Aleris International, Inc. Announces Definitive Agreement To Sell US Zinc for $295 Million

Aleris International, Inc. Announces Definitive Agreement To Sell US Zinc for $295 Million

November 21, 2007

    BEACHWOOD, Ohio, Nov. 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Aleris
International, Inc. announced today it has entered into a
definitive agreement to sell its Zinc business, which
operates under the name US Zinc, to affiliates of
Votorantim Metais Ltda. for $295 million with certain
adjustments for working capital and other items.  Closing
is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing
conditions.

    US Zinc recycles zinc metal for use in the manufacture
of galvanized steel and produces value-added zinc products,
primarily zinc oxide and zinc dust, which are used in the
vulcanization of rubber products, the production of
corrosion-resistant paint and in other specialty chemical
applications. US Zinc operates six zinc facilities in the
United States and a newly built zinc oxide facility located
outside of Shanghai, China. 

    Steven J. Demetriou, Aleris's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, said, "The sale of US Zinc will
allow Aleris to focus on our core Aluminum business.  We
plan to use the net sale proceeds to reduce leverage.  I
would like to thank the US Zinc team for their significant
contributions to Aleris."

    Aleris International, Inc. is a global leader in
aluminum rolled products and extrusions, aluminum recycling
and specification alloy production.  Headquartered in
Beachwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, the Company
operates 55 production facilities in North America, Europe,
South America and Asia, and employs approximately 9,100
employees.  For more information about Aleris, please visit
our Web site at www.aleris.com. 

    SAFE HARBOR REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Forward-looking statements made in this news release
are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These
include statements that contain words such as
"believe," "expect,"
"anticipate," "intend,"
"estimate," "should" and similar
expressions intended to connote future events and
circumstances, and include statements regarding future
actual and adjusted earnings and earnings per share; future
improvements in margins, processing volumes and pricing;
overall 2007 operating performance; anticipated higher
adjusted effective tax rates; expected cost savings;
success in integrating Aleris's recent acquisitions,
including the acquisition of the downstream aluminum
businesses of Corus Group plc; its future growth; future
benefits from acquisitions and new products; expected
benefits from changes in the industry landscape; and
anticipated synergies resulting from the merger with
Commonwealth, the acquisition of the downstream aluminum
businesses of Corus Group plc and other acquisitions. 
Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results
could differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties
would include, without limitation, Aleris's levels of
indebtedness and debt service obligations; its ability to
effectively integrate the business and operations of its
acquisitions; further slowdowns in automotive production in
the U.S. and Europe; the financial condition of Aleris's
customers and future bankruptcies and defaults by major
customers; the availability at favorable cost of aluminum
scrap and other metal supplies that Aleris processes; the
ability of Aleris to enter into effective metals, natural
gas and other commodity derivatives; continued increases in
natural gas and other fuel costs of Aleris; a weakening in
industrial demand resulting from a decline in U.S. or world
economic conditions, including any decline caused by
terrorist activities or other unanticipated events; future
utilized capacity of Aleris's various facilities; a
continuation of building and construction customers and
distribution customers reducing their inventory levels and
reducing the volume of Aleris's shipments; restrictions on
and future levels and timing of capital expenditures;
retention of Aleris's major customers; the timing and
amounts of collections; currency exchange fluctuations;
future write-downs or impairment charges which may be
required because of the occurrence of some of the
uncertainties listed above; and other risks listed in
Aleris's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including but not limited to Aleris's annual
report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006, particularly the section entitled "Risk
Factors" contained therein.

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    For more information, please contact:

    Aleris International, Inc.

     Michael D. Friday
     Tel: [phone]

     Joseph M. Mallak
     Tel: [phone]