SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 or 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K dated March 20, 2003
Commission File No. 1-14110
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PECHINEY
(Name of Registrant)
7, Place du Chancelier Adenauer
75218 Paris Cedex 16
France
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F: |X| Form 40-F: |_|
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes: |_| No: |X|
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- __________
Enclosure: A press release dated March 19, 2003, announcing the suspension of
activity at the Auzat Smelting Workshop
PRESS RELEASE
[PECHINEY LOGO] [GRAPHIC OMITTED]
March 19, 2003
Activity to be suspended at Auzat Smelting Workshop
Paris, France, March 19, 2003: The management of the Auzat plant (Ariege,
France) a Pechiney Group subsidiary dedicated to the production of aluminum, has
decided for safety reasons to begin operations on March 19 to suspend the
activity of the plant's smelting workshop.
This measure follows an electrification accident occurred outside one of the
potline rooms, on March 3, 2003. An extraordinary health, safety & working
conditions committee meeting was convened by the plant's management on March 11,
2003. In a letter on March 17, the workplace inspectorate requested that
employees be removed from the risk situation to which they were exposed, if
necessary by the smelter's stoppage. Given these factors, the plant's management
decided to suspend the activity of the smelting workshop to ensure the safety of
the personnel concerned.
The Aluminium Pechiney employees concerned by the stoppage will be asked to take
vacations or be assigned temporarily to other tasks in the Auzat plant or other
aluminum production units.
The Sabart plant, Auzat's main customer, has taken the necessary measures to
ensure a temporary supply of metal.
The Auzat plant's health, safety & working conditions committee and the site's
works council were informed of the decision. The Aluminium Pechiney central
works council will also be informed.
The Auzat plant in Ariege, France belongs to Aluminium Pechiney, a Pechiney
Group subsidiary, and is dedicated to the production of aluminum by smelting (48
Kt annual production). As of December 31, 2002, the plant employed 214 people.
Its closure, for economic reasons and because of the obsolescence of its
technology, is planned for the summer of 2003. This closure project is the
subject of an information and consultation procedure with employee
representation bodies, which began on January 29, 2003 and will continue
according to the planned schedule.
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Certain statements in this press release that describe Pechiney's intentions,
expectations or projections may constitute forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause Pechiney's actual results, performance or
achievement to be materially different from its intentions, expectations or
projections. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as
of its date and Pechiney undertakes no obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Investor Relations Contacts: Press Contacts:
Charles L. Ranunkel Tel: 33 1 56 28 25 07 Chrystele Ivins: Tel: 33 1 56 28 24 18
Catherine Paupelin Tel: 33 1 56 28 25 08 chrystele.ivins@pechiney.com
Jerome Gaudry Tel: 33 1 56 28 25 23
Fax 33 1 56 28 33 38 Stephan Giraud: Tel: 33 1 56 28 24 19
stephan.giraud@pechiney.com
PECHINEY
7, place du Chancelier Adenauer
75116 Paris
e-mail: Pechiney-IR-Team@pechiney.com
Internet: http://www.pechiney.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
Pechiney has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 20, 2003 PECHINEY
By: /s/ OLIVIER MALLET
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Name: Olivier MALLET
Title: Chief Financial Officer