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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
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þ
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2005 |
Commission file number 1-1143
Inco Limited
(Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Canada
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
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98-0000676
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
145 King Street West, Suite 1500, Toronto, Ontario M5H
4B7*
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip
code)
(416) 361-7511
(Telephone number)
The Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the Act) during the preceding twelve 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.
The Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 under the Act).
Unless otherwise stated, dollar amounts in this Report are
expressed in United States currency.
Common Shares outstanding at March 31, 2005:
189,002,037 shares, no par value.
* Notices and communications from the Securities and Exchange
Commission may be sent to S.F. Feiner, Executive Vice-President,
General Counsel and Secretary, 145 King Street West,
Suite 1500, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4B7. His telephone
number is (416) 361-7680.
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1. |
Financial Statements |
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars except per share
amounts)
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Revenues
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Net sales
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$ |
1,121 |
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$ |
1,094 |
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Other income, net (Note 3)
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1 |
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5 |
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1,122 |
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1,099 |
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Costs and expenses (income)
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Cost of sales and other expenses, excluding depreciation and
depletion
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603 |
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557 |
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Depreciation and depletion
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61 |
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57 |
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Selling, general and administrative
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43 |
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34 |
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Research and development
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7 |
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9 |
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Exploration
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9 |
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6 |
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Currency translation adjustments
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(5 |
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(15 |
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Interest expense
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7 |
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11 |
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Goro project suspension
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(6 |
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725 |
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653 |
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Earnings before income and mining taxes and minority interest
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397 |
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446 |
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Income and mining taxes (Note 4)
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82 |
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158 |
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Earnings before minority interest
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315 |
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288 |
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Minority interest (Note 14)
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2 |
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34 |
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Net earnings
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$ |
313 |
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$ |
254 |
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Net earnings per common share (Note 7)
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Basic
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$ |
1.66 |
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$ |
1.36 |
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Diluted
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$ |
1.43 |
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$ |
1.20 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
2
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Retained Earnings (Deficit)
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars)
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Retained earnings (deficit) at beginning of period, as
previously reported
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$ |
397 |
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$ |
(206 |
) |
Change in accounting policy (Note 2)
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(7 |
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(9 |
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Retained earnings (deficit) at beginning of year, as
restated
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390 |
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(215 |
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Net earnings
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313 |
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254 |
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Retained earnings at end of period
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$ |
703 |
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$ |
39 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Unaudited)
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March 31, | |
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December 31, | |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars)
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ASSETS |
Current assets
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Cash and cash equivalents (Note 12)
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$ |
928 |
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$ |
1,076 |
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Accounts receivable
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763 |
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601 |
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Inventories (Note 12)
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890 |
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834 |
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Other
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91 |
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63 |
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Total current assets
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2,672 |
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2,574 |
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Property, plant and equipment (Note 12)
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7,725 |
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7,587 |
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Deferred charges and other assets
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617 |
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576 |
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Total assets
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$ |
11,014 |
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$ |
10,737 |
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
Current liabilities
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Long-term debt due within one year
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$ |
120 |
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$ |
107 |
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Accounts payable
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300 |
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331 |
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Accrued payrolls and benefits
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198 |
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208 |
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Other accrued liabilities
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468 |
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399 |
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Income and mining taxes payable
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57 |
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279 |
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Total current liabilities
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1,143 |
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1,324 |
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Deferred credits and other liabilities
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Long-term debt (Note 2)
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1,721 |
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1,761 |
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Deferred income and mining taxes
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1,880 |
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1,891 |
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Post-retirement benefits
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678 |
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671 |
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Asset retirement obligation (Note 6)
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174 |
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171 |
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Other deferred credits
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57 |
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58 |
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Total liabilities
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5,653 |
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5,876 |
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Minority interest (Note 14)
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691 |
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529 |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
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Shareholders equity
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Convertible debt (Notes 2 and 8)
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418 |
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418 |
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Common shareholders equity
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Common shares issued and outstanding 189,002,037
(2004 188,133,439 shares) (Note 7)
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2,916 |
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2,891 |
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Warrants (Note 9)
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62 |
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62 |
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Contributed surplus (Note 13)
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571 |
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571 |
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Retained earnings
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703 |
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390 |
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4,252 |
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3,914 |
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Total shareholders equity
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4,670 |
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4,332 |
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Total liabilities and shareholders equity
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$ |
11,014 |
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$ |
10,737 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars)
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Operating activities
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Earnings before minority interest
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$ |
315 |
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$ |
288 |
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Items not affecting cash
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Depreciation and depletion
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61 |
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57 |
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Deferred income and mining taxes
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(5 |
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14 |
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Other
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12 |
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6 |
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Contributions greater than post-retirement benefits expense
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(14 |
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(5 |
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Decrease (increase) in non-cash working capital related to
operations
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Accounts receivable
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(12 |
) |
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(59 |
) |
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Inventories
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(56 |
) |
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(97 |
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
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43 |
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42 |
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Income and mining taxes payable
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(225 |
) |
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168 |
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Other
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(28 |
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(34 |
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Net cash provided by operating activities
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91 |
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|
380 |
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Investing activities
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Capital expenditures
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(226 |
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(139 |
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Other
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(28 |
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Net cash used for investing activities
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(226 |
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(167 |
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Financing activities
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Repayments of long-term debt
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(48 |
) |
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(46 |
) |
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Long-term borrowings
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16 |
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Common shares issued
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20 |
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12 |
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Dividends paid to minority interest
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(1 |
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Other
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(1 |
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Net cash used for financing activities
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(13 |
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(35 |
) |
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Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
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(148 |
) |
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|
178 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
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|
1,076 |
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|
418 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
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$ |
928 |
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$ |
596 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Tabular amounts in millions of United States dollars except
number of shares and per share amounts)
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Note 1. |
Basis of Presentation |
The unaudited consolidated financial statements presented herein
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (GAAP) in Canada (see Note 15 for
significant differences between Canadian GAAP and United States
GAAP) for interim financial information and in accordance with
the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all
adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation of
results for the periods reported have been included. These
adjustments consist only of normal recurring adjustments.
Results of operations for the three-month period ended
March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for the year ending
December 31, 2005 or any other interim period. These
interim consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004.
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Note 2. |
Changes in Accounting Policies |
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(a) |
Convertible Debentures |
Effective January 1, 2005, on a retroactive basis, we
adopted revisions to Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
(CICA) Section 3860, Financial
Instruments Disclosure and Presentation. The
revisions relate to the accounting for instruments for which the
issuer has the right to settle in cash or its own shares. Such
an instrument is bifurcated between debt and equity in
accordance with this revised standard. This change impacted the
accounting treatment for our LYON Notes, Convertible Debentures
due 2023 (Convertible Debentures) and
31/2%
Subordinated Convertible Debentures due 2052 (Subordinated
Debentures) which are currently treated as equity in
accordance with EIC-71, Financial Instruments that may be
Settled at the Issuers Option in Cash or its own Equity
Instruments. Consistent with this change, we record interest
expense in lieu of accretion charges with respect to these
convertible debt securities. The impact on our balance sheet as
at December 31, 2004 was an increase in long-term debt of
$210 million, an increase in deferred income and mining
taxes of $11 million, a decrease in convertible debt
classified as equity of $201 million, an increase in
deferred charges of $7 million and a reduction in retained
earnings of $13 million. In addition, as the revisions
resulted in the retroactive restatement of our interest expense,
there was an increase in the amount of interest capitalized in
respect of our development projects. The impact in respect of
the adjustment to capitalized interest was an increase in
property, plant and equipment of $7 million; an increase in
deferred income and mining taxes of $1 million and an
increase in retained earnings of $6 million.
