cenx_form11-k.htm

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 11-K
 

                 (Mark One)

x
Annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
  
 
 
OR
 
  
o
Transition report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the transition period from ________ to __________
  

Commission File Number   0-27918

 
A.     
Full title of the Plan and the address of the Plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
 
2511 Garden Road
Building A, Suite 200
Monterey, California  93940
 

 
B.
Name of issuer of the common stock issued pursuant to the Plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Century Aluminum Company
2511 Garden Road
Building A, Suite 200
Monterey, California  93940
 



CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
   
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
1
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005:
  
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
2
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
3
Notes to Financial Statements
4-10
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 —
11
Form 5500, Schedule H, Part IV, Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
12
   
NOTE:   All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.
  

 


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
To the Trustees and Participants of Century Aluminum 401(k) Plan:

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Century Aluminum 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2006, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Such schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the basic 2006 financial statements and in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic 2006 financial statements taken as a whole.
 
/s/ Deloitte and Touche LLP
 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 27, 2007

-1-


 
CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
            
             
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
            
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
  
 
    
 
  
             
   
2006
    
2005
  
ASSETS:
            
Investments at fair value:
            
Investments in mutual funds
   $
27,334,786
     $
25,271,748
  
Century Aluminum Company Stock
    
3,885,084
      
3,177,148
  
Guaranteed investment funds
    
3,680,441
       --   
Participant loans
    
1,251,362
      
1,085,197
  
                 
Total investments
    
36,151,673
      
29,534,093
  
                 
Receivables:
                
Employee contributions
    
73,202
      
40,612
  
Employer contributions
    
2,120
      
1,529
  
                 
Total receivables
    
75,322
      
42,141
  
                 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR  BENEFITS AT FAIR VALUE
    
36,226,995
      
29,576,234
  
                 
ADJUSTMENT FROM FAIR VALUE TO CONTRACT VALUE FOR FULLY BENEFIT-RESPONSIVE INVESTMENT CONTRACTS
    
31,552
      
--
  
                 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR  BENEFITS
   $
36,258,547
     $
29,576,234
  
                 
See notes to financial statements.
                

 

-2-

 
 
CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
            
             
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
        
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005
  
 
    
 
  
             
   
2006
    
2005
  
             
             
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Beginning of year
   $
29,576,234
     $
26,803,371
  
                 
ADDITIONS:
                
Investment income:
                
Net appreciation in fair value
    
4,201,089
      
1,265,568
  
Interest and dividends
    
1,318,027
      
714,260
  
                 
Net investment income
    
5,519,116
      
1,979,828
  
                 
Employee contributions
    
3,447,659
      
3,161,472
  
Employer contributions
    
558,432
      
561,518
  
                 
Total additions
    
9,525,207
      
5,702,818
  
                 
DEDUCTIONS:
                
Benefit payments
    
2,842,476
      
2,928,866
  
Net transfers
    
418
      
1,089
  
                 
NET CHANGE
    
6,682,313
      
2,772,863
  
                 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — End of year
   $
36,258,547
     $
29,576,234
  
                 
See notes to financial statements.
                
 

 

-3-

CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
 
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF AND FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND 2005

1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
 
The following brief description of the Century Aluminum 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for more complete description of the Plan’s provisions. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
 
General— The Plan, established June 1, 1989, is a defined contribution plan for all salaried employees of Century Aluminum Company (the “Company”), Century Aluminum of West Virginia, Inc., all salaried and hourly employees of Century Aluminum of Kentucky, LLC and all other employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Company. Effective January 3, 2006, the Company elected to change its trustee to T. Rowe Price. During 2005, the Plan’s trustee was Mercer Trust Company.
 
Contributions— Plan participants can elect to have the Company defer up to 100% of their compensation subject to limitations as determined by Internal Revenue Service regulations for the purpose of making pre-tax contributions to the Plan. Annual plan pre-tax contributions were limited to $15,000 and $14,000 for 2006 and 2005, respectively; participants 50 years of age or over may make additional catch-up contributions of $5,000 and $4,000 for 2006 and 2005, respectively.
 
