Attached files

file filename
EX-15 - EX-15 - SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/a15-17848_1ex15.htm
EX-32.2 - EX-32.2 - SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/a15-17848_1ex32d2.htm
EX-31.2 - EX-31.2 - SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/a15-17848_1ex31d2.htm
EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/a15-17848_1ex32d1.htm
EX-31.1 - EX-31.1 - SOUTHERN COPPER CORP/a15-17848_1ex31d1.htm

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2015

 

or

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                      

 

Commission File Number: 1-14066

 

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

13-3849074

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1440 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ

 

85014

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (602) 264-1375

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.  See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

x

 

 

Accelerated filer

o

 

Non-accelerated filer

o

 

 

Smaller reporting company

o

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).  Yes o  No x

 

As of October 30, 2015 there were outstanding 785,376,170 shares of Southern Copper Corporation common, par value $0.01 per share.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”)

 

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

 

 

Page No.

Part I.  Financial Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Item. 1

 

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

7-28

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

29-47

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

 

48-49

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Controls and procedures

 

50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

51

 

 

 

Part II. Other Information:

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

 

Risk Factors

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

 

Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

 

Mine Safety Disclosures

 

52

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

 

Exhibits

 

53-54

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signatures

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

List of Exhibits

 

56-57

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 15

 

Independent Accountants’ Awareness Letter

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

59

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

60

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

61

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

62

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 101

 

Financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 Formatted in XBRL: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in detail.

 

Submitted electronically with this report

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales (including sales to related parties, see note 7)

 

$

1,133,602

 

$

1,474,647

 

$

3,791,332

 

$

4,316,442

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion shown separately below)

 

670,742

 

729,506

 

2,057,432

 

2,097,989

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

23,578

 

26,282

 

73,410

 

76,177

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

131,576

 

113,923

 

373,841

 

340,467

 

Exploration

 

13,743

 

20,638

 

36,142

 

57,317

 

Environmental remediation

 

7,043

 

37,163

 

23,503

 

37,163

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

846,682

 

927,512

 

2,564,328

 

2,609,113

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

286,920

 

547,135

 

1,227,004

 

1,707,329

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(92,414

)

(67,728

)

(244,093

)

(198,943

)

Capitalized interest

 

27,579

 

33,153

 

99,533

 

86,918

 

Other (expense) income

 

(4,297

)

(21,066

)

(9,666

)

(31,051

)

Interest income

 

2,908

 

3,765

 

8,438

 

12,017

 

Income before income taxes

 

220,696

 

495,259

 

1,081,216

 

1,576,270

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes (including royalty taxes, see note 4)

 

125,336

 

175,405

 

411,571

 

605,336

 

Net income before equity earnings of affiliate

 

95,360

 

319,854

 

669,645

 

970,934

 

Equity earnings of affiliate, net of income tax

 

4,039

 

5,926

 

9,454

 

17,825

 

Net income

 

99,399

 

325,780

 

679,099

 

988,759

 

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

962

 

1,463

 

3,518

 

3,800

 

Net income attributable to SCC

 

$

98,437

 

$

324,317

 

$

675,581

 

$

984,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per common share amounts attributable to SCC:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income — basic and diluted

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.39

 

$

0.85

 

$

1.18

 

Dividends paid

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.34

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding — basic and diluted

 

793,155

 

829,216

 

798,869

 

832,104

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Net income

 

$

99,399

 

$

325,780

 

$

679,099

 

$

988,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) net of tax: - Amortization of actuarial gain net of income tax for the three months ended September 30, 2015 - $(*) and 2014 - $44 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 - $(*) and 2014 - $102

 

(*

)

65

 

(*

)

(152

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

99,399

 

325,845

 

679,099

 

988,607

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

962

 

1,463

 

3,518

 

3,800

 

Comprehensive income attributable to SCC

 

$

98,437

 

$

324,382

 

$

675,581

 

$

984,807

 

 


(*) amount is lower than $0.1 million

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

504,491

 

$

363,970

 

Restricted cash

 

5,574

 

19,456

 

Short-term investments

 

882,147

 

338,589

 

Accounts receivable trade

 

419,920

 

540,245

 

Accounts receivable other (including related parties 2015 - $32,046 and 2014 - $32,835)

 

96,884

 

81,635

 

Inventories

 

804,825

 

836,464

 

Deferred income tax

 

97,964

 

119,510

 

Other current assets

 

199,099

 

189,920

 

Total current assets

 

3,010,904

 

2,489,789

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, net

 

7,872,897

 

7,436,430

 

Leachable material

 

726,409

 

512,718

 

Intangible assets, net

 

202,835

 

123,554

 

Related parties receivable

 

161,244

 

161,244

 

Deferred income tax

 

602,709

 

553,948

 

Equity method investment

 

70,908

 

66,723

 

Other assets

 

217,303

 

182,336

 

Total assets

 

$

12,865,209

 

$

11,526,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

 

$

200,000

 

Accounts payable (including related parties 2015 -$51,498 and 2014 - $69,083)

 

542,752

 

549,667

 

Accrued income taxes

 

37,217

 

80,101

 

Deferred income taxes

 

13,360

 

13,360

 

Accrued workers’ participation

 

106,725

 

198,009

 

Accrued interest

 

128,551

 

70,824

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

36,929

 

38,944

 

Total current liabilities

 

865,534

 

1,150,905

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

5,950,892

 

3,980,863

 

Deferred income taxes

 

338,174

 

385,545

 

Other liabilities and reserves

 

44,654

 

56,697

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

113,942

 

116,133

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

6,447,662

 

4,539,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 9)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

8,846

 

8,846

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

3,338,439

 

3,344,669

 

Retained earnings

 

4,782,623

 

4,346,818

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

4,813

 

4,813

 

Treasury stock, at cost, common shares

 

(2,617,827

)

(1,900,686

)

Total Southern Copper Corporation stockholders’ equity

 

5,516,894

 

5,804,460

 

Non-controlling interest

 

35,119

 

32,139

 

Total equity

 

5,552,013

 

5,836,599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

12,865,209

 

$

11,526,742

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

99,399

 

$

325,780

 

$

679,099

 

$

988,759

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

131,576

 

113,923

 

373,841

 

340,467

 

Equity earnings of affiliate, net of dividends received

 

(2,036

)

(3,184

)

(4,185

)

(10,181

)

(Gain) loss on currency translation effect

 

4,733

 

(14,856

)

(14,505

)

(20,663

)

(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes

 

1,558

 

(76,230

)

(63,352

)

(133,052

)

Other, net

 

688

 

932

 

1,983

 

1,484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable

 

61,199

 

68,956

 

120,325

 

19,039

 

Decrease (increase) in inventories

 

(74,091

)

(39,742

)

(182,052

)

(200,486

)

(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

49,699

 

202,050

 

(99,604

)

244,129

 

Decrease (increase) in other operating assets and liabilities

 

(10,860

)

(143,026

)

5,524

 

(113,139

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

261,865

 

434,603

 

817,074

 

1,116,357

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investments

 

(316,171

)

(410,450

)

(845,931

)

(1,107,484

)

Payment to acquire business, net of cash acquired

 

(100,448

)

 

(100,448

)

 

Proceeds from (purchase of) short-term investments, net

 

(308,794

)

81,897

 

(543,558

)

282

 

Sale of property

 

244

 

15

 

3,200

 

4,896

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(725,169

)

(328,538

)

(1,486,737

)

(1,102,306

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of debt

 

 

 

2,045,790

 

 

Repayments of debt

 

(200,000

)

 

(266,000

)

 

Payments of debt issuance costs

 

(2,015

)

 

(11,744

)

 

Cash dividends paid to common stockholders

 

(79,486

)

(99,641

)

(239,776

)

(283,013

)

Distributions to non-controlling interest

 

(119

)

(207

)

(531

)

(706

)

Repurchase of common shares

 

(309,787

)

(323,436

)

(724,352

)

(388,945

)

Other

 

 

 

322

 

249

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(591,407

)

(423,284

)

803,709

 

(672,415

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

(13,141

)

16,029

 

6,475

 

19,843

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

(1,067,852

)

(301,190

)

140,521

 

(638,521

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period

 

1,572,343

 

1,335,364

 

363,970

 

1,672,695

 

Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period

 

$

504,491

 

$

1,034,174

 

$

504,491

 

$

1,034,174

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS:

 

The Company is a majority-owned, indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. (“Grupo Mexico”). At September 30, 2015, Grupo Mexico through its wholly-owned subsidiary Americas Mining Corporation (“AMC”) owned 87.4% of the Company’s capital stock. The condensed consolidated financial statements presented herein consist of the accounts of Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC” or the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. The Company is an integrated producer of copper and other minerals, and operates mining, smelting and refining facilities in Peru and Mexico. The Company conducts its primary operations in Peru through a registered branch (the “Peruvian Branch” or “Branch” or “SPCC Peru Branch”). The Peruvian Branch is not a corporation separate from the Company. The Company’s Mexican operations are conducted through subsidiaries. The Company also conducts exploration activities in Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.

 

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2015 and the results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The December 31, 2014 balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2014 and notes included in the Company’s 2014 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

NOTE 2 — SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS:

 

Short-term investments were as follows ($ in millions):

 

 

 

At September 30,
2015

 

At December 31,
2014

 

Trading securities

 

$

878.0

 

$

333.7

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

1.04

%

0.78

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale

 

$

4.1

 

$

4.9

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

0.53

%

0.44

%

Total

 

$

882.1

 

$

338.6

 

 

Trading securities consist of bonds issued by public companies and are publicly traded. Each financial instrument is independent of the others. The Company has the intention to sell these bonds in the short-term.

 

Available-for-sale investments consist of securities issued by public companies. Each security is independent of the others and at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, included corporate bonds and asset and mortgage backed obligations. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, gross unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities were not material.

 

Related to these investments the Company earned interest, which was recorded as interest income in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings. Also the Company redeemed some of these securities and recognized gains (losses) due to changes in fair value, which were recorded as other income (expense) in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes the activity of these investments by category (in millions):

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Trading securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest earned

 

$

0.4

 

$

1.1

 

$

0.9

 

$

3.6

 

Unrealized gain (loss) at the end of the period

 

(*

)

1.0

 

(*

)

1.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest earned

 

(*

)

(*

)

(*

)

(*

)

Investment redeemed

 

$

0.2

 

$

0.3

 

$

0.8

 

$

0.5

 

 


(*) Less than $0.1 million

 

NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES:

 

Inventories were as follows:

 

(in millions)

 

At September 30,
2015

 

At December 31,
2014

 

Inventory, current:

 

 

 

 

 

Metals at average cost:

 

 

 

 

 

Finished goods

 

$

81.3

 

$

84.6

 

Work-in-process

 

416.3

 

450.5

 

Supplies at average cost

 

307.2

 

301.4

 

Total current inventory

 

$

804.8

 

$

836.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory, long-term

 

 

 

 

 

Leach stockpiles

 

$

726.4

 

$

512.7

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 total leaching costs added as long-term inventory of leachable material amounted to $360.0 million and $265.5 million, respectively. Long-term leaching inventories recognized as cost of sales amounted to $172.8 million and $118.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES:

 

The income tax provision and the effective income tax rate for the nine months of 2015 and 2014 consisted of ($ in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Statutory income tax provision

 

$

366.8

 

$

505.5

 

Peruvian royalty

 

3.0

 

6.6

 

Mexican royalty

 

22.8

 

64.9

 

Peruvian special mining tax

 

19.0

 

28.3

 

Income tax provision

 

$

411.6

 

$

605.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective income tax rate

 

38.1

%

38.4

%

 

These provisions include income taxes for Peru, Mexico and the United States. In addition, a Mexican royalty tax, a portion of the Peruvian royalty tax and the Peruvian special mining tax are included in the income tax provision.

 

Peruvian royalty and special mining tax: In 2011, the Peruvian congress approved an amendment to the mining royalty charge. The new mining royalty charge is based on operating income margins with graduated rates ranging from 1% to 12% of operating profits, with a minimum royalty charge assessed at 1% of net sales. If the operating income margin is 10% or less, the royalty charge is 1% and for each 5% increment in the operating income margin, the royalty charge rate increases by 0.75%, up to a maximum of 12%. The minimum royalty charge assessed at 1% of net sales is recorded as cost of sales and those amounts assessed against operating income are included in the income tax provision. The Company has accrued $18.5 million and $25.5 million of royalty charge in the nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively, of which $3.0 million and $6.6 million, respectively, were included in income taxes.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

Also in 2011, the Peruvian government enacted a special mining tax. This tax is based on operating income and its rate ranges from 2% to 8.4%. It begins at 2% for operating income margin up to 10% and increases by 0.4% of operating income for each additional 5% of operating income until 85% of operating income is reached. The Company has accrued $19.0 million and $28.3 million of special mining tax as part of the income tax provision for the nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Mexican mining royalty: In December 2013, the Mexican government enacted a new law which, among other things, established a mining royalty charge of 7.5% on earnings before taxes as defined by Mexican tax regulations and an additional royalty charge of 0.5% over gross income from sales of gold, silver and platinum. The Company has accrued $22.8 million and $64.9 million of royalty taxes as part of the income tax provision for the nine months of 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Income tax rate: In 2014, the Peruvian government enacted tax law changes to both the income tax and dividend tax rates that became effective on January 1, 2015. The rate in effect for 2014 was 30%, with a 4.1% dividend tax rate. The new rates are as follows:

 

Year

 

Income Tax Rate

 

Dividend Tax Rate

 

2015- 2016

 

28

%

6.8

%

2017- 2018

 

27

%

8.0

%

2019 and later

 

26

%

9.3

%

 

Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes: In the third quarter and nine months of 2015, there were no changes in the Company’s uncertain tax positions.

 

NOTE 5 — PROVISIONALLY PRICED SALES:

 

At September 30, 2015, the Company has recorded provisionally priced sales of copper at average forward prices per pound, and molybdenum at the September 30, 2015 market price per pound. These sales are subject to final pricing based on the average monthly copper prices on the London Metal Exchange (“LME”) or New York Commodities Exchange (“COMEX”) and Dealer Oxide molybdenum prices in the future month of settlement.

 

Following are the provisionally priced copper and molybdenum sales outstanding at September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Sales volume
(million lbs.)

 

Priced at
(per pound)

 

Month of settlement

 

Copper

 

80.7

 

$

2.35

 

From October 2015 to December 2015

 

Molybdenum

 

12.0

 

$

5.40

 

From October 2015 to January 2016

 

 

During the month of October 2015, the market price of molybdenum decreased while copper prices slightly increased. The effect of these changes on sales for the nine months of 2015 settling in October 2015 was a reduction of $1.9 million in sales. Additionally, the effect on open sales of copper and molybdenum for the nine months of 2015 settling after October 2015 would be a further reduction of $5.4 million in sales.

 

NOTE 6 - ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:

 

The Company maintains an estimated asset retirement obligation for its mining properties in Peru, as required by the Peruvian Mine Closure Law. In accordance with the requirements of this law the Company’s closure plans were approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines (“MINEM”). As part of the closure plans, the Company is required to provide annual guarantees over the estimated life of the mines, based on a present value approach, and to furnish the funds for the asset retirement obligation. This law requires a review of closing plans every five years. Currently and for the near-term future, the Company has pledged the value of its Lima office complex as support for this obligation. The accepted value of the Lima office building, for this purpose, is $27.8 million. Through September 2015, the Company has provided guarantees of $17.9 million. The closure cost recognized for this liability includes the cost, as outlined in its closure plans, of dismantling the Toquepala and Cuajone concentrators, the smelter and refinery in Ilo, and the shops and auxiliary facilities at the three units.

 

In 2010, the Company announced to the Mexican federal environmental authorities its closure plans for the copper smelter plant at San Luis Potosi. The Company initiated a program for plant demolition and soil remediation with a budget of $62.4 million, of which the Company has spent $62.2 million through September 30, 2015. Plant demolition and construction of a confinement area at the south of the property were completed in 2012 and the Company expects to complete soil remediation and the construction of a second confinement area in 2015. The Company expects that once the site is remediated, a decision will be made on whether to sell or develop the property.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

The overall cost recognized for mining closure in Mexico includes the estimated costs of dismantling concentrators, smelter and refinery plants, shops and other facilities.

 

The following table summarizes the asset retirement obligation activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1

 

$

116.1

 

$

124.8

 

Changes in estimates

 

 

26.7

 

Closure payments

 

(15.3

)

(8.1

)

Accretion expense

 

13.1

 

5.8

 

Balance as of September 30,

 

$

113.9

 

$

149.2

 

 

NOTE 7 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

 

The Company has entered into certain transactions in the ordinary course of business with parties that are controlling shareholders or their affiliates. These transactions include the lease of office space, air transportation, construction services and products and services related to mining and refining. The Company lends and borrows funds among affiliates for acquisitions and other corporate purposes. These financial transactions bear interest and are subject to review and approval by senior management, as are all related party transactions. It is the Company’s policy that the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall review all related party transactions. The Company is prohibited from entering or continuing a material related party transaction that has not been reviewed and approved or ratified by the Audit Committee.

 

Receivable and payable balances with related parties are shown below (in millions):

 

 

 

At September 30,
2015

 

At December 31,
2014

 

Related parties receivable current:

 

 

 

 

 

Compania Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I. de C.V. and affiliates

 

$

0.6

 

$

0.2

 

Grupo Mexico

 

0.7

 

0.7

 

Mexico Generadora de Energia S. de R.L. (“MGE”)

 

30.6

 

31.9

 

Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and affiliates

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

$

32.0

 

$

32.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related parties receivable non-current:

 

 

 

 

 

MGE

 

$

161.2

 

$

161.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related parties payable:

 

 

 

 

 

Asarco LLC

 

$

13.6

 

$

13.8

 

Breaker S.A. de C.V. and affiliates (“Breaker”)

 

0.6

 

0.7

 

Eolica El Retiro, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

 

0.1

 

1.6

 

Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V.

 

1.7

 

1.8

 

Grupo Mexico

 

7.7

 

2.8

 

Higher Technology S.A.C.

 

 

0.2

 

MGE

 

22.8

 

45.2

 

Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and affiliates

 

4.0

 

1.7

 

Mexico Transportes Aereos S.A. de C.V. (“Mextransport”)

 

1.0

 

1.3

 

 

 

$

51.5

 

$

69.1

 

 

Purchase and sale activity:

 

Grupo Mexico and its affiliates:

 

The following table summarizes the purchase and sales activities with Grupo Mexico and its affiliates in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

10



Table of Contents

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Purchase activity

 

 

 

 

 

Asarco LLC

 

$

23.9

 

$

39.5

 

Compania Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I. de C.V and affiliates

 

0.3

 

2.6

 

Eolica El Retiro, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

 

7.1

 

 

Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A de C.V.

