Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended: September 30, 2011

 

or

 

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

 

For the transition period from                       to                      

 

Commission File Number: 1-14066

 

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

13-3849074

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)

 

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

 

1440 East Missouri Avenue Suite C-175 Phoenix,
AZ

 

85014

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

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

 

As of October 31, 2011 there were outstanding 840,980,000 shares of Southern Copper Corporation common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation (“SCC”)

 

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

Page No.

Part I. Financial Information:

 

 

 

 

Item. 1

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

3

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

4

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

5

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

6

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7-32

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

33-53

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

54-56

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and procedures

57

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

58

 

 

 

Part II. Other Information:

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

59

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk factors

59

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

60

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

61-63

 

 

 

 

Signatures

64

 

 

 

 

List of Exhibits

65-67

 

 

 

Exhibit 15

Independent Accountants’ Awareness Letter

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 101

Financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 Formatted in XBRL: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and (v)the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in detail.

Submitted electronic-lly with this report

 

2



Table of Contents

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

3 Months Ended

 

9 Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

1,745,906

 

$

1,257,864

 

$

5,149,423

 

$

3,650,509

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

677,258

 

550,803

 

2,110,095

 

1,589,458

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

24,376

 

23,148

 

74,692

 

70,642

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

72,506

 

72,144

 

216,048

 

210,916

 

Exploration

 

9,675

 

8,871

 

25,040

 

27,401

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

783,815

 

654,966

 

2,425,875

 

1,898,417

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

962,091

 

602,898

 

2,723,548

 

1,752,092

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(48,506

)

(49,816

)

(144,367

)

(118,654

)

Capitalized interest

 

1,742

 

 

4,035

 

 

Other income (expense)

 

(1,374

)

(9,180

)

4,774

 

(14,236

)

Interest income

 

3,614

 

2,015

 

9,859

 

5,395

 

Income before income taxes

 

917,567

 

545,917

 

2,597,849

 

1,624,597

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 

252,507

 

178,717

 

792,523

 

556,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

665,060

 

367,200

 

1,805,326

 

1,067,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest

 

2,021

 

2,029

 

5,874

 

5,936

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to SCC

 

$

663,039

 

$

365,171

 

$

1,799,452

 

$

1,061,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Per common share amounts attributable to SCC:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income - basic and diluted

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.43

 

$

2.12

 

$

1.25

 

Dividends paid

 

$

0.62

 

$

0.37

 

$

1.76

 

$

1.25

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

 

843,769

 

850,000

 

847,546

 

850,000

 

 

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

 

3



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

3 Months Ended

 

9 Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

665,060

 

$

367,200

 

$

1,805,326

 

$

1,067,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income (loss) net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedge:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in prior period accumulated unrealized loss (net of income tax of $31.0 million and $62.3 million, respectively)

 

49,172

 

 

111,000

 

 

Unrealized gain in the period (net of income tax of $26.1 million)

 

41,375

 

 

 

41,375

 

 

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized (gain) loss included in net income (net of income tax of $8.0 million and $(9.1) million, respectively)

 

(12,684

)

 

14,528

 

 

Unrealized net gain on derivative instruments classified as cash flow hedges

 

77,863

 

 

166,903

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

742,923

 

$

367,200

 

$

1,972,229

 

$

1,067,738

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to the non-controlling interest

 

2,346

 

2,029

 

6,451

 

5,936

 

Comprehensive income attributable to SCC

 

$

740,577

 

$

365,171

 

$

1,965,778

 

$

1,061,802

 

 

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

 

4



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,243,135

 

$

2,192,677

 

Short-term investments

 

535,753

 

76,209

 

Accounts receivable trade

 

571,171

 

671,745

 

Accounts receivable other (including related parties 2011 - $3,754 and 2010 - $32,700)

 

236,625

 

76,284

 

Inventories

 

623,895

 

540,988

 

Deferred income tax

 

62,314

 

63,935

 

Other current assets

 

58,242

 

117,170

 

Total current assets

 

3,331,135

 

3,739,008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, net

 

4,210,124

 

4,094,993

 

Long-term leach stockpiles

 

83,303

 

29,668

 

Intangible assets, net

 

110,849

 

112,352

 

Deferred income tax

 

102,348

 

43,900

 

Other assets

 

161,821

 

108,098

 

Total assets

 

$

7,999,580

 

$

8,128,019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

10,000

 

$

10,000

 

Accounts payable

 

331,159

 

558,661

 

Accrued income taxes

 

136,476

 

266,241

 

Due to affiliated companies

 

12,750

 

4,665

 

Deferred income tax

 

11,516

 

 

Accrued workers’ participation

 

204,101

 

222,432

 

Accrued interest

 

62,974

 

60,062

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

27,203

 

16,957

 

Total current liabilities

 

796,179

 

1,139,018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

2,740,585

 

2,750,401

 

Deferred income taxes

 

119,775

 

113,232

 

Non-current taxes payable

 

63,695

 

77,830

 

Other liabilities and reserves

 

87,696

 

78,070

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

61,643

 

59,059

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

3,073,394

 

3,078,592

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

8,846

 

8,846

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

1,039,885

 

1,034,764

 

Retained earnings

 

3,903,782

 

3,595,983

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

40,480

 

(126,423

)

Treasury stock

 

(883,687

)

(622,722

)

Total SCC stockholders’ equity

 

4,109,306

 

3,890,448

 

Non-controlling interest

 

20,701

 

19,961

 

Total equity

 

4,130,007

 

3,910,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

7,999,580

 

$

8,128,019

 

 

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

 

5



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

3 Months Ended

 

9 Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

665,060

 

$

367,200

 

$

1,805,326

 

$

1,067,738

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

72,506

 

72,144

 

216,048

 

210,916

 

Re-measurement loss (income)

 

(8,931

)

6,282

 

(3,278

)

13,888

 

Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes

 

(81,687

)

(32,311

)

(98,189

)

(46,823

)

Gain on sale of property

 

(305

)

 

(6,715

)

 

Cash provided from (used for) operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

72,194

 

(17,314

)

(59,767

)

1,634

 

Inventories

 

(14,459

)

18,405

 

(82,907

)

28,094

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

189,075

 

127,561

 

(299,605

)

74,806

 

Other operating assets and liabilities

 

(25,213

)

(8,102

)

115,113

 

18,606

 

Net cash provided from operating activities

 

868,240

 

533,865

 

1,586,026

 

1,368,859

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(153,394

)

(112,885

)

(337,038

)

(281,173

)

Purchase of short-term investments, net

 

(310,280

)