The Company makes matching contributions equal to 60% of the aggregate contributions made by each participant on the first 6% of their annual compensation. Contributions made by the Company are allocated 50% to Century Aluminum Company Stock and 50% by fund in proportion to the participants’ contribution election.
 
Vesting— Plan participants are always fully vested in employee pre-tax contributions made to the Plan. Pre-tax participant contributions are nonforfeitable. Company contributions are fully vested following the completion of two years of service for all participants.
 
Participant Accounts— Participants may elect to have pre-tax participant contributions invested in one or all of the funds listed in Note 3 and Century Aluminum Company Stock. Subject to provisions in the Plan, participants are entitled to distributions upon reaching age 59-1/2, or earlier in the case of retirement, death, termination, or hardship.
 
Participant Loans— Participants may borrow from their fund account a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum amount of: (1) $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance, whichever is less.
 
Loan transactions are treated as a transfer to (from) the investment fund from (to) the Participant Loan Fund. Loan terms range from 1–5 years or up to 25 years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans bear interest at the prime interest rate plus 1% as determined quarterly by the Plan administrator. Principal and interest is paid ratably through monthly payroll deductions.
 
Forfeited Accounts— In 2006, employer contributions were reduced by $3,249 from forfeited nonvested accounts. There were no forfeited employer contributions from unvested accounts in 2005.
 

-4-

2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).
 
Adoption of New Accounting Guidance— The Plan’s financial statements reflect the retroactive adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position, FSP AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans (the “FSP”). As required by the FSP, the statements of net assets available for benefits presents investment contracts at fair value as well as an additional line item showing an adjustment of fully benefit-responsive contracts from fair value to contract value. The statement of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented on a contract value basis and was not affected by the adoption of the FSP. The adoption of the FSP did not impact the amount of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2005.
 
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition— The Plan’s investments are reported at fair value. Investments in mutual funds are stated at the funds’ net asset values per share on the last business day of the Plan’s year-end. Investments in common stock of Century Aluminum Company are valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the year. Participant loans are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. See Note 4 for a discussion of the valuation of the investments in the guaranteed investment contracts.
 
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Investment income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
 
Management fees and operating expenses charged to the Plan for investments in the mutual funds are deducted from income earned on a daily basis and are not separately reflected. Consequently, management fees and operating expenses are reflected as a reduction of net appreciation in the fair market value of such investments.
 
Use of Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires Plan management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits and changes therein. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Administrative Expenses— Administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Company.
 

-5-
 
 
3.
INVESTMENTS
 
 
During 2006, the investment election options available to participants were the following mutual funds with T. Rowe Price as listed in the table below. During the 2005 plan year, with Mercer Trust Company as trustee, the investment election options available to participants were the following mutual funds:
 
2006
2005
   
American Growth Fund of America
Putnam Vista Fund
Balanced Fund
George Putnam Fund of Boston
Total Equity Market Index Fund
Vanguard Total Stock Fund
Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value A Fund
Putnam Money Market Fund
International Growth and Income Fund
Putnam International Equity Fund
Rainier Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
American Funds Growth Fund
New Horizons Fund
Putnam Diversified Income Trust
PIMCO Total Return Fund
PIMCO Total Return Fund
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund
Loomis Small Cap Value Fund
Equity Income Fund
Putnam Equity Income Fund
Spectrum Income Fund
Putnam Research Fund
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund
  

 
In addition, participants may elect to invest in the common stock of Century Aluminum Company.
 
As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, the fair value of investments that represent 5% or more of net assets available for benefits are as follows:
 
   
2006
    
2005
  
             
Rainier Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
   $
6,664,129
        
International Growth and Income Fund
    
4,368,703
        
Balanced Fund
    
4,060,783
        
Century Aluminum Company Stock *
    
3,885,084
     $
3,177,148
  
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund
    
3,680,441
          
Total Equity Market Index Fund
    
3,541,424
          
American Growth Fund of America
    
2,837,184
          
Putnam Vista Fund
            
5,801,106
  
George Putnam Fund of Boston
            
3,391,984
  
Vanguard Total Stock Fund
            
3,039,706
  
Putnam Money Market Fund
            
3,424,308
  
Putnam International Equity Fund
            
2,737,214
  
American Funds Growth Fund
            
2,352,982
  
                 
* Includes nonparticipant directed investments of $1,553,220 at December 31, 2005. The balance of Century Aluminum Company stock at December 31, 2006 cannot be segregated between participant directed and nonparticipant directed investments. See Note 5 for additional information
  

 

-6-

During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value by $4,201,089 and $1,265,568, respectively.
 