 

17.8

 

17.3

 

Grupo Mexico

 

10.4

 

10.4

 

MGE

 

97.1

 

137.2

 

Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and affiliates

 

44.2

 

76.8

 

Total purchases

 

$

200.8

 

$

283.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales activity

 

 

 

 

 

Asarco LLC

 

$

71.7

 

$

22.1

 

Compania Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I. de C.V and affiliates

 

0.4

 

0.4

 

Grupo Mexico

 

0.1

 

 

MGE

 

64.3

 

75.5

 

Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and affiliates

 

0.7

 

0.6

 

Total sales

 

$

137.2

 

$

98.6

 

 

Grupo Mexico, the parent and the majority indirect stockholder of the Company, and its affiliates provide various services to the Company. These services are primarily related to accounting, legal, tax, financial, treasury, human resources, price risk assessment and hedging, purchasing, procurement and logistics, sales and administrative and other support services. The Company pays Grupo Mexico for these services and expects to continue requiring these services in the future.

 

The Company’s Mexican operations paid fees for freight services provided by Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A de C.V., for construction services provided by Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollo S.A. de C.V. and its affiliates, and for drilling services provided by Compania Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I. de C.V. All of these companies are subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

 

The Company’s Mexican operations purchased scrap and other residual copper mineral from Asarco, and power from MGE. Both companies are subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

 

In 2005, the Company organized MGE, as a subsidiary of Minera Mexico, for the construction of two power plants to supply power to the Company’s Mexican operations. In May 2010, the Company’s Mexican operations granted a $350 million line of credit to MGE for the construction of the power plants. That line of credit was due on December 31, 2012 and carried an interest rate of 4.4%. In the first quarter of 2012, Controladora de Infraestructura Energetica Mexico, S. A. de C. V., an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, acquired 99.999% of MGE through a capital subscription of 1,928.6 million of Mexican pesos (approximately $150 million), reducing Minera Mexico’s participation to less than 0.001%. As consequence of this change in control, MGE became an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico. Additionally, at the same time, MGE paid $150 million to the Company’s Mexican operations partially reducing the total debt. At December 31, 2012, the outstanding balance of $184.0 million was restructured as subordinated debt of MGE with an interest rate of 5.75%. MGE will repay its debt to the Company using a percentage of its profits until such time as the debt is satisfied. At September 30, 2015 the remaining balance of the debt was $161.2 million and was recorded as non-current related party receivable on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Related to this loan the Company recorded interest income of $7.0 million in the nine months of 2015 and 2014.

 

In 2012, the Company signed a power purchase agreement with MGE, whereby MGE will supply some of the Company’s Mexican operations with power through 2032. MGE completed construction of its first power plant in June 2013 and the second plant, in the second quarter of 2014. MGE has the authorization for interconnection with the Mexican electrical system to start operations at the second plant. MGE began supplying power to the Company in December 2013. MGE is supplying a portion of its power output to third-party energy users. See also Note 9 “Commitments and Contingencies - Other commitments”.

 

On August 4, 2014, Mexico Generadora de Energia Eolica S. de R.L. de C.V, an indirect subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, located in Oaxaca, Mexico; acquired Eolica el Retiro. Eolica el Retiro is a windfarm that has 37 wind turbines. This company started operations in January 2014 and started to sell power to IMMSA and other subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico in the third quarter of 2014.

 

The Company sold copper cathodes, rod and anodes, as well as sulfuric acid, silver, gold and lime to Asarco. In addition, the

 

11



Table of Contents

 

Company received fees for building rental and maintenance services provided to Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and its affiliates and to Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I de C.V., and for natural gas and services provided to MGE, all subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

 

Companies with relationships with the controlling group:

 

The following tables summarize the purchase and sales activities with other Larrea family companies in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

Mextransport:

 

2015

 

2014

 

Purchase activity

 

$

1.1

 

$

2.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales activity

 

$

0.3

 

$

0.2

 

 

The Larrea family controls a majority of the capital stock of Grupo Mexico, and has extensive interests in other businesses, including aviation and real estate. The Company engages in certain transactions in the ordinary course of business with other entities controlled by the Larrea family relating to the lease of office space and air transportation.

 

Companies with relationships with SCC executive officers:

 

The following table summarizes the purchase activities with companies with relationships with SCC executive officers in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Breaker

 

$

3.8

 

$

5.7

 

Higher Technology S.A.C.

 

1.1

 

2.1

 

Pigoba S.A. de C.V.

 

 

0.4

 

Sempertrans and affiliates

 

0.5

 

0.9

 

Servicios y Fabricaciones Mecanicas S.A.C.

 

0.5

 

1.1

 

Total purchases

 

$

5.9

 

$

10.2

 

 

The Company purchased industrial materials from Higher Technology S.A.C and paid fees for maintenance services provided by Servicios y Fabricaciones Mecanicas S.A.C. Mr. Carlos Gonzalez, the son of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer, has a proprietary interest in these companies.

 

The Company purchased industrial material from Sempertrans and its affiliates, which employed Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez as a sales representative, through August 4, 2015. Also, the Company purchased industrial material from Pigoba, S.A. de C.V., a company in which Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez has a proprietary interest. Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez is the son of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Company purchased industrial material and services from Breaker, S.A. de C.V., a company in which Mr. Jorge Gonzalez, son-in-law of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer, has a proprietary interest; and from Breaker Peru S.A.C., a company in which Mr. Jorge Gonzalez, son-in-law and Mr. Carlos Gonzalez, son of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer have a proprietary interest.

 

Equity Investment in Affiliate: The Company has a 44.2% participation in Compania Minera Coimolache S.A. (“Coimolache”), which it accounts for on the equity method. Coimolache owns Tantahuatay, a gold mine located in the northern part of Peru. To support the cost of the development of Tantahuatay, the Company loaned $56.6 million to Coimolache. The repayment of this loan was completed in August 2014.

 

It is anticipated that in the future the Company will enter into similar transactions with these same parties.

 

NOTE 8- BENEFIT PLANS:

 

Post retirement defined benefit plans

 

The Company has two noncontributory defined benefit pension plans covering former salaried employees in the United States and certain former expatriate employees in Peru. Effective October 31, 2000, the Board of Directors amended the qualified pension plan to suspend the accrual of benefits.

 

12



Table of Contents

 

In October 2014, the Society of Actuaries (SOA) issued new mortality tables based on a comprehensive study of private retirement plans. Effective December 31, 2014, the Company elected to update the mortality assumption to the new SOA tables.

 

In addition, the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries have a defined contribution pension plan for salaried employees and a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for union employees.

 

The components of the net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Service cost

 

$

0.7

 

$

0.9

 

Interest cost

 

0.7

 

0.9

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(2.4

)

(2.7

)

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

(0.3

)

(0.3

)

Amortization of net loss (gain)

 

0.3

 

0.1

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

(1.0

)

$

(1.1

)

 

Post-retirement health care plan

 

Peru: The Company adopted a post-retirement health care plan for retired salaried employees eligible for Medicare in 1996. The Company manages the plan and is currently providing health benefits to retirees. The plan is accounted for in accordance with ASC 715 “Compensation retirement benefits”.

 

Mexico: Through 2007, the Buenavista unit provided health care services free of charge to employees and retired unionized employees and their families through its own hospital at the Buenavista unit. In 2011, the Company signed an agreement with the Secretary of Health of the State of Sonora to provide these services to its retired workers and their families. The new workers of Buenavista del Cobre will receive health services from the Mexican Institute of Social Security as is the case for all Mexican workers.

 

The components of the net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Interest cost

 

$

1.0

 

$

1.0

 

Amortization of net loss (gain)

 

(0.2

)

(0.2

)

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

 

(*

)

(*

)

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

0.8

 

$

0.8

 

 


(*) amount is lower than $0.1 million

 

NOTE 9 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

 

Environmental matters:

 

The Company has instituted extensive environmental conservation programs at its mining facilities in Peru and Mexico. The Company’s environmental programs include, among others, water recovery systems to conserve water and minimize impact on nearby streams, reforestation programs to stabilize the surface of the tailings dams and the implementation of scrubbing technology in the mines to reduce dust emissions.

 

Environmental capital investments in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Peruvian operations

 

$

60.8

 

$

95.9

 

Mexican operations

 

15.4

 

17.5

 

 

 

$

76.2

 

$

113.4

 

 

Peruvian operations: The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations. The Peruvian government, through the Ministry of Environment (“MINAM”) conducts annual audits of the Company’s Peruvian mining and metallurgical operations. Through these environmental audits, matters related to environmental obligation,

 

13



Table of Contents

 

compliance with legal requirements, atmospheric emissions, effluent monitoring and waste management are reviewed. The Company believes that it is in material compliance with applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations. Peruvian law requires that companies in the mining industry provide assurances for future closure and reclamation. In accordance with the requirements of this law, the Company’s closure plans were approved by MINEM. As part of the closure plans, the Company is providing guarantees to ensure that sufficient funds will be available for the asset retirement obligation. See Note 8 “Asset retirement obligation,” for further discussion of this matter. In accordance with the requirements of the law, the Company submitted the closure plan for the Tia Maria project, in July 2015.

 

In 2008, the Peruvian government enacted environmental regulations establishing more stringent air quality standards (“AQS”) for daily sulfur dioxide (“SO2”) in the air for the Peruvian territory. These regulations, as amended in 2013, recognize distinct zones/areas, as atmospheric basins. Those areas with a mean 24-hour SO2 concentration equal or less than 20 micrograms per cubic meter (“ug/m3”) are required to develop programs to maintain this level of compliance. Those areas or cities exceeding the mean 24- hour SO2 concentration of 20 ug/m3 will be required to establish an action plan to address this problem and are required to achieve the 20 ug/m3 AQS in the future. Meanwhile they are required to achieve mean 24-hour AQS equal to 80 ug/m3 of SO2. MINAM has established three atmospheric basins that require further attention to comply with 80ug/m3 of SO2. The Ilo basin is one of these three areas and the Company’s smelter and refinery are part of the area. A supreme decree issued on April 8, 2014, indicates that mining companies should review their compliance with these regulations and develop a modification plan to reach compliance. The Company continues working with an environmental technical study group, established by a MINAM resolution to identify activities, goals, deadlines, timetables and to develop an action plan in order to achieve compliance.

 

In 2013, the Peruvian government enacted new soil environmental quality standards (“SQS”) applicable to any existing facility or project that generates or could generate risk of soil contamination in its area of operation or influence. In March 2014, MINAM issued a supreme decree which establishes additional provisions for the gradual implementation of SQS. Under this rule the Company had twelve months to identify contaminated sites in and around its facilities and present a report of identified contaminated sites. This report was submitted to MINEM in April 2015. After a review, MINEM should evaluate and issue a report to the Company which will allow it to continue with the next phase. Currently, the Company is awaiting an official response from MINEM. Once MINEM notifies the Company, it must prepare a characterization study to determine the depth, extent and physio-chemical composition of the contaminated areas and to define an appropriate remediation plan and the time-frame in which it will take place. In addition, the Company must submit for approval a Soil Decontamination Plan (SDP) within 24 months after being notified by the authority. This SDP shall include remediation actions, a schedule and compliance deadlines. Also, under this rule, if deemed necessary, the Company may request a one year extension for the decontamination plan, given sound justification.

 

Soil confirmation tests must be carried out after completion of decontamination actions (within the approved schedule) and results must be presented to authorities within 30 days after receiving such results. Non-compliance with this obligation or with decontamination goals will carry penalties, although no specific sanctions have been established yet. During compliance schedule, companies cannot be penalized for non-compliance with the SQS.

 

While the Company believes that a potential loss contingency may exist, it cannot currently estimate the amount of the contingency. The Company believes that a reasonable determination of the loss will be possible once the characterization study and the SDP are substantially completed. Then the Company will be in a position to estimate the remediation cost. Further, the Company does not believe that it can estimate a reasonable range of possible costs until the noted studies have progressed substantially and therefore is not be able to disclose a range of costs that is meaningful.

 

Mexican operations: The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Mexican federal, state and municipal environmental laws, to Mexican official standards, and to regulations for the protection of the environment, including regulations relating to water supply, water quality, air quality, noise levels and hazardous and solid waste.

 

The principal legislation applicable to the Company’s Mexican operations is the Federal General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (the “General Law”), which is enforced by the Federal Bureau of Environmental Protection (“PROFEPA”). PROFEPA monitors compliance with environmental legislation and enforces Mexican environmental laws, regulations and official standards. PROFEPA may initiate administrative proceedings against companies that violate environmental laws, which in the most extreme cases may result in the temporary or permanent closing of non-complying facilities, the revocation of operating licenses and/or other sanctions or fines. Also, according to the federal criminal code, PROFEPA must inform corresponding authorities regarding environmental non-compliance.

 

In 2011, the General Law was amended, giving an individual or entity the ability to contest administrative acts, including environmental authorizations, permits or concessions granted, without the need to demonstrate the actual existence of harm to the

 

14



Table of Contents

 

environment because it will be sufficient to argue that the harm may be caused. In addition, in 2011, amendments to the Civil Federal Procedures Code (“CFPC”) were enacted. These amendments establish three categories of collective actions by means of which 30 or more people claiming injury derived from environmental, consumer protection, financial services and economic competition issues will be considered to be sufficient in order to have a legitimate interest to seek through a civil procedure restitution or economic compensation or suspension of the activities from which the alleged injury derived. The amendments to the CFPC may result in more litigation, with plaintiffs seeking remedies, including suspension of the activities alleged to cause harm.

 

In 2013, the Environmental Liability Federal Law was enacted. The law establishes general guidelines in order to determine which environmental actions will be considered to cause environmental harm that will give rise to administrative responsibilities (remediation or compensations), criminal responsibilities as well as monetary fines.

 

On August 6, 2014, an accidental spill of approximately 40,000 cubic meters of copper sulfate solution occurred at a leaching pond that was under construction ten kilometers away from the mine of Buenavista del Cobre, S.A. de C.V. (“BVC”) a subsidiary of the Company. The accident was caused by a rock collapse that affected the system’s pumping station and by a construction defect in the seal of a pipe in the leaching system containment dam, a part of the new SX-EW III plant. This solution reached the Bacanuchi River and the Sonora River. All the immediate actions were promptly taken in order to contain the spill, and to comply with all the legal requirements.

 

The National Water Commission (Comision Nacional del Agua “CONAGUA”), the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Comision Federal para la Proteccion de Riesgos Sanitarios “COFEPRIS”) and PROFEPA initiated administrative proceedings regarding the spill to determine possible environmental and health damages.

 

On August 19, 2014, PROFEPA, as part of the administrative proceeding initiated after the spill, announced the filing of a criminal complaint against BVC in order to determine, in such a case, the responsibility for the environmental damages. The criminal complaint filed by PROFEPA against BVC is in the procedural stages. The Company is vigorously defending against it. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution without further developments.

 

On September 15, 2014, BVC executed an administrative agreement with PROFEPA, providing for the submission of a remediation action plan to the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales “SEMARNAT”). The remediation program was submitted to SEMARNAT on November 27, 2014 and approved on January 6, 2015. This program will be developed in five zones along the rivers. As of September 30, 2015, the Company informed SEMARNAT of the conclusion of the clean-up and soil remediation actions in zone one, in addition, as a result of our studies of risk and environmental health it is not necessary for any remediation actions for zones 2 to 5 and we are in the process of obtaining the approval of this conclusion. Furthermore, the Company has obtained approval for the monitoring programs for all the zones.

 

The Company also created a trust with Nacional Financiera S.N.C., a Mexican development bank, acting as a Trustee to serve as a vehicle to support environmental remedial actions in connection with the spill, to comply with the remedial action plan and to compensate for damages caused to persons adversely affected by the spill. The Company committed up to two billion Mexican pesos (approximately $150 million) of which approximately one billion Mexican pesos have already been contributed. A technical committee of the trust was created with representatives from the federal government, the Company and specialists assisted by a team of environmental experts to ensure the proper use of the funds. Along with the administrative agreement executed with PROFEPA, the trust serves as an alternative mechanism for dispute resolution to mitigate public and private litigation risks.

 

Independently of the execution of the administrative agreement with PROFEPA and the creation of the above mentioned trust, since the first day of the copper solution spill, the Company has taken actions to clean the sites. On August 29, 2014, the Company hired contractors to clean the river utilizing more than 1,200 of their workers and environmental specialists.

 

In addition, the Company developed a service program for the residents of the Sonora River Region, considering (i) water distribution provision, and infrastructure development within the affected region, (ii) the expansion of the current Community Development program to communities further downstream that were affected and previously not within the scope of the Company´s program, (iii) attention to local farmers and producers in coordination with the Federal Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Alimentations Ministry in order to revamp and promote the activities of local farmers and producers, (iv) the implementation of sustainable productive projects at each affected site, as well as (v) the establishment of service desks to attend specific cases.

 

On March 2, 2015 as a result of four administrative proceedings, PROFEPA imposed administrative fines to BVC for an aggregate amount of 23.5 million Mexican pesos (approximately $1.7 million).

 

15



Table of Contents

 

During the last half of 2014 and the first half of 2015, six collective action lawsuits were filed in federal courts in Mexico City and Sonora against two subsidiaries of the Company seeking damages for alleged injuries and the repair of environmental impact caused by the spill. Two of the collective action lawsuits have been dismissed by the court. The plaintiffs in these six lawsuits are: Acciones Colectivas de Sinaloa, A.C. which established two collective actions; Filiberto Navarro Soto et al; Defensa Colectiva A.C. (dismissed on August 7, 2015); Ismael Navarro Babuca et al (dismissed on August 17, 2015); and Ana Luisa Salazar Medina et al. Similarly, during the first half of 2015, seven civil action lawsuits were filed against BVC in the state courts of Sonora seeking damages for alleged injuries and for moral damages as a consequence of the spill. The plaintiffs in the state court lawsuits are: Jose Vicente Arriola Nunez et al; Santana Ruiz Molina et al; Andres Nogales Romero et al; Teodoro Javier Robles et al; Gildardo Vasquez Carvajal et al; Rafael Noriega Souffle et al; and Grupo Banamichi Unido de Sonora El Dorado, S.C. de R.L. de C.V.  Also, during the second and third quarters of 2015, three constitutional lawsuits (juicios de amparo) were filed before Federal Courts against various authorities and against a subsidiary of the Company, arguing; (i) the supposed lack of a waste management program approved by SEMARNAT; (ii) the supposed lack of a remediation plan approved by SEMARNAT with regard to the August  2014 spill and (iii) the supposed lack of community approval regarding the environmental impact authorizations granted by SEMARNAT to the subsidiary of the Company. The plaintiffs who filed those lawsuits are: Francisco Garcia Enriquez, et al which established two lawsuits and Francisco Ramon Miranda, et al. For a description of the collective actions in Mexico we refer to the 2011 amendments to the CFPC described above. It is currently not possible to determine the extent of the damages sought in these state and federal lawsuits but the Company considers that these lawsuits are without merit and the Company and its subsidiaries are vigorously defending against these actions. Nevertheless, the Company reasonably considers that none of the legal proceedings resulting from the spill, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

As of September 30, 2015, BVC estimated the contingent liability at $114.8 million, of which $39.9 million was paid with the Company’s funds, and approximately one billion Mexican pesos (approximately $74.9 million) was deposited in the trust. These funds have been available and have been used to compensate claims as they have arisen. This deposit was classified as restricted cash and was recorded as an operating expense in the Company’s results.

