Alcoa Corp has agreed to buy South32 Limited’s bauxite, alumina and aluminium assets in a deal worth as much as $5.6 billion, cementing its position as a top producer as long-term demand strengthens and the Iran war exposes supply concerns.
The US producer will pay $3.1 billion in cash and about $1 billion in Alcoa shares, while assuming $750 million of net debt and lease liabilities, according to statements from the companies. South32 could receive an additional $750 million if alumina and aluminium prices exceed agreed thresholds over the next four years.
Read:
Is SA pricing itself out of global manufacturing markets because of energy costs?
Eskom, South32 in talks over long-term power solution for Hillside smelter
The acquisition significantly expands Alcoa’s integrated aluminium business, strengthening its position as one of the world’s largest producers by adding assets across the entire value chain, from bauxite mining to alumina refining and aluminium smelting.
South32 said it would distribute at least half of the Alcoa stock directly to shareholders; the remainder can be sold. Its shareholders will hold about 6% of Alcoa once the deal completes.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
The deal was announced after the end of US trading on Tuesday.
Alcoa’s Sydney-listed stock fell as much as 5.4% on Wednesday, while South32 shares rose as much as 10%.
“This deal makes strategic and economic sense and is not a surprise to us, but could be a temporary overhang on Alcoa’s share price,” Jefferies LLC analyst Christopher LaFemina said in a note Wednesday.
Aluminium prices are up 3% this year after supply disruptions in the Middle East, a region accounting for nearly a 10th of global output, fueled a rally between March and May. Those gains were later pared as prospects for an end to the Iran war eased supply concerns.
A larger portfolio increases Alcoa’s exposure to growing aluminium demand from the energy transition and artificial intelligence while boosting its alumina production, a market that has experienced sharp price volatility in recent years due to supply disruptions.
Aluminium producers are positioning themselves for stronger long-term demand from electric vehicles, electricity transmission, renewable energy, packaging and aerospace. The lightweight metal has also become increasingly important in power grids because of its lower cost and lighter weight than copper, making it an attractive substitute in some transmission applications.
ADVERTISEMENT:
CONTINUE READING BELOW
Alcoa said the acquisition would lift its annual production to 3.2 million tons of aluminium and 14.8 million tons of alumina, while generating about $900 million in net present value through operational synergies. The company expects the transaction to immediately increase earnings per share and free cash flow.
The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. It comes as South32’s long serving CEO Graham Kerr steps down to be replaced by Matthew Daley, who begins in his new role on July 1.
UBS Group AG and Bank of America Corp were advisers for South32. Goldman Sachs Group Inc advised Alcoa.
South32 was itself a spin off from BHP Group in 2015. It will now hold copper, manganese and zinc-lead-silver assets.
© 2026 Bloomberg
#giant #Alcoa #5.6bn #South32 #deal