Alcan Rated Top Performer in Innovest's 2007 Global Metals and Mining Sector Report

02/08/2007 22:29



PR Newswire



MONTREAL, Canada, August 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Company Attains AAA Rating for its Environmental, Social and Governance Practices and Performance

Alcan has been rated the top metals and mining company in a recently released report by Innovest Strategic Value Advisors. The report analyzed the environmental, social and governance practices and performance of the world's 57 largest mining and metals companies (based on market capitalization) and ranked Alcan first with an AAA rating for 2007.

"Alcan is pleased to be recognized as having the mining and metals sector's strongest environmental, social and governance practices and performance record, an honour that reflects the significant efforts of all of our 68,000 employees around the world," said Dick Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Inc.

The report draws on the findings of Innovest's global review of the industry and its companies, based on the key pillars of strategic governance, human capital, stakeholder capital and environmental performance. The report assigns Innovest's Intangible Value Assessment (IVA) ratings on all companies using its seven tier rating scale ranging from AAA (highest) to CCC (lowest).

"At Alcan, two of our highest priorities are the health and safety of our employees and the stewardship of our environment and the communities in which we operate. To be ranked first out of the major metals and mining companies worldwide for our governance and environmental efforts is an important recognition of the Company's commitment to long-term sustainable, profitable growth," said Mr. Evans.

In 2003, Alcan implemented EHS FIRST, a key component of Alcan's Integrated Management System (AIMS), as the framework and mindset through which the Company's commitment to putting environment, health and safety first is translated into recordable and measurable actions.

Between 1990 and 2005, Alcan's total GHG emission intensity was reduced by 25 percent. The Company recently committed to a further 10 percent reduction in direct C02 equivalent emissions intensity from 2006 to 2010. Alcan has also been a leader in the climate change debate: the Company chaired the Executive Forum on Climate Change in 2005; took part in the Carbon Disclosure Project; joined the United States Climate Action Partnership; and recently signed the UN Global Compact's
"Caring for Climate" statement.

Innovest Strategic Value Advisors was founded in 1995 with the mission of integrating sustainability and finance by identifying non-traditional sources of risk and value potential for investors. Its analysis is designed to assist its clients in constructing and managing portfolios that out-perform the market. Innovest does this by tracking company performance and strategic positioning on over 120 factors that are not captured or explained by the traditional, accounting-driven securities analysis.

Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) is a leading global materials company, delivering high quality products and services worldwide. With world-class technology and operations in bauxite mining, alumina processing, primary metal smelting, power generation, aluminum fabrication, engineered solutions as well as flexible and specialty packaging today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs. Alcan is represented by 68,000 employees, including its joint-ventures, in 61 countries and regions, and posted revenues of US$23.6 billion in 2006. The Company has featured on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index consecutively since 2003. For more information, please visit: http://www.alcan.com/.
For further information: Media Contact: Bryan Tucker, +1-514-848-8511, media.relations@alcan.com; Investor Contact: Ulf Quellmann, +1-514-848-8368, investor.relations@alcan.com