our principal costs of production could also materially impact our ability to generate and raise cash. As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and our operations is fluid and constantly evolving, we will continue to assess a variety of measures to improve our financial performance and liquidity. Such measures might include cuts to discretionary spending and other variable costs as well as possible reductions of our production volumes. See Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors of this Report and Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year endedDecember 31, 2019 for additional information. Available Cash Our available cash and cash equivalents balance atMarch 31, 2020 was$147.6 million compared to$38.9 million atDecember 31, 2019 . 37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sources and Uses of Cash Our statements of cash flows are summarized below: Three months ended March 31, 2020 2019 (in millions)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
(5.9 ) (10.6 ) Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 81.0
15.4
Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
The increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily driven by a decrease in net loss and a favorable change in accounts receivable due to the timing of collection.
The decrease in net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to
higher spending on capital projects during the three months ended
The increase in net cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to outstanding borrowings on ourU.S. revolving credit facility andIceland revolving credit facility atMarch 31, 2020 compared toMarch 31, 2019 . Borrowings on our revolving credit facilities are available, if needed, for working capital requirements, general corporate or other purposes. Availability Under Our Credit Facilities TheU.S. revolving credit facility, datedMay 2018 , provides for borrowings of up to$175.0 million in the aggregate including up to$110.0 million under a letter of credit sub-facility, and also includes an uncommitted accordion feature whereby borrowers may increase the capacity of theU.S. revolving credit facility by up to$50.0 million , subject to agreement with the lenders. TheU.S. revolving credit facility matures on the earlier ofMay 2023 or six months before the stated maturity of our outstanding secured notes. Based on the current maturity date for our outstanding secured notes ofJune 1, 2021 , the maturity date for theU.S. revolving credit facility would beDecember 1, 2020 . Upon a refinancing of our outstanding secured notes, the maturity date of ourU.S. revolving credit facility will extend toMay 2023 . Any letters of credit issued and outstanding under theU.S. revolving credit facility reduce our borrowing availability on a dollar-for-dollar basis. We have also entered into, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Nordural Grundartangi ehf ("Grundartangi"), a$50.0 million revolving credit facility, datedNovember 2013 , as amended. TheIceland revolving credit facility matures inNovember 2022 . The availability of funds under our credit facilities is limited by a specified borrowing base consisting of certain accounts receivable, inventory and qualified cash deposits which meet the lenders' eligibility criteria. Restarts of previously curtailed operations, for example, increase our borrowing base by increasing our accounts receivable and inventory balances; curtailment of production capacity would decrease our borrowing base by reducing our accounts receivable and inventory balances. As ofMarch 31, 2020 , ourU.S. revolving credit facility had a borrowing base of$133.8 million ,$45.0 million in borrowings and$38.3 million in letters of credit outstanding. Of the outstanding letters of credit,$20.6 million related to our domestic power commitments and the remainder secured certain debt and workers' compensation commitments. As ofMarch 31, 2020 , ourIceland revolving credit facility had a borrowing base of$50.0 million and$45.0 million in borrowings. As ofMarch 31, 2020 , our credit facilities had$55.5 million of net availability after consideration of our outstanding borrowings and letters of credit. We may borrow and make repayments under our credit facilities in the ordinary course based on a number of factors, including the timing of payments from our customers and payments to our suppliers. Our credit facilities contain customary covenants, including restrictions on mergers and acquisitions, indebtedness, affiliate transactions, liens, dividends and distributions, dispositions of collateral, investments and prepayments of indebtedness, including, a springing financial covenant that requires us to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 any time availability under theU.S. revolving credit facility is less than or equal to the lower of$17.5 million or 10% of the borrowing base but not less than$12.5 million . We intend to maintain availability to comply with these levels any time we 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- would not meet the ratio, which could limit our ability to access the full amount of our availability under ourU.S revolving