(8,944

)

(459,643

)

(35,688

)

Investment in properties accounted for on equity method

 

(8,504

)

 

(24,415

)

 

Sale of property

 

1,424

 

1,235

 

10,279

 

6,582

 

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(470,754

)

(120,594

)

(810,817

)

(310,279

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt incurred

 

 

 

 

1,489,674

 

Debt repaid

 

 

 

(10,250

)

(5,000

)

Capitalized debt issuance cost

 

 

(676

)

 

(8,831

)

Dividends paid to common stockholders

 

(522,649

)

(314,500

)

(1,491,653

)

(1,062,498

)

Distributions to non-controlling interest

 

(1,350

)

(1,689

)

(4,955

)

(4,660

)

Repurchase of common shares

 

(110,290

)

(35

)

(258,358

)

(415

)

Other

 

1,505

 

151

 

1,001

 

518

 

Net cash (used for) provided from financing activities

 

(632,784

)

(316,749

)

(1,764,215

)

408,788

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

24,592

 

(4,447

)

39,464

 

(2,976

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(210,706

)

92,075

 

(949,542

)

1,464,392

 

Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period

 

1,453,841

 

2,144,623

 

2,192,677

 

772,306

 

Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period

 

$

1,243,135

 

$

2,236,698

 

$

1,243,135

 

$

2,236,698

 

 

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

 

6



Table of Contents

 

Southern Copper Corporation

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 1 — DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS:

 

In the opinion of Southern Copper Corporation, (the “Company”, “Southern Copper” or “SCC”), the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to state fairly the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2011 and the results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  The December 31, 2010 balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (USGAAP).  The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2010 and notes included in the Company’s 2010 annual report on Form 10-K.

 

NOTE 2 — ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS:

 

In the nine months ended September 30, 2011 the Company adopted the following Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”) to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “ASC”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”).

 

ASU No. 2010-06: In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU No. 2010-06 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820): Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements,” an update of ASC Subtopic 820-10 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures - Overall.”

 

With the adoption of this ASU in 2011, the Company has expanded its financial instruments disclosures to include those related to purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years.  Please see disclosures required in Note 17 “Financial instruments.”

 

NOTE 3 — AMC’s EXCHANGE OFFER PROPOSAL:

 

On July 22, 2010, the Company received a non-binding proposal from its parent company, Americas Mining Corporation (“AMC”), offering to effect an all-stock business combination of Southern Copper and AMC, the parent company of ASARCO LLC (“Asarco”), in which all stockholders of Southern Copper would receive 1.237 common shares of AMC in exchange for each share of SCC.  Under the proposal presented by AMC, the stock of AMC would be registered and listed on the New York, Mexico and the Lima Stock Exchanges.  In August 2010, the Company formed a special committee of independent directors to evaluate AMC’s proposal.

 

On October 28, 2011, AMC announced, in light of recent discussions with the special committee of independent directors, that it had withdrawn the proposed transaction to combine AMC and Southern Copper.

 

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Table of Contents

 

NOTE 4 — SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS:

 

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

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

At December 31, 2010

 

Trading securities

 

$

528.3

 

$

66.9

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

1.71

%

1.14

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale

 

$

7.5

 

$

9.3

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

0.32

%

1.01

%

Total

 

$

535.8

 

$

76.2

 

 

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

 

Available for sale investments consist of securities issued by public companies.  Each security is independent of the others and at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, included corporate bonds and asset and mortgage backed obligations.  As of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, gross unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities were not material.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Nine months ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Trading securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest earned

 

$

1.2

 

$

0.1

 

$

2.9

 

$

0.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest earned

 

(*

)

0.1

 

(*

)

0.1

 

Investment redeemed

 

$

0.9

 

$

3.0

 

$

1.7

 

$

14.2

 

 


(*) Less than $0.1 million

 

NOTE 5 - INVENTORIES:

 

Inventories were as follows:

 

(in millions)

 

At September 30,
2011

 

At December 31,
2010

 

Inventory, current:

 

 

 

 

 

Metals at lower of average cost or market:

 

 

 

 

 

Finished goods

 

$

108.3

 

$

67.9

 

Work-in-process

 

259.0

 

227.6

 

Supplies at average cost

 

256.6

 

245.5

 

Total current inventory

 

$

623.9

 

$

541.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inventory, long-term

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term leach stockpiles

 

$

83.3

 

$

29.7

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

LONG-TERM INVENTORY:

 

In prior years the Company capitalized the production cost of leachable material with low copper content at the Buenavista mine in Mexico.  In 2011, the Company extended this practice of recognizing inventories for costs associated with leaching activities at the La Caridad mine in Mexico and the Toquepala and Cuajone mines in Peru in order to conform to evolving mine production plans at these mines.  As a result of changing market conditions and mining processes, mineral extraction through leaching has become integral to the mining operations carried out at La Caridad, Toquepala and Cuajone.  Accordingly, the process and sale of mineral content in leaching dumps is reasonably assured and the costs associated with leaching activities at such mines are now recognized as inventories.  As the production cycle of the leaching process is significantly longer than the conventional process of concentrating, smelting and electrolytic refining, the Company includes on its balance sheet, current leach inventory (included in work-in-process inventories) and long-term leach inventory.  The cost attributed to the leach material is charged to cost of sales generally over a five-year period (the average estimated recovery period based on the recovery percentages of each mine).

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 total leaching costs capitalized as long-term inventory of leachable material amounted to $87.1 million. There was no capitalization during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  Long-term leaching inventories recognized as cost of sales amounted to $33.6 million and $31.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 

NOTE 6 — INCOME TAXES:

 

The income tax provision and the effective income tax rate for the nine months of 2011 and 2010 were as follows ($ in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Income tax provision

 

$

792.5

 

$

556.9

 

Effective income tax rate

 

30.5

%

34.3

%

 

These provisions include income taxes for Peru, Mexico and the United States.  The provision for income taxes was based on the effective tax rate of 30.5% for the nine months of 2011 as compared to 34.3% in the nine months of 2010.  The decrease in the effective tax rate for the nine months of 2011 was principally due to adjustments resulting from the finalization of the 2010 U.S. federal income tax return in the third quarter of 2011 and an increase in earnings from the Mexican operations, which have a lower income tax rate than the Peruvian and U.S. income tax rates.  The Mexican operations higher earnings result from the restart of the Buenavista mine.