The bifurcation was prepared by calculating the fair value of
debt and assigning the excess to equity. The excess relates to
the value of the conversion feature and put options applicable
to the particular convertible debt security. The fair value
determination assumes that the particular convertible debt
security will mature and be payable in accordance with its
applicable maturity date or end of its stated term, which term
ends, in the case of our LYON Notes, in March 2021, in March
2023 in the case of our Convertible Debentures, and in March
2052 for our Subordinated Debentures. During January 2005, the
Emerging Issues Committee (EIC) of the CICA issued guidance on
the methodology for bifurcating the securities. This guidance
was subsequently retracted in February 2005. We understand that
the EIC plans to consider further this issue and that a change
in the methodology for bifurcating our convertible debt
securities may be necessary in the future. If, for example, we
bifurcated our convertible debt securities assuming a period
ending prior to their maturity date, the impact would be a
greater allocation to debt than equity. At such time as there is
a new pronouncement from the EIC, we will evaluate the need for
change, if any, in such bifurcation and any other requirements.
6
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
Effective January 1, 2005, on a retroactive basis, we
adopted revisions to CICA Section 3500, Earnings Per
Share. The revisions relate primarily to (1) the use of
year to date weighted average share prices when applying the
treasury stock method and (2) instruments where, if an
instrument can be settled in cash or shares, an entity should
assume that the instrument will be settled in shares if share
settlement is more dilutive. In 2004 and prior years, we
presumed, with respect to our LYON Notes, cash settlement and,
accordingly, this instrument was not considered in the
calculation of diluted earnings per share. The impact of
adopting these revisions was a decrease in diluted earnings per
share for the three months ended March 31, 2004 of five
cents per share.
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Note 3. |
Other Income, net |
Other income, net is comprised of the following:
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2005 | |
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2004 | |
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Interest and dividend income
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$ |
7 |
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$ |
3 |
|
Earnings (loss) from affiliates accounted for using the equity
method
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(1 |
) |
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3 |
|
Losses from derivative positions in metals
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(4 |
) |
Other
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(5 |
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3 |
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Other income, net
|
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$ |
1 |
|
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$ |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 4. |
Income and Mining Taxes |
The reconciliation between taxes at the combined
federal-provincial statutory income tax rate in Canada and the
effective income and mining tax rates was as follows:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Provision at combined Canadian federal-provincial statutory
income tax rate
|
|
$ |
154 |
|
|
$ |
178 |
|
Resource and depletion allowances
|
|
|
(17 |
) |
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted income taxes
|
|
|
137 |
|
|
|
154 |
|
Mining taxes
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
152 |
|
|
|
178 |
|
Currency translation adjustments
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
Currency translation adjustments on long-term debt
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
Non-taxable gains
|
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|
(11 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
Tax rate changes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 |
|
Foreign tax rate differences
|
|
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
(18 |
) |
Prior year adjustments
|
|
|
(42 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective income and mining taxes
|
|
$ |
82 |
|
|
$ |
158 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 5. |
Post-retirement Benefit Obligations |
Employer contributions in respect of our defined benefit plans
during the first quarter of 2005 were $46 million (2004:
$37 million). For the year ending December 31, 2005,
we currently expect that such employer contributions, including
voluntary contributions, will amount to approximately
$160 million.
Post-retirement benefits expense included the following
components:
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Post-retirement | |
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Benefits Other | |
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Pension Benefits | |
|
than Pensions | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Service cost
|
|
$ |
10 |
|
|
$ |
10 |
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
|
$ |
2 |
|
Interest cost
|
|
|
41 |
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
|
|
13 |
|
Expected return on plan assets
|
|
|
(44 |
) |
|
|
(42 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of actuarial and investment losses
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefits other than
pension expense
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Defined contribution pension expense
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post-retirement benefits expense
|
|
$ |
27 |
|
|
$ |
27 |
|
|
$ |
20 |
|
|
$ |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 6. |
Asset Retirement Obligation |
The following table shows the movement in the long-term
liability for our asset retirement obligation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount | |
|
|
| |
December 31, 2004
|
|
$ |
171 |
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2005
|
|
$ |
174 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 7. |
Common Shares and Earnings per Common Share |
We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares
without nominal or par value. Changes in Common Shares were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
Shares | |
|
Amount | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
December 31, 2004
|
|
|
188,133,439 |
|
|
$ |
2,891 |
|
Options exercised
|
|
|
806,194 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
Warrants exercised
|
|
|
706 |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued under incentive plan
|
|
|
61,698 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Transfer from contributed surplus in respect of options exercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2005
|
|
|
189,002,037 |
|
|
$ |
2,916 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share was as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Basic earnings per share computation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings applicable to common shares
|
|
$ |
313 |
|
|
$ |
254 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands)
|
|
|
188,398 |
|
|
|
187,222 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share
|
|
$ |
1.66 |
|
|
$ |
1.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per share computation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings applicable to common shares
|
|
$ |
313 |
|
|
$ |
254 |
|
|
Dilutive effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible debt
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings applicable to common shares, assuming dilution
|
|
$ |
317 |
|
|
$ |
257 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands)
|
|
|
188,398 |
|
|
|
187,222 |
|
|
Dilutive effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible debt
|
|
|
29,078 |
|
|
|
20,369 |
|
|
|
Stock options
|
|
|
561 |
|
|
|
1,540 |
|
|
|
Warrants
|
|
|
3,791 |
|
|
|
4,156 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution
(in thousands)
|
|
|
221,828 |
|
|
|
213,287 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share
|
|
$ |
1.43 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As discussed in Note 2(a), we have changed our accounting
for our convertible debt securities and have bifurcated these
instruments between debt and equity. The assumption used in the
determination of debt was that each instrument would remain
outstanding until its specific maturity date or the end of its
stated term had been reached. We understand that the EIC of the
CICA is currently deliberating on this issue and a change may be
made should the EIC determine that a different methodology is
more appropriate. At March 31, 2005, the following
represents the split between debt and equity of our convertible
debt securities on our balance sheet:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subordinated | |
|
|
|
|
LYON | |
|
Convertible | |
|
Convertible | |
|
|
|
|
Notes | |
|
Debentures | |
|
Debentures | |
|
Total | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Long-term debt, including current portion
|
|
$ |
111 |
|
|
$ |
109 |
|
|
$ |
104 |
|
|
$ |
324 |
|
Equity
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
122 |
|
|
|
418 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
259 |
|
|
$ |
257 |
|
|
$ |
226 |
|
|
$ |
742 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
Changes in warrants were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
Warrants | |
|
Amount | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
December 31, 2004
|
|
|
11,022,758 |
|
|
$ |
62 |
|
Warrants exercised
|
|
|
(706 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2005
|
|
|
11,022,052 |
|
|
$ |
62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 10. |
Commitments and Contingencies |
The following table summarizes as of March 31, 2005 certain
of our long-term contractual obligations and commercial
commitments for each of the next five years and thereafter:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due in | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2006 | |
|
2007 | |
|
2008 | |
|
2009 | |
|
Thereafter | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Purchase obligations(1)
|
|
$ |
641 |
|
|
$ |
274 |
|
|
$ |
96 |
|
|
$ |
58 |
|
|
$ |
55 |
|
|
$ |
23 |
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
Other
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
669 |
|
|
$ |
302 |
|
|
$ |
116 |
|
|
$ |
68 |
|
|
$ |
60 |
|
|
$ |
112 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
These purchase obligations largely relate to the Voiseys
Bay and Goro projects with the balance comprising routine orders
to purchase goods and services at current operating locations
and currently estimated purchases of certain intermediate
products. |
In the course of our operations, we and our subsidiaries are
subject to routine claims and litigation incidental to the
business conducted by us and them, to various environmental
proceedings, and to other litigation related to these
businesses. With respect to the environmental proceedings
currently pending or threatened against us, they include
(1) a proceeding brought under the Ontario class action
legislation covering claims relating to the alleged decline in
property values in a community where we had operated a nickel
refinery over the 1918-1984 period, (2) claims for personal
injury, (3) enforcement actions, (4) alleged
violations of, including exceeding regulatory limits relating to
discharges under, certain environmental or similar laws and
regulations applicable to our operations in Canada and elsewhere
and (5) certain claims dating back a number of years in
which one of our subsidiaries was designated, under the United
States federal environmental law known as Superfund
or CERCLA, as a potentially responsible party. We
believe that the ultimate resolution of such proceedings, claims
and litigation will not significantly impair our operations or
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or
results of operations.
