ALUSUISSE PLANS 50 PCT CAPITAL CUT

  Schweizerische Aluminium AG, Alusuisse,
  plans to reduce share and participation certificate capital by
  50 pct to cover losses in 1986 and those carried forward from
  the previous year, chief executive Hans Jucker said.
      Jucker told a news conference that the greatest drain on
  its financial resources had been stopped, but after
  extraordinary charges the net loss of 688 mln francs in 1986
  was only slightly under the 756 mln loss of the previous year.
      The losses in 1986 and those carried over from 1985 made it
  necessary to reduce capital by 50 pct, he said.
      However, Jucker said the company improved liquidity through
  a recovery in cash flow and conversion of 300 mln Swiss francs
  of credit into a subordinated loan.
      Trading in Alusuisse shares was suspended on the Zurich
  stock exchange after today's announcement by the company that
  it would cut its share capital by 50 pct, the bourse said.
  Trading would resume again on Monday.
  