   
2006
    
2005
  
             
Mutual Funds
   $
2,144,812
     $
1,145,044
  
Century Common Stock
    
2,056,277
      
120,390
  
Money Market/Stable Value Funds
    
--
      
134
  
 
Total
   $
4,201,089
     $
1,265,568
  
 
 
4.
 GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CONTRACTS
 
Employee contributions to guaranteed investment contract funds are maintained by T. Rowe Price within the T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund. The Plan did not offer any guaranteed investment contract funds as fund options during 2005. Participant contributions and rates of return are guaranteed by T. Rowe Price. The accounts are credited with interest earnings on the underlying investments and charged for Plan withdrawals. The guaranteed investment contracts with T. Rowe Price are benefit responsive contracts and therefore, are included in the Plan’s financial statements at contract value. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value.
 
The difference between the fair value and contract value of the Stable Value Fund at December 31, 2006, is shown below. There are no reserves against contract value for credit risk of the contract issuer or otherwise.
 
   
2006
  
       
Stable Value Fund at fair value
   $
3,680,441
  
Stable Value Fund (at contract value)
    
3,711,993
  
 
Adjustment to contract value
   $ (31,552 )

 
The average yield and interest crediting rate for 2006, was as follows.
 
   
2006
  
Average yield:
      
Based on annualized earnings (1)
     4.79 %
Based on interest rate credited to participants (2)
     4.68 %

(1)
Computed by dividing the annualized one-day GAAP earnings of the fund’s December 31, 2006 investments (irrespective of the interest rate credited to the unitholders in the fund) by the fair value of its investments on that date.
(2)
Computed by dividing the annualized one-day earnings credited to the unitholders on December 31, 2006 (irrespective of the actual earnings of the investments in the fund), by the fair value of the fund’s investments on that date.

 

-7-

5.
 NONPARTICIPANT DIRECTED INVESTMENTS
 
 
As described in Note 1, the Plan includes nonparticipant directed investments which relate to the Company matching contributions allocated to Century Aluminum Company stock (see Note 2 for information concerning fair value of the investments). The participant may reallocate their investment in Company stock at any time, subject to any applicable securities law restrictions. Information about the net assets and the changes in the net assets relating to the Plan’s nonparticipant directed investments as of December 31, 2005, and for the year then ended is as follows:
 
   
December 31, 2005
  
       
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Nonparticipant directed investments in Century Aluminum common stock
   $
1,553,220
  
         
   
Year Ended
  
   
December 31, 2005
  
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Beginning of year
   $
1,673,042
  
         
 ADDITIONS:        
         
Net appreciation in fair value
    
34,333
  
         
Net investment income
    
34,333
  
         
Employer contributions
    
280,769
  
         
Total additions
    
315,102
  
         
DEDUCTIONS:
        
Benefit payments
    
157,583
  
Net transfers
    
277,341
  
         
Total deductions
    
434,924
  
         
NET CHANGE
     (119,822 )
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — End of year
   $
1,553,220
  

 

-8-

As of January 1, 2006, with the change in trustee to T. Rowe Price, the trustee is not able to segregate the balance or activity in the Century Aluminum Company stock fund as participant directed versus nonparticipant directed. The following represents information regarding the net assets and the changes in the net assets relating to the Century Aluminum Company stock fund as of December 31, 2006, and for the year then ended:
 
   
December 31, 2006
  
       
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Nonparticipant directed investments in Century Aluminum common stock
   $
3,885,084
  
         
         
   
Year Ended
  
   
December 31, 2006
  
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Beginning of year
   $
3,180,138
  