|
|
Note 11. |
Segment Information |
We are a leading producer of nickel and an important producer of
copper, precious metals and cobalt. Our operations consist of
the finished products segment, which comprises the mining and
processing operations in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada, and
refining operations in the United Kingdom and interests in
refining operations in Japan and other Asian countries, and the
intermediates segment, which comprises the mining and processing
operations in Indonesia, where nickel-in-matte, an intermediate
product, is produced and sold primarily into the Japanese
market. In addition, we hold mineral claims and licenses for
development projects
10
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
which include our Voiseys Bay nickel-copper-cobalt project
under development in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
and our Goro nickel-cobalt project in the French overseas
territorial community (collectivité territoriale) of New
Caledonia.
Data by operating segments as of and for the period indicated
was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finished | |
|
|
|
Development | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products | |
|
Intermediates | |
|
Projects | |
|
Eliminations | |
|
Total | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Net sales to customers
|
|
|
1,087 |
|
|
|
1,056 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,121 |
|
|
|
1,094 |
|
Intersegment sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
137 |
|
|
|
154 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(137 |
) |
|
|
(154 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
|
1,087 |
|
|
|
1,056 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
|
|
192 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(137 |
) |
|
|
(154 |
) |
|
|
1,121 |
|
|
|
1,094 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before income and mining taxes and minority
interest by segment
|
|
|
348 |
|
|
|
368 |
|
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
118 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
(25 |
) |
|
|
430 |
|
|
|
457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses (income) not specifically allocable to segments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate selling, general
and administrative expenses |
|
|
32 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
Currency translation adjustments |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(15 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings before income and
mining taxes and minority interest |
|
|
397 |
|
|
|
446 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2005 and December 31,
2004
|
|
|
3,043 |
|
|
|
2,793 |
|
|
|
1,557 |
|
|
|
1,580 |
|
|
|
5,521 |
|
|
|
5,394 |
|
|
|
(57 |
) |
|
|
(54 |
) |
|
|
10,064 |
|
|
|
9,713 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
950 |
|
|
|
1,024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets at March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004 |
|
|
11,014 |
|
|
|
10,737 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 12. |
Supplemental Information |
The following represents certain supplemental information in
connection with our Consolidated Balance Sheet:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
December 31, | |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Cash
|
|
$ |
306 |
|
|
$ |
240 |
|
Cash equivalents
|
|
|
622 |
|
|
|
836 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
928 |
|
|
$ |
1,076 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finished metals
|
|
$ |
252 |
|
|
$ |
228 |
|
In-process metals
|
|
|
549 |
|
|
|
511 |
|
Supplies
|
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
95 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
$ |
890 |
|
|
$ |
834 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
|
|
|
|
| |
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
|
|
$ |
12,410 |
|
|
$ |
12,227 |
|
Accumulated depreciation and depletion
|
|
|
4,685 |
|
|
|
4,640 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$ |
7,725 |
|
|
$ |
7,587 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized interest costs included in capital expenditures were
$24 million in the first three months of 2005 (2004:
$14 million).
|
|
Note 13. |
Stock Compensation Plans |
For the three months ended March 31, 2005, an expense of
$3 million (2004: $3 million) was charged to earnings
with an equivalent offset credited to contributed surplus to
reflect the vested portion of the fair value of stock options
granted to employees in 2004 and 2005. A transfer of
$3 million (2004: nil) was made from contributed surplus to
common shares in respect of exercised options. The fair value of
each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Stock price at grant date
|
|
$ |
39.67 |
|
|
$ |
36.40 |
|
Exercise price
|
|
$ |
39.67 |
|
|
$ |
36.40 |
|
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the period
|
|
$ |
12.21 |
|
|
$ |
10.37 |
|
Expected life of options (years)
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
|
|
3.4 |
|
Expected dividend yield
|
|
|
|
% |
|
|
|
% |
Expected stock price volatility
|
|
|
34.8 |
% |
|
|
35.0 |
% |
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
2.5 |
% |
|
|
Note 14. |
Sale of Interests in Goro Nickel S.A.S. (Goro
Nickel) |
(a) For the first quarter of 2005, minority interest
included a recovery in Goro Nickel of $25 million,
reflecting the recovery of losses previously taken by us due to
insufficient minority interest balances existing in 2004 to
absorb the share by the minority interest of the previously
announced impairment charge associated with the Goro project
recorded in the second quarter of 2004. Excluding this recovery,
minority interest would have been $27 million, attributable
principally to PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk.
12
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
(b) On February 18, 2005, a company formed by the
three provinces of New Caledonia, Société de
Participation Minière du Sud Calédonien S.A.S.
(SPMSC), acquired all of the shares of Goro Nickel,
the project company for our Goro project, then held by a
subsidiary of a French government agency, Bureau des Recherches
Géologiques et Minières. These shares represented,
after the capitalization by Goro Nickel of certain shareholder
advances as of February 18, 2005, approximately a
9.71 per cent ownership interest in Goro Nickel. At the
same time, we sold shares in Goro Nickel to SPMSC representing
approximately a 0.29 per cent interest such that SPMSC
would own, as of February 18, 2005, approximately a
10 per cent ownership interest in Goro Nickel. SPMSC also
entered into a shareholders agreement (the SPMSC
Shareholders Agreement) with us on February 18, 2005
setting forth its rights and obligations as a shareholder in
Goro Nickel.
