It is shown that Fe-based compound LaFe11.44Al1.56, with cubic NaZn13-type
structure undergoes both a second order and a first order phase transitions
. In small fields, it orders antiferromagnetically at T-N = 186 K, and ferr
omagnetism is established at T-0 approximate to 127 K. At T > T-0, field-in
duced metamagnetic transition between the two phases is observed in larger
fields. The magnetic entropy change \ DeltaS \, estimated as a function of
temperature from magnetization curves, has large values near the first-orde
r transition. Metamagnetic transformation leads to an asymmetric broadening
of the maximum with increasing field. This compound may be useful for magn
etic refrigeration.