 

In March 2009, Grupo Mexico, S.A.B. de C.V. (“Grupo Mexico”), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AMC, became the beneficial owner of 80% of SCC’s common stock.  As a result of this new level of ownership, beginning in March 2009 SCC no longer files a separate U.S. federal income tax return and its operating results are included in the AMC consolidated U.S. federal income tax return.  In addition to its interest in SCC, AMC also owns 100% of Asarco and its subsidiaries. In accordance with paragraph 30-27 of ASC 740-10-30, current and deferred taxes are allocated to members of the AMC group as if each were a separate taxpayer.  SCC provides current and deferred income taxes as if it was a separate filer.

 

Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes:

 

The Company files tax returns in Peru, the United States and in Mexico.  These tax returns are examined by the tax authorities of those countries.

 

During the second quarter of 2011 the Company and the Internal Revenue Service concluded the United States federal income tax audit of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. As a result the Company considers all uncertain tax positions from this audit to be effectively settled.  The decrease in the unrecognized tax benefit from the amount reported at December 31, 2010, as a result of this event, is approximately $26.0 million and was recorded in the second quarter of 2011.

 

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NOTE 7 — PROVISIONALLY PRICED SALES:

 

At September 30, 2011, the Company has recorded provisionally priced sales of copper at average forward prices per pound, and molybdenum at the September 30, 2011 market price per pound.  These sales are subject to final pricing based on the average monthly LME or COMEX copper prices and Dealer Oxide molybdenum prices in the future month of settlement.

 

Following are the provisionally priced copper and molybdenum sales outstanding at September 30, 2011:

 

Copper
(million lbs.)

 

Priced at
(per pound)

 

Month of
Settlement

 

54.2

 

$

3.18

 

October 2011

 

16.4

 

3.18

 

November 2011

 

70.6

 

$

3.18

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum
(million lbs.)

 

Priced at
(per pound)

 

Month of
Settlement

 

3.2

 

$

14.40

 

October 2011

 

3.4

 

14.40

 

November 2011

 

2.6

 

14.40

 

December 2011

 

0.7

 

14.40

 

January 2012

 

9.9

 

$

14.40

 

 

 

 

Management believes that the final pricing of these sales will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

NOTE 8 — DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS:

 

As part of its risk management policy, the Company occasionally uses derivative instruments to (i) safeguard the corporate assets, (ii) insure the value of future revenue streams, and (iii) lessen the impact of unforeseen market swings on sales revenues.  To comply with these objectives the Company, from time to time, enters into commodity price derivatives, interest rate derivatives, exchange rate derivatives and other instruments.  The Company does not enter into derivative contracts unless it anticipates a future activity that is likely to occur that will result in exposing the Company to market risk.

 

Copper hedges:

 

In the last quarter of 2010 and in 2011, the Company entered into copper swaps and zero cost collar derivative contracts to reduce price volatility and to protect the sales value of a portion of its 2011 and first quarter 2012 copper sales as shown below.  These transactions meet the requirements of hedge accounting.  The realized gains and losses from these derivatives were recorded in net sales on the condensed consolidated statement of earnings and included in operating activities on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.  The unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other comprehensive income on the condensed consolidated financial statements until settlement.

 

The hedge instruments are based on LME copper prices.  The Company performed statistical analysis on the difference between the average monthly copper price on the LME and the COMEX exchanges and determined that the correlation coefficient is greater

 

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than 0.999.  Based on this analysis the Company considers that the LME underlying price matches its sales priced at COMEX prices.  These cash flow hedge relationships qualify as critical matched terms hedge relationships and as a result have no ineffectiveness.  The Company performs periodic quantitative assessments to confirm that the relationship was highly effective and that the ineffectiveness was de minimus.

 

The following table summarizes the copper derivative activity related to copper sales transactions realized in the third quarter and in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 (the Company held no copper derivatives in the nine months of 2010):

 

 

 

Third
quarter 2011

 

Nine months ended
September 30, 2011

 

Zero cost collar contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

Pounds (in millions)

 

105.8

 

317.5

 

Average LME cap price

 

$

4.84

 

$

4.84

 

Average LME floor price

 

$

3.02

 

$

3.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

Pounds (in millions)

 

99.2

 

331.2

 

Weighted average COMEX price

 

$

4.08

 

$

4.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Realized gain (loss) on copper derivatives (pre-tax)(in millions)(*)

 

$

20.7

 

$

(23.7

)

 


(*)Realized gains and losses include a gain of $23.9 million recognized in the third quarter of 2011 resulting from the unwinding of copper swap positions covering 13.2 million pounds of third quarter 2011 copper sales and 52.9 million pounds of fourth quarter 2011 copper sales.

 

As of September 30, 2011 the Company held copper derivative contracts to protect a portion of its copper sales for the fourth quarter 2011 and the first quarter 2012, as follows:

 

 

 

4th quarter
2011

 

1st Quarter
2012

 

Zero cost collar contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

Pounds (in millions)

 

105.8

 

46.3

 

Average LME cap price

 

$

4.84

 

$

5.18

 

Average LME floor price

 

$

3.02

 

$

3.50

 

Estimated % of copper sales covered

 

30.2

%

12.7

%

Accumulated unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income (net of taxes of $3.9 million and $8.6 million, respectively) (in millions)

 

$

6.3

 

$

13.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

Pounds (in millions)

 

59.5

 

 

 

Weighted average COMEX price

 

$

4.02

 

 

 

Estimated % of copper sales covered

 

17.0

%

 

 

Accumulated unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income (net of taxes of $13.6 million) (in millions)

 

$

21.6

 

 

 

 

Transactions under these metal price protection programs are accounted for as cash flow hedges under ASC 815-30 “Derivatives and Hedging-Cash Flow Hedges” (formerly SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”) as they meet the requirements for this treatment and are adjusted to fair market value based on the metal prices as of the last day of the respective reporting period with the gain or loss recorded in other comprehensive income until settlement, at which time the gain or loss, if realized, is reclassified to net sales in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings.

 

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NOTE 9 - ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATION:

 

The Company maintains an estimated asset retirement obligation for its mining properties in Peru, as required by the Peruvian Mine Closure Law.  In accordance with the requirements of this law the Company’s closure plans have been approved by the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines (“MINEM”).  As part of the closure plans, commencing in January 2010 the Company provides annual installments of $2.6 million over a 34 year period to guarantee the availability of funds to meet this obligation.  Therefore, as of January 2011 the Company has made installments on the guarantee of $5.2 million, in the form of a lien on its Lima office building.  The accepted value of the Lima office building, for this purpose, is $17 million.