 

The Company believes that all of its facilities in Peru and Mexico are in material compliance with applicable environmental, mining and other laws and regulations.

 

The Company also believes that continued compliance with environmental laws of Mexico and Peru will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, properties, result of operations, financial condition or prospects and will not result in material capital investments.

 

Litigation matters:

 

Garcia Ataucuri and Others against SCC’s Peruvian Branch:

 

In April 1996, the Branch was served with a complaint filed in Peru by Mr. Garcia Ataucuri and approximately 900 former employees seeking the delivery of a substantial number of “labor shares” (acciones laborales) plus dividends on such shares, to be issued to each former employee in proportion to their time of employment with SCC’s Peruvian Branch, pursuant to a former Peruvian mandated profit sharing law.

 

The labor share litigation is based on claims of former employees for ownership of labor shares that the plaintiffs state that the Branch did not issue during the 1970s until 1979 under such former Peruvian mandated profit sharing law. In 1971, the Peruvian government enacted legislation providing that mining workers would have a 10% participation in the pre-tax profits of their employing enterprises. This participation was distributed 40% in cash and 60% in an equity interest of the enterprise. In 1978, the equity portion, which was originally delivered to a mining industry workers’ organization, was set at 5.5% of pre-tax profits and was delivered, mainly in the form of “labor shares” to individual workers. The cash portion was set at 4.0% of pre-tax earnings and was delivered to individual employees also in proportion to their time of employment with the Branch. In 1992, the workers’ participation was set at 8%, with 100% payable in cash and the equity participation was eliminated from the law.

 

In relation to the issuance of “labor shares” by the Branch in Peru, the Branch is a defendant in the following lawsuits:

 

1)                   Mr. Garcia Ataucuri seeks delivery, to himself and each of the approximately 900 former employees of the Peruvian Branch, of the 3,876,380,679.65 old soles or 38,763,806.80 “labor shares” (acciones laborales), as required by Decree Law 22333 (a former profit sharing law), to be issued proportionally to each former employee in accordance with the time of employment of such employee with SCC’s Branch in Peru, plus dividends on such shares. The 38,763,806.80 labor shares sought in the complaint, with a face value of 100.00 old soles each, represent 100% of the labor shares issued by the Branch during the 1970s until 1979 for all of its employees during that period. The plaintiffs do not represent 100% of the Branch’s eligible employees during that period.

 

It should be noted that the lawsuit refers to a prior Peruvian currency called “sol de oro” or old soles, which was later changed to the “inti”, and then into today’s “nuevo sol”. Due to a past period of high inflation between 1985 and 1990, one billion of old soles is equivalent to today’s one nuevo sol.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

After lengthy proceedings before the civil courts in Peru on September 19, 2001, on appeal by the Branch, the Peruvian Supreme Court annulled the proceedings noting that the civil courts lacked jurisdiction and that the matter had to be decided by a labor court (the “2000 appeal”).

 

In October 2007, in a separate proceeding initiated by the plaintiffs, the Peruvian Constitutional Court nullified the September 19, 2001 Peruvian Supreme Court decision and ordered the Supreme Court to decide again on the merits of the case accepting or denying the 2000 appeal.

 

In May 2009, the Supreme Court rejected the 2000 appeal of the Branch affirming the adverse decision of the appellate civil court and lower civil court. While the Supreme Court has ordered SCC’s Peruvian Branch to deliver the labor shares and dividends, it has clearly stated that SCC’s Peruvian Branch may prove, by all legal means, its assertion that the labor shares and dividends were distributed to the former employees in accordance with the profit sharing law then in effect, an assertion which SCC’s Peruvian Branch continues to make. None of the court decisions state the manner by which the Branch must comply with the delivery of such labor shares or make a liquidation of the amount to be paid for past dividends and interest, if any.

 

On June 9, 2009, SCC’s Peruvian Branch filed a proceeding of relief before a civil court in Peru seeking the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision and, in a separate proceeding, a request for a precautionary measure. The civil court rendered a favorable decision on the nullity and the precautionary measure, suspending the enforcement of the Supreme Court decision, for the reasons indicated above and other reasons. In February 2012, the Branch was notified that the civil court had reversed its prior decisions. On appeal by the Peruvian Branch the Superior Court affirmed the lower court’s decisions regarding the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision and the precautionary measure. As a result, the nullity of the precautionary measure became final and is not appealable. However, the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision was appealed by the Branch before the Constitutional Court. On April 10, 2014, the Constitutional Court denied the Company’s appeal and affirmed the lower court’s decision.

 

On September 23, 2015, the lower court to secure the delivery by the Branch of the labor shares ordered to be paid, seized 10,501,857 investment shares owned by SCC and Compania Minera Los Tolmos, S.A. (“Los Tolmos”). The Company is vigorously defending against these measures, and has challenged them on various grounds, mainly because a “labor share” created by law in 1979 is not equivalent to a “investment share”, on a one to one basis, as the latter must recognize the Peruvian inflation of the 1980-2014 period, and because the seized investment shares are owned by SCC and Los Tolmos, companies that are not a party in the lawsuit. SCC and Los Tolmos have initiated a third party claim to ownership, to have the lower court cancel the seizure order on their investment shares. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution without further developments.

 

2)                   In addition, there are filed against SCC’s Branch the following lawsuits, involving approximately 800 plaintiffs, which seek the same number of labor shares as in the Garcia Ataucuri case, plus interest, labor shares resulting from capital increases and dividends: (1) Armando Cornejo Flores and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 10, 2006); (2) Alejandro Zapata Mamani and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed June 27, 2008); (3) Edgardo Garcia Ataucuri, in representation of 216 of SCC’s Peruvian Branch former workers, v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 2011); (4) Juan Guillermo Oporto Carpio v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed August 2011); (5) Rene Mercado Caballero v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed November 2011); (6) Enrique Salazar Alvarez and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed December 2011; (7) Armando Cornejo Flores, in representation of 37 of SCC’s Peruvian Branch former workers v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed March 2012), (8) Porfirio Ochochoque Mamani and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed July 2012); (9) Alfonso Claudio Flores Jimenez and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed July 2013); (10) Edgardo Garcia Ataucuri in representation of 104 of SCC´s Peruvian Branch former workers (filed March 2015); (11) Nicolas Aurelio Sueros Benavente v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 2015) and (12) Victor Raul Marquez Cano v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed June 2015). SCC’s Peruvian Branch has answered the complaints and denied the validity of the claims.

 

SCC’s Peruvian Branch asserts that the labor shares were distributed to the former employees in accordance with the profit sharing law then in effect. The Peruvian Branch has not made a provision for these lawsuits because it believes that it has meritorious defenses to the claims asserted in the complaints. Additionally, the amount of this contingency cannot be reasonably estimated by management at this time.

 

The “Virgen Maria” Mining Concessions of the Tia Maria Mining Project

 

The Tia Maria project includes various mining concessions, totaling 32,989.64 hectares. One of the concessions is the “Virgen Maria” mining concession totaling 943.72 hectares or 2.9% of the total mining concessions.

 

Related to the “Virgen Maria” mining concessions, the Company is party to the following lawsuits:

 

17



Table of Contents

 

a)             Exploraciones de Concesiones Metalicas S.A.C. (“Excomet”): In August 2009, a lawsuit was filed against SCC’s Branch by the former stockholders of Excomet. The plaintiffs allege that the acquisition of Excomet’s shares by the Branch is null and void because the $2 million purchase price paid by the Branch for the shares of Excomet was not fairly negotiated by the plaintiffs and the Branch. In 2005, the Branch acquired the shares of Excomet after lengthy negotiations with the plaintiffs, and after the plaintiffs, which were all the stockholders of Excomet, approved the transaction in a general stockholders’ meeting. Excomet was at the time owner of the “Virgen Maria” mining concession. In October 2011, the civil court dismissed the case on the grounds that the claim had been barred by the statute of limitations. On appeal by the plaintiffs, the superior court reversed the lower court’s decision and remanded it to the lower court for further proceedings. In August 2015, the lower court dismissed the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs had not proven the alleged unfairness of the negotiations. The plaintiffs appealed this resolution before the Superior Court. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution.

 

b)             Sociedad Minera de Responsabilidad Limitada Virgen Maria de Arequipa (“SMRL Virgen Maria”): In August 2010, a lawsuit was filed against SCC’s Branch and others by SMRL Virgen Maria, a company which until July 2003 owned the mining concession Virgen Maria. SMRL Virgen Maria sold this mining concession in July 2003 to Excomet (see a) above). The plaintiff alleges that the sale of the mining concession Virgen Maria to Excomet is null and void because the persons who attended the shareholders’ meeting of SMRL Virgen Maria, at which the purchase was agreed upon, were not the real owners of the shares. The plaintiff is also pursuing the nullity of all the subsequent acts regarding the mining property (acquisition of the shares of Excomet by SCC’s Branch, noted above, and the sale of this concession to SCC’s Branch by Excomet). In October 2011, the civil court dismissed the case on the grounds that the claim had been barred by the statute of limitations. Upon appeal by the plaintiffs, the superior court remanded the proceedings to the lower court, ordering the issuance of a new decision. On June 25, 2013, the lower court dismissed the case due to procedural defects. Upon appeal by the plaintiff, on December 2, 2013 the Superior Court reversed the lower court’s decision due to procedural defects and ordered the issuance of a new resolution. In July 2014, once again the lower court dismissed the case on the grounds that the claim had barred by the statute of limitations. The plaintiff appealed this resolution before the Superior Court. On December 30, 2014, the Superior Court affirmed the lower court’s decision. The plaintiff filed an extraordinary appeal before the Supreme Court. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution without further developments.

 

The Company asserts that the lawsuits are without merit and is vigorously defending against these lawsuits.

 

Special Regional Pasto Grande Project (“Pasto Grande Project”)

 

In the last quarter of 2012, the Pasto Grande Project, an entity of the Regional Government of Moquegua, filed a lawsuit against SCC’s Peruvian Branch alleging property rights over a certain area used by the Peruvian Branch and seeking the demolition of the tailings dam where SCC’s Peruvian Branch has deposited its tailings from the Toquepala and Cuajone operations since 1995. The Peruvian Branch has had title to use the area in question since 1960 and has constructed and operated the tailing dams also with proper governmental authorization, since 1995. SCC’s Peruvian Branch asserts that the lawsuit is without merit and is vigorously defending against the lawsuit. Upon a motion filed by the Peruvian Branch, the lower court has included the MINEM as a defendant in this lawsuit. MINEM has answered the complaint and denied the validity of the claim. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution without further developments.

 

Labor matters:

 

Peruvian operations: Approximately 72% of the Company’s 4,605 Peruvian workers were unionized at September 30, 2015. Currently, there are five separate unions, one main union and four smaller unions. In the second quarter of 2015, two of the main unions, which formerly represented the Ilo and Cuajone workers, and one of the minor union, which formerly represented some Toquepala workers, merged into one new main union. The other four smaller unions represent the balance of workers. The Company’s collective bargaining agreements with all of these unions will expire in the second half of 2015. The Company began negotiations for new agreements in the third quarter of 2015.

 

Mexican operations: In recent years, the Mexican operations have experienced a positive improvement of their labor environment, as its workers opted to change their affiliation from the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores Mineros, Metalurgicos y Similares de la Republica Mexicana (the “National Mining Union”) led by Napoleon Gomez Urrutia to other less politicized unions.

 

However, the workers of the San Martin and Taxco mines, are still under the National Mining Union and have been on strike since July 2007. On December 10, 2009, a federal court confirmed the legality of the San Martin strike. In order to recover the control of the San Martin mine and resume operations, the Company filed a court petition on January 27, 2011 requesting that the court, among other things, define the termination payment for each unionized worker. The court denied the petition alleging that,

 

18



Table of Contents

 

according to federal labor law, the union was the only legitimate party to file such petition. On appeal by the Company, on May 13, 2011, the Mexican federal tribunal accepted the petition. In July 2011, the National Mining Union appealed the favorable court decision before the Supreme Court. On November 7, 2012, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the federal tribunal. The Company filed a new proceeding before the labor court on the basis of the Supreme Court decision, which recognized the right of the labor court to define responsibility for the strike and the termination payment for each unionized worker. A favorable decision of the labor court in this new proceeding would have the effect of terminating the protracted strike at San Martin. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution without further developments.

 

In the case of the Taxco mine, following the workers refusal to allow exploration of new reserves, the Company commenced litigation seeking to terminate the labor relationship with workers at the mine (including termination of the related collective bargaining agreement). On September 1, 2010, the federal labor court issued a ruling approving the termination of the collective bargaining agreement and all the individual labor contracts of the workers affiliated with the Mexican mining union at the Taxco mine. The mining union appealed the labor court ruling before a federal court. In September 2011, the federal court accepted the union’s appeal and remanded the case to the federal labor court for reconsideration. After several legal proceedings on January 25, 2013, the Company filed a new proceeding before the labor court. On June 16, 2014, the labor court denied the petition of the Company. The resolution issued by the labor court was challenged by the Company before a federal court. In August 2015, the Supreme Court decided to assert jurisdiction over the case and to rule on it directly. Considering this new decision of the Supreme Court, there could be grounds for a favorable decision to end the protracted strike at the Taxco Unit. As of September 30, 2015, the case remains pending resolution without further development.

 

It is expected that operations at these mines will remain suspended until these labor issues are resolved.

 

In view of these lengthy strikes, the Company has reviewed the carrying value of the San Martin and Taxco mines to ascertain whether impairment exists. The Company concluded that there is a non-material impairment of the assets located at these mines.

 

Other legal matters:

 

The Company is involved in various other legal proceedings incidental to its operations, but the Company does not believe that decisions adverse to it in any such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

Other commitments:

 

Peruvian Operations

 

Tia Maria:

 

On August 1, 2014, the Company received the final approval of Tia Maria´s Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”). However, the issuance of the project´s construction permit has been delayed pending the resolution of certain differences with community groups. The Peruvian government has recommended a dialogue roundtable for the resolution of these differences.

 

The Company has established a multi-faceted encounter plan to explain the merits of the Tia Maria project. A national media campaign was launched in May 2015, after which the Company conducted a door-to-door campaign in the neighboring district of Cocachacra. This campaign had the purpose of explaining the relevant environmental topics of the project that concerned the community.

 

Tia Maria´s project budget is approximately $1.4 billion of which $360.2 million has been invested through September 30, 2015. When completed, it is expected to produce 120,000 tons of copper cathodes per year. This project will use state of the art SX-EW technology with the highest international environmental standards. SX-EW facilities are the most environmentally friendly in the industry as they do not require a smelting process and consequently, no emissions into the atmosphere are released. The project will only use seawater, transporting this more than 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) and at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, constructing a desalinization plant representing an investment of $95 million. In this manner, the Company guarantees that the Tambo river water resources will be used solely for farming and human consumption.

 

The Company expects the project to generate 3,500 jobs during the construction phase. When in operation, Tia Maria will directly employ 600 workers and indirectly another 2,000. Through its expected twenty-year life, the project related services will create significant business opportunities in the Arequipa region.

 

In view of the delay in this project, the Company has reviewed the carrying value of this asset to ascertain whether impairment exists. Should the Tia Maria project not be restarted, the Company is confident that most of the project equipment will continue

 

19



Table of Contents

 

to be used productively, through reassignment to other mine locations operated by the Company. The Company believes that an impairment loss, if any, will not be material.

 

In connection with the Tia Maria project, in 2014 the Company offered to establish a S/.100 million fund (approximately $33 million) for the benefit of social and infrastructure improvements in Tia Maria’s neighboring communities.

 

Toquepala Concentrator Expansion:

 

In April 2015, the construction permit for the Toquepala expansion project was approved by the MINEM. The project budget is $1.2 billion, of which $372.3 million has been expended through September 30, 2015. When completed, this expansion project is expected to increase annual production capacity by 100,000 tons of copper and 3,100 tons of molybdenum.

 

In connection with this project, the Company has committed to fund various social and infrastructure improvement projects in Toquepala’s neighboring communities. The total amount committed for these purposes is S/.445.0 million (approximately $143 million).

 

Power purchase agreements

 

·                  Enersur: In 1997, SCC signed a power purchase agreement with an independent power company, Enersur S.A. under which SCC agreed to purchase all of its power needs for its current Peruvian operations from Enersur for twenty years, through April 2017.

 

·                  Electroperu S.A.: In June 2014, the Company signed a power purchase agreement for 120 megawatt (“MW”) with the state power company Electroperu S.A., under which Electroperu S.A. will supply energy for the Peruvian operations for twenty years starting on April 17, 2017 and ending on April 30, 2037.

 

·                  Kallpa Generacion S.A. (“Kallpa”): In July 2014, the Company signed a power purchase agreement for 120MW with Kallpa, an independent Israeli owned power company, under which Kallpa will supply energy for the Peruvian operations for ten years starting on April 17, 2017 and ending on April 30, 2027.

 

Mexican operations

 

Power purchase agreement - MGE

 

MGE, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, has completed the construction of the two power plants in Mexico designed to supply power to some of the Company’s Mexican operations. It is expected that MGE will supply approximately 12% of its power output to third-party energy users. These plants are natural gas-fired combined cycle power generating units, with a net total capacity of 516.2 megawatts. In 2012, the Company signed a power purchase agreement with MGE through 2032. The first plant was completed in June 2013 and the second, in the second quarter of 2014. MGE has the authorization for the interconnection with the Mexican electrical system to start operations at the second plant. The first plant began to supply power to the Company in December 2013, and the second plant began to supply power in June 2015.

 

Commitment for Capital projects

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company has committed approximately $348.6 million for the development of its capital investment projects at its Mexican operations.

 

Tax contingency matters:

 

Tax contingencies are provided for under ASC 740-10-50-15 Uncertain tax position (see Note 4 “Income taxes”).

 

NOTE 10 — SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION:

 

Company management views Southern Copper as having three reportable segments and manages it on the basis of these segments. The reportable segments identified by the Company are: the Peruvian operations, the Mexican open-pit operations and the Mexican underground mining operations segment identified as the IMMSA unit.