         
 ADDITIONS        
         
Net appreciation in fair value
    
2,056,277
  
         
Net investment income
    
2,056,277
  
         
Employee contributions
    
193,801
  
Employer contributions
    
290,384
  
         
Total additions
    
2,540,462
  
         
DEDUCTIONS:
        
Benefit payments
    
219,028
  
Net transfers
    
1,616,488
  
         
Total deductions
    
1,835,516
  
         
NET CHANGE
    
704,946
  
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — End of year
   $
3,885,084
  

6.
 PLAN TERMINATION
 
The Company has no intention to discontinue or terminate the Plan. However, the Company has reserved the right to amend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part. In the event the Plan terminates, the participants become fully vested in their accounts and the net assets of the Plan will be allocated in accordance with provisions of ERISA and its related regulations.
 

-9-

7.
EXEMPT PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS
 
Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by T. Rowe Price. Since January 3, 2006, T. Rowe Price was the trustee as defined by the Plan, and therefore, these transactions qualified as party-in-interest transactions. In addition, certain Plan investments are shares of Century Aluminum Company. Century Aluminum Company is a related party of the Plan sponsor, and therefore, these transactions qualify as exempt party-in-interest transactions.
 
8.
RISKS AND UNCERTAINITIES
 
The Plan utilizes various investment instruments, including mutual funds, guaranteed investment contracts and Century Aluminum Company Stock. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and those changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the financial statements.
 
9.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX STATUS
 
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated April 2, 2003, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable regulations of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The Company and the Plan administrator believe that the Plan is currently designed and operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and the Plan and related trust continue to be tax-exempt. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.
 
10.
RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500
 
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31, 2006.
 
   
2006
  
       
Net assets available for benefits per financial statements
   $
36,258,547
  
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
    
31,552
  
 
Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500
   $
36,226,995
  

 
******

-10-

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
 

-11-

CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
                  
                         
FORM 5500 — SCHEDULE H, PART IV, LINE 4i — SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
        
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006
 
  
 
    
 
    
 
  
                         
                         
   
Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor, or Similar Party
Description of Investment
  
Shares
    
Cost
    
Current Value
  
                         
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Rainier Small/Mid Cap Equity Portfolio
    
181,732
     $
6,239,520
     $
6,664,129
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
International Growth and Income Fund
    
248,222
      
3,735,180
      
4,368,703
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Balanced Fund
    
190,737
      
3,840,687
      
4,060,783
  
 
*
  
Century Aluminum Company
Century Aluminum Company Stock
    
87,012
      
1,802,862
      
3,885,084
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
T. Rowe Price Stable Value Fund
    
3,711,993
      
3,711,993
      
3,680,441
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Total Equity Market Index Fund
    
231,466
      
3,189,827
      
3,541,424
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
American Growth Fund of America
    
86,315
      
2,702,765
      
2,837,184
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Spectrum Income Fund
    
139,586
      
1,655,506
      
1,701,552
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Equity Income Fund
    
43,620
      
1,174,240
      
1,288,982
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Loomis Sayles Small Cap Value Fund
    
44,700
      
1,152,226
      
1,174,261
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
PIMCO Total Return Fund
    
95,780
      
1,002,082
      
994,198
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Goldman Sachs Mid Cap Value A Fund
    
11,496
      
423,639
      
444,094
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
New Horizons Fund
    
8,007
      
267,052
      
258,549
  
 
*
  
T. Rowe Price
Cash and cash equivalents
            
927
      
927
  
                                 
                     
30,898,506
      
34,900,311
  
 
*
  
Participants
Loan Fund — (with maturity dates through 2014 at interest rates ranging from 4.00% to 8.25%)
            
1,251,362
      
1,251,362
  
                                 
     
TOTAL
             $
32,149,868
     $
36,151,673
  
                                 
* Party-in-interest.
                          

 

-12-


 
 
SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Century Aluminum Company has duly caused this annual report on Form 11-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
CENTURY ALUMINUM 401(k) PLAN
 
 
 
BY:     /s/ Michael A. Bless                                 
 
Michael A. Bless
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Member of Retirement Committee
 
Century Aluminum Company
 
 
DATE: June 29, 2007

 

-13-

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
  
Exhibit Description
     
23.1
  
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

-14-