Alcan sells two packaging assets

September 6, 2005

Paris, France –  Alcan Inc. (NYSE, TSX: AL) announced today two sales in its packaging group: Alcan Packaging Sutton Ltd. in the U.K. and the Italian Laffon plant. These divestments are part of an on-going review of its business to continue to focus on its core activities.

"Alcan's strategy is to direct its investments to those areas in which it has a differentiated product offering," said Christel Bories, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alcan Packaging. "These transactions should give both companies the focused organization and support they need to grow in their respective markets," she added.

Alcan Packaging Sutton Ltd. has been sold to the Impress Group, a leading inteational provider of metal packaging for food, seafood, paints and coatings, and aerosols. Alcan Packaging Sutton Ltd. employs 310 people at its Nottinghamshire site and is a major supplier of tinplate cans and ends to the U.K. pet food and food industry, and a major supplier of decorated tinplate containers. It has sales of approximately €60 million in 2004.

Located in Venegono, the Laffon plant has been sold to its General Manager, Luca Rossi. It employs 115 people and manufactures mass-market stock compacts (pressed powder packaging).

Terms of both transactions were not disclosed.

Alcan is a multinational, market-driven company and a global leader in aluminium and packaging. With world-class operations in primary aluminium, fabricated aluminium as well as flexible and specialty packaging, aerospace applications, bauxite mining and alumina processing, today's Alcan is well positioned to meet and exceed its customers' needs for innovative solutions and service. Alcan employs almost 70,000 people and has operating facilities in 55 countries and regions.

Canec Inteational initiated and facilitated the Laffon transaction, actng as exclusive advisor to Alcan.