On April 8, 2005 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
(Sumitomo Metal Mining) and Mitsui & Co.,
Ltd. (Mitsui), through a jointly owned company they
formed, Sumic Nickel Netherlands B.V. (Sumic
Nickel), acquired a 21 per cent ownership interest in
Goro Nickel. Under the terms of a share purchase agreement
entered into with us covering this transaction, Sumitomo Metal
Mining and Mitsui paid to us in total approximately
$150 million for the 21 per cent interest. This amount
included their pro rata share of certain project capital and
other expenditures made since we announced our initial decision
in July 2001 to proceed with the Goro project and certain
advances made by us to fund the project. Under the terms of a
shareholders agreement entered into as of April 8, 2005,
setting forth the rights and obligations Sumic Nickel (and
Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsui) would have as a shareholder in
Goro Nickel, including the right to elect two directors to the
board of directors of Goro Nickel so long as Sumic Nickel holds
at least a 16 per cent interest in Goro Nickel and the
right to elect one director so long as it holds at least an
8 per cent interest, Sumic Nickel is also obligated to make
capital contributions on a pro rata basis, subject to certain
limitations and adjustments tied to the actual capital cost of
the project, as required to meet the funding requirements of
Goro Nickel until such time as the Goro project meets certain
minimum commercial production and related performance tests (the
Threshold Performance Tests). If Sumic Nickel does
not make such capital contributions, it will suffer dilution of
its ownership interest based upon a penalty dilution formula. If
the capital cost of the Goro project exceeds a threshold above
the current capital cost estimate prior to when the Threshold
Performance Tests are met, then Sumic Nickel will not have any
obligation to provide capital contributions to meet the Goro
projects funding requirements and we would, subject to
certain terms and conditions under the SPMSC Shareholders
Agreement, be required to provide certain funding to meet such
requirements, up to a specified level, in the form of
interest-bearing debt repayable by Goro Nickel. In addition,
under this shareholders agreement Sumic Nickel has the right to
participate on a pro rata basis in any future expansion of the
Goro project and also has certain rights to approve certain
expenditures and other actions relating to Goro Nickel or the
Goro project that would be outside the currently planned scope
and operation of the project. As of April 8, 2005, the
parties also entered into an operations agreement which sets
forth Goro Nickels role and responsibilities as the
operator of the Goro project and its financial and other
reporting obligations to its shareholders and product offtake
agreements under which Sumic Nickel has the right and obligation
to purchase its pro rata share of Goros production of
nickel product and cobalt product based on its ownership
interest in Goro Nickel, with a subsidiary of ours under a
separate product offtake agreement having the right and
obligation to purchase all of Goro Nickels production not
purchased by Sumic Nickel (which would currently represent
79 per cent of such eventual production).
The transaction with Sumitomo Metal Mining, Mitsui and Sumic
Nickel, which had no significant effect on our net earnings for
the first quarter of 2005, was substantially completed as of
March 31, 2005 and, accordingly, the sale of 21 per
cent of Goro Nickel was recorded in our first quarter 2005
financial statements. Subsequent to this transaction, the shares
of Goro Nickel are held 69 per cent by Inco Limited,
21 per cent by Sumic Nickel and 10 per cent by SPMSC.
13
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 15. |
Significant Differences Between Canadian and United States
GAAP |
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance
with Canadian GAAP. The differences between Canadian GAAP and
United States GAAP, insofar as they affect our consolidated
financial statements are discussed below.
The following table reconciles results as reported under
Canadian GAAP with those that would have been reported under
United States GAAP:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Net earnings Canadian GAAP
|
|
$ |
313 |
|
|
$ |
254 |
|
Increased post-retirement benefits expense (a)
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
Increased research and development expense (b)
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
Increased exploration expense (c)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
Increased interest expense (d)
|
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivative instruments (e)
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
3 |
|
Unrealized currency translation gains on Voiseys Bay
project deferred income and mining tax liabilities (f)
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
16 |
|
Decreased minority interest expense
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Taxes on United States GAAP differences
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings United States GAAP
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) (h):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of net gain on derivatives designated as cash
flow hedges (e)
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
Reclassification of net gain on derivatives due to
ineffectiveness (e)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
Change in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges (e)
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
Unrealized gain (loss) on long-term investments (g)
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
Taxes on other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) (h)
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
(21 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive earnings (h)
|
|
$ |
300 |
|
|
$ |
241 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings per share Basic
|
|
$ |
1.57 |
|
|
$ |
1.40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings per share Diluted
|
|
$ |
1.35 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Post-retirement Benefits |
For Canadian GAAP reporting purposes, we amortize the excess of
the net unrecognized actuarial and investment gains and losses,
if such gain or loss is over 10 per cent, at the greater of
(i) the post-retirement benefits obligation and
(ii) the fair value of plan assets. Such excess is
amortized over the expected average remaining service life of
employees. For United States reporting purposes, we amortize net
unrecognized actuarial and investment gains and losses on a
straight-line basis over the expected average remaining service
life of employees.
United States GAAP requires the recognition of a minimum
additional pension liability in the amount of the excess of the
unfunded accumulated benefits obligation over the recorded
pension benefits liability and an offsetting intangible pension
asset is recorded equal to the unrecognized prior service costs,
with any net difference recorded as a reduction in accumulated
other comprehensive income.
14
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
(b) |
Research and Development Expense |
Under Canadian GAAP, development costs are deferred and
amortized if the development project meets certain generally
accepted criteria for deferral and amortization. Fixed assets,
including equipment, may be acquired or constructed in order to
provide facilities for a research and development project. The
use of such assets will extend over a number of accounting
periods and, accordingly, such costs are capitalized and
amortized over their useful lives. Under United States GAAP,
research and development costs are charged to expense in the
period incurred.
Under Canadian GAAP, capitalized exploration expenditures are
classified under property, plant and equipment with the related
mineral claim. For United States GAAP, exploration expenditures
are not capitalized unless estimated proven and probable ore
reserves to which they relate have been established by a
feasibility study.
Under Canadian GAAP, our convertible debt securities are
bifurcated between debt and equity. Under United States GAAP,
our convertible debt securities are accounted for as debt.
|
|
(e) |
Accounting for Derivatives |
Under United States GAAP, all derivative contracts, whether
designated in hedging relationships or not, are required to be
recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. Under Canadian
GAAP, we continue to recognize gains and losses on derivative
contracts in income concurrently with the recognition of the
transactions being hedged. The requirements for documentation
and effectiveness testing, however, are substantially the same
under both Canadian and United States GAAP.
|
|
(f) |
Unrealized Currency Translation Gains (Losses) on
Voiseys Bay Project Deferred Income and Mining Tax
Liabilities |
For United States GAAP reporting purposes, unrealized non-cash
currency translation gains and losses arising from the
translation into United States dollars, at the end of each
period, of certain Canadian dollar-denominated deferred income
and mining tax liabilities established in 1996 upon the
acquisition of the Voiseys Bay deposits is included in the
determination of earnings. For Canadian GAAP reporting purposes,
these unrealized non-cash currency translation gains and losses
have been deferred and included in property, plant and equipment
as part of development costs for the Voiseys Bay project
until operations commence.
United States GAAP for equity investments, which are set forth
in SFAS No. 115, require that certain equity
investments not held for trading be recorded at fair value with
unrealized holding gains and losses excluded from the
determination of earnings and reported as a separate component
of other comprehensive income.
United States accounting standards for reporting comprehensive
income are set forth in SFAS No. 130. Comprehensive
income represents the change in equity during a reporting period
from transactions and other events and circumstances from
non-owner sources. Components of comprehensive income include
items such as net earnings (loss), changes in the fair value of
investments not held for trading, minimum pension liability
adjustments and gains and losses on derivative instruments.
15
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
For United States GAAP reporting purposes, all shares issuable
upon conversion of contingently convertible debt securities are
included in diluted earnings per share computations regardless
of whether the market price trigger or other contingent features
for conversion have been met. For Canadian GAAP reporting
purposes, the dilutive effect of contingently convertible debt
securities are included in diluted earnings per share
computations only if the conditions under which such debt
securities are convertible into common shares have been met.
|
|
(j) |
Supplemental Information |
Changes in deficit and accumulated other comprehensive loss
under United States GAAP were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Deficit at beginning of period
|
|
$ |
(665 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,144 |
) |
Net earnings
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
262 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit at end of period
|
|
$ |
(369 |
) |
|
$ |
(882 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of period
|
|
$ |
(589 |
) |
|
$ |
(516 |
) |
Other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
(21 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period
|
|
$ |
(585 |
) |
|
$ |
(537 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(k) |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
During December 2004, the FASB issued revisions to
SFAS No. 123, Share-Based Payment, which will
be effective for 2006. The primary impact of the revisions is
the elimination of the intrinsic value method. The revisions
will also impact the manner in which expense is determined for
stock appreciation rights. As we adopted the fair value method
in 2003 and ceased issuing stock appreciation rights in 2004,
while we are currently reviewing the revisions to
SFAS No. 123, we do not expect that such revisions
will have a significant impact on earnings.