 

20



Table of Contents

 

The three reportable segments identified are groups of mines, each of which constitute an operating segment, with similar economic characteristics, type of products, processes and support facilities, similar regulatory environments, similar employee bargaining contracts and similar currency risks. In addition, each mine within the individual group earns revenues from similar type of customers for their products and services and each group incurs expenses independently, including commercial transactions between groups.

 

Financial information is regularly prepared for each of the three segments and the results of the Company’s operations are regularly reported to Senior Management on the segment basis. Senior Management of the Company focus on operating income and on total assets as measures of performance to evaluate different segments and to make decisions to allocate resources to the reported segments. These are common measures in the mining industry.

 

Financial information relating to Southern Copper’s segments is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate, other
and eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

597.6

 

$

68.4

 

$

467.6

 

$

 

$

1,133.6

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

 

19.0

 

 

 

(19.0

)

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)

 

333.5

 

80.3

 

305.1

 

(48.1

)

670.8

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

15.4

 

1.5

 

9.0

 

(2.3

)

23.6

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

62.7

 

9.0

 

60.0

 

(0.1

)

131.6

 

Exploration

 

3.4

 

3.4

 

2.2

 

4.7

 

13.7

 

Environmental remediation

 

7.0

 

 

 

 

7.0

 

Operating income

 

$

175.6

 

$

(6.8

)

$

91.3

 

$

26.8

 

286.9

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(61.9

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4.3

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(125.3

)

Equity earnings of affiliate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.0

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.0

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

98.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investment (*)

 

$

215.2

 

$

14.0

 

$

91.2

 

$

96.2

 

$

416.6

 

Property, net

 

$

4,824.7

 

$

393.9

 

$

2,596.3

 

$

58.0

 

$

7,872.9

 

Total assets

 

$

7,303.4

 

$

815.8

 

$

3,530.9

 

$

1,215.1

 

$

12,865.2

 

 


(*) Corporate, other and eliminations includes $100.4 million purchase of the El Pilar mining property acquisition.

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate, other
and eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

750.8

 

$

75.7

 

$

648.1

 

$

 

$

1,474.6

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

20.3

 

 

(20.3

)

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)

 

316.8

 

78.3

 

376.8

 

(42.4

)

729.5

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

9.7

 

4.1

 

11.7

 

0.8

 

26.3

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

50.7

 

8.7

 

50.2

 

4.3

 

113.9

 

Exploration

 

0.8

 

8.4

 

3.5

 

7.9

 

20.6

 

Environmental remediation

 

37.2

 

 

 

 

37.2

 

Operating income

 

$

335.6

 

$

(3.5

)

$

205.9

 

$

9.1

 

547.1

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(30.8

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(21.0

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(175.4

)

Equity earnings of affiliate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.9

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.5

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

324.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investment

 

$

310.0

 

$

12.6

 

$

84.9

 

$

3.0

 

$

410.5

 

Property, net

 

$

4,149.6

 

$

376.8

 

$

2,535.7

 

$

127.5

 

$

7,189.6

 

Total assets

 

$

6,516.3

 

$

877.6

 

$

3,451.0

 

$

658.2

 

$

11,503.1

 

 

21



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA
Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate, other
and eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

1,995.3

 

$

245.8

 

$

1,550.2

 

$

 

$

3,791.3

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

53.4

 

 

(53.4

)

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)

 

929.8

 

247.8

 

947.7

 

(67.9

)

2,057.4

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

36.3

 

4.9

 

29.3

 

2.9

 

73.4

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

177.2

 

24.6

 

170.4

 

1.7

 

373.9

 

Exploration

 

5.2

 

8.5

 

8.5

 

13.9

 

36.1

 

Environmental remediation

 

23.5

 

 

 

 

23.5

 

Operating income

 

$

823.3

 

$

13.4

 

$

394.3

 

$

(4.0

)

1,227.0

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(136.1

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9.7

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(411.6

)

Equity earnings of affiliate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.5

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3.5

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

675.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investment (*)

 

$

601.2

 

$

29.4

 

$

211.7

 

$

104.1

 

$

946.4

 

Property, net

 

$

4,824.7

 

$

393.9

 

$

2,596.3

 

$

58.0

 

$

7,872.9

 

Total assets

 

$

7,303.4

 

$

815.8

 

$

3,530.9

 

$

1,215.1

 

$

12,865.2

 

 


(*) Corporate, other and eliminations includes $100.4 million purchase of the El Pilar mining property acquisition.

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA
Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate, other
and eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

2,171.1

 

$

259.2

 

$

1,886.1

 

 

$

4,316.4

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

67.2

 

 

$

(67.2

)

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)

 

858.4

 

245.7

 

1,047.0

 

(53.1

)

2,098.0

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

27.5

 

11.7

 

34.1

 

2.9

 

76.2

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

160.3

 

24.3

 

145.8

 

10.0

 

340.4

 

Exploration

 

2.5

 

20.8

 

11.2

 

22.8

 

57.3

 

Environmental remediation

 

37.2

 

 

 

 

37.2

 

Operating income

 

$

1,085.2

 

$

23.9

 

$

648.0

 

$

(49.8

)

1,707.3

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(100.0

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(31.0

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(605.3

)

Equity earnings of affiliate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.8

 

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3.8

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

985.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital investment

 

$

830.0

 

$

30.8

 

$

240.3

 

$

6.4

 

$

1,107.5

 

Property, net

 

$

4,149.6

 

$

376.8

 

$

2,535.7

 

$

127.5

 

$

7,189.6

 

Total assets

 

$

6,516.3

 

$

877.6

 

$

3,451.0

 

$

658.2

 

$

11,503.1

 

 

22



Table of Contents

 

NOTE 11 — STOCKHOLDERS´EQUITY:

 

Treasury Stock:

 

Activity in treasury stock in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Southern Copper common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

$

1,693.5

 

$

1,011.0

 

Purchase of shares

 

724.4

 

388.9

 

Used for corporate purposes

 

(0.4

)

(0.2

)

Balance as of September 30,

 

2,417.5

 

1,399.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

207.2

 

205.6

 

Other activity, including dividend, interest and currency translation effect

 

(6.9

)

6.2

 

Balance as of September 30,

 

200.3

 

211.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock balance as of September 30,

 

$

2,617.8

 

$

1,611.5

 

 

The following table summarizes share distributions in the nine months of 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Southern Copper common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Directors’ Stock Award Plan

 

13,200

 

12,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Employee stock purchase plan (shares in millions)

 

4.3

 

0.9

 

 

Southern Copper Common Shares:

 

At September 30, 2015 and 2014, there were in treasury 98,044,916 and 61,740,460 SCC’s common shares, respectively.

 

SCC share repurchase program:

 

In 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors (“BOD”) authorized a $500 million share repurchase program that has since been increased by the BOD and is currently authorized to $3 billion. Pursuant to this program, the Company purchased common stock as shown in the table below. These shares are available for general corporate purposes. The Company may purchase additional shares of its common stock from time to time, based on market conditions and other factors. This repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified or discontinued at any time.

 

Period

 

Total Number
of Shares

 

Average
Price Paid

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly

 

Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plan

 

Total Cost

 

From

 

To

 

Purchased

 

per Share

 

Announced Plan

 

@ $26.72 (*)

 

($ in millions)

 

2008

 

2012

 

46,914,486

 

$

18.72

 

46,914,486

 

 

 

$

878.1

 

2013

 

 

 

10,245,000

 

27.47

 

57,159,486

 

 

 

281.4

 

2014

 

 

 

22,711,428

 

30.06

 

79,870,914

 

 

 

682.8

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01/01/15

 

01/31/15

 

5,927,154

 

27.12

 

85,798,068

 

 

 

160.7

 

02/01/15

 

02/28/15

 

2,590,076

 

29.45

 

88,388,144

 

 

 

76.3

 

03/01/15

 

03/31/15

 

4,563,649

 

29.16

 

92,951,793

 

 

 

133.1

 

Total first quarter

 

 

 

13,080,879

 

29.29

 

 

 

 

 

370.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

04/01/15

 

04/30/15

 

1,511,200

 

29.42

 

94,462,993

 

 

 

44.5

 

Total second quarter

 

 

 

1,511,200

 

29.42

 

 

 

 

 

44.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07/01/15

 

07/31/15

 

1,603,800

 

27.84

 

96,066,793

 

 

 

44.6

 

08/01/15

 

08/31/15

 

6,160,000

 

26.90

 

102,226,793

 

 

 

165.7

 

09/01/15

 

09/30/15

 

3,724,273

 

26.69

 

105,951,066

 

 

 

99.4

 

Total third quarter

 

 

 

11,488,073

 

26.97

 

 

 

 

 

309.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,219,324

 

 

 

Total purchased

 

 

 

105,951,066

 

$

24.22

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,566.6

 

 


(*) NYSE closing price of SCC common shares at September 30, 2015.

 

23



Table of Contents

 

As a result of the repurchase of shares of SCC’s common stock, Grupo Mexico’s direct and indirect ownership was 87.4% as of September 30, 2015.

 

Directors’ Stock Award Plan:

 

The Company established a stock award compensation plan for certain directors who are not compensated as employees of the Company. Under this plan, participants will receive 1,200 shares of common stock upon election and 1,200 additional shares following each annual meeting of stockholders thereafter. 600,000 shares of Southern Copper common stock have been reserved for this plan. The fair value of the award is measured each year at the date of the grant.

 

The activity of the plan in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Total SCC shares reserved for the plan

 

600,000

 

600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shares granted at January 1,

 

(309,600

)

(297,600

)

Granted in the period

 

(13,200

)

(12,000

)

Total shares granted at September 30,

 

(322,800

)

(309,600

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining shares reserved

 

277,200

 

290,400

 

 

Parent Company common shares:

 

At September 30, 2015 and 2014 there were in treasury 92,739,076 and 70,760,983 of Grupo Mexico’s shares, respectively.

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan:

 

2007 Plan: In January 2007, the Company offered to eligible employees a stock purchase plan (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) through a trust that acquires shares of Grupo Mexico stock for sale to its employees, employees of subsidiaries, and certain affiliated companies. The purchase price was established at the approximate fair market value on the grant date. Every two years employees were able to acquire title to 50% of the shares paid in the previous two years. The employees paid for shares purchased through monthly payroll deductions over the eight year period of the plan. At the end of the eight year period, the Company granted the participant a bonus of one share for every ten shares purchased by the employee.

 

The participants were entitled to receive dividends in cash for dividends paid by Grupo Mexico for all shares that were fully purchased and paid by the employee as of the date that the dividend is paid. If the participant had only partially paid for shares, the entitled dividends were used to reduce the remaining liability owed for purchased shares.

 

In the case of voluntary or involuntary resignation/termination of the employee, the Company paid to the employee the fair market sales price at the date of resignation/termination of the fully paid shares, net of costs and taxes. When the fair market sales value of the shares was higher than the purchase price, the Company applied a deduction over the amount to be paid to the employee based on a decreasing schedule specified in the plan.

 

In case of retirement or death of the employee, the Company rendered the buyer or his legal beneficiary, the fair market sales value as of the date of retirement or death of the shares effectively paid, net of costs and taxes.

 

The stock based compensation expense for the nine months of 2014 was $1.6 million and the unrecognized compensation expense as of September 30, 2014 under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan was $0.5 million, which was recognized in the fourth quarter of 2014. This plan ended in January2015.

 

The following table presents the stock award activity of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan at the close of the plan and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Shares

 

Unit Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2015

 

4,298,612

 

$

1.16

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(4,189,371

)

1.16

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2015

 

109,241

 

$

1.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2014

 

4,449,599

 

$

1.16

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(140,545

)

1.16

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2014

 

4,309,054

 

$

1.16

 

 

24



Table of Contents

 

2010 Plan: During 2010, the Company offered to eligible employees a stock purchase plan through a trust that acquires series B shares of Grupo Mexico stock for sale to its employees, employees of subsidiaries, and certain affiliated companies. The purchase price was established at 26.51 Mexican pesos (approximately $2.05) for the initial subscription. The terms of this plan are similar to the terms of the prior Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

The stock based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and the unrecognized compensation expense under this plan were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Stock based compensation expense

 

$

0.4

 

$

0.4

 

Unrecognized compensation expense

 

$

1.7

 

$

2.2

 

 

The unrecognized compensation expense under this plan is expected to be recognized over the remaining three year and three-month period.

 

The following table presents the stock award activity of the New Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Shares

 

Unit Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2015

 

2,287,891

 

$

2.05

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(60,309

)

2.05

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2015

 

2,227,582

 

$

2.05

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2014

 

3,012,464

 

$

2.05

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(724,573

)

2.05

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2014

 

2,287,891

 

$

2.05

 

 

2015 Plan: In January 2015, the Company offered to eligible employees a new stock purchase plan (the “New Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) through a trust that acquires series B of shares of Grupo Mexico stock for sale to its employees, and employees of subsidiaries, and certain affiliated companies.

 

The purchase price was established at 38.44 Mexican pesos (approximately $2.63) for the initial subscription, which expires on January 2023. Every two years employees will be able to acquire title to 50% of the shares paid in the previous two years. The employees will pay for shares purchased through monthly payroll deductions over the eight year period of the plan. At the end of the eight year period, the Company will grant the participant a bonus of 1 share for every 10 shares purchased by the employee. Any future subscription will be at the average market price at the date of acquisition or the grant date.

 

If Grupo Mexico pays dividends on shares during the eight year period, the participants will be entitled to receive the dividend in cash for all shares that have been fully purchased and paid as of the date that the dividend is paid. If the participant has only partially paid for shares, the entitled dividends will be used to reduce the remaining liability owed for purchased shares.

 

In the case of voluntary resignation of the employee, the Company will pay to the employee the fair market sales price at the date of resignation of the fully paid shares, net of costs and taxes. When the fair market sales value of the shares is higher than the purchase price, the Company will apply a deduction over the amount to be paid to the employee based on the following schedule.

 

If the resignation occurs during:

 

% Deducted

1st year after the grant date

 

90%

2nd year after the grant date

 

80%

3rd year after the grant date

 

70%

4th year after the grant date

 

60%

5th year after the grant date

 

50%

6th year after the grant date

 

40%

7th year after the grant date

 

20%

 

In the case of involuntary termination of the employee, the Company will pay to the employee the fair market sales price at the date of termination of employment of the fully paid shares, net of costs and taxes. When the fair market sales value of the shares

 

25



Table of Contents

 

is higher than the purchase price, the Company will apply a deduction over the amount to be paid to the employee based on the following schedule.

 

If the termination occurs during:

 

% Deducted

1st year after the grant date

 

100%

2nd year after the grant date

 

95%

3rd year after the grant date

 

90%

4th year after the grant date

 

80%

5th year after the grant date

 

70%

6th year after the grant date

 

60%

7th year after the grant date

 

50%

 

In case of retirement or death of the employee, the Company will render the buyer or his legal beneficiary, the fair market sales value as of the date of retirement or death of the shares effectively paid, net of costs and taxes.

 

The stock based compensation expense for the nine months of 2015 and the unrecognized compensation expense under this plan were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

Stock based compensation expense

 

$

0.2

 

Unrecognized compensation expense

 

$

4.6

 

 

The following table presents the stock award activity of this plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

Shares

 

Unit Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2015

 

 

 

Granted

 

2,652,886

 

$

2.63

 

Exercised

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2015

 

2,652,886

 

$

2.63

 

 

NOTE 12 — NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST:

 

The following table presents the non-controlling interest activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

$

32.1

 

$

28.2

 

Net earnings

 

3.5

 

3.8

 

Dividend paid

 

(0.5

)

(0.7

)

Other

 

 

(0.1

)

Balance as of September 30,

 

$

35.1

 

$

31.2

 

 

NOTE 13 — FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

 

Subtopic 810-10 of ASC “Fair value measurement and disclosures — Overall” establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under Subtopic 810-10 are described below:

 

Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2 - Inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, but do not qualify as Level 1 inputs (i.e., quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities).

 

Level 3 - Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

 

The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable (other than accounts receivable associated with provisionally priced sales) and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short maturities.

 

26



Table of Contents

 

Consequently, such financial instruments are not included in the following table that provides information about the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of other financial instruments that are not measured at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

At September 30, 2015

 

At December 31, 2014

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying Value

 

Fair Value

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

5,950.9

 

$

5,338.4

 

$

4,180.9

 

$

4,369.6

 

 

Long-term debt is carried at amortized cost and its estimated fair value is based on quoted market prices classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy except for the case of the Yankee bonds which qualify as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as they are based on quoted priced in market that are not active.

 

Fair values of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were calculated as follows as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014:

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value at Measurement Date Using:

 

 

 

Description

 

Fair Value as of
September 30, 2015

 

Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Trading securities

 

$

878.0

 

$

878.0

 

$

 

$

 

- Available-for-sale debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

0.2

 

 

0.2

 

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

3.9

 

 

3.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Embedded derivatives - Not classified as hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisionally priced sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

189.3

 

189.3

 

 

 

Molybdenum

 

64.6

 

64.6

 

 

 

Total

 

$

1,136.0

 

$

1,131.9

 

$

4.1

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value at Measurement Date Using:

 

 

 

Description

 

Fair Value as of
December 31, 2014

 

Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
(Level 1)

 

Significant other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)

 

Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Trading securities

 

$

333.7

 

$

333.7

 

$

 

$

 

- Available-for-sale debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

0.3

 

 

0.3

 

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

4.6

 

 

4.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Embedded derivatives - Not classified as hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisionally priced sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

202.2

 

202.2

 

 

 

Molybdenum

 

105.5

 

105.5

 

 

 

Total

 

$

646.3

 

$

641.4

 

$

4.9

 

$

 

 

The Company’s short-term trading securities investments are classified as Level 1 because they are valued using quoted prices of the same securities as they consist of bonds issued by public companies and publicly traded. The Company’s short-term available-for-sale investments are classified as Level 2 because they are valued using quoted prices for similar investments.

 

The Company’s accounts receivables associated with provisionally priced copper sales are valued using quoted market prices based on the forward price on the LME or on the COMEX. Such value is classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Molybdenum prices are established by reference to the publication Platt’s Metals Week and are considered Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

27



Table of Contents

 

Note 14 — Acquisition of El Pilar mine

 

On July 6, 2015, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Recursos Stingray de Cobre, S.A. de C.V. (“Stingray”) for $100.4 million, a company incorporated under the laws of Mexico  whose principal holding is a 100% interest in the El Pilar  mine concession. This acquisition is included in the Company’s financial statements as of the acquisition date. Related to this purchase the Company paid approximately $0.4 million of acquisition related costs which is induced in selling, general and administrative expenses in the statement of income.

 

The Company expects to develop the El Pilar mine with an estimated capital budget of approximately $300 million to produce copper cathodes using the highly cost efficient and environmentally friendly SX-EW technology. The project currently contemplates average annual production of 35,000 tons of copper cathodes over an initial 13-year mine life, with start of commercial operations forecasted by 2018.

