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Investments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Investments [Abstract] |
Investments | I. Investments
December 31, |  | 2011 |  |  | 2010 |
Equity investments |  | $ | 1,524 |  |  | $ | 1,244 |
Other investments |  |  | 102 |  |  |  | 96 |
|  | $ | 1,626 |  |  | $ | 1,340 |
Equity Investments. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, Equity investments included an interest in a project to develop a fully-integrated aluminum complex in Saudi Arabia (see below), hydroelectric power projects in Brazil (see Note N), a smelter operation in Canada (25.05% of Pechiney Reynolds Quebec, Inc.), bauxite mining interests in Guinea (45% of Halco Mining, Inc.) and Brazil (18.2% of Mineração Rio do Norte S.A.), and a natural gas pipeline in Australia (see Note N). In 2011, 2010, and 2009, Alcoa received $100, $33, and $56, respectively, in dividends from its equity investments. In December 2009, Alcoa and Saudi Arabian Mining Company (known as "Ma'aden") entered into a 30-year joint venture shareholders' agreement (automatic extension for an additional 20 years, unless the parties agree otherwise or unless earlier terminated) setting forth the terms for the development, construction, ownership, and operation of an integrated bauxite mine, alumina refinery, aluminum smelter, and rolling mill, in Saudi Arabia. Specifically, the project to be developed by the joint venture will consist of: (i) a bauxite mine for the extraction of approximately 4,000 kmt of bauxite from the Al Ba'itha bauxite deposit near Quiba in the northern part of Saudi Arabia; (ii) an alumina refinery with an initial capacity of 1,800 kmt; (iii) a primary aluminum smelter with an initial capacity of 740 kmt; and (iv) a rolling mill with an initial capacity of 380 kmt. The refinery, smelter, and rolling mill will be constructed in an industrial area at Ras Al Khair (formerly Ras Az Zawr) on the east coast of Saudi Arabia. The facilities will use critical infrastructure, including power generation derived from reserves of natural gas, as well as port and rail facilities, developed by the government of Saudi Arabia. First production from the smelter and rolling mill is anticipated in 2013, and first production from the mine and refinery is expected in 2014. As initially conceived, the joint venture was to be owned 60% by Ma'aden with the other 40% being controlled by Alcoa through a special-purpose vehicle (SPV). Through this SPV arrangement, Alcoa and Aluminum Financing Limited would each have had a 20% economic interest in the joint venture. Aluminum Financing Limited's investment was in the form of subordinated, participating convertible notes issued by the SPV (the "Notes"), which had common equity rights in the SPV, and were to be converted into permanent equity at a future date based on certain conditions as defined in the underlying SPV agreement. Following the signing of the joint venture shareholders' agreement, Alcoa paid Ma'aden $80 representing the initial investment of the 40% interest in the project. This investment was included in Additions to investments on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. Aluminum Financing Limited's 50% share of the $80 was reflected as Convertible securities of subsidiary on the Consolidated Balance Sheet and in Contributions from noncontrolling interests on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. In March 2010, Alcoa and Ma'aden executed a supplement to the joint venture shareholders' agreement and modified the ownership structure such that the joint venture is now owned 74.9% by Ma'aden and 25.1% by Alcoa (Aluminum Financing Limited is no longer a participant). Concurrent with modifying the joint venture shareholders' agreement with Ma'aden, Alcoa entered into an agreement with Aluminum Financing Limited under which Alcoa redeemed the $40 in Notes, and Aluminum Financing Limited terminated all of its current and future interests in the SPV, for a payment of $60. This $60 was included in Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests on the accompanying Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. The difference between the redemption amount and the carrying value of the Notes was reflected as a reduction in Additional capital on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. Going forward, Ma'aden and Alcoa will have put and call options, respectively, whereby Ma'aden can require Alcoa to purchase from Ma'aden, or Alcoa can require Ma'aden to sell to Alcoa, a 14.9% interest in the joint venture at the then fair market value. These options may only be exercised in a six-month window that opens five years after the Commercial Production Date (as defined in the joint venture shareholders' agreement) and, if exercised, must be exercised for the full 14.9% interest. In addition, Alcoa paid $22 and $34 to Ma'aden in 2011 and 2010, respectively, representing Alcoa's pro rata share of certain agreed upon pre-incorporation costs incurred by Ma'aden before formation of the joint venture. The Alcoa affiliate that holds Alcoa's interests in the smelting company and the rolling mill company is wholly owned by Alcoa, and the Alcoa affiliate that holds Alcoa's interests in the mining and refining company is wholly owned by Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), which is owned 60% by Alcoa and 40% by Alumina Limited. Except in limited circumstances, Alcoa may not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of or encumber or enter into any agreement in respect of the votes or other rights attached to its interests in the joint venture without Ma'aden's prior written consent. A number of Alcoa employees perform various types of services for the smelting, rolling mill, and refining and mining companies as part of the construction of the fully-integrated aluminum complex. At December 31, 2011, Alcoa has an outstanding receivable of $25 from the smelting, rolling mill, and refining and mining companies for labor and other employee-related expenses. Capital investment in the project is expected to total approximately $10,800 (SAR 40.5 billion). As a result of the changes in the ownership structure described above, Alcoa's equity investment in the joint venture will be approximately $1,100 over a four-year period, and Alcoa will be responsible for its pro rata share of the joint venture's project financing. During 2011 and 2010, Alcoa contributed $249 and $160, respectively, towards the $1,100 commitment. