The company grew to be a vertically integrated aluminum producer.

The combined companies would have formed the largest aluminum producer in the world.

Alcan, the aluminum producer, said that it would buy back up to 5 percent of its shares beginning next month.

Alcoa, the aluminum producer, made such a statement on Friday.

Analysts said the charge was certain to result in a quarterly loss for the nation's largest aluminum producer.

Alcoa, the aluminum producer, gained 2.5 percent for the week, the best performance in the Dow.

And Alcoa, like other aluminum producers, has seen its profits hit hard by low prices.

In Spain, aluminum producers added 80,000 tons of capacity last month.

The international venture is the latest by Alcoa, the world's largest aluminum producer.

Sales for the three months ended June 30 rose nearly 17 percent, to $1.4 billion, from $1.2 billion, the nation's largest aluminum producer said.