 

The closure cost recognized for this liability includes the cost as outlined in its closure plans, which includes the physical, geochemical and hydrological stabilization of the mine pits and dumps as well as the tailings facility, the dismantling and demolition of the Toquepala and Cuajone concentrators, the smelter and refinery in Ilo, and the shops and auxiliary facilities at the three operating areas.

 

The following table summarizes the asset retirement obligation activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Balance as of January 1

 

$

59.1

 

$

48.9

 

Changes in estimates

 

 

7.2

 

Additions

 

 

1.6

 

Accretion expense

 

2.5

 

2.4

 

Balance as of September 30,

 

$

61.6

 

$

60.1

 

 

NOTE 10 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:

 

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

 

 

 

As of

 

 

 

September 30,
2011

 

December 31,
2010

 

Affiliate receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

Grupo Mexico, S.A.B de C.V. and affiliates

 

$

0.7

 

$

0.8

 

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

 

3.0

 

 

Asarco LLC

 

 

31.9

 

 

 

$

3.7

 

$

32.7

 

Affiliate payable:

 

 

 

 

 

Grupo Mexico S.A.B. de C.V. and affiliates

 

$

2.7

 

$

2.3

 

Ferrocarril Mexicano S.A. de C.V.

 

1.7

 

0.1

 

Asarco LLC

 

6.4

 

 

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

 

1.1

 

0.4

 

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

 

 

0.9

 

Consorcio Tricobre

 

 

0.5

 

Higher Technology S.A.C.

 

 

0.1

 

Breaker S.A. de C.V

 

0.8

 

0.3

 

Pigoba S.A. de C.V

 

 

0.1

 

Other

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

$

12.8

 

$

4.7

 

 

The Company has entered into certain transactions in the ordinary course of business with parties that are controlling shareholders or their affiliates.  These transactions include the lease of office space, air transportation and construction services and products and services relating to mining and refining.  The Company lends and borrows funds among affiliates for acquisitions and other corporate purposes.

 

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These financial transactions bear interest and are subject to review and approval by senior management, as are all related party transactions.  It is the Company’s policy that the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors shall review all related party transactions.  The Company is prohibited from entering or continuing a material related party transaction that has not been reviewed and approved or ratified by the Audit Committee.

 

Purchase Activity:

 

The following table summarizes the purchase activity with related parties in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Grupo Mexico and affiliates:

 

 

 

 

 

Grupo Mexico Servicios, S.A de C.V

 

$

10.4

 

$

10.3

 

Asarco LLC

 

17.2

 

 

Ferrocarril Mexicano, S.A de C.V.

 

8.9

 

2.2

 

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

 

0.5

 

0.2

 

Consorcio Tricobre

 

0.5

 

2.9

 

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

 

23.7

 

21.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Larrea family companies:

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico Compania de Productos Automotrices, S.A. de C.V.

 

0.2

 

1.9

 

Mextransport

 

1.9

 

2.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Companies with relationships to SCC executive officers families:

 

 

 

 

 

Higher Technology S.A.C.

 

1.6

 

2.3

 

Servicios y Fabricaciones Mecanicas S.A.C.

 

0.5

 

0.2

 

Sempertrans France Belting Technology

 

0.2

 

0.3

 

PIGOBA, S.A. de C.V.

 

0.2

 

0.5

 

Breaker, S.A. de C.V.

 

4.4

 

0.5

 

Total purchased

 

$

70.2

 

$

45.5

 

 

Grupo Mexico, the Company’s ultimate parent and the majority indirect stockholder of the Company, and its affiliates provide various services to the Company.  These services are primarily related to accounting, legal, tax, financial, treasury, human resources, price risk assessment and hedging, purchasing, procurement and logistics, sales and administrative and other support services.  The Company pays Grupo Mexico Servicios S.A de C.V., a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico for these services.  The Company expects to continue to pay for these services in the future.

 

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

 

In 2010, the Company made donations of $0.8 million to Fundación Grupo Mexico, an organization dedicated to promoting social and economic development of the communities close to our Mexican operations.

 

The Company’s Peruvian operations paid fees for engineering and consulting services provided by Consorcio Tricobre, a Peruvian company in which Servicios de Ingenieria Consutec, S.A. de C. V., a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, has 42.7% participation.

 

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In 2011, the Company paid fees to Asarco, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, for tolling services provided to the Company’s Mexican operations.  Also, in the second quarter of 2010 the Company recovered from Asarco $7.7 million related to a previously written-off net accounts receivable position.  This recovery was recorded in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings as follows: $5.0 million in cost of sales, $1.6 million in other income and $1.1 million as interest income.

 

The Larrea family controls a majority of the capital stock of Grupo Mexico, and has extensive interests in other businesses, including aviation and real estate.  The Company engages in certain transactions in the ordinary course of business with other entities controlled by the Larrea family relating to the lease of office space and air transportation.  In connection with this, the Company paid fees for maintenance services and sale of vehicles provided by México Compania de Productos Automotrices, S.A. de C.V., a company controlled by the Larrea family and which is currently in liquidation.

 

Additionally, in 2007, the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries provided guaranties for two loans obtained by MexTransport, a company controlled by the Larrea family, from Bank of Nova Scotia in Mexico.  One of these loans has been repaid and the remaining loan requires semi-annual repayments.  Conditions and balance as of September 30, 2011 are as follows:

 

 

 

Loan Open

 

Original loan balance (in millions)

 

$8.5

 

Maturity

 

August 2013

 

Interest rate

 

Libor + 0.15%

 

Remaining balance at September 30, 2011 (in millions)

 

$2.6

 

 

MexTransport provides aviation services to the Company’s Mexican operations.  The guaranty provided to MexTransport is backed up by the transport services provided by MexTransport to the Company’s Mexican subsidiaries.  If MexTransport defaults on the loan, SCC’s subsidiaries would have to satisfy the guaranty and repay to the bank the remaining balances, plus interest.  The Company paid fees to MexTransport for aviation services.

 

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

 

The Company purchased industrial material from Sempertrans France Belting Technology, in which Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez is employed as a sales representative.  Also, the Company purchased industrial material from PIGOBA, S.A. de C.V., a company in which Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez has a proprietary interest.  Mr. Alejandro Gonzalez is the son of SCC’s Chief Executive Officer.