 

Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in millions)

 

Financial assets

 

$

0.1

 

Mineral resources

 

23.4

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

10.5

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities

 

(3.6

)

 

 

 

 

Total identifiable net assets

 

$

30.4

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

$

70.0

 

 

Unless otherwise noted, all assets and liabilities acquired have been measured at fair value. However, certain items such as identifiable intangible assets, deferred taxes, and other benefits continue to be measured in accordance with other applicable accounting literature.

 

The Company recognized the assets and liabilities of Stingray based on preliminary estimates of their acquisition date fair values. The determination of the fair values of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities (and the related determination of estimated lives of depreciable tangible and identifiable intangible assets) requires significant judgment. As such, the Company has not completed its valuation analysis and calculations in sufficient detail necessary to arrive at the final estimates of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, along with the related allocations to goodwill and intangible assets. The fair values of certain tangible assets, intangible assets, certain contingent liabilities and residual goodwill are the most significant areas not yet finalized and therefore are subject to change. The Company expects to complete its final fair value determinations no later than June 30, 2016  Final fair value determinations may be significantly different than those reflected in these financial statements.

 

Based on the preliminary estimate, the Company has recorded goodwill of $ 70 million, representing the amount of the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired.  This goodwill is attributable to strategic benefits that the Company expects to realize. None of the goodwill associated with this acquisition is deductible for income tax purposes.

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 are as follows (in millions):

 

Balance as of January 1, 2015

 

$

17.0

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill acquired

 

70.0

 

Impairment losses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of September 30, 2015

 

$

87.0

 

 

NOTE 15 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:

 

Dividends:

 

On October 22, 2015 the Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share payable on November 24, 2015 to SCC shareholders of record at the close of business on November 10, 2015.

 

28



Table of Contents

 

Part I

 

Item 2.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion provides information that management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Southern Copper Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, “SCC” the “Company” “our” and “we”). This item should be read in conjunction with our interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in this quarterly report. Additionally, the following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

 

Business: Our business is primarily the production and sale of copper. In the process of producing copper, a number of valuable metallurgical by-products are recovered, which we also produce and sell. Market forces outside of our control largely determine the sale prices for our products. Our management, therefore, focuses on value creation through copper production, cost control, production enhancement and maintaining a prudent capital structure to remain profitable. We endeavor to achieve these goals through capital spending programs, exploration efforts and cost reduction programs. Our aim is to remain profitable during periods of low copper prices and to maximize financial performance in periods of high copper prices.

 

We are one of the world’s largest copper mining companies in terms of production and sales with our principal operations in Peru and Mexico. We also have active ongoing exploration programs in Chile, Argentina and Ecuador. In addition to copper we produce significant amounts of other metals, either as a by-product of the copper process or in a number of dedicated mining facilities in Mexico.

 

Outlook: Various key factors will affect our outcome. These include, but are not limited to, some of the following:

 

·            Changes in copper and molybdenum prices: In the nine-month period of 2015, the average LME and COMEX copper prices were $2.59 per pound and $2.61 per pound, respectively, about 17.8% lower than in the same period of 2014. During the nine months of 2015 per pound LME spot copper prices ranged from $2.22 to $2.92. Average molybdenum, silver and zinc prices in the nine months of 2015 decreased 40.0%, 19.6% and 4.1%, respectively, when compared to the average prices in the nine months of 2014.

 

·            Sales structure: In the nine months of 2015, approximately 79% of our revenue came from the sale of copper, 5% from molybdenum, 4% from silver, 4% from zinc and 8% from various other products, including gold, sulfuric acid and other materials.

 

·            Copper: Regarding the copper market, we maintain our long term confidence in the positive fundamentals of this market. During this year, demand has been affected by macroeconomic headwinds and concerns on the Chinese copper consumption. China is the world’s major copper consumer with about 46% of world consumption estimated for 2015. We believe China’s demand for copper will increase 3% this year. For next year, we believe it will increase its growth mark to about 4% driven by the recovery of the Chinese housing market and the national grid investment program.

 

On a longer term view, we want to emphasize that China is an emerging market and as such, their middle class is hungry for housing, cars, appliances and other consumer goods. So we believe we will see in the future a strong copper demand coming from this country, as it will evolve towards a consumption driven economy.

 

Additionally, we believe that growth in developed economies such as United States, Europe and Japan, has been on track through 2015 at about 2%. These economies represent about 30% of worldwide refined copper demand.

 

On the supply side, we have noted production cut announcements in the last quarter that total 520,000 tons and we should expect some more production cuts if this price environment persists. This new factor alone will significantly vary the market trend towards a copper deficit. On a more structural view, as we have expressed in the past, we believe that supply

 

29



Table of Contents

 

will be affected in the coming quarters from delays in project startups, technical problems, labor unrest, excess government taxation and other difficulties.

 

We want to emphasize that copper prices at current levels are not sufficient to promote the necessary future supply growth, thereby improving the strong long term fundamentals of our industry.

 

·            Molybdenum: This metal represented 3.4% of the Company sales in the third quarter of 2015. In this quarter we saw molybdenum price deterioration consistent with our outlook for a 10% worldwide supply growth in 2015 coming from our Buenavista operation as well as Sierra Gorda, Toromocho and Caserones, among other projects. Demand for molybdenum will be affected in 2015 by lower demand for special alloys coming from the oil drilling industry. This will add to the noted difficulties.

 

Even though the current scenario for molybdenum prices is not positive, it is important to note that about 50% of this metal supply comes from primary or dedicated molybdenum mines, which have a cash cost in the range of $9 to $12 dollars per pound. This creates a natural barrier for the molybdenum market to adjust production volume and thereby protect low cost secondary molybdenum producers such as SCC.

 

Molybdenum is mainly used for the production of special alloys of stainless steel that require significant hardness, corrosion and heat resistance. A new use for this metal is in lubricants and sulfur filtering of heavy oils and shale gas production.

 

·            Zinc: Zinc has very good long term fundamentals due to its significant industrial consumption and expected mine production shutdowns. In the last 12 months zinc inventories have consistently decreased, improving this market’s fundamentals. We are expecting an increasing price scenario for zinc in the next few years. Zinc represented 3.9% of our sales in the third quarter of 2015.

 

·            Silver: Regarding this metal, we believe that prices will have support due to its industrial uses as well as being perceived as a value shelter in times of economic uncertainty. Silver represented 4.8% of our sales in the third quarter of 2015.

 

·            Production: For 2015, improvements in operational practices, exchange rate depreciation where we operate, lower fuel costs and capital investments will reduce costs and increase our copper and molybdenum production. We are adjusting our production guidance. Our current estimate for 2015 copper production is 757,300 tons, which is approximately 75,000 tons higher than last year’s production of 682,600 tons. As previously reported, with this production increase we will set a new production record for SCC.

 

We expect to produce 23,100 tons of molybdenum in 2015, which represents an increase of our initial guidance of 21,500 tons. This variance will be a result of higher grades at our Peruvian operations and the restoration of production at our Buenavista mine.

 

In 2015, we expect to produce 13.0 million ounces of silver, about 4% higher than 2014 production. Regarding zinc production, for 2015 we now expect to produce 64,400 tons of zinc from our mines. This is a reduction from our previous outlook due to some temporary disruptions at our zinc mines.

 

·            Cost: Our operating costs and expenses for the nine-month periods of 2015 and 2014 were as follows ($ in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Operating costs and expenses

 

$

2,564.3

 

$

2,609.1

 

$

(44.8

)

(1.7

)%

 

The decrease in operating costs and expenses was principally due to lower cost of sales, environmental remediation provision at Buenavista and exploration expenses. In addition, we want to emphasize that despite the increase in sales volume, unit cost of sales decreased principally due to lower production costs, mainly from fuel, and from the diluting effect on unit cost from higher copper production at all our open pit mines and from the new SX-EW III plant at Buenavista.

 

·            Capital Investments: In the nine months of 2015, we invested $946.4 million in capital investments, including the El Pilar acquisition in Sonora, Mexico. This is 14.6% lower than in the nine months of 2014, and represented 140.1% of net income. We continue moving forward with our investment program to increase copper production capacity by approximately 90% from our 2013 production level of 617,000 tons to 1,165,000 tons by 2018.

 

30



Table of Contents

 

KEY MATTERS:

 

We discuss below several matters that we believe are important to understand our results of operations and financial condition. These matters include (i) our earnings, (ii) our production, (iii) our “operating cash costs” as a measure of our performance, (iv) metal prices, (v) business segments, (vi) the effect of inflation and other local currency issues, and (vii) our capital investment and exploration program.

 

Earnings:

 

The table below highlights key financial and operational data for our Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

Net sales

 

$

1,133.6

 

$

1,474.6

 

$

(341.0

)

$

3,791.3

 

$

4,316.4

 

$

(525.1

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

$

98.4

 

$

324.3

 

$

(225.9

)

$

675.6

 

$

985.0

 

$

(309.4

)

Earnings per share

 

$

0.12

 

$

0.39

 

$

(0.27

)

$

0.85

 

$

1.18

 

$

(0.33

)

Dividends paid per share

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.12

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.30

 

$

0.34

 

$

(0.04

)

Pounds of copper sold

 

387.0

 

367.0

 

20.0

 

1,166.2

 

1,050.6

 

115.6

 

 

Third quarter: Net sales in the third quarter of 2015 decreased $341.0 million, over the third quarter of 2014. This decrease in sales was largely due to decreases in metal prices. Molybdenum sales volume decreased in the third quarter of 2015 by 6.5% compared with the third quarter of 2014, partially offset by an increase in copper volume of 5.5% and zinc volume of 29.2%. Net income decreased 69.7% in the third quarter of 2015 compared with the third quarter of 2014 mainly due to lower metal prices as well as an adjustment of $51.4 million related to the finalization of the 2014 tax return.

 

Nine months: Net sales and net income in the nine months of 2015 were lower than in the nine months of 2014 by $525.1 million and $309.4 million, respectively. These decreases were mainly the result of lower metal prices. Copper and zinc sales volume increased in the nine months of 2015 by 11.0% and 12.5%, respectively, compared to the nine months of 2014; this was partially offset by lower molybdenum (1.1%) and silver (2.4%) sales volumes.

 

Production: The tables below highlight mine production data for our Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Volume

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Volume

 

%

 

Copper (in million pounds)

 

396.6

 

362.6

 

34.0

 

9.4

%

1,183.0

 

1,086.9

 

96.1

 

8.8

%

Molybdenum (in million pounds)

 

12.7

 

13.3

 

(0.6

)

(4.7

)%

38.3

 

38.4

 

(0.1

)

(0.3

)%

Zinc (in million pounds)

 

35.9

 

29.4

 

6.5

 

22.4

%

100.2

 

111.6

 

(11.4

)

(10.2

)%

Silver (in million ounces)

 

3.3

 

3.0

 

0.3

 

12.0

%

9.7

 

9.6

 

0.1

 

1.4

%

 

The tables below highlight copper production data at each of our mines for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Volume

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Volume

 

%

 

COPPER (in million pounds)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toquepala

 

78.7

 

75.3

 

3.4

 

4.4

%

239.9

 

226.4

 

13.5

 

6.0

%

Cuajone

 

96.5

 

95.8

 

0.7

 

0.7

%

290.0

 

293.9

 

(3.9

)

(1.3

)%

La Caridad

 

72.7

 

68.3

 

4.4

 

6.5

%

215.6

 

207.8

 

7.8

 

3.7

%

Buenavista

 

145.4

 

120.7

 

24.7

 

20.5

%

428.2

 

350.7

 

77.5

 

22.1

%

IMMSA

 

3.3

 

2.5

 

0.8

 

32.3

%

9.3

 

8.1

 

1.2

 

15.2

%

Total Mined Copper

 

396.6

 

362.6

 

34.0

 

9.4

%

1,183.0

 

1,086.9

 

96.1

 

8.8

%

 

Third quarter: Copper mine production in the third quarter of 2015 increased 9.4% to 396.6 million pounds compared to 362.6 million pounds in the third quarter of 2014. Over 70% of the increase is due to higher production at our Buenavista mine

 

31



Table of Contents

 

largely as a result of the new SX-EW III plant. Higher concentrator throughput at our other mines generated the rest of the increase.

 

Molybdenum production decreased 4.7% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014 due to decreases in production at our Mexican mines especially at our Buenavista mine due to water issues that were resolved by the end of the quarter. This was partially offset by higher production at our Peruvian mines principally due to higher grades.

 

Zinc production increased 22.4% in the third quarter of 2015, compared to the same period of 2014 as a result of higher production at our IMMSA facilities principally due to higher production at our Charcas mine.

 

Silver mine production in the third quarter 2015 increased 12% compared to the third quarter of 2014, mainly due to higher production at our Mexican operations.

 

Nine months: Copper mined production in the nine months of 2015 increased 8.8% to 1,183.0 million pounds compared to 1,086.9 million pounds in the third quarter of 2014, as a result of:

 

·                  Higher production at the Buenavista mine due to production from the new SX-EW III plant.

·                  Higher production at the Toquepala mine due to higher ore grades.

·                  Higher production at the La Caridad mine due to higher throughput, partially offset by

·                  Lower production at the Cuajone mine due to lower ore grades.

 

Molybdenum production had a slight decrease in the nine months of 2015 compared to the same period of 2014 principally due to lower production at our Mexican mines as a result of lower grades at La Caridad mine and water issues at our Buenavista mine. This was partially offset by higher production at our Peruvian mines principally due to higher grades.

 

Zinc production decreased 10.2% in the nine months of 2015 due to lower grades at all our IMMSA mines and lower production at Santa Eulalia mine.

 

Silver mine production had a slight increase in the nine months of 2015 from the same period of 2014, due to higher production at our Mexican mines and the Toquepala mine. This was partially offset by lower production at the Cuajone mine.

 

Metal Prices: The profitability of our operations is dependent on, and our financial performance is significantly affected by, the international market prices for the products we produce, especially for copper, molybdenum, zinc and silver.

 

We are subject to market risks arising from the volatility of copper and other metal prices. For the remaining three months of 2015, assuming that expected metal production and sales are achieved, that tax rates are unchanged, giving no effect to potential hedging programs, metal price sensitivity factors would indicate the following change in estimated annual net income attributable to SCC resulting from metal price changes:

 

 

 

Copper

 

Molybdenum

 

Zinc

 

Silver

 

Change in metal prices (per pound, except silver — per ounce)

 

$

0.10

 

$

1.00

 

$

0.10

 

$

1.00

 

Annual change in net income attributable to SCC (in millions)

 

$

24.4

 

$

6.7

 

$

3.5

 

$

2.0

 

 

Operating Cash Costs: An overall benchmark used by us and a common industry metric to measure performance is operating cash cost per pound of copper produced. Operating cash cost is a non-GAAP measure that does not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures provided by other companies. This non-GAAP information should not be considered in isolation or as substitute for measures of performance determined in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of our operating cash cost per pound of copper produced to the cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) as presented in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings is presented under the subheading “Non-GAAP Information Reconciliation” on page 46. We disclose operating cash cost per pound of copper produced, both without and with the inclusion of by-product revenues.

 

We define operating cash cost per pound of copper produced without by-product revenues as cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion), plus selling, general and administrative charges, treatment and refining charges net of sales premiums; less the cost of purchased concentrates, workers’ participation and other miscellaneous charges, including royalty charges and the change in inventory levels; divided by total pounds of copper produced by our own mines.

 

We define operating cash cost per pound of copper produced with by-product revenues as operating cash cost per pound of copper produced, as defined in the previous paragraph, less by-product revenues and net revenue (loss) on sale of metal purchased from third parties.

 

32



Table of Contents

 

In our calculation of operating cash cost per pound of copper produced, with by-product revenues, we credit against our costs the revenues from the sale of all our by-products, including, molybdenum, zinc, silver, gold, etc. and the net revenue (loss) on sale of metals purchased from third parties. We disclose this measure including the by-product revenues in this way because we consider our principal business to be the production and sale of copper. As part of our copper production process, much of our by-products are recovered. These by-products and the processing of copper purchased from third parties are a marginal part of our production process and their sales value contribute to cover part of our fixed costs incurred. We believe that our Company is viewed by the investment community as a copper company, and is valued, in large part, by the investment community’s view of the copper market and our ability to produce copper at a reasonable cost.

 

We believe that both of these measures are useful tools for our management and our stakeholders. Our cash costs, without by-product revenues allow us to monitor our cost structure and address operating management areas of concern. The measure operating cash cost per pound of copper produced with by-product revenues is a common measure used in the copper industry and it is a useful management tool that allows us to track our performance and better allocate our resources. This measure is also used in our investment project evaluation process to determine a project’s potential contribution to our operations, its competitiveness and its relative strength in different price scenarios. The expected contribution of by-products is generally a significant factor used by the copper industry in determining whether to move forward with the development of a new mining project. As the price of our by-product commodities can have significant fluctuations from period to period, the value of its contribution to our costs can be volatile.

 

Our operating cash cost per pound of copper produced, with and without by-product revenues, is presented in the table below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.

 

Operating cash cost per pound of copper produced (1)

(in millions, except cost per pound and percentages)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

 

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Total operating cash cost without by-product revenues

 

$

613.6

 

$

677.4

 

$

(63.8

)

(9.4

)%

$

1,892.2

 

$

2,018.8

 

$

(126.6

)

(6.3

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total by-products revenues

 

(199.9

)

(283.7

)

83.8

 

(29.5

)%

(670.4

)

(925.7

)

255.3

 

(27.6

)%

Total operating cash cost with by-products revenues

 

$

413.7

 

$

393.7

 

$

20.0

 

5.1

%

$

1,221.8

 

$

1,093.1

 

$

128.7

 

11.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total pounds of copper produced

 

388.6

 

351.7

 

36.9

 

10.5

%

1,156.2

 

1,054.3

 

101.9

 

9.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cash cost per pound without by-product revenues

 

$

1.58

 

$

1.93

 

$

(0.35

)

(18.1

)%

$

1.64

 

$

1.92

 

$

(0.28

)

(14.6

)%

Operating cash cost per pound with by-products revenues

 

$

1.07

 

$

1.12

 

$

(0.05

)

(4.5

)%

$

1.06

 

$

1.04

 

$

0.02

 

1.9

%

 


(1)         This is a non-GAAP measure. Please see page 46 for reconciliation to GAAP measure.

 

As seen on the table above, our per pound cash cost without by-products revenues in the third quarter and the nine months of 2015 were 18.1% and 14.6% lower than in the same periods of 2014, respectively. These important cash cost reductions resulted from lower production cost, principally from fuel and from the diluting effect on unit cost from higher production at all our open pit mines and from the new SX-EW III plant at Buenavista.