credit facility. OurIceland revolving credit facility also contains a covenant that requires Grundartangi to maintain a minimum equity ratio. As ofMarch 31, 2020 , we were in compliance with all such covenants. Senior Secured Notes We have$250.0 million aggregate principal of 7.5% senior secured notes that will mature inJune 2021 ("2021 Notes"), unless earlier refinanced in accordance with their terms. Interest on the 2021 Notes is payable semi-annually. The indenture governing the 2021 Notes contains customary covenants which may limit our ability, and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries, to: (i) incur additional debt; (ii) incur additional liens; (iii) pay dividends or make distributions in respect of capital stock; (iv) purchase or redeem capital stock; (v) make investments or certain other restricted payments; (vi) sell assets; (vii) issue or sell stock of certain subsidiaries; (viii) enter into transactions with shareholders or affiliates; and (ix) effect a consolidation or merger. Hawesville Term Loan OnApril 29, 2019 , we entered into a term loan agreement withGlencore Ltd. pursuant to which the Company borrowed$40.0 million (the "Hawesville Term Loan"). Borrowings under the Hawesville Term Loan were used to partially finance the second phase of theHawesville restart project. The Hawesville Term Loan matures onDecember 31, 2021 , and is to be repaid in twenty-four (24) equal monthly installments of principal that began onJanuary 31, 2020 . TheHawesville Term Loan bears interest, due monthly, at a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 5.375% per annum. The Hawesville Term Loan is not secured by any collateral. Contingent Commitments We have a contingent obligation in connection with the "unwind" of a contractual arrangement betweenCentury Aluminum of Kentucky ("CAKY"), Big Rivers and a third party and the execution of a long-term cost-based power contract withKenergy , a member of a cooperative of Big Rivers inJuly 2009 . This contingent obligation consists of the aggregate payments made to Big Rivers by the third party on CAKY's behalf in excess of the agreed upon base amount under the long-term cost-based power contract withKenergy . As ofMarch 31, 2020 , the principal and accrued interest for the contingent obligation was$25.6 million , which was fully offset by a derivative asset. We may be required to make installment payments for the contingent obligation in the future. These payments are contingent based on the LME price of primary aluminum and the level ofHawesville's operations. Based on the LME forward market atMarch 31, 2020 and management's estimate of the LME forward market beyond the quoted market period, we believe that we will not be required to make payments on the contingent obligation during the term of the agreement, which expires in 2028. There can be no assurance that circumstances will not change, thus accelerating the timing of such payments. Employee Benefit Plan Contributions In 2013, we entered into a settlement agreement with thePension Benefit Guarantee Corporation ("PBGC") regarding an alleged "cessation of operations" at our Ravenswood facility. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, we will make additional contributions (above any minimum required contributions) to our defined benefit pension plans totaling approximately$17.4 million . Under certain circumstances, in periods of lower primary aluminum prices relative to our cost of operations, we are able to defer one or more of these payments, but would then be required to provide the PBGC with acceptable security for deferred payments. We did not make any contributions in the three month periods endedMarch 31, 2020 and 2019. We have elected to defer certain payments under the PBGC agreement and have provided the PBGC with the appropriate security. The remaining contributions under this agreement are approximately$9.6 million . Section 232 Aluminum Tariff OnMarch 23, 2018 , theU.S. implemented a 10% tariff on imported primary aluminum products into theU.S. These tariffs are intended to protectU.S. national security by incentivizing the restart of primary aluminum production in theU.S. , reducing reliance on imports and ensuring that domestic producers, like Century, can supply all the aluminum necessary for critical industries and national defense. In addition to primary aluminum products, the tariffs also cover certain other semi-finished products. All imports that directly compete with our products are covered by the tariff, with the exception of imports fromAustralia ,Argentina ,Canada andMexico or imports that receive a product exclusion from theDepartment of Commerce . Other Items We previously announced our intention to return ourHawesville smelter to full production and upgrade its existing reduction technology. We project that the total cash requirements for the restart project, including the technology upgrade, will be approximately$150.0 million from the commencement of the project in 2018 through its completion. The first phase of the 39 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- project, which involved the restart of the three potlines that had been curtailed in 2015, was