 

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

 

Sales Activity:

 

The Company sold copper cathodes, rod and anodes, as well as sulfuric acid and lime to Asarco.  In addition, the Company received fees for building rental and maintenance services provided to Mexico Proyectos y Desarrollos, S.A. de C.V. and its affiliates, and to Perforadora Mexico S.A.P.I de C.V., both subsidiaries of Grupo Mexico.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes the sales activity in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Asarco

 

$

16.3

 

$

3.4

 

$

68.8

 

$

8.5

 

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

 

$

0.1

 

$

0.1

 

$

0.4

 

$

0.3

 

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

 

$

(*

)

$

(*

)

$

0.1

 

$

0.1

 

 


(*) Less than $0.1 million

 

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

 

NOTE 11 - FINANCING:

 

In February 2011, the Company repurchased $5.2 million of the Series B Yankee bonds and paid a premium of $1.4 million which is included in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings in “other income (expense).”

 

NOTE 12 — BENEFIT PLANS:

 

SCC Defined Benefit Pension Plans

 

The components of the net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Interest cost

 

$

0.4

 

$

0.5

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(0.5

)

(0.5

)

Amortization of net loss (gain)

 

0.1

 

 

Net periodic benefit costs

 

$

 

$

 

 

SCC Post-retirement Health Care Plan

 

The components of the net periodic benefit costs for the post-retirement health care plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are individually, and in total, less than $0.1 million.

 

Minera Mexico Pension Plans

 

The components of the net periodic benefit costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Interest cost

 

$

0.5

 

$

1.2

 

Service cost

 

0.8

 

1.5

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(2.5

)

(2.2

)

Amortization of transition assets, net

 

(0.1

)

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

(1.1

)

(0.7

)

Amortization of prior services cost

 

 

0.1

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

(2.4

)

$

(0.1

)

 

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Minera Mexico Post-retirement Health Care Plan

 

The components of the net periodic cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Interest cost

 

$

2.8

 

$

3.2

 

Service cost

 

 

0.3

 

Amortization of net loss (gain)

 

 

0.1

 

Amortization of transition obligation

 

1.1

 

1.0

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

3.9

 

$

4.6

 

 

NOTE 13 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:

 

Environmental matters:

 

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

 

Environmental capital expenditures in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Peruvian operations

 

$

1.7

 

$

5.0

 

Mexican operations

 

7.7

 

7.5

 

 

 

$

9.4

 

$

12.5

 

 

Peruvian operations

 

The Company’s operations are subject to applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations.  The Peruvian government, through MINEM conducts annual audits of the Company’s Peruvian mining and metallurgical operations.  Through these environmental audits, matters related to environmental commitments, compliance with legal requirements, atmospheric emissions, and effluent monitoring are reviewed.  The Company believes that it is in material compliance with applicable Peruvian environmental laws and regulations.

 

Peruvian law requires that companies in the mining industry provide for future closure and remediation.  In accordance with the requirements of this law the Company’s closure plans were approved by MINEM.  As part of the closure plans, the Company is providing guarantees to ensure that sufficient funds will be available for the asset retirement obligation.  See Note 9, “Asset retirement obligation,” for further discussion of this matter.

 

Mexican operations

 

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

 

The principal legislation applicable to the Company’s Mexican operations is the Federal General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (the “General Law”), which is enforced by the Federal Bureau of Environmental Protection (“PROFEPA”).  PROFEPA monitors compliance with environmental legislation and enforces Mexican environmental laws, regulations and official standards.  PROFEPA may initiate administrative proceedings against companies that violate environmental laws, which in the most extreme cases may result in the temporary or permanent closing of non-complying

 

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facilities, the revocation of operating licenses and/or other sanctions or fines.  Also, according to the federal criminal code, PROFEPA must inform corresponding authorities regarding environmental non-compliance.

 

Mexican environmental regulations have become increasingly stringent in recent years, and this trend is likely to continue and has been influenced by the environmental treaty entered into by Mexico, the United States and Canada in connection with NAFTA in 1999.

 

In relation to the aforementioned, on January 28, 2011, Article 180 of the General Law was amended.  This amendment, gives an individual or entity the ability to contest administrative acts, including environmental authorizations, permits or concessions granted, without the need to demonstrate the actual existence of harm to the environment, natural resources, flora, fauna or human health, because it will be sufficient to argue that harm may be caused.

 

As a result of the amendment, more legal actions supported or sponsored by non-governmental groups, interested in halting projects, and not necessarily in protecting the rights of affected communities may be filed against companies operating in all industrial sectors, including the mining sector.

 

In addition, on August 30, 2011 amendments to the Civil Federal Procedures Code (CFPC) were published in the Official Gazette and will be effective on February 29, 2012.  These amendments establish three categories of collective actions, by means of which 30 or more people claiming injury derived from environmental, consumer protection, financial services and economic competition issues will be considered to be sufficient in order to have a legitimate interest to seek through a civil procedure restitution or economic compensation or suspension of the activities from which the alleged injury derived.  The amendments to the CFPC may result in more litigation, with plaintiffs seeking remedies, including suspension of the activities alleged to cause harm.

 

In March 2010, the Company announced to the Mexican federal environmental authorities the closure of the copper smelter plant at San Luis Potosi.  The Company initiated a program for plant demolition and soil remediation with a budget of $35.7 million, of which the Company has spent $18.5 million through September 30, 2011.  The Company expects to remediate the site and promote an urban development to generate a net gain in the disposal of the property.

 

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

 

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

 

Litigation matters:

 

Peruvian operations

 

Garcia Ataucuri and Others against SCC’s Peruvian Branch:

 

In April 1996, the Branch was served with a complaint filed in Peru by approximately 800 former employees seeking the delivery of a substantial number of its “labor shares” (acciones laborales) plus dividends on such shares, to be issued in a proportional way to each former employee in accordance with their time of employment with SCC’s Peruvian Branch.

 

The labor share litigation is based on claims of former employees for ownership of labor shares issued during the 1970s until 1979 under a former Peruvian mandated profit

 

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sharing system.  In 1971, the Peruvian government enacted legislation providing that mining workers would have a 10% participation in the pre-tax profits of their employing enterprises.  This participation was distributed 40% in cash and 60% in an equity interest of the enterprise.  In 1978 the equity portion, which was originally delivered to the mining industry organization, was set at 5.5% of pre-tax profits and was delivered in the form of “labor shares” to individual workers.  The cash portion was set at 4.0% of pre-tax earnings and continued to be delivered to individual employees.  In 1992 the workers’ participation was set at 8%, with 100% payable in cash and the equity participation was eliminated from the law.

 

In 1995, the labor shares were exchanged for common stock of the Company and approximately 80.8% of the issued labor shares were exchanged.  After that, from time to time the Company has purchased labor shares on the open market.  The remaining net 0.71% is included in the condensed consolidated balance sheet under the caption “Non-controlling interest.”

