RNS Number:0017P
Alcan Inc
19 December 2001

Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



      Alcan announces Additional Restructuring Measures and the Sale of

                    Glass and Pharmatech Packaging assets



Montreal, Canada - December 19, 2001 - Alcan Inc. today announced additional
components of the restructuring program outlined on October 17, 2001, with a
series of plant closures and divestments. The Company also announced its
intention to sell its glass and Pharmatech packaging assets.


Under its restructuring program, Alcan will close, within the next three
months, two facilities in Canada and one facility in the United States. In
addition, the Company will divest its extrusion operations in Malaysia and
Thailand.


The details of the restructuring are as follows:


  * Alcan's foil fabrication plant located in St-Laurent, Quebec will close
    as of February 2002 with all operations transferred to the Company's foil
    fabrication plant in Toronto, Ontario. Twenty employees will be affected
    by this closure.


  * Alcan will consolidate its Weston, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario food
    flexible packaging plants under one roof at the existing Weston plant. A
    workforce reduction of 30 employees will involve both salaried and hourly
    employees.

  * Alcan will close its food flexible plant in Carson, California, which
    employs 40 people.


  * Alcan will divest its extrusion operations in Malaysia. The divestment
    process is currently in the due diligence phase, with expected completion
    of the sale in the first quarter of 2002. This facility currently employs
    220 people.


  * Alcan will also divest its extrusion operations in Thailand. The due
    diligence has been completed and the sale and purchase agreement is
    expected to be signed by the end of the year. The divestment is expected
    to be completed by the end of February 2002. This facility currently
    employs 240 employees.


These measures are part of the Company's October restructuring announcement
and five to seven percent overall workforce reductions.


Sale of Packaging Assets


As part of the Company's program aimed at maximizing value, Alcan Inc. will
sell several businesses in the United States and China.


The details of these measures include:


  * Alcan has signed a letter of intent to sell its glass packaging
    operations in Park Hills, Missouri; Mays Landing, Williamstown and
    Millville (two plants), New Jersey, as well as the Company's 46%-owned
    joint venture in Beijing, China to Stolzle Oberglas, an Austrian packaging
    manufacturer.


  * Alcan today has entered into an agreement to sell its two Pharmatech
    rubber stopper and aluminum seals operations located in Salisbury,
    Maryland to Helvoet Pharma, a worldwide manufacturer of pharmaceutical
    closures with headquarters in Belgium.


Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in
aluminum and specialty packaging with annual revenues of approximately US$13
billion. With world-class operations in primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum
as well as flexible and specialty packaging, Alcan is well positioned to meet
and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan
employs approximately 48,000 people and has operating facilities in 36
countries.


Statements made in this press release which describe the Company's intentions,
expectations or predictions may be forward-looking statements within the
meaning statements involve risk and uncertainty and that the Company's results
could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
Reference should be made to the most recent Form 10-Q for a summary of major
risk factors.


                                     -30-

Media Contact:     Marc Osborne


                   +1 (514) 848-1342

Investor Contact:  Michael Hanley


                   +1 (514) 848-8368
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