16
|
|
Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations |
Overview
The following Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in
conjunction with our interim consolidated financial statements
and notes as of and for the three-month period ended
March 31, 2005, which are expressed in United States
dollars and prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Canadian
GAAP generally conforms with GAAP established in the United
States except as explained in Note 15 above to our interim
consolidated financial statements. This discussion contains
certain forward-looking statements based on our current
expectations. The forward-looking statements entail various
risks and uncertainties, as disclosed in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004
(2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K), which could
cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected
in these forward-looking statements. Reference is also made to
the Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements below.
We are a leading producer of nickel, a hard, malleable metal
which, given its properties and wide range of applications, can
be found in thousands of products. The largest end use for
nickel is in the production of austenitic or nickel-bearing
stainless steels. This end use currently accounts for about
two-thirds of demand for primary nickel. We define primary
nickel to be nickel produced from nickel-containing ores. The
other principal source of nickel, used principally for producing
nickel-bearing stainless steels and in certain other industrial
applications, is secondary nickel or nickel-containing recycled
or scrap material. We are also an important producer of copper,
precious metals and cobalt and a major producer of value-added
specialty nickel products. Our principal mines and processing
operations are located in the Sudbury area of Ontario, the
Thompson area of Manitoba and, through a subsidiary in which we
have an equity interest of 61 per cent, PT International
Nickel Indonesia Tbk (PT Inco), on the island of
Sulawesi, Indonesia. We also operate wholly-owned metals
refineries at Port Colborne, Ontario and in the United Kingdom
at Clydach, Wales and Acton, England. We also have interests in
nickel refining capacity in Japan, through Inco TNC Limited, in
which we have an equity interest of 67 per cent; in Taiwan,
through Taiwan Nickel Refining Corporation, in which we have an
equity interest of 49.9 per cent; and in South Korea,
through Korea Nickel Corporation, in which we have an equity
interest of 25 per cent. Additionally, we have a
65 per cent equity interest in Jinco Nonferrous Metals Co.,
Ltd., a company that produces nickel salts in Kunshan City,
Peoples Republic of China (China). We have
also expanded our operations in China, through the formation of
a new company, Inco Advanced Technology Materials (Dalian) Co.,
Ltd., in which we have an equity interest of 76.7 per cent.
This company began producing nickel foam products for the Asian
battery market in the third quarter of 2004. In early March
2005, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the
assets representing the nickel foam business of Shenyang Golden
Champower New Materials Corp., a leading Chinese producer of
nickel foam. Pursuant to the terms of this acquisition, we have
a 77 per cent direct interest in the company formed to hold
these assets. In addition, in 2004 we established a shearing and
packaging operation in China for certain nickel products to
service the specific needs of this market.
Our business operations consist of two segments, our
(i) finished products segment, representing our mining and
processing operations in Ontario and Manitoba, our refining
operations in the United Kingdom and interests in the refining
operations in Japan and other Asian countries referred to above,
and (ii) intermediates segment, which represents PT
Incos mining and processing operations in Indonesia, where
nickel-in-matte, an intermediate product, is produced and sold
primarily into the Japanese market. In addition, as part of our
strategy to be the worlds lowest cost and most profitable
nickel producer, we are currently developing two major new or
so-called greenfield projects, our wholly-owned
Voiseys Bay nickel-copper-cobalt project in the Province
of Newfoundland and Labrador and our 69 per cent-owned
(taking into account the recent sales of shares in Goro Nickel
S.A.S. (Goro Nickel), the Goro project company,
referred to in Note 14 to our interim consolidated
financial statements in Item I above) Goro nickel-cobalt
project in the French overseas territorial community
(collectivité territoriale) of New Caledonia (New
Caledonia).
17
|
|
|
Key Factors Affecting Our Business |
The price of nickel has represented, and is currently expected
to continue to represent, the principal determinant of our
profitability and cash flow from operations. Accordingly, our
financial performance has been, and is expected to continue to
be, closely linked to the price of nickel and, to a lesser
extent, the price of copper and other primary metals produced by
us. Historically, the demand for nickel has been closely
correlated to industrial production in the major industrialized
regions, in particular North America and Europe and more
recently Asia, and we expect this correlation to continue.
In addition, as part on our strategy to be the worlds
lowest cost and most profitable nickel producer, we are
currently developing two major new or so-called
greenfield projects, our wholly-owned Voiseys
Bay nickel-copper-cobalt project in the Province of Newfoundland
and Labrador and our 69 per cent-owned Goro nickel-cobalt
project in New Caledonia. A number of risks and uncertainties
are associated with the current or planned development of these
projected low-cost sources of nickel and other metals, including
political, regulatory, design, construction, labour, operating,
technical and technological risks, uncertainties relating to
capital and other costs and financial risks and, in the case of
our Goro project, those risks related to the possible future
transition to independence of New Caledonia. Reference is made
to various risks and uncertainties as disclosed in our 2004
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
|
|
|
Recent Nickel Market Developments |
London Metal Exchange (LME) cash nickel prices
increased during the first quarter of 2005. The average LME cash
nickel price for the first quarter of 2005 was $15,362 per
tonne ($6.97 per pound). LME cash nickel prices began the
quarter at $14,035 per tonne ($6.37 per pound) and
averaged $14,505 per tonne ($6.58 per pound) during
January 2005. For February 2005, the LME cash nickel price
reflected a steady increase, beginning the month at
$14,515 per tonne ($6.58 per pound) and ending the
month at $16,375 per tonne ($7.43 per pound). The LME
cash nickel price peaked for the quarter at $16,565 per
tonne ($7.51 per pound) on March 8, 2005 and the
average LME cash nickel price in March was $16,190 per
tonne ($7.34 per pound). The LME cash nickel price was
$16,250 per tonne ($7.37 per pound) on March 31,
2005.
We currently expect that the LME cash nickel price will continue
to be volatile at least for the balance of 2005. We continue to
believe that the global supply-demand balance for nickel in 2005
will reflect a deficit, given the expected improved conditions
for nickel demand in China and certain other Asian markets and
the United States. We believe that the recovery in nickel demand
in China that had begun in the fourth quarter of 2004 continued
in the first quarter of 2005. We also believe the strength in
certain non-stainless steel applications for nickel,
particularly in the high-nickel-alloys market, will be a key
factor in the projected increase in global demand for nickel in
2005. We expect the combination of low global primary nickel
production growth, low physical nickel inventories and limited
growth in secondary nickel or nickel-containing recycled or
scrap material to result in tight market conditions for the
balance of 2005.
18
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our net sales, net earnings and
certain other results in accordance with Canadian GAAP for the
periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Net sales
|
|
$ |
1,121 |
|
|
$ |
1,094 |
|
Net earnings
|
|
|
313 |
|
|
|
254 |
|
Net earnings per common share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
basic
|
|
|
1.66 |
|
|
|
1.36 |
|
|
diluted
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
|
|
1.20 |
|
Cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
91 |
|
|
|
380 |
|
The increase in net earnings between the first quarter of 2005
and the first quarter of 2004 was primarily the result of higher
realized prices for nickel and copper, higher net tax benefits
due primarily to the favourable settlement of tax claims
relating to prior periods, and a recovery, as discussed below
under Minority Interest, relating to the minority
interest in Goro Nickel. This was partially offset by the
unfavourable effect of higher nickel cash cost of sales before
by-product credits and lower deliveries of platinum-group metals
(PGMs) and nickel.