 

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

 

1)        The Garcia Ataucuri litigation seeks the delivery of 38,763,806.80 “labor shares” (acciones laborales), now “investment shares” (acciones de inversion) (or nuevos soles (“S/.”) 3,876,380,679.56), plus dividends on such shares.  After lengthy proceedings before the civil courts in Peru on September 19, 2001, on appeal from the Branch, the Peruvian Supreme Court annulled the proceedings noting that the civil courts lacked jurisdiction and that the matter had to be decided by a labor court.

 

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

 

In May 2009, the Supreme Court rejected the 2000 appeal of the Branch affirming the adverse decision of the appellate civil court and lower civil court.  While the Supreme Court has ordered SCC’s Peruvian Branch to deliver the labor shares and dividends, it has clearly stated that SCC’s Peruvian Branch may prove, by all legal means, its assertion that the labor shares and dividends were distributed to the former employees in accordance with the profit sharing law then in effect, an assertion which SCC’s Peruvian Branch continues to make.

 

On June 9, 2009, SCC’s Peruvian Branch filed an extraordinary appeal before a civil court in Peru seeking the nullity of the 2009 Supreme Court decision and other protective measures.  The civil court has now rendered a favorable decision suspending the enforcement of the Supreme Court decision, for the reasons indicated above and other reasons.  In view of this, and the civil court decision, SCC´s Peruvian Branch continues to analyze the manner in which the Supreme Court decision may be enforced and what financial impact, if any, said decision may have.

 

2)        In addition there are filed against SCC’s Branch the following lawsuits which seek the same number of labor shares as in the Garcia Ataucuri case, plus interest, labor shares resulting from capital increases and dividends: Cornejo Flores and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 10, 2006); Alejandro Zapata Mamani and others v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed June 27, 2008); Arenas Rodriguez and others, represented by Mr. Cornejo Flores, v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed January 2009); Eduardo Chujutalli v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 2011); Edgardo García Ataucuri, in representation of 216 SCC’s Peruvian Branch former workers, v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed May 2011); Silvestre Macedo Condori v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed June 2011) and Juan Guillermo Oporto Carpio v. SCC’s Peruvian Branch (filed August 2011).  SCC’s Branch has answered the complaints and denied the validity of the claims.

 

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

 

Exploraciones de Concesiones Metalicas S.A.C. (“Excomet”):

 

In August 2009, a lawsuit was filed against SCC’s Branch by the former stockholders of Excomet.  The plaintiffs allege that the acquisition of Excomet’s shares by the Branch is null and void because the $2 million purchase price paid by the Branch for the shares of Excomet was not fairly negotiated by the plaintiffs and the Branch.  In 2005, the Branch acquired the shares of Excomet after lengthy negotiations with the plaintiffs, and after the plaintiffs, which were all of the stockholders of Excomet, approved the transaction in a general stockholders’ meeting.  Excomet was at the time owner of a mining concession which forms part of the Tia Maria project.  As of September 30, 2011, this case remained open with no new developments.

 

Sociedad Minera de Responsabilidad Limitada Virgen Maria de Arequipa (SMRL Virgen Maria):

 

In August 2010, a lawsuit was filed against SCC’s Branch and others by SMRL Virgen Maria, a company which until July 2003 owned the mining concession Virgen Maria, which forms part of the Tia Maria project.  SMRL Virgen Maria sold this mining concession in July 2003 to Excomet (see above-noted case).

 

The plaintiff alleges that the sale of the mining concession Virgen Maria to Excomet is null and void because the persons who attended the shareholders’ meeting of SMRL Virgen Maria, at which the purchase was agreed upon, were not the real owners of the shares.  The plaintiff is also pursuing the nullity of all the subsequent acts regarding the mining property (acquisition of the shares of Excomet by SCC’s Branch, noted above, and the sale of the concession to SCC’s Branch by Excomet).  As of September 30, 2011, the case remained open with no new developments.

 

Omar Nunez Melgar:

 

In May 2011, Mr. Omar Nunez Melgar commenced a lawsuit against the Peruvian Mining and Metallurgical Institute and the MINEM challenging the denial of Mr. Nunez’s concession request that conflicted with SCC’s Branch’s Virgen Maria concession, which forms part of the Tia Maria concession.  SCC’s Branch has been made a party to the proceedings as the owner of the Virgen Maria concession.  SCC’s Branch has answered the complaint and denied the validity of the claim.  As of September 30, 2011, the case remained open with no new developments.

 

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

 

Mexican operations

 

Pasta de Conchos Accident:

 

On February 19, 2010 three widows of miners, who perished in the 2006 Pasta de Conchos accident, filed a complaint for damages in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona against the defendants, Grupo México, AMC and SCC.  Plaintiffs allege that defendants’ purported failure to maintain a safe working environment at the mine amounted to a violation of several laws and treaties.  The Company considers that the court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction over the plaintiffs’ claims and will defend itself vigorously.  On June 25, 2010 the Company filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ complaint. On March 29, 2011, the District Court for the District of Arizona dismissed the case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.  On April 5, 2011 the

 

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plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal in this case. As of September 30, 2011, the decision of the appeal is pending.

 

Labor matters:

 

In recent years the Company has experienced a number of strikes or other labor disruptions that have had an adverse impact on its operations and operating results.

 

Peruvian Operations

 

Approximately 60% of the Company’s Peruvian labor force was unionized at September 30, 2011, represented by eight separate unions.  Three of these unions, one at each major production area, represent the majority of the Company’s workers. In September 2010, the Company reached a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with these three unions.  This agreement includes, among other things, a 5% annual salary increase and a signing bonus of approximately $6,700 for each of the workers (approximately 2,000).  In addition, this agreement provides for a productivity bonus program for the departments that reach certain goals.  Also, there are five smaller unions, representing the balance of workers.  Collective bargaining agreements for these smaller unions are in force through November 2012.

 

There were no strikes during the nine months of 2011 and 2010.

 

Mexican operations

 

Approximately 72.3% of the Mexican labor force was unionized at September 30, 2011, represented by three separate unions.  Under Mexican law, the terms of employment for unionized workers is set forth in collective bargaining agreements.  Mexican companies negotiate the salary provisions of collective bargaining agreements with the labor unions annually and negotiate other benefits every two years.  The Company conducts negotiations separately at each mining complex and each processing plant.