 

Our per pound cash cost for the three months ended September 30, 2015, when calculated with by-products revenues was $1.07 per pound compared to $1.12 per pound in the same period of 2014. The by-product credit in the third quarter of 2015 was 30 cents less than in the prior third quarter principally due to the decrease in metal prices.

 

In addition, our per pound cash cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 when calculated with by-products revenues was $1.06 per pound compared to $1.04 per pound in the same period of 2014. The by-product credit in the 2015 nine-month period was 30 cents less than in the 2014 period. This was attributable to the decrease in metal prices of all our by-products.

 

Business Segments: We view our Company as having three operating segments and manage on the basis of these segments. These segments are our (1) Peruvian operations, (2) our Mexican open-pit operations and (3) our Mexican underground operations, known as our IMMSA unit. Our Peruvian operations include the Toquepala and Cuajone mine complexes and the

 

33



Table of Contents

 

smelting and refining plants, industrial railroad and port facilities which service both mines. The Peruvian operations produce copper, with significant by-product production of molybdenum, silver and other material. Our Mexican open-pit operations include La Caridad and Buenavista mine complexes, the smelting and refining plants and support facilities which service both mines. The Mexican open-pit operations produce copper, with significant by-product production of molybdenum, silver and other material. Our IMMSA unit includes five underground mines that produce zinc, lead, copper, silver and gold, a coal mine which produces coal and coke, and several industrial processing facilities for zinc, copper and silver.

 

Segment information is included in our review of “Results of Operations” and also in Note 10 - “Segment and Related Information” of our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Inflation and Exchange Rate Effect of the Peruvian Nuevo Sol and the Mexican Peso: Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar and our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. Significant portions of our operating costs are denominated in Peruvian nuevos soles and Mexican pesos. Accordingly, when inflation and currency devaluation/appreciation of the Peruvian currency and Mexican currency occur, our operating results can be affected. In recent years we believe such changes have not had a material effect on our results and financial position. Please see Item 3 “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for more detailed information.

 

Capital Investment Programs: We made capital investments of $316.2 million and $846.0 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $410.5 million and $1,107.5 million in the comparable periods of 2014, respectively. In general, the capital investments and investment projects described below are intended to increase production, decrease costs or address social and environmental commitments.

 

Set forth below are descriptions of some of our current expected capital investment programs. We expect to meet the cash requirements for these projects from cash on hand, internally generated funds and from additional external financing, including funding received in April 2015. All capital spending plans will continue to be reviewed and adjusted to respond to changes in the economy or market conditions.

 

Projects in Mexico:

 

Buenavista Projects: We continue developing our $3.5 billion investment program at this unit which is expected to increase its copper production capacity by approximately 180%, and molybdenum production by 42%.

 

The new copper-molybdenum concentrator has an annual production capacity of 188,000 tons of copper and 2,600 tons of molybdenum. The project will additionally produce 2.3 million ounces of silver and 21,000 ounces of gold per year. The new concentrator is in its ramping-up phase and three out of the six mills are in operation. The tonnage processed by the mills has exceeded their design capacity. The initial results are encouraging with better than expected recovery and concentrate grade. In September, we obtained the first copper concentrate lot and due to the promising initial results, it is expected to gradually increase production until the plant reaches full capacity by the first quarter of 2016. The total capital budget of the project is $1,383.6 million and through September 30, 2015, the project has a 99.3% progress with an investment of $1,113.9 million.

 

Regarding the mine equipment acquisition for the Buenavista expansion, through September 30, 2015 we have invested $510.9 million and have received sixty-one 400-ton capacity trucks, seven shovels and eight drills required for the mine expansion. All of this equipment is currently in operation.

 

Regarding the SX-EW III plant, in July 2015, the Mexican authorities approved the initiation of activities in the Tinajas 2 leaching pad. This will allow us to achieve the designed annual production capacity of 120,000 tons of low cost copper cathodes by the first quarter of 2016. As of September 30, 2015, we have invested $522.4 million out of the approved capital budget of $524.5 million.

 

The crushing, conveying and spreading system for leachable ore project (Quebalix IV) will increase production by improving SX-EW copper recovery, reducing processing time and mining and hauling costs. It has a crushing and conveying capacity of 80 million tons per year and is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2016. As of September 30, 2015, the project has a 78% progress with an investment of $196.7 million out of the approved capital budget of $340 million.

 

The remaining projects to complete the $3.5 billion budgeted program include investments in infrastructure, including power lines and substations, water supply, tailings dam, mine equipment shops, internal roads and others; with a global progress of 70% at September 30, 2015.

 

34



Table of Contents

 

Angangueo: With an estimated investment of $174.7 million, Angangueo includes a concentrator plant which will have an estimated average annual metal content production of 10,400 tons of copper and 7,000 tons of zinc in the first seven years. Over the life of the mine, average annual concentrate production is expected to contain 2.4 million ounces of silver and 1,500 ounces of gold. Through September 30, 2015, we have spent $27.3 million on the project. The project is on hold waiting for the environmental permits.

 

Projects in Peru:

 

Toquepala Projects: Through September 30, 2015, we have invested $372.3 million in Toquepala projects. On April 14, 2015 the construction permit for the Toquepala expansion project was approved, allowing us to continue its development. Once in operation, the Toquepala expansion will increase annual production capacity by 100,000 tons of copper, from 135,000 tons estimated in 2015 to 235,000 tons in 2018, and will also increase annual molybdenum production by 3,100 tons at an estimated capital cost of $1.2 billion. It is estimated that the project will generate 2,200 jobs during the construction phase and 300 additional jobs once finished, which will add to current 1,500 permanent employees at Toquepala. The project is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2017.

 

The project to improve the crushing process at Toquepala with the installation of a High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) system, which will act as a quaternary crusher, has as its main objective, to ensure that the concentrator will operate at its maximum capacity of 60,000 tons per day, even with an increase of the ore material hardness index. Additionally, recoveries will be improved with a better ore crushing. During this quarter, we finalized commercial discussions with the selected vendor of the equipment and initiated the project engineering and procurement. Once the engineering is sufficiently advanced, we will start construction and plant assembly. The budget approved for this project is $40 million and as of September 30, 2015, we have invested $5.4 million in this project. We expect that it will be completed by the first quarter of 2017.

 

Cuajone Projects: The project to improve slope stability at the south area of the Cuajone mine, will remove approximately 148 million tons of waste material, in order to improve mine design without reducing current production level. The mine equipment acquired includes one shovel, five 400-ton capacity trucks, one drill and auxiliary equipment which will be reallocated to our mine operations once the project is finished. Besides preparing the mine for the future, this investment will avoid a reduction in average ore grade. As of September 30, 2015, 38.5 million tons of waste material have been removed and this activity will continue through the end of 2018. Through September 30, 2015, we have invested $67.7 million in this project.

 

The In-Pit Crushing and Conveyor (IPCC) Project consists of installing a primary crusher at the mine pit with a conveyor system for moving the ore to the concentrator. The purpose of this project is to optimize the hauling process by replacing rail haulage, thereby reducing operating and maintenance costs as well as the environmental impact of the Cuajone mine. The crusher will have a processing capacity of 43.8 million tons per year. We are completing the detailed engineering. The main components including the crusher and the overland belt have been already acquired and we have started their installation. As of September 30, 2015, we have invested $65.8 million in this project out of the approved capital budget of $165.5 million. The project is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2017.

 

The project to replace tailing thickeners will replace two of the three existing thickeners with a new hi-rate thickener. The purpose is to streamline the concentrator flotation process and improve water recovery efficiency, increasing the tailings solids content from 54% to 61%, thereby reducing fresh water consumption by replacing it with recovered water. As of September 30, 2015, we have invested $0.1 million in this project out of the approved capital budget of $30 million and we expect it to be completed by the third quarter of 2016. We are finalizing the commercial negotiations that will allow us to pursue an engineering and procurement contract.

 

Tia Maria project: While we have received approval of Tia Maria´s EIA, the issuance of the project´s construction permit has been delayed pending the resolution of certain differences with community groups. The Peruvian government has recommended a dialogue roundtable for the resolution of these differences.

 

The Company has established a multi-faceted encounter plan to explain the merits of the Tia Maria project. A national media campaign was launched in May and, after it, the Company conducted a door-to-door campaign in the neighboring district of Cocachacra. This campaign had the purpose of explaining the relevant environmental topics of the project that concerned the local community, as the anti-mining groups had wrongfully confused the community with respect to the project’s water source and consumption, as well as to the alleged emissions into the atmosphere.

 

Tia Maria, when completed, will represent an investment of approximately $1.4 billion to produce 120,000 tons of copper cathodes per year. This project will use state of the art SX-EW technology with the highest international environmental standards. SX-EW facilities are the most environmentally friendly in the Industry as they do not require a smelting process and consequently, no emissions into the atmosphere are released. The project will only use seawater, transporting this more than 25

 

35



Table of Contents

 

kilometers (15.5 miles) and at 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level, constructing a desalinization plant representing an investment of $95 million. In this manner, we guarantee that the Tambo river water resources will be used solely for farming and human consumption, and not for the project.

 

We expect the project to generate 3,500 jobs during the construction phase. When in operation, Tia Maria will directly employ 600 workers and indirectly another 2,000. Through its expected twenty-year life, the project related services will create significant business opportunities in the Arequipa region. Tia Maria has complied with all existing requirements and regulations and therefore the Company trusts that it will soon receive from government authorities the construction licenses and permits required in order to begin construction of this project.

 

Tailings disposal at Quebrada Honda: This project increases the height of the existing Quebrada Honda dam to impound future tailings from the Toquepala and Cuajone mills and will extend the expected life of this tailings facility by 25 years. The first stage and construction of the drainage system for the lateral dam is finished. We are developing the engineering and procurement to improve and increase the dam’s embankment. The project has a total budgeted cost of $66.0 million with $53.1 million invested through September 30, 2015.

 

Potential projects:

 

We have a number of other projects that we may develop in the future. We evaluate new projects on the basis of our long-term corporate objectives, expected return on investment, environmental concerns, required investment and estimated production, among other considerations. All capital spending plans will continue to be reviewed and adjusted to respond to changes in the economy or market conditions.

 

El Arco: This is a world class copper deposit located in the central part of the Baja California peninsula, with ore reserves over 1.5 billion tons with an ore grade of 0.416% and 0.14 grams of gold per ton. In 2010, we concluded the feasibility study and an investment of $56.4 million was approved for land acquisition required for the project. This project, when developed, is expected to produce 190,000 tons of copper and 105,000 ounces of gold annually. Through September 30, 2015 we have invested $41.3 million on studies, exploration and land acquisition for the project. In 2015, we are continuing to invest in land acquisition and exploration. In addition, we will begin an engineering study to determine the best way to optimize the investment in the project.

 

The above information is based on estimates only. We cannot make any assurances that we will undertake any of these projects or that the information noted is accurate.

 

ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, as well as quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks, are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We make our best estimate of the ultimate outcome for these items based on historical trends and other information available when the financial statements are prepared. Changes in estimates are recognized in accordance with the accounting rules for the estimate, which is typically in the period when new information becomes available to management. Areas where the nature of the estimate makes it reasonably possible that actual results could materially differ from amounts estimated include: ore reserves, revenue recognition, leachable material and related amortization, estimated impairment of assets, asset retirement obligations, litigation and contingencies, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, tax positions and fair value of financial instruments. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

36



Table of Contents

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following highlights our financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

Net sales

 

$

1,133.6

 

$

1,474.6

 

$

(341.0

)

$

3,791.3

 

$

4,316.4

 

$

(525.1

)

Operating costs and expenses

 

(846.7

)

(927.5

)

80.8

 

(2,564.3

)

(2,609.1

)

44.8

 

Operating income

 

286.9

 

547.1

 

(260.2

)

1,227.0

 

1,707.3

 

(480.3

)

Non-operating income (expense)

 

(66.2

)

(51.8

)

(14.4

)

(145.8

)

(131.0

)

(14.8

)

Income before income taxes

 

220.7

 

495.3

 

(274.6

)

1,081.2

 

1,576.3

 

(495.1

)

Income taxes

 

(125.3

)

(175.4

)

50.1

 

(411.6

)

(605.3

)

193.7

 

Equity earnings of affiliate

 

4.0

 

5.9

 

(1.9

)

9.5

 

17.8

 

(8.3

)

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

(1.0

)

(1.5

)

0.5

 

(3.5

)

(3.8

)

0.3

 

Net income attributable to SCC

 

$

98.4

 

$

324.3

 

$

(225.9

)

$

675.6

 

$

985.0

 

$

(309.4

)

 

NET SALES:

 

Net sales for the third quarter 2015 decreased by $341.0 million, compared to the third quarter of 2014. The 23.1% decrease in sales was principally due to lower metal prices as shown below, partially offset by higher copper and zinc sales volume.

 

Net sales in the nine months of 2015 decreased by $525.1 million compared to the nine months of 2014.The 12.2% decrease was mainly the result of lower metal prices and lower molybdenum and silver sales volume, partially offset by higher copper and zinc sales volume.

 

The table below outlines the average published market metal prices for our metals for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

% Change

 

2015

 

2014

 

% Change

 

Copper ($ per pound — LME)

 

$

2.38

 

$

3.17

 

(24.9

)%

$

2.59

 

$

3.15

 

(17.8

)%

Copper ($ per pound — COMEX)

 

$

2.40

 

$

3.16

 

(24.1

)%

$

2.61

 

$

3.17

 

(17.7

)%

Molybdenum ($ per pound) (1)

 

$

5.75

 

$

12.62

 

(54.4

)%

$

7.20

 

$

12.00

 

(40.0

)%

Zinc ($ per pound — LME)

 

$

0.84

 

$

1.05

 

(20.0

)%

$

0.93

 

$

0.97

 

(4.1

)%

Silver ($ per ounce —COMEX)

 

$

14.87

 

$

19.63

 

(24.2

)%

$

15.99

 

$

19.90

 

(19.6

)%

 


(1)         Platt´s Metals Week Dealer Oxide

 

The table below provides our metal sales as a percentage of our total net sales:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Copper

 

79.9

%

79.7

%

79.3

%

77.5

%

Molybdenum

 

3.4

%

8.0

%

5.1

%

9.6

%

Silver

 

4.8

%

4.9

%

4.3

%

4.8

%

Zinc

 

3.9

%

2.8

%

4.3

%

3.4

%

Other by-products

 

8.0

%

4.6

%

7.0

%

4.7

%

Total

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

The table below provides our copper sales by type of product:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Copper Sales (million pounds)

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

Refined (including SX-EW)

 

270.5

 

278.2

 

(7.7

)

841.1

 

771.4

 

69.7

 

Rod

 

78.8

 

69.8

 

9.0

 

229.7

 

212.4

 

17.3

 

Concentrates and other

 

37.7

 

19.0

 

18.7

 

95.4

 

66.8

 

28.6

 

Total

 

387.0

 

367.0

 

20.0

 

1,166.2

 

1,050.6

 

115.6

 

 

37



Table of Contents

 

OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES

 

The table below summarized the production cost structure by major components for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 as a percentage of total production cost:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Power

 

16.1

%

18.6

%

16.5

%

18.8

%

Fuel

 

14.7

%

16.0

%

14.6

%

16.4

%

Labor

 

14.1

%

14.9

%

14.1

%

14.5

%

Maintenance

 

17.9

%

15.1

%

18.0

%

15.1

%

Operating material

 

20.8

%

18.8

%

20.1

%

18.7

%

Other

 

16.4

%

16.6

%

16.7

%

16.5

%

Total

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

100.0

%

 

Third quarter: Operating costs and expenses were $846.7 million in the third quarter 2015, compared to $927.5 million in the comparable period of 2014. The decrease of $80.8 million was primarily due to:

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2014

 

$

927.5

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                 Lower cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion), mainly due to lower production costs such as fuel, energy and water, labor costs, mining royalties, workers’ participation, sales expenses and inventory consumption; partially offset by higher costs of metals purchased from third parties and higher currency translation effect primarily at our Mexican operations

 

(58.7

)

·                  Lower environmental remediation cost from spill at Buenavista

 

(30.2

)

·                  Lower selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(2.7

)

·                  Lower exploration expenses at both our Peruvian and Mexican operations.

 

(6.9

)

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion at our operations as a result of the acquisition of mine equipment and start-up of various projects.

 

17.7

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2015

 

$

846.7

 

 

Nine months: Operating costs and expenses were $2,564.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to $2,609.1 million in the comparable period of 2014. The decrease of $44.8 million was primarily due to:

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2014

 

$

2,609.1

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                 Lower cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion), mainly due to lower production costs such as fuel, energy and water, labor costs, mining royalties, workers’ participation and sales expenses; partially offset by higher costs of metals purchased from third parties, inventory consumption and currency translation effect primarily at our Mexican operations.

 

(40.6

)

·                  Lower environmental remediation cost from spill at Buenavista.

 

(13.7

)

·                  Lower selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(2.8

)

·                  Lower exploration expenses at both our Peruvian and Mexican operations.

 

(21.2

)

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion at our operations as a result of the acquisition of mine equipment and start-up of various projects.

 

33.5

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2015

 

$

2,564.3

 

 

NON-OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

Non-operating income and expense were an expense of $66.2 million and $145.8 million in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015, respectively, compared to an expense of $51.8 million and $131.0 million in the comparable periods of 2014.

 

38



Table of Contents

 

Third quarter: The $14.4 million increase in non-operating expense in the third quarter of 2015 was principally due to:

 

·                  $24.7 million of higher interest expense due to the April 2015 $2 billion bond issue.

·                  $5.6 million of lower capitalized interest, partially offset by

·                  $(16.8) of lower other miscellaneous expenses principally at our Peruvian operations.

 

Nine months: The $14.8 million increase in non-operating expense in the nine months of 2015 was principally due to:

 

·                  $45.1 million of higher interest expense due to the April 2015 $2 billion bond issue.

·                  $3.6 million of lower interest income, partially offset by

·                  $(12.6) million of higher capitalized interest, due to higher capital investments.

·                  $(21.4) million of lower miscellaneous expenses principally at our Peruvian operations.

 

INCOME TAXES

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Provision for income taxes (in millions)

 

$

411.6

 

$

605.3

 

Effective income tax rate

 

38.1

%

38.4

%

 

These provisions include income taxes for Peru, Mexico and the United States. In addition, a Mexican royalty tax, a portion of the Peruvian royalty tax and the Peruvian special mining tax are included in the income tax provision. For further information please see Note 4.

 

SEGMENT RESULT ANALYSIS

 

We have three segments: the Peruvian operations, the Mexican open-pit operations and the Mexican underground mining operations.