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the carrying value of Alcoa's investment in this project, including the initial investment and respective pre-incorporation costs, was $565 and $285, respectively. In late 2010, the smelting and rolling mill companies entered into project financing totaling $4,035, of which $1,013 represents Alcoa's share (the equivalent of Alcoa's 25.1% interest in the smelting and rolling mill companies). In conjunction with the financing, Alcoa issued guarantees on behalf of the smelting and rolling mill companies to the lenders in the event that such companies default on their debt service requirements through June 2017 and December 2018, respectively, (Ma'aden issued similar guarantees for its 74.9% interest). Alcoa's guarantees for the smelting and rolling mill companies cover total debt service requirements of $108 in principal and up to a maximum of approximately $50 in interest per year (based on projected interest rates). At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the combined fair value of the guarantees was $8 and was included in Other noncurrent liabilities and deferred credits on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet. Under the project financing, a downgrade of Alcoa's credit ratings below investment grade by at least two agencies would require Alcoa to provide a letter of credit or fund an escrow account for a portion or all of Alcoa's remaining equity commitment to the joint venture project in Saudi Arabia. In late 2011, the refining and mining company entered into project financing totaling $1,992, of which $500 represents AWAC's 25.1% interest in the refining and mining company. In conjunction with the financing, Alcoa, on behalf of AWAC, issued guarantees to the lenders in the event that the refining and mining company defaults on its debt service requirements through June 2019 (Ma'aden issued similar guarantees for its 74.9% interest). Alcoa's guarantees for the refining and mining company cover total debt service requirements of $60 in principal and up to a maximum of approximately $25 in interest per year (based on projected interest rates). At December 31, 2011, the combined fair value of the guarantees was $4. In the event Alcoa would be required to make payments under the guarantees, 40% of such amount would be contributed to Alcoa by Alumina Limited, consistent with its ownership interest in AWAC. Under the project financing, a downgrade of Alcoa's credit ratings below investment grade by at least two agencies would require Alcoa to provide a letter of credit or fund an escrow account for a portion or all of Alcoa's remaining equity commitment to the joint venture project in Saudi Arabia. Power for the refinery, smelter, and rolling mill will be supplied under a gas allocation from Saudi Aramco, based on authorization of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia (the "Ministry of Petroleum"). The letter authorizing the gas allocation provides for gas to be tolled and power to be supplied to the refinery, smelter, and rolling mill from an adjacent power and water desalination plant being constructed by a company ultimately owned by the government of Saudi Arabia, with the major tolling elements fixed at cost. The gas allocation is contingent on the finalization of implementing contractual arrangements and on the achievement of certain milestones, as defined in the joint venture shareholders' agreement, and includes possible penalties if the milestones are not met, including the following: (i) potential forfeiture of a $350 letter of credit required to be provided to the Ministry of Petroleum by Ma'aden (with Alcoa responsible for its pro rata share) to ensure completion of the refinery, (ii) potential forfeiture of the gas allocation if the smelter is not completed, (iii) a potential requirement for the smelter to allocate 275 kmt of aluminum to other entities determined by the Ministry of Petroleum if the rolling mill is not constructed, and (iv) under a new version of the gas allocation (issued in early 2011), forfeiture of a $60 letter of credit if certain auxiliary rolling facilities are not completed. The parties subject to the joint venture shareholders' agreement and the SPV agreement may not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, pledge, or encumber any interests in the joint venture or SPV until certain milestones have been met as defined in both agreements. Under the joint venture shareholders' agreement, upon the occurrence of an unremedied event of default by Alcoa, Ma'aden may purchase, or, upon the occurrence of an unremedied event of default by Ma'aden, Alcoa may sell, its interest for consideration that varies depending on the time of the default. Under the SPV agreement, upon the occurrence of an unremedied event of default by Alcoa, Alcoa's right to receive distributions will be suspended. Other Investments. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, Other investments included $92 and $93, respectively, in exchange-traded fixed income and equity securities, which are classified as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income. Unrealized and realized gains and losses related to these securities were immaterial in 2011, 2010, and 2009.

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- Definition Equity investment disclosure, or group of investments for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20% of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is. This item also represents the entire disclosure related to Investments in Certain Debt and Equity Securities (and certain other trading assets) which include all debt and equity securities (other than those equity securities accounted for under the equity or cost methods of accounting) with readily determinable fair values. Other trading assets include assets that are carried on the balance sheet at fair value and held for trading purposes. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise that is in the form of a security. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities (and other trading assets). + References No definition available. + Details
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