 

In recent years the Buenavista mine experienced several labor stoppages.  The latest labor stoppage started in July 2007 and finished in June 2010.  The Company began the rehabilitation of the Buenavista mine during the second half of 2010 and is now operating the facility at full capacity.  Through September 30, 2011, the Company has spent $164 million on repairs, of this $97.5 million were capitalized and $66.5 million were charged to operating cost.  At September 30, 2011 the total estimated cost of repairs is $202 million, including amounts already spent.

 

Currently, the Buenavista operations have a work force of 2,100 workers that are operating the mine and plants as well as developing the $3.7 billion expansion program, which is expected to increase its production capacity from 180,000 tons of copper per year to over 450,000 tons.  On June 6, 2011, the Confederation of Mexican Workers (“CTM”) was awarded the collective bargaining agreement of the Buenavista del Cobre’s union by the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration.  CTM now represents around 780 workers of this mine.

 

Additionally, the San Martin and Taxco mines have been on strike since July 2007.  On December 10, 2009, a federal court confirmed the legality of the San Martin strike.  In order to recover the control of the San Martin mine and resume operations, On January 27, 2011, the Company filed a court petition requesting that the court establish the Company’s responsibility for the strike and that it define the termination payment for each unionized worker.  The court denied the petition alleging that according to Federal labor law, the union was the legitimate party to file the petition.  On appeal by the Company, on May 13, 2011, the Mexican federal tribunal accepted the petition of the Company.  In July 2011, the union appealed the favorable court decision before the Supreme Court.  This appeal is pending.

 

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In the case of the Taxco mine, following the workers refusal to allow exploration of new reserves, the Company commenced litigation seeking to terminate the labor relationship with workers of the Taxco mine (including the related collective bargaining agreement).  On September 1, 2010, the federal labor court issued a ruling approving the termination of the collective bargaining agreement and all the individual labor contracts of the workers affiliated with the Mexican mining union at the Taxco mine.  The ruling was based upon the resistance of the mining union to allow the Company to search for reserves at the Taxco mine.  If sustained, this ruling will also have the effect of terminating the protracted strike at the Taxco unit.  The mining union appealed the labor court ruling before a federal court.  In September 2011, the federal court accepted the union’s appeal and requested that the federal labor court review the procedure and to take into account all evidence to issue a new resolution.

 

Other legal matters:

 

Class actions:

 

Lemon Bay, LLP v. Americas Mining Corporation (“AMC”), et al.:

 

Three purported class action derivative lawsuits were filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery (New Castle County) late in December 2004 and early January 2005 relating to the proposed merger transaction between the Company and Minera Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (the “Transaction”), which was completed effective April 1, 2005.  On January 31, 2005, the three actions - Lemon Bay, LLP v. AMC, et al., Civil Action No. 961-N, Therault Trust v. Luis Palomino Bonilla, et al., and Southern Peru Copper Corporation et al., Civil Action No. 969-N, and James Sousa v. Southern Peru Copper Corporation, et al., Civil Action No. 978-N — were consolidated into one action, captioned.  In re Southern Peru Copper Corporation Shareholder Derivative Litigation, Consol. Civil Action No. 961-N; the complaint filed by Lemon Bay was designated as the operative complaint in the consolidated lawsuit.  The consolidated action purports to be brought on behalf of the Company and its common stockholders; the defendants in the consolidated action are AMC, German Larrea Mota-Velasco, Genaro Larrea Mota-Velasco, Oscar Gonzalez Rocha, Emilio Carrillo Gamboa, Jaime Fernando Collazo Gonzalez, Xavier Garcia de Quevedo Topete, Armando Ortega Gomez and Juan Rebolledo Gout (together, the “AMC Defendants”), Carlos Ruiz Sacristan, Harold S. Handelsman, Gilberto Perezalonso Cifuentes, and Luis Miguel Palomino Bonilla (together, the “Special Committee Defendants”).  The consolidated complaint alleges, among other things, that the Transaction was the result of breaches of fiduciary duties by the Company’s directors and was not entirely fair to the Company and its minority stockholders.  Fact discovery closed in early 2010 and expert discovery closed on June 18, 2010.  On June 30, 2010, the plaintiff moved for partial summary judgment.  On August 10, 2010, the AMC Defendants and the Special Committee Defendants filed separate cross-motions for summary judgment.  On December 21, 2010, the Court denied the plaintiff’s motion and the AMC Defendants’ cross-motion, but granted the Special Committee Defendants’ motion, dismissing the Special Committee Defendants from the action.  A four day trial was held on June 21-24, 2011. Post-trial argument took place on July 12, 2011.

 

On October 14, 2011, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware issued an opinion on a lawsuit challenging the 2005 merger between SCC and Minera Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which was a subsidiary of AMC, the parent company of SCC.  Specifically, the Court found that SCC paid AMC too much stock consideration in the transaction.  AMC has indicated that it will appeal the decision.  For further information, see the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 18, 2011.

 

Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System et al. v. SCC:

 

Four purported class action derivative lawsuits have been filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery (Oklahoma Firefighters Pension & Retirement System et al. v. SCC et al., Gary Martin et al. v. SCC et al., Thomas Griffin et al. v. SCC et al., and Sheet Metal Workers Pension Plan of Northern California et al. v. SCC et al.) from August 2010 to

 

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October 2010 relating to the proposed combination of the Company with AMC, the parent company of Asarco.  The complaints name SCC, its current and certain former directors, AMC and Grupo Mexico as defendants.  Two of the actions also name Asarco as a defendant.  The actions purport to be brought on behalf of the Company’s common stockholders.  A previously reported complaint filed in the Superior Court of Arizona, City of North Miami Beach Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Retirement Plan et al. v. SCC et al., has been voluntarily dismissed.

 

The complaints allege, among other things, that the proposed transaction would result in breaches of fiduciary duties by the defendants and is not entirely fair to the Company and its minority stockholders.  The complaints seek, among other things, a preliminary and permanent injunction to enjoin the transaction, the award of damages to the plaintiffs and the class, and such other relief that the court deems equitable, including interest, attorneys’ and experts’ fees and costs.  On January 25, 2011, the Oklahoma Firefighters and Sheet Metal Workers plaintiffs filed an amended and joint motion to consolidate and have Firefighters’ counsel appointed lead counsel.  Plaintiffs also moved to stay the Martin and Griffin actions.  The Sheet Metal plaintiffs have withdrawn their prior motion to consolidate in connection with the new motion.  Oral argument on all plaintiffs’ motions and cross-motions to stay or consolidate and appoint lead counsel is pending.

 

The Firefighters’ plaintiffs also moved for leave to file an amended complaint to add or supplement factual allegations concerning the summary judgment ruling in the Lemon Bay action described above.  On April 1, 2011, the plaintiffs’ motion was granted.