 

The table below presents information regarding the volume of our copper sales by segment for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Variance

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Variance

 

Copper Sales (million pounds):

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Peruvian operations

 

175.3

 

173.3

 

2.0

 

1.1

%

525.2

 

507.8

 

17.4

 

3.4

%

Mexican open-pit

 

211.7

 

193.7

 

18.0

 

9.3

%

641.0

 

542.8

 

98.2

 

18.1

%

Mexican IMMSA unit

 

4.7

 

4.3

 

0.4

 

10.1

%

12.8

 

12.8

 

 

0.4

%

Other and intersegment elimination

 

(4.7

)

(4.3

)

(0.4

)

10.1

%

(12.8

)

(12.8

)

 

0.4

%

Total

 

387.0

 

367.0

 

20.0

 

5.5

%

1,166.2

 

1,050.6

 

115.6

 

11.0

%

 

The table below presents information regarding the sales volume by segment of our significant by-products for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

By-product Sales (in million pounds

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Variance

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Variance

 

except silver — in million ounces)

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Peruvian operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum contained in concentrates

 

6.8

 

6.4

 

0.4

 

6.1

%

20.4

 

15.9

 

4.5

 

28.5

%

Silver

 

1.2

 

1.0

 

0.2

 

16.2

%

2.7

 

2.6

 

0.1

 

2.3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican open-pit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum contained in concentrates

 

5.6

 

6.9

 

(1.3

)

(18.3

)%

17.4

 

22.4

 

(5.0

)

(22.3

)%

Silver

 

1.9

 

2.0

 

(0.1

)

(7.5

)%

5.7

 

5.6

 

0.1

 

1.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican IMMSA unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zinc — refined and in concentrate

 

48.1

 

37.2

 

10.9

 

29.2

%

160.7

 

142.8

 

17.9

 

12.5

%

Silver

 

1.1

 

1.0

 

0.1

 

13.3

%

3.2

 

3.6

 

(0.4

)

(9.9

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and intersegment elimination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Silver

 

(0.6

)

(0.3

)

(0.3

)

45.9

%

(1.4

)

(1.3

)

(0.1

)

1.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total by-product sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum contained in concentrates

 

12.4

 

13.3

 

(0.9

)

(6.5

)%

37.8

 

38.3

 

(0.5

)

(1.1

)%

Zinc — refined and in concentrate

 

48.1

 

37.2

 

10.9

 

29.2

%

160.7

 

142.8

 

17.9

 

12.5

%

Silver

 

3.6

 

3.7

 

(0.1

)

(0.8

)%

10.2

 

10.5

 

(0.3

)

(2.4

)%

 

39



Table of Contents

 

Sales Value per Segment:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

501.5

 

$

8.9

 

$

404.8

 

$

(8.9

)

$

906.3

 

Molybdenum

 

10.7

 

 

27.4

 

 

38.1

 

Zinc

 

 

44.0

 

 

 

44.0

 

Silver

 

27.8

 

16.4

 

17.3

 

(7.3

)

54.2

 

Other

 

57.6

 

18.1

 

18.1

 

(2.8

)

91.0

 

Total

 

$

597.6

 

$

87.4

 

$

467.6

 

$

(19.0

)

$

1,133.6

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

620.8

 

$

11.5

 

$

554.2

 

$

(11.5

)

$

1,175.0

 

Molybdenum

 

63.1

 

 

55.6

 

 

118.7

 

Zinc

 

 

41.3

 

 

 

41.3

 

Silver

 

39.8

 

19.6

 

19.6

 

(6.8

)

72.2

 

Other

 

27.1

 

23.6

 

18.7

 

(2.0

)

67.4

 

Total

 

$

750.8

 

$

96.0

 

$

648.1

 

$

(20.3

)

$

1,474.6

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

1,660.0

 

$

25.8

 

$

1,345.8

 

$

(25.8

)

$

3,005.8

 

Molybdenum

 

85.0

 

 

106.5

 

 

191.5

 

Zinc

 

 

161.3

 

 

 

161.3

 

Silver

 

90.8

 

51.0

 

42.1

 

(19.8

)

164.1

 

Other

 

159.5

 

61.1

 

55.8

 

(7.8

)

268.6

 

Total

 

$

1,995.3

 

$

299.2

 

$

1,550.2

 

$

(53.4

)

$

3,791.3

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

1,727.9

 

$

34.2

 

$

1,617.9

 

$

(34.2

)

$

3,345.8

 

Molybdenum

 

250.4

 

 

163.8

 

 

414.2

 

Zinc

 

 

146.0

 

 

 

146.0

 

Silver

 

110.5

 

69.5

 

51.7

 

(24.8

)

206.9

 

Other

 

82.3

 

76.7

 

52.7

 

(8.2

)

203.5

 

Total

 

$

2,171.1

 

$

326.4

 

$

1,886.1

 

$

(67.2

)

$

4,316.4

 

 

40



Table of Contents

 

The geographic breakdown of our sales is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Mexico

 

$

435.0

 

$

487.7

 

$

1,326.4

 

$

1,205.7

 

United States

 

143.8

 

214.4

 

580.5

 

795.3

 

Asia

 

265.4

 

240.5

 

839.1

 

734.9

 

Europe

 

102.6

 

212.1

 

414.1

 

613.7

 

Chile

 

23.9

 

95.6

 

87.7

 

324.4

 

Brazil

 

58.3

 

113.7

 

222.4

 

314.4

 

Peru

 

79.5

 

73.7

 

252.8

 

220.6

 

Other countries

 

25.1

 

36.9

 

68.3

 

107.4

 

Total

 

$

1,133.6

 

$

1,474.6

 

$

3,791.3

 

$

4,316.4

 

 

Peruvian Operations:

 

The following table sets forth net sales, operating cost and expenses and operating income for our Peruvian operations segment, for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Variance

 

Nine Months

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

467.6

 

$

648.1

 

$

(180.5

)

(27.9

)%

$

1,550.2

 

$

1,886.1

 

$

(335.9

)

(17.8

)%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(376.3

)

(442.2

)

65.9

 

(14.9

)%

(1,155.9

)

(1,238.1

)

82.2

 

(6.6

)%

Operating income

 

$

91.3

 

$

205.9

 

$

(114.6

)

(55.7

)%

$

394.3

 

$

648.0

 

$

(253.7

)

(39.2

)%

 

Third quarter: Net sales in the third quarter of 2015 were $467.6 million, compared to $648.1 million in the third quarter of 2014.The decrease of $180.5 million was primarily the result of lower metal prices partially offset by higher copper, molybdenum and silver sales volume.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2015 decreased by $65.9 to $376.3 million from $442.2 million in the third quarter of 2014, primarily due to:

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2014

 

$

442.2

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                  Lower cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) mainly due to lower production costs such as fuel, energy, water and operating materials, labor costs, mining royalties, workers’ participation and sales expenses; partially offset by higher costs of metals purchased from third parties, inventory consumption and higher currency translation effect.

 

(71.7

)

·                  Lower selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(2.7

)

·                  Lower exploration expenses.

 

(1.3

)

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion.

 

9.8

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2015

 

$

376.3

 

 

Nine months: Net sales in the nine months of 2015 were $1,550.2 million, compared to $1,886.1 million in the nine months of 2014.The decrease of $335.9 million was principally the result of lower metal prices; partially offset by higher sales volume of copper molybdenum and silver. Copper sales volume increased by 17.4 million pounds and molybdenum by 4.5 million pounds.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the nine months of 2015 decreased by $82.2 million to $1,155.9 million from $1,238.1 million in the nine months of 2014, primarily due to:

 

41



Table of Contents

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2014

 

$

1,238.1

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                  Lower cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) mainly due to lower production costs such as fuel, energy, water and operating materials, labor costs, mining royalties, workers’ participation, sales expenses and currency translation effect; partially offset by higher costs of metals purchased from third parties and inventory consumption.

 

(99.3

)

·                  Lower selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(4.8

)

·                  Lower exploration expenses.

 

(2.7

)

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion.

 

24.6

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2015

 

$

1,155.9

 

 

Mexican Open-pit Operations:

 

The following table sets forth net sales, operating cost and expenses and operating income for our Mexican open-pit operations segment for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Variance

 

Nine Months

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

597.6

 

$

750.8

 

$

(153.2

)

(20.4

)%

$

1,995.3

 

$

2,171.1

 

$

(175.8

)

(8.1

)%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(422.0

)

(415.2

)

(6.8

)

1.6

%

(1,172.0

)

(1,085.9

)

(86.1

)

7.9

%

Operating income

 

$

175.6

 

$

335.6

 

$

(160.0

)

(47.7

)%

$

823.3

 

$

1,085.2

 

$

(261.9

)

(24.1

)%

 

Third quarter: Net sales in the third quarter of 2015 were $597.6 million, compared to $750.8 million in the third quarter of 2014.The decrease of $153.3 million was due to lower metal prices and lower molybdenum sales volume; partially offset by higher copper sales volume which increased 18 million pounds.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2015 increased by $6.8 million to $422.0 million from $415.2 million in the comparable 2014 period, primarily due to:

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2014

 

$

415.2

 

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) mainly due to higher workers’ participation, costs of metals purchased from third parties, currency translation effect and other production costs; partially offset by lower fuel, water, energy and labor costs, lower sales expenses and inventory consumption.

 

16.7

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion.

 

12.0

 

·                  Higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

5.7

 

·                  Higher exploration expenses.

 

2.6

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                  Environmental remediation due to spill at Buenavista.

 

(30.2

)

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2015

 

$

422.0

 

 

Nine months: Net sales in the nine months of 2015 were $1,995.3 million, compared to $2,171.1 million in the nine months of 2014. The decrease of $175.8 million was due to lower metal prices and molybdenum volume reduction of 5 million pounds. Copper sales volume increased 98.3 million pounds.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the nine months of 2015 increased by $86.1 million to $1,172.0 million from $1,085.9 million in the comparable 2014 period, primarily due to:

 

42



Table of Contents

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2014

 

$

1,085.9

 

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) mainly due to higher costs of metals purchased from third parties, currency translation effect, inventory consumption and other production costs; partially offset by lower fuel, water, energy and labor costs, lower workers’ participation and sales expenses.

 

71.4

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion.

 

16.9

 

·                  Higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

8.8

 

·                  Higher exploration expenses.

 

2.7

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                  Environmental remediation due to spill at Buenavista.

 

(13.7

)

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2015

 

$

1,172.0

 

 

Mexican Underground Operations (IMMSA)

 

The following table sets forth net sales, operating cost and expenses and operating income for our IMMSA segment, for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Variance

 

Nine Months

 

Variance

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

2015

 

2014

 

Value

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

87.4

 

$

96.0

 

$

(8.6

)

(9.0

)%

$

299.2

 

$

326.4

 

$

(27.2

)

(8.3

)%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(94.2

)

(99.5

)

5.3

 

(5.3

)%

(285.8

)

(302.5

)

16.7

 

(5.5

)%

Operating income

 

$

(6.8

)

$

(3.5

)

$

(3.3

)

94.3

%

$

13.4

 

$

23.9

 

$

(10.5

)

(43.9

)%

 

Third quarter: Net sales decreased by $8.6 million to $87.4 million in the third quarter of 2015 from $96.0 million in the third quarter of 2014. The decrease of 9.0% was primarily due to lower silver and zinc prices that were partially offset by higher sales volume (13.3% and 29.2%, respectively).

 

Operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2015 decreased by $5.3 million to $94.2 million from $99.5 million in the comparable 2014 period. This decrease was primarily due to:

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2014

 

$

99.5

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                  Lower exploration expenses.

 

(5.0

)

·                  Lower selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(2.6

)

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

2.0

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion.

 

0.3

 

Operating cost and expenses for the third quarter 2015

 

$

94.2

 

 

Nine months: Net sales in the nine months of 2015 were $299.2 million, compared to $326.4 million in the same period of 2014. This decrease of $27.2 million in net sales was primarily due to lower metal prices, partially offset by higher sales volume of zinc (12.5%).

 

Operating costs and expenses in the nine months of 2015 decreased by $16.7 million to $285.8 million from $302.5 million in the comparable 2014 period. This decrease was primarily due to:

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2014

 

$

302.5

 

Less:

 

 

 

·                  Lower exploration expenses.

 

(12.3

)

·                  Lower selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

(6.8

)

Plus:

 

 

 

·                  Higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

2.1

 

·                  Higher depreciation, amortization and depletion.

 

0.3

 

Operating cost and expenses for the nine months 2015

 

$

285.8

 

 

43



Table of Contents

 

Intersegment Eliminations and Adjustments

 

The addition of the segments net sales, operating costs and expenses and operating income discussed above will not be directly equal to amounts in our condensed consolidated statement of earnings because the adjustments of intersegment operating revenues and expenses must be taken into account. Please see Note 10 — “Segments and related information” of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash Flow:

 

The following table shows the cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

817.0

 

$

1,116.4

 

$

(299.4

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(1,486.7

)

$

(1,102.3

)

$

(384.4

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

$

803.7

 

$

(672.4

)

$

1,476.1

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

Significant items were added to (deducted from) net income to arrive at operating cash flow in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. These items include depreciation, amortization and depletion, deferred income taxes and other adjustments, as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Variance

 

Net income

 

$

679.1

 

$

988.8

 

$

(309.7

)

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

373.8

 

340.5

 

33.3

 

(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes

 

(63.4

)

(133.1

)

69.7

 

Other adjustments to net income

 

(16.7

)

(29.4

)

12.7

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities

 

(155.8

)

(50.4

)

(105.4

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

817.0

 

$

1,116.4

 

$

(299.4

)

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2015: Net income was $679.1 million, approximately 83.1% of the net operating cash flow. An increase in operating assets and liabilities reduced operating cash flow by $155.8 million and included:

·                  $120.3 million decrease in accounts receivable.

·                  $(182.0) million increase in inventory, mainly due to $(187.2) million of higher long-term leachable material inventory, mainly at our Buenavista mine.

·                  $(99.6) million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities mainly due to a $48.8 million of higher accounts payable, $(42.9) million lower income tax provision, $(103.3) million of lower workers’ participation liability, and $(2.2) million less of other liabilities.

·                  $5.5 million of other changes in operating and deferred assets and liabilities.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2014: Net income was $988.8 million, approximately 88.6% of the net operating cash flow. An increase in operating assets and liabilities decreased operating cash flow by $50.4 million and included:

·                  $19.0 million decrease in accounts receivable.

·                  $(200.5) million increase in inventory, primarily due to $(146.7) million of higher long-term leachable material inventory, mainly at our Buenavista mine

·                  $224.1 million increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities mainly due to a $183.2 million of higher accounts payable mainly at our Mexican operations which includes higher capital investment at our Buenavista projects, $68.4 million of higher income tax provision, mainly due to the Mexican mining royalty, $(31.9) million of lower workers’ participation liability, and $4.4 million more of other liabilities.

·                  $(113.1) million of other changes in operating and deferred assets and liabilities.

 

44



Table of Contents

 

Net cash used in investing activities:

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2015: Net cash used in investing activities in the nine months of 2015 included $846.0 million for capital investments that included:

·                  $634.3 million of investments at our Mexican operations:

·                  $137.1 million for the new Buenavista concentrator

·                  $6.9 million for the SX-EW III project,

·                  $70.3 million for new projects infrastructure,

·                  $30.8 million for the new tailing disposal deposit at the Buenavista mine,

·                  $77.8 million for the Quebalix IV project,

·                  $30.2 million for the tailings discharge line to deposit and reclaimed water system at the Buenavista mine,

·                  $29.4 million at our IMMSA unit, and

·                  $251.8 million for various other replacement expenditures.

 

·                  $211.7 million of investments at our Peruvian operations:

·                  $26.3 million for the Toquepala projects,

·                  $32.7 million for the In-Pit Crushing and Conveyor (IPCC) Project at Cuajone,

·                  $6.6 million for the Tia Maria project,

·                  $3.0 million for licenses and other related cost for the new business planning system,

·                  $9.7 million for the Cuajone projects, and

·                  $133.4 million for various other replacement expenditures.

 

The nine months ended September 30, 2015 investment activities include $543.6 million of net purchases of short-term investments and $100.4 million for the acquisition of a mining property, El Pilar.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2014: Net cash used in investing activities in the nine months of 2014 included $1,107.5 million for capital investments that included:

·                  $867.2 million of investments at our Mexican operations:

·                  $326.1 million for the new Buenavista concentrator,

·                  $116.9 million for the SX-EW III project,

·                  $44.6 million for new projects infrastructure,

·                  $41.1 million for the Quebalix IV project,

·                  $30.9 million at our IMMSA unit, and

·                  $307.6 million for various other replacement investments.

 

·                  $240.3 million of investments at our Peruvian operations:

·                  $ 36.4 million for the Toquepala projects,

·                  $ 4.1 million for the Cuajone projects,

·                  $ 7.5 million for the improvement of slope stability at the south area of Cuajone, and

·                  $192.3 million for various other replacement and environmental investments.

 

Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities:

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2015: Net cash provided from financing activities was $803.7 million and included:

·                  $2.0 billion from the issuance of unsecured notes in April 2015 net of underwriting discount and debt cost issuance,

Net of

·                  $239.8 million for dividend distribution and

·                  $724.4 million used for the repurchase of 26.1 million of our common shares.

 

The 2015 period also includes the draw down and repayment of a short-term loan of $66 million, and the repayment of $200 million of ten year senior unsecured notes that were due July 2015.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2014: Net cash used for financing activities was $672.4 million and included:

·                  $283 million for dividend distribution, and

·                  $388.9 million used for the repurchase of 12.5 million of our common shares

 

45



Table of Contents

 

Dividends:

 

On August 27, 2015, we paid a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share, totaling $79.5 million. On October 22, 2015, our Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per share, expected to total $31.4 million, to be paid on November 24, 2015 to SCC shareholders of record at the close of business on November 10, 2015.

 

Capital Investments and Exploration Programs:

 

A discussion of our capital investment programs is an important part of understanding our liquidity and capital resources. We expect to meet the cash requirements for these capital investments from cash on hand, internally generated funds and from additional external financing if required. For information regarding our capital investment programs, please see the discussion under the caption “Capital Investment Programs” under this Item 2 and for our exploration activities, see Item 2 “Properties —Explorations Activities” on our 2014 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Contractual Obligations:

 

There have been no material changes in our contractual obligations in the three months ended September 30, 2015. Please see item 7 in Part II of our 2014 annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2015.