The following bar chart describes the dollar impact (in millions
of dollars) of the key factors, both favourable and unfavourable
(shown in parentheses), affecting our 2005 first quarter net
earnings compared with the 2004 first quarter net earnings, with
the starting point (first bar on the left) of this chart being
the level of net earnings for the first quarter of 2004:
Principal factors affecting 2005 First Quarter net earnings
in comparison with 2004 First Quarter net earnings
Net sales increased slightly in the first quarter of 2005 due to
higher selling prices for nickel and copper, partially offset by
lower deliveries of PGMs and nickel.
19
Net sales to customers by product were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Primary nickel
|
|
$ |
894 |
|
|
$ |
891 |
|
Copper
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
83 |
|
Precious metals
|
|
|
69 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
Other
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
40 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,121 |
|
|
$ |
1,094 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following bar charts show our average realized prices for
nickel and copper and the LME average cash prices for nickel and
copper for the periods indicated:
First Quarter 2005 and 2004 Average realized and LME cash
prices for nickel and copper
Deliveries of Inco-source nickel, including finished nickel
produced from purchased intermediates, purchased nickel in
finished form, copper and PGMs for the periods indicated are
shown in the following bar chart:
First Quarter 2005 and 2004 Deliveries
Nickel and copper in millions
of pounds
PGMs in thousands of troy
ounces
20
|
|
|
Cost of Sales and Other Expenses |
The following table sets forth production data for nickel for
the periods indicated, nickel unit cash costs of sales before
and after by-product credits for the periods indicated, and our
finished nickel inventories as of the end of the periods
indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Production Nickel in all forms (tonnes)
|
|
|
55,507 |
|
|
|
57,671 |
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product credits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per tonne
|
|
$ |
6,371 |
|
|
$ |
5,335 |
|
|
per pound
|
|
|
2.89 |
|
|
|
2.42 |
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per tonne
|
|
$ |
5,600 |
|
|
$ |
4,410 |
|
|
per pound
|
|
|
2.54 |
|
|
|
2.00 |
|
Finished nickel inventories at end of period (tonnes)
|
|
|
28,937 |
|
|
|
29,177 |
|
The increase in nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product
credits was principally due to the higher average Canadian
dollar exchange rate relative to the United States dollar
exchange rate compared with 2004, higher spending on supplies
and services, lower nickel production, and higher costs for
heavy oil, electricity and natural gas, partially offset by net
cost reduction and related savings totaling about
$3 million achieved in the first quarter of 2005.
The increase in nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product
credits was due to higher unit cash cost of sales and lower
by-product credits as a result of lower deliveries of PGMs, and
higher unit cash cost of sale for copper for the same reasons
applicable to nickel noted above, partially offset by higher
realized selling prices for copper. PGMs deliveries in the first
quarter of 2004 reflected an unusually high level due to the
build up of PGMs-containing material due to the strike in 2003
at our Ontario operations and the processing of that material
and delivery of PGMs in the first quarter of 2004.
We use purchased nickel intermediates to increase processing
capacity utilization at our Canadian operations. While the cost
of purchased nickel intermediates is higher than that for
processing our own mine production and such cost increases as
the prevailing prices, LME cash nickel or other benchmark
prices, on which this material is purchased by us increases, the
price realizations are also higher, resulting in margins on
these purchases remaining relatively unchanged.
A reconciliation of our nickel unit cash cost of sales before
and after by-product credits to cost of sales under Canadian
GAAP for the periods indicated is shown in the table entitled
Reconciliation of Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales to
Canadian GAAP Cost of Sales below.
In the first quarter of 2005, we realized cost reductions and
related savings of about $3 million. We are currently
targeting $60 million in cost reductions and related
savings in 2005, recognizing that the bulk of the targeted cost
reductions and related savings are expected to be realized in
the second half of 2005.
Nickel production decreased to 55,507 tonnes (122 million
pounds) in the first quarter of 2005 compared with 57,671 tonnes
(127 million pounds) in the first quarter of 2004. The
decrease was as a result of lower production of finished nickel
from PT Inco source nickel in matte due to the timing of certain
shipments of PT Incos nickel matte product. In addition,
production of Ontario source nickel was also lower due to a
build-up of in-process inventories in anticipation of certain
maintenance work scheduled to take place in the second quarter
of 2005.
Factors Affecting Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales After
By-product Credits
The following bar chart shows the key factors (in dollars or
cents per pound) both favourable and unfavourable (favourable
factors are shown in parentheses) affecting our first quarter of
2005 nickel unit cash cost
21
of sales after by-product credits, with the starting point
(first bar on the left) being the nickel unit cash cost of sales
after by-product credits for the first quarter of 2004:
Comparison of First Quarter 2005 and 2004 Nickel Unit Cash
Cost of Sales after by-product credits
|
|
|
In dollars or cents per pound |
|
|
|
Selling, General and Administrative |
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by
$9 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared with the
first quarter of 2004. This increase was primarily due to higher
expenses associated with share appreciation rights, based upon
the price of our common shares, which had been granted in
connection with share options awarded in prior years.
|
|
|
Currency Translation Adjustments |
Currency translation adjustments represented primarily the
effect of exchange rate movements on the translation of Canadian
dollar-denominated liabilities, principally post-retirement
benefits, accounts payable and certain deferred income and
mining taxes, into United States dollars. Favourable currency
translation adjustments of $5 million in the first quarter
of 2005 were due to the weakening of the Canadian dollar as of
March 31, 2005 relative to the United States dollar. The
Canadian United States dollar exchange rate
depreciated by one per cent during the first quarter of 2005.
Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 of
21 per cent was lower than the combined statutory income
and mining tax rate in Canada of about 40 per cent due
principally to (1) net tax benefits totalling
$45 million relating principally to a favourable settlement
in the quarter of outstanding tax claims applicable to certain
prior periods, (2) the benefit of the lower tax rates on
earnings generated in certain jurisdictions and (3) certain
gains that were not subject to tax based upon available
offsetting losses.
Our intermediates segment, as discussed above, comprises the
mining and processing operations of PT International Nickel
Indonesia Tbk (PT Inco) in Indonesia where
nickel-in-matte, an intermediate product, is produced and sold
primarily into the Japanese market. PT Incos realized
price for nickel in matte averaged $11,344 per tonne
($5.15 per pound) in the first quarter of 2005, compared
with $11,625 per tonne ($5.27 per pound) in the first
quarter of 2004. Under PT Incos long-term United States
dollar-denominated contracts, the selling price of its
nickel-in-matte is determined by a formula based on the London
Metal Exchange cash price for nickel.
22
Nickel-in-matte production rose to 17,300 tonnes
(38 million pounds) in the first quarter of 2005 from
16,300 tonnes (36 million pounds) in the first quarter of
2004.
Unit cash cost of production rose by 28 per cent to
$2.14 per pound in the first quarter of 2005 from
$1.67 per pound in the first quarter of 2004, partly due to
an increase in the heavy sulphur fuel oil price to an average of
$30.46 per barrel from $26.81 per barrel and to
increased consumption of heavy sulphur fuel oil and diesel as a
result of the higher production rates. In addition, spending on
supplies and services was higher due to increased costs for
certain raw material and for mining equipment to support
increased production.
For the first quarter of 2005, minority interest included a
recovery in Goro Nickel of $25 million, reflecting the
recovery of losses previously taken by Inco due to insufficient
minority interest balances existing in 2004 to absorb the share
by the minority interest of the previously announced impairment
charge associated with the Goro project recorded in the second
quarter of 2004. Excluding this recovery, minority interest
would have been $27 million, attributable principally to PT
Inco.
