Exhibit 99


           ALCOA COMPLETES MERGER WITH REYNOLDS METALS

PITTSBURGH, Pa. and RICHMOND, Va., May 3, 2000 - Alcoa Inc. and
Reynolds Metals Company announced today that the U.S. Department
of Justice and the European Union have approved their proposed
merger and that the merger has been completed. Reynolds
shareholders had already approved the merger on February 11.

The merger adds impressive strengths to Alcoa's worldwide
operations, including the Reynolds brand name, its packaging and
consumer products businesses, smelting operations, manufacturing
operations serving the construction and transportation markets,
and bauxite reserves in Brazil, Guyana and Guinea.

Under the terms of a consent decree entered into with the DOJ and
an undertaking agreed with the EU, Alcoa will sell a 25% interest
in Reynolds' Longview, Washington aluminum smelter, as well as
Reynolds' interest in three alumina refineries: Worsley,
Australia (56% owned); Stade, Germany (50% owned); and Sherwin,
Texas (100% owned).

Three of Reynolds four global business units will be fully merged
with Alcoa:

     -- Packaging and Consumer business (1999 revenue of $1.45
        billion);

     -- Construction and Distribution business (1999 revenue of
        $1.02 billion); and

     -- Transportation business (1999 revenue of $400 million).

In addition, from Reynolds Base Materials business, approximately
one million metric tons of smelting capacity, bauxite reserves
and two petroleum coke plants will be merged into Alcoa.

"We are extremely pleased to complete this merger and welcome
Reynolds employees to Alcoa," said Alcoa President and CEO Alain
Belda. "We will rapidly integrate Reynolds and thereby create
additional value for Alcoa and Reynolds customers and other
stakeholders."

With respect to the Reynolds businesses to be sold under the
regulatory approvals, Mr. Belda observed, "The business case for
the merger remains compelling, and proceeds from the sale of the
divested assets will contribute significantly to investment in
further profitable growth for Alcoa."

Shares of Reynolds stock will cease trading on the New York Stock
Exchange at the close of business today. As a result of the
merger, each outstanding Reynolds share was converted into 1.06
shares of Alcoa common stock.

Reynolds shareholders who hold their own stock certificates will
receive notice in the mail regarding the process to exchange
their shares for Alcoa stock. Reynolds shareholders whose shares
are held through banks or brokers will receive information about
their holdings from those institutions.

EDITORIAL CONTACTS:
Bonita A. Cersosimo
Alcoa
Phone:    1 412 553 4462

Lou Anne Nabhan
Reynolds Metals
Phone:    1 804 281 2171

INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Edgar M. Cheely, Jr.
Alcoa
Phone:    1 412 553 2231

Julian H. Taylor
Reynolds Metals
1 804 281 4505