 

On October 28, 2011, AMC announced that it had withdrawn the proposed transaction to combine AMC and Southern Copper.

 

The Company is involved in various other legal proceedings incidental to its operations, but the Company does not believe that decisions adverse to it in any such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.  Additionally, the Company does not believe that the outcome of the purported class action derivative lawsuits would have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.  While the defendants, including Grupo Mexico and its affiliates, believe that the claims in the purported class action derivative lawsuits are without merit, the Company cannot assure you that these or future claims, if successful, will not have an adverse effect on Grupo Mexico, AMC or the Company.

 

Other Contingencies:

 

Tia Maria:

 

In 2009, the Company submitted to MINEM its Tia Maria Environmental Impact Assessment (“EIA”) for evaluation and approval.  On March 28, 2011, according to the regular procedure, remarks and observations to the EIA were submitted by some concerned parties as part of the EIA approval process, and were delivered to the Company, in order to be addressed.  On April 5, 2011, in light of protests and disruptions carried out by a small group of activists who allege, among other things, that the Tia Maria project will result in severe environmental contamination and the diversion of water resources that are for agricultural use, MINEM issued a resolution suspending the approval process of the Tia Maria EIA for a period of 180 days.  Later, on April 8, 2011, in light of further protests MINEM issued a new resolution annulling such decision, and declaring the EIA inadmissible.  This resolution was appealed by the Company to the Mining Council, a government appointed board that arbitrates mining administrative disputes. Even though the EIA process is suspended, the Company has provided to MINEM its answers to all the observations submitted by the concerned parties as part of the EIA approval process.  The Company believes that the government’s action is without legal merit and was motivated to a large extent by

 

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political considerations, as the presidential elections process was taking place at that time in Peru.  The Company has readdressed the project with the new Peruvian administration and is confident that good investment conditions, stability, social inclusion and growth will prevail in Peru.

 

The Company has legal and valid title to the Tía Maria mining concessions and the over-lapping surface land in the area. None of above noted activities have in any way challenged, revoked, impaired or annulled the Company´s legal rights to the Tia Maria mining concessions and/or the over-lapping surface land titles acquired in the past.  All the Company’s property rights on these areas are in full force.

 

The Company is confident that it will complete the Tia Maria project and will begin copper mining and production activities at Tia Maria once the necessary approvals are received.  The SXEW leaching technologies and processes to be employed at the Tia Maria facility have been widely developed in Peru and other countries and have been demonstrated to comply with environmental regulations with no adverse impact on air, soil or water.

 

However, in view of the suspension of this project, the Company has reviewed the carrying value of this asset to ascertain whether impairment exists.  Total spending on the project, through September 30, 2011, is $434.3 million.  As the project is currently suspended, some of the equipment is being used at the Company’s mining operations in Toquepala and Cuajone.  Should the Tia Maria project not be restarted, the Company is confident that the project equipment will continue to be used productively, through reassignment to other mine locations operated by the Company.  While the Company may incur additional costs due to the delay, it believes that an impairment loss, if any, will not be material.

 

Toquepala Concentrator Expansion:

 

As part of the approval process of the EIA for the Toquepala concentrator expansion a public hearing was held on September 21, 2011 at the Toquepala townsite.  Over 1,300 people peacefully participated in this public hearing. However, while this meeting was being held, protests and disturbances from some anti-mining groups were taking place at Lake Suches located 80 kilometers from the Toquepala meeting.  These protests raised concerns related to water usage and pollution.  At the behest of the Tacna regional president, the Peruvian government subsequently declared the townsite meeting invalid.  The Peruvian government has started conversations with the local communities and the regional authorities in order to resolve this impasse.  The Company is awaiting the outcome of these discussions and expects that the authorities will schedule a new date and place for the public hearing.  The project will not use additional fresh water and therefore will not affect the availability of this resource for agricultural use. In fact, water currently used by the Company comes from deep wells drilled into the Capulline formation aquifer and does not take water from the population and agricultural communities of Tacna and Moquegua.  Through September 30, 2011, the Company has invested $142.4 million in the project.

 

Other commitments:

 

Mining royalty charge

 

The Company’s Peruvian operations have been subject to a 1% to 3% mining royalty charge based on sales and calculated on the value of the concentrates and SXEW copper produced at the Toquepala and Cuajone mines.  The Company made provisions for this charge in the nine months of 2011 and 2010 of $52.5 million and $44.1 million, respectively.  These provisions are included in “Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion)” in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings.

 

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In September 2011 the Peruvian government approved an amendment to the mining royalty tax.  The new mining royalty tax is based on operating income margins with graduated rates ranging from 1% to 12%, with a minimum royalty tax assessed at 1% of net sales. For example if the operating income margin is 10% or less, the royalty tax is 1% and for each 5% increment in the operating income margin, the royalty tax rate increases by 0.75%, up to a maximum of 12%.

 

Special Mining tax -

 

Additionally, in September 2011, the Peruvian government enacted a new tax for the mining industry.  This tax replaces the voluntary contribution for the regional development which expired in December 2010. This tax is also based on operating income and its rate ranges from 2% to 8.4%. It begins at 2% for the first 10% of operating income margin and for each additional 5% of operating income margin is increased by an additional rate of 0.4% until 85% of operating income margin is reached.

 

Power purchase agreement

 

In 1997, SCC sold its Ilo power plant to an independent power company, Enersur S.A. (“Enersur”).  In connection with the sale, a power purchase agreement was also completed under which SCC agreed to purchase all of its power needs for its current Peruvian operations from Enersur for twenty years, commencing in 1997.  In 2003 the agreement was amended, releasing Enersur from its obligation to construct additional capacity to meet the Company’s increased electricity requirements and changing the power tariff as called for in the original agreement.

 

The Company signed in 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with Enersur regarding its power supply agreement.  The MOU contains new economic terms that the Company believes better reflect current economic conditions in the power industry and in Peru.  The new economic conditions agreed to in the MOU have been applied by Enersur to its invoices to the Company since May 2009.  Additionally, the MOU includes an option for providing power for the Tia Maria project.  During 2011, the Company continued its negotiations with Enersur in order to obtain a final agreement for the Tia Maria project, see caption “Tia Maria” above.

 

Tax contingency matters:

 

Tax contingencies are provided for under ASC 740-10-50-15 Uncertain tax position (see Note 6, “Income taxes”).

 

NOTE 14 — SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION:

 

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

 

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

 

Financial information is regularly prepared for each of the three segments