successfully completed on budget and ahead of schedule in early 2019. This restart of 150,000 tonnes of curtailed production cost approximately$75.0 million . The second phase is expected to cost an additional$75.0 million and involves the rebuilding of the pots associated with the 100,000 tonnes of production from the two potlines that had continued to operate past their expected life cycle and implementation of certain new technology across all production. The rebuild of the first of these potlines was approximately 50% completed as ofMarch 31, 2020 and is expected to be fully completed in the second quarter of 2020. The rebuild of the fifth and final potline and the completion of the technology upgrades is expected to be completed over the next several years subject to market conditions. TheHawesville smelter is currently operating at approximately 80% production capacity. InMay 2018 , we temporarily curtailed one potline at ourSebree aluminum smelter due to an equipment failure.Sebree was returned to full capacity by the end of the third quarter of 2018. We expect that all losses arising from theSebree equipment failure will be covered under our insurance policies, less$7.0 million in deductibles. As ofMarch 31, 2020 , we have received$18.5 million in insurance proceeds to offset against such losses. In 2011, our Board of Directors approved a$60.0 million common stock repurchase program and subsequently increased this program by$70.0 million in the first quarter of 2015. Under the program, Century is authorized to repurchase up to$130.0 million of our outstanding shares of common stock, from time to time, on the open market at prevailing market prices, in block trades or otherwise. The timing and amount of any shares repurchased will be determined by our management based on its evaluation of market conditions, the trading price of our common stock and other factors. We made no repurchases during the years ended 2017, 2018, and 2019, and the quarter endedMarch 31, 2020 . As ofMarch 31, 2020 we had$43.7 million remaining under the repurchase program authorization. The repurchase program may be expanded, suspended or discontinued by our Board, in its sole discretion, at any time. InNovember 2009 ,Century Aluminum ofWest Virginia ("CAWV") filed a class action complaint for declaratory judgment against the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial andService Workers International Union ("USW"), the USW's local and certain CAWV retirees, individually and as class representatives ("CAWV Retirees"), seeking a declaration of CAWV's rights to modify/terminate retiree medical benefits. Later inNovember 2009 , the USW and representatives of a retiree class filed a separate suit against CAWV,Century Aluminum Company , Century Aluminum Master Welfare Benefit Plan, and various John Does with respect to the foregoing. OnAugust 18, 2017 , theDistrict Court for the Southern District of West Virginia approved a settlement agreement in respect of these actions. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, CAWV agreed to make payments into a trust for the benefit of the CAWV Retirees in the aggregate amount of$23.0 million over the course of ten years. Upon approval of the settlement, we paid$5.0 million to the aforementioned trust inSeptember 2017 and agreed to pay the remaining amounts under the settlement agreement in annual increments of$2.0 million for nine years. AtMarch 31, 2020 , we had$2.0 million in other current liabilities and$8.9 million in other liabilities related to this agreement. We are a defendant in several actions relating to various aspects of our business. While it is impossible to predict the ultimate disposition of any litigation, we do not believe that any of these lawsuits, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. See Note 10. Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements included herein for additional information. Capital Resources We intend to finance our future capital expenditures from available cash, cash flow from operations and if necessary, borrowing under our existing revolving credit facilities. For major investment projects we would likely seek financing from various capital and loan markets, and may potentially pursue the formation of strategic alliances. We may be unable, however, to issue additional debt or equity securities, or enter into other financing arrangements on attractive terms, or at all, due to a number of factors including a lack of demand, unfavorable pricing, poor economic conditions, unfavorable interest rates, or our financial condition or credit rating at the time. Future uncertainty in theU.S. and international markets and economies may adversely affect our liquidity, our ability to access the debt or capital markets and our financial condition. Capital expenditures incurred for the three months endedMarch 31, 2020 were$3.7 million , excluding expenditures of$3.5 million associated with the restart project atHawesville . We estimate our total capital spending in 2020, excluding theHawesville restart project, will be approximately$10.0 million related to ongoing investment projects at our plants. 40
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