Cash Flows, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter
of 2005 was $91 million, compared with $380 million in
the first quarter of 2004. The decrease in net cash provided by
operating activities was primarily due to a $245 million
payment made during the first quarter of 2005, representing the
balance of income and mining taxes due in respect of 2004.
Net cash used for investing activities increased to
$226 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared with
$167 million in the first quarter of 2004. The increase was
principally due to higher capital spending for our Voiseys
Bay project and at our Ontario operations.
At March 31, 2005, cash and cash equivalents were
$928 million, down slightly from $1,076 million at
December 31, 2004, reflecting planned capital expenditures
during the first quarter of 2005 as well as the payment, as
noted above, of the balance of certain taxes due in respect of
2004. Total debt was $1,841 million at March 31, 2005,
compared with $1,868 million at December 31, 2004.
Total debt as a percentage of total debt plus shareholders
equity was 28 per cent at March 31, 2005, compared
with 30 per cent at December 31, 2004.
As previously announced, on February 18, 2005 a company
formed by the three provinces of New Caledonia,
Société de Participation Minière du Sud
Calédonien S.A.S. (SPMSC), acquired all of the
shares of Goro Nickel, the project company for our Goro project,
then held by a subsidiary of a French government agency, Bureau
des Recherches Géologiques et Minières. These shares
represented, after the capitalization by Goro Nickel of certain
shareholder advances as of February 18, 2005, approximately
a 9.71 per cent ownership interest in Goro Nickel. At the
same time, we sold shares in Goro Nickel to SPMSC representing
approximately a 0.29 per cent interest such that SPMSC
would own, as of February 18, 2005, approximately a
10 per cent ownership interest in Goro Nickel. SPMSC also
entered into a shareholders agreement (the SPMSC
Shareholders Agreement) with us on February 18, 2005
setting forth its rights and obligations as a shareholder in
Goro Nickel. On April 8, 2005 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co.,
Ltd. (Sumitomo Metal Mining) and Mitsui &
Co., Ltd. (Mitsui), through a jointly owned company
they formed, Sumic Nickel Netherlands B.V. (Sumic
Nickel), acquired a 21 per cent ownership interest in
Goro Nickel. Under the terms of a share purchase agreement
entered into with us covering this transaction, Sumitomo Metal
Mining and Mitsui paid to us in total approximately
$150 million for the 21 per cent interest. This amount
includes their pro rata share of certain project capital and
other expenditures made since we announced our initial decision
in July 2001 to proceed with the Goro project and certain
advances made by us to fund the project. Under the terms of a
shareholders agreement entered into as of April 8, 2005,
setting forth the rights and obligations Sumic Nickel (and
Sumitomo Metal Mining and Mitsui) would have as a shareholder in
Goro Nickel, including the right to elect two directors to the
board of directors of Goro Nickel so long as Sumic Nickel holds
at least a 16 per cent interest in Goro Nickel and the
right to elect one director so long as it holds at least an
8 per cent interest, Sumic Nickel is also obligated to make
capital contributions on a pro rata basis, subject to certain
limitations and adjustments tied to the actual capital cost of
the project, as required to meet the funding requirements of
Goro Nickel until such time
23
as the Goro project meets certain minimum commercial production
and related performance tests (the Threshold Performance
Tests). If Sumic Nickel does not make such capital
contributions, it will suffer dilution of its ownership interest
based upon a penalty dilution formula. If the capital cost of
the Goro project exceeds a threshold above the current capital
cost estimate prior to when the Threshold Performance Tests are
met, then Sumic Nickel will not have any obligation to provide
capital contributions to meet the Goro projects funding
requirements and we would, subject to certain terms and
conditions under the SPMSC Shareholders Agreement, be required
to provide certain funding to meet such requirements, up to a
specified level, in the form of interest-bearing debt repayable
by Goro Nickel. In addition, under this shareholders agreement
Sumic Nickel has the right to participate on a pro rata basis in
any future expansion of the Goro project and also has certain
rights to approve certain expenditures and other actions
relating to Goro Nickel or the Goro project that would be
outside the currently planned scope and operation of the
project. As of April 8, 2005, the parties also entered into
an operations agreement which sets forth Goro Nickels role
and responsibilities as the operator of the Goro project and its
financial and other reporting obligations to its shareholders
and product offtake agreements under which Sumic Nickel has the
right and obligation to purchase its pro rata share of
Goros production of nickel product and cobalt product
based on its ownership interest in Goro Nickel, with a subs
idiary of ours under a separate product offtake agreement having
the right and obligation to purchase all of Goro Nickels
production not purchased by Sumic Nickel (which would currently
represent 79 per cent of such eventual production).
We have had in effect for a number of years defined benefit
pension plans principally in Canada, the United States and the
United Kingdom. Each of the jurisdictions in which these plans
are located has legislation and regulations which, among other
statutory requirements, cover the minimum contributions to be
made to these plans to meet their potential liabilities as
calculated in accordance with such legislation and regulations.
Based upon the value of the assets in these plans, as determined
pursuant to applicable provincial legislation and regulations in
Canada and other factors to be taken into account under such
legislative or regulatory requirements, we, in accordance with
such applicable legislation or regulations, increased our
contributions, including voluntary contributions of
$144 million, to such plans to a level of $265 million
for 2004 and our pension expense increased to $114 million
for 2004. We currently expect that our annual pension
contributions will be approximately $160 million in 2005,
which includes voluntary contributions, and will be at about
that same level for at least 2006 and our annual pension expense
will be approximately $110 million for 2005. Since the
liabilities associated with these pension plans are affected by
changes in certain exchange rates, primarily the Canadian
dollar, changes in such exchange rates could also significantly
affect the level of these contributions and pension expense for
future years.
We currently believe that our level of cash and cash equivalents
as of March 31, 2005, together with currently projected
cash to be provided by our operations, available cash from our
unused lines of credit and access to international capital
markets, will be more than sufficient to meet our currently
anticipated cash requirements at least for 2005 and 2006. These
requirements include ongoing cash needs for our operations as
well as the cash required to finance currently planned
expenditures on sustaining and other capital projects, including
our Voiseys Bay and Goro projects. Our capital
expenditures are expected to be very significant over the 2005
to 2007 period given the current spending plans for the
Voiseys Bay project, the latest capital project for PT
Inco to increase its annual production to about 200 million
pounds of nickel in matte which is to include a third dam to
increase its hydroelectric capacity and other capital
expenditures currently expected to total in the range of $275 to
$280 million over a four year period.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Reference is made to our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Accounting Changes
Effective January 1, 2005, on a retroactive basis, we
adopted revisions to CICA Section 3860, Financial
Instruments Disclosure and Presentation. The
revisions related to the accounting for instruments for which
the issuer has the right to settle in cash or its own shares.
Such an instrument must be bifurcated between debt and
24
equity in accordance with this revised standard. This change
impacted the accounting treatment for our LYON Convertible
Notes, Convertible Debentures due 2023 and
31/2%
Subordinated Convertible Debentures due 2052 which were
previously treated as equity in accordance with EIC-71,
Financial Instruments that may be Settled at the
Issuers Option in Cash or its own Equity Instruments.
Consistent with this change, we record interest expense in lieu
of accretion charges with respect to these convertible debt
securities.