 

NON-GAAP INFORMATION RECONCILIATION

 

Operating cash cost: Following is a reconciliation of “Operating Cash Cost” (see page 32) to cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) as reported in our condensed consolidated statement of earnings, in million of dollars and dollars per pound in the table below.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2015

 

September 30, 2014

 

September 30, 2015

 

September 30, 2014

 

 

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)

 

$

670.8

 

$

1.73

 

$

729.5

 

$

2.07

 

$

2,057.4

 

$

1.78

 

$

2,098.0

 

$

1.99

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

23.6

 

0.06

 

26.3

 

0.08

 

73.4

 

0.06

 

76.2

 

0.07

 

Sales premiums, net of treatment and refining charges

 

(11.7

)

(0.03

)

(16.5

)

(0.05

)

(33.1

)

(0.03

)

(42.9

)

(0.04

)

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workers’ participation

 

(25.6

)

(0.07

)

(48.2

)

(0.14

)

(98.0

)

(0.09

)

(152.0

)

(0.14

)

Cost of metal purchased from third parties

 

(75.4

)

(0.19

)

(43.6

)

(0.11

)

(219.0

)

(0.19

)

(114.0

)

(0.11

)

Royalty charge and other, net

 

(21.3

)

(0.06

)

(13.2

)

(0.04

)

(33.6

)

(0.02

)

(45.5

)

(0.04

)

Inventory change

 

53.2

 

0.14

 

43.1

 

0.12

 

145.1

 

0.13

 

199.0

 

0.19

 

Operating Cash Cost Without by-products revenues

 

$

613.6

 

$

1.58

 

$

677.4

 

$

1.93

 

$

1,892.2

 

$

1.64

 

$

2,018.8

 

$

1.92

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By-product revenues (1)

 

(174.5

)

(0.45

)

(283.1

)

(0.81

)

(620.6

)

(0.54

)

(907.5

)

(0.86

)

Net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

(25.4

)

(0.06

)

(0.6

)

(*

)

(49.8

)

(0.04

)

(18.2

)

(0.02

)

Total by-product revenues

 

(199.9

)

(0.51

)

(283.7

)

(0.81

)

(670.4

)

(0.58

)

(925.7

)

(0.88

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating cash cost, with by-product revenues

 

$

413.7

 

$

1.07

 

$

393.7

 

$

1.12

 

$

1,221.8

 

$

1.06

 

$

1,093.1

 

$

1.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total pounds of copper produced (in millions)

 

388.6

 

 

 

351.7

 

 

 

1,156.2

 

 

 

1,054.3

 

 

 

 


(*) amount is lower than $0.01 per pound.

 

46



Table of Contents

 

(1)                   By-product revenues included in our presentation of operating cash cost contain the following:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2015

 

September 30, 2014

 

September 30, 2015

 

September 30, 2014

 

 

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

Molybdenum

 

$

(38.1

)

$

(0.09

)

$

(118.7

)

$

(0.34

)

$

(191.5

)

$

(0.17

)

$

(414.2

)

$

(0.39

)

Silver

 

(46.7

)

(0.12

)

(63.3

)

(0.18

)

(143.7

)

(0.12

)

(180.6

)

(0.17

)

Zinc

 

(36.3

)

(0.09

)

(40.3

)

(0.12

)

(114.5

)

(0.10

)

(120.6

)

(0.11

)

Sulfuric Acid

 

(32.5

)

(0.08

)

(29.8

)

(0.08

)

(97.5

)

(0.08

)

(93.7

)

(0.09

)

Gold and others

 

(20.9

)

(0.07

)

(31.0

)

(0.09

)

(73.4

)

(0.07

)

(98.4

)

(0.10

)

Total

 

$

(174.5

)

$

(0.45

)

$

(283.1

)

$

(0.81

)

$

(620.6

)

$

(0.54

)

$

(907.5

)

$

(0.86

)

 

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In addition to that disclosed during the second quarter, during the third quarter of 2015, the FASB issued, among others, the following four new accounting updates to the Codification.

 

ASU 2015-11: On July 22, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 “Inventory” (Topic 330). The objective is to simplify the measurement of Inventory. The Company should measure inventory within the scope of this Update at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. When evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is lower than its cost, the difference shall be recognized as a loss in earnings in the period in which it occurs. That loss may be required in cases of damages, physical deteriorations, obsolescence, changes in price levels, or other causes.

 

The amendments in this Update more closely align the measurement of inventory under U.S. GAAP with the measurement of inventory under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

 

The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments in this Update should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period.

 

ASU 2015-14: On August 12, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606). The objective of the amendments is to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09. Initially, the effective date for annual reporting periods was beginning December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period. Currently, the Company should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Earlier application is permitted.

 

ASU 2015-15: On August 18, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 “Interest—Imputation of Interest” (Topic 835-3). This ASU presents amendments to SEC Paragraphs pursuant to Staff Announcement at June 18, 2015 EITF Meeting. Given the absence of authoritative guidance within ASU 2015-03 for debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements, the SEC staff would not object to a Company deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement.

 

ASU 2015-16:  In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16 “Business Combination” (Topic 805). The objective is to simplify the accounting for measurement-period adjustments. The amendments require that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The acquirer should record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The Company should present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date.

 

The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments should be applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date of this ASU with earlier application permitted for financial statements that have not been issued.

 

None of the aforementioned updates are expected to materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial information.

 

47



Table of Contents

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

 

Commodity price risk:

 

For additional information on metal price sensitivity, refer to “Metal Prices” in Part I, Item 2 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015.

 

Foreign currency exchange risk:

 

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Portions of our operating costs are denominated in Peruvian nuevos soles and Mexican pesos. Since our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, when inflation or deflation in our Peruvian or Mexican operations is not offset by a change in the exchange rate of the nuevo sol or the peso to the dollar, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be affected by local cost conversion when expressed in U.S. dollars. In addition, the dollar value of our net monetary assets denominated in nuevos soles or pesos can be affected by an exchange rate variance of the nuevo sol or the peso, resulting in a re-measurement gain or loss in our financial statements. Recent inflation and exchange rate variances are provided in the table below for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Peru:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peruvian inflation rate

 

0.9

%

0.5

%

3.4

%

2.8

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial exchange rate

 

3.179

 

2.796

 

2.989

 

2.796

 

Closing exchange rate

 

3.223

 

2.892

 

3.223

 

2.892

 

Appreciation/(devaluation)

 

(1.4

)%

(3.4

)%

(7.8

)%

(3.4

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican inflation rate

 

0.7

%

1.1

%

0.7

%

2.2

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial exchange rate

 

15.568

 

13.032

 

14.718

 

13.077

 

Closing exchange rate

 

17.007

 

13.454

 

17.007

 

13.454

 

Appreciation/(devaluation)

 

(9.2

)%

(3.2

)%

(15.6

)%

(2.9

)%

 

Change in monetary position:

 

Assuming an exchange rate variance of 10% at September 30, 2015 we estimate our net monetary position in Peruvian nuevo sol and Mexican peso would increase (decrease) our net earnings as follows:

 

 

 

Effect on net
earnings

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Appreciation of 10% in U.S. dollar vs. nuevo sol

 

1.8

 

Devaluation of 10% in U.S. dollar vs. nuevo sol

 

(1.6

)

Appreciation of 10% in U.S. dollar vs. Mexican peso

 

5.7

 

Devaluation of 10% in U.S. dollar vs. Mexican peso

 

(7.0

)

 

Open sales risk:

 

Our provisional copper and molybdenum sales contain an embedded derivative that is required to be separate from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of copper and molybdenum concentrates at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is marked to market through earnings each period prior to settlement.

 

At September 30, 2015, we have recorded provisionally priced sales of 80.7 million pounds of copper, at an average forward price of $2.35 per pound. Also we have recorded provisionally priced sales of 12.0 million pounds of molybdenum at the September 30, 2015 market price of $5.40 per pound. These sales are subject to final pricing based on the average monthly LME or COMEX copper prices and Dealer Oxide molybdenum prices in the future month of settlement.

 

During the month of October 2015, the market price of molybdenum decreased while copper prices slightly increased. The effect of these changes on sales for the nine months of 2015 settling in October 2015 was a reduction of $1.9 million in sales. Additionally, the effect on open sales of copper and molybdenum for the nine months of 2015 settling after October 2015 would

 

48



Table of Contents

 

be a further reduction of $5.4 million in sales. See Note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information.

 

Provisional sales price adjustments included in accounts receivable and net sales at September 30, 2015 represented negative effects of $2.9 million for copper and $10.3 million for molybdenum.

 

Short-term Investments:

 

For additional information on our trading securities and available-for-sale investments, refer to “Short-term Investments” in Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015.

 

Cautionary Statement:

 

Forward-looking statements in this report and in other Company statements include statements regarding expected commencement dates of mining or metal production operations, projected quantities of future metal production, anticipated production rates, operating efficiencies, costs and expenditures as well as projected demand or supply for the Company’s products. Actual results could differ materially depending upon factors including the risks and uncertainties relating to general U.S. and international economic and political conditions, the cyclical and volatile prices of copper, other commodities and supplies, including fuel and electricity, availability of materials, insurance coverage, equipment, required permits or approvals and financing, the occurrence of unusual weather or operating conditions, lower than expected ore grades, water and geological problems, the failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications, failure to obtain financial assurance to meet closure and remediation obligations, labor relations, litigation and environmental risks as well as political and economic risk associated with foreign operations. Results of operations are directly affected by metal prices on commodity exchanges that can be volatile.

 

49



Table of Contents

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of September 30, 2015, the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness and the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)).Based on that evaluation, the Company´s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2015.

 

The Company reported a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, as the Company did not establish an effective design of processes and procedures to restrict access to its business planning system (“ERP”) in existence during 2014, known as Ellipse, at its Mexican operations. As such, the Company failed to ensure that access to key financial systems was limited to appropriate users in order to maintain segregation of duties. Accordingly, information generated from those systems may have been impacted.

 

In response to the material weakness described above, the Company is executing a remediation plan, with oversight from the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors:

 

·                  As part of the remediation plan, SAP, the Company’s new business planning system, was implemented at the Company’s Mexican operations beginning February 5, 2015. In the second quarter of 2015, the Company implemented the security tools that SAP provides and which have allowed and will continue to allow the Company to identify and remediate conflicts in terms of segregation of duties. Those controls will assist the Company in assuring that access control authorizations are functioning and transactions and data entered into the financial and related systems are properly authorized, based on the Company’s organizational structure, positions and assigned responsibilities.

 

·                  The Company’s monitoring activity, including the testing of related controls, will continue during the last quarter of 2015. The Company has put in place processes and procedures, with strict management supervision and monitoring by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, to ensure that the remediation plan will be complete in 2015, once the controls have been operational for a sufficient period of time to allow management to conclude that the controls are operating effectively.

 

·                  Additionally, the Company implemented SAP at its operations in Peru, which is improving the processes that consist of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and, as part of its process, requires testing for effectiveness.

 

Notwithstanding the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, described above, the Company’s management has concluded that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods disclosed in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Except as discussed in the Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures above, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

50



Table of Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Southern Copper Corporation:

 

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Southern Copper Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2015, and the related condensed consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income and cash flow for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying condensed consolidated interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Southern Copper Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2014, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 27, 2015, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

Galaz, Yamazaki, Ruiz Urquiza S.C.

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

 

 

C.P.C. Miguel Angel Andrade Leven

Mexico City, Mexico

October 30, 2015

 

51



Table of Contents

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

The information provided in Note 9 “Commitments and Contingencies” to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Part I of this Form 10-Q, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

There have been no material changes to our risk factors during the nine months ended September 30, 2015. For additional information on risk factors, refer to “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 as filed with the SEC on March 2, 2015.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

SCC share repurchase program:

 

In 2008, the BOD authorized a $500 million share repurchase program that has since been increased by the BOD and is currently authorized to $3 billion. Pursuant to this program, the Company purchased common stock as shown in the table below. These shares are available for general corporate purposes. The Company may purchase additional shares of its common stock from time to time, based on market conditions and other factors. This repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified or discontinued at any time.

 

Period

 

Total Number
of Shares

 

Average
Price Paid

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly

 

Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plan

 

Total Cost

 

From

 

To

 

Purchased

 

per Share

 

Announced Plan

 

@ $26.72 (*)

 

($ in millions)

 

2008

 

2012

 

46,914,486

 

$

18.72

 

46,914,486

 

 

 

$

878.1

 

2013

 

 

 

10,245,000

 

27.47

 

57,159,486

 

 

 

281.4

 

2014

 

 

 

22,711,428

 

30.06

 

79,870,914

 

 

 

682.8

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01/01/15

 

01/31/15

 

5,927,154

 

27.12

 

85,798,068

 

 

 

160.7

 

02/01/15

 

02/28/15

 

2,590,076

 

29.45

 

88,388,144

 

 

 

76.3

 

03/01/15

 

03/31/15

 

4,563,649

 

29.16

 

92,951,793

 

 

 

133.1

 

Total first quarter

 

13,080,879

 

29.29

 

 

 

 

 

370.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

04/01/15

 

04/30/15

 

1,511,200

 

29.42

 

94,462,993

 

 

 

44.5

 

Total second quarter

 

1,511,200

 

29.42

 

 

 

 

 

44.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07/01/15

 

07/31/15

 

1,603,800

 

27.84

 

96,066,793

 

 

 

44.6

 

08/01/15

 

08/31/15

 

6,160,000

 

26.90

 

102,226,793

 

 

 

165.7

 

09/01/15

 

09/30/15

 

3,724,273

 

26.69

 

105,951,066

 

 

 

99.4

 

Total third quarter

 

11,488,073

 

26.97

 

 

 

 

 

309.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,219,324

 

 

 

Total purchased

 

105,951,066

 

$

24.22

 

 

 

 

 

$

2,566.6

 

 


(*) NYSE closing price of SCC common shares at September 30, 2015.

 

As a result of the repurchase of shares of SCC’s common stock, Grupo Mexico’s direct and indirect ownership was 87.4% as of September 30, 2015.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

52



Table of Contents

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

(a) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed on October 11, 2005. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).
(b) Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated May 2, 2006. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-135170) filed on June 20, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).
(c) Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated May 28, 2008.(Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3.2

 

By-Laws, as last amended on January 27, 2011. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture governing $200 million 6.375% Notes due 2015, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York and the Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated by reference).

 

 

 

4.2

 

(a) Indenture governing $600 million 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, the Bank of New York and The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005) and incorporated herein by reference).
(b) Indenture governing $400 million 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York, The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A.(Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of 6.375% Note (included in Exhibit 4.1).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of New 7.500% Note (included in Exhibit 4.2(a)).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of New 7.500% Note (included in Exhibit 4.2(b)).

 

 

 

4.6

 

Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2010, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which $400 million of 5.375% Notes due 2020 and $1.1 billion of 6.750% Notes due 2040 were issued (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.7

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 16, 2010, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 5.375% Notes due 2020 were issued (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.8

 

Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2010, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 6.750% Notes due 2040 were issued. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.9

 

Form of 5.375% Notes due 2020 (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.10

 

Form of 6.750% Notes due 2040 (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.11

 

Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2012, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 3.500% Notes due 2022 were issued.

 

 

 

4.12

 

Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2012, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 5.250% Notes due 2042 were issued.

 

 

 

4.13

 

Form of 3.500% Notes due 2022.

 

 

 

4.14

 

Form of 5.250% Notes due 2042.

 

 

 

4.15

 

Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 23, 2015, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 3.875% Notes due 2025 were issued.

 

 

 

4.16

 

Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 23, 2015, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells

 

53



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 5.875% Notes due 2045 were issued.

 

 

 

4.17

 

Form of 3.875% Notes due 2025.

 

 

 

4.18

 

Form of 5.875% Notes due 2045.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Directors’ Stock Award Plan of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Service Agreement entered into by the Company with a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C. V., assigned upon the same terms and conditions to Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. in February 2004 (Filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.3

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2004, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, SCC Merger Sub., Inc., Americas Sales Company, Inc., Americas Mining Corporation and Minera Mexico S.A. de C.V., (Filed as an Exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 22, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

14.0

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Board of Directors on May 8, 2003 and amended on April 23, 2015. (Filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

15.0

 

Consent of Registered Public Accounting Firm (Galaz, Yamazaki, Ruiz Urquiza, S.C. - Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Limited) (filed herewith).

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C., Section 1350.This document is being furnished in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8238.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C., Section 1350.This document is being furnished in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8238.

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

54



Table of Contents

 

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION
(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Oscar Gonzalez Rocha

 

 

Oscar Gonzalez Rocha

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

October 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Raul Jacob

 

 

Raul Jacob

 

 

Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

October 30, 2015

 

 

 

55



Table of Contents

 

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

List of Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

(a) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, filed on October 11, 2005. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).
(b) Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated May 2, 2006. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-135170) filed on June 20, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).
(c) Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated May 28, 2008.(Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter of 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

3.2

 

By-Laws, as last amended on January 27, 2011. (Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture governing $200 million 6.375% Notes due 2015, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York and the Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

4.2

 

(a) Indenture governing $600 million 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, the Bank of New York and The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005) and incorporated herein by reference).
(b) Indenture governing $400 million 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and between Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York, The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A.(Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of 6.375% Note (included in Exhibit 4.1).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of New 7.500% Note (included in Exhibit 4.2(a)).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of New 7.500% Note (included in Exhibit 4.2(b)).

 

 

 

4.6

 

Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2010, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which $400 million of 5.375% Notes due 2020 and $1.1 billion of 6.750% Notes due 2040 were issued (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.7

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 16, 2010, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 5.375% Notes due 2020 were issued (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.8

 

Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 16, 2010, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 6.750% Notes due 2040 were issued. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.9

 

Form of 5.375% Notes due 2020 (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.10

 

Form of 6.750% Notes due 2040 (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.11

 

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 8, 2012, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 3.500% Notes due 2022 were issued (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 9, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.12

 

Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2012, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 5.250% Notes due 2042 were issued. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 9, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.13

 

Form of 3.500% Notes due 2022. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 9, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.14

 

Form of 5.250% Notes due 2042. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on

 

56



Table of Contents

 

 

 

November 9, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.15

 

Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 23, 2015, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 3.875% Notes due 2025 were issued. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 24, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.16

 

Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 23, 2015, between Southern Copper Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, pursuant to which the 5.875% Notes due 2045 were issued. (Filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 24, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.17

 

Form of 3.875% Notes due 2025. (Filed as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 24, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.18

 

Form of 5.875% Notes due 2045. (Filed as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 24, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Directors’ Stock Award Plan of the Company (Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K/A incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Service Agreement entered into by the Company with a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C. V., assigned upon the same terms and conditions to Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. in February 2004 (Filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

10.3

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 21, 2004, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, SCC Merger Sub., Inc., Americas Sales Company, Inc., Americas Mining Corporation and Minera Mexico S.A. de C.V., (Filed as an Exhibit to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 22, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

14.0

 

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics adopted by the Board of Directors on May 8, 2003 and amended on April 23, 2015. (Filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 29, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

15.0

 

Consent of Registered Public Accounting Firm (Galaz, Yamazaki, Ruiz Urquiza, S.C. - Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Limited) (filed herewith).

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C., Section 1350.This document is being furnished in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8238.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C., Section 1350.This document is being furnished in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8238.

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014; and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail. Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

57