Effective January 1, 2005, on a retroactive basis, we also
adopted revisions to CICA Section 3500, Earnings Per
Share. The revisions related primarily to (1) the use
of year to date weighted-average rates when applying the
treasury stock method and (2) instruments where, if an
instrument can be settled in cash or shares, an entity should
assume that the instrument will be settled in shares if share
settlement is more dilutive. In 2004 and prior years, we
presumed, with respect to our LYON Notes, cash settlement and,
accordingly, this instrument was not considered in the
calculation of diluted earnings per share.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
We have referred to nickel unit cash cost of sales before and
after by-product credits in the Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
because we understand that certain investors use this
information to assess our performance and also determine our
ability to generate cash flow. The inclusion of these two unit
cost measurements, nickel unit cash cost of sales before and
after by-product credits, enables investors to better understand
our year-to-year changes in production costs using metrics that
reflect our key ongoing cash production costs which, in turn,
affect our profitability and cash flows. These non-GAAP
measurements capture all of the important components of our
production and related costs. The reason for providing the
nickel unit cash cost of sales on the basis of before as well as
after by- product credits is to allow investors to see the
impact on these metrics of changes in copper, cobalt and
precious metals contributions which have historically largely
been driven by the prices for these metals. In addition,
management utilizes these metrics as an important management
tool to monitor cost performance of each of our key operations
relative to planned and prior period results. These measurements
are intended to provide additional information and should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP.
25
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of nickel unit
cash cost of sales before and after by-product credits to
Canadian GAAP cost of sales for the periods indicated:
Reconciliation of Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales Before and
After By-Product Credits to Canadian GAAP Cost
of Sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
(In millions of United States dollars except pound and per pound data) |
|
| |
|
| |
Cost of sales and other expenses, excluding depreciation and
depletion
|
|
$ |
603 |
|
|
$ |
557 |
|
By-product costs
|
|
|
(164 |
) |
|
|
(139 |
) |
Purchased finished nickel
|
|
|
(69 |
) |
|
|
(90 |
) |
Delivery expense
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
(8 |
) |
Other businesses cost of sales
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
Non-cash items (1)
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(9 |
) |
Remediation, demolition and other related expenses
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
Adjustments associated with affiliate transactions
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
Other
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel cash cost of sales before by-product credits (2)
|
|
|
344 |
|
|
|
290 |
|
By-product net sales
|
|
|
(206 |
) |
|
|
(189 |
) |
By-product costs
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
139 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel cash cost of sales after by-product credits (2)
|
|
$ |
302 |
|
|
$ |
240 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inco-source nickel deliveries (millions of pounds)
|
|
|
119 |
|
|
|
120 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product credits per
pound
|
|
$ |
2.89 |
|
|
$ |
2.42 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits per pound
|
|
$ |
2.54 |
|
|
$ |
2.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Representing principally post-retirement benefits other than
pensions. |
|
(2) |
Nickel cash cost of sales before and after by-product credits
includes costs for both Inco-source and external feed. |
26
|
|
Item 3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk |
We review and evaluate our property, plant and equipment and
other assets for impairment when events or changes in economic
and other circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such
assets may not be recoverable. The net recoverable value of a
capital asset is calculated by estimating undiscounted future
net cash flows from the asset together with the assets
residual value. Future net cash flows are developed using
assumptions that reflect our planned course of action for an
asset given our best estimate of the most probable set of
economic conditions.
Evaluation of the future cash flows from major development
projects such as the Voiseys Bay and Goro projects entails
a number of assumptions regarding project scope, the timing,
receipt and terms of regulatory approvals, estimates of future
metals prices, estimates of the ultimate size of the deposits,
ore grades and recoverability, timing of commercial production,
commercial viability of new technological processes, production
volumes, operating and capital costs, and foreign currency
exchange rates. Inherent in these assumptions are significant
risks and uncertainties.
The uncertain political situation in Indonesia could adversely
affect PT Incos ability to operate and, accordingly, our
business, results of operations, financial condition and
prospects. The possible transition of New Caledonia to
independence in the future could adversely affect the Goro
nickel-cobalt project. As a result of advisories issued in May
2004 by the Canadian and Australian governments covering
security and other concerns in the province where PT Incos
operations are located and other developments, we implemented a
number of actions to address these developments and to protect
the safety of PT Incos personnel and facilities. While
these developments and our response to them did not adversely
affect PT Incos operations, we cannot predict whether new
or additional governmental security or other advisories or
similar developments could adversely affect PT Incos
operations.
While global demand for nickel is the most important determinant
of our profitability and cash flows, our financial results are
also very much affected by increases in the costs we incur to
produce nickel and our other metals.
Reference is made to our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K
for a discussion of market and other risks applicable to our
business.
27
|
|
Item 4. |
Controls and Procedures |
As of the end of the period covered by this Report, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer reviewed and
evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under
the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and,
based upon such review and evaluation required by
Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the
U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, concluded
that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective and
met the requirements thereof. Additionally, no change in our
internal control over financial reporting (as such term is
defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or Rule 15d
15(f) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
|
Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements |
Certain statements contained in this Report are forward-looking
statements (as defined in the U.S. Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended). Examples of such statements include, but
are not limited to, statements concerning (i) nickel demand
and supply in the global nickel market for 2005, the supply of
secondary or nickel-containing recycled or scrap material, and
nickel demand in China and other geographical and end-use
markets for nickel for 2005; (ii) our costs of production,
nickel, copper, cobalt and precious metals production levels and
nickel market conditions; (iii) capital expenditures;
(iv) changes in pension contributions to our pension plans
and pension expense; (v) our Goro projects capital
cost estimates and targets and escalation, its expected nickel
and cobalt capacity, cash costs of production of nickel based
upon certain assumptions, project schedule and expected timing
of initial production and ramp-up of production to expected
capacity, changes in project configuration, resumption of
certain work, key milestones relating to the project schedule
and advancement, and sources of financing and agreements and
other arrangements for our Goro project with the three provinces
of New Caledonia, the Government of France, Sumitomo Metal
Mining Co., Ltd., Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and certain other
parties; and (vi) the enactment or completion of the
necessary legislation, financing plans and arrangements, and/or
other agreements and arrangements related to, and the timing and
costs of construction and production with respect to, certain
capital expenditure programs and development projects, including
the Goro and Voiseys Bay projects. Inherent in
forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties well
beyond our ability to predict or control. Actual results and
developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially,
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements contained in this Report and the carrying values of
investments could be materially impacted. Such statements and
carrying values are based on a number of assumptions which may
prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to,
assumptions about: (a) the supply and demand for, and the
prices of, primary nickel and our other metals products, market
competition and our production and other costs and purchased
intermediates, stainless steel scrap and other substitutes and
competing products, for primary nickel and other metals produced
by the Company, (b) changes in exchange rates and interest
rates and investment performance of pension assets,
(c) political unrest or instability in countries such as
Indonesia, (d) our Goro projects scope and schedule
and its other key aspects of this project, and (e) the
timing of receipt of all necessary permits and regulatory
approvals, engineering and construction timetables for our
development projects and the necessary financing plans,
including necessary agreements with the French Government and
the Government of New Caledonia and its provinces, and other
arrangements for, and joint venture, partner or similar
investments and other agreements and arrangements associated
with, our Goro project. The forward-looking statements included
in this Report represent our views as of the date of this
Report. While we anticipate that subsequent events and
developments may cause our views to change, we specifically
disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements should not be
relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent
to the date of this Report.
28
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a) of the
U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a) of the
U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
29
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inco Limited
|
|
Date: April 29, 2005
|
|
By: /s/ S. F.
Feiner
S.
F. Feiner
Executive Vice-President,
General Counsel and Secretary |
|
Date: April 29, 2005
|
|
By: /s/ R. A.
Lehtovaara
R.
A. Lehtovaara
Vice-President and Comptroller |
30
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibits | |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a) of the
U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a 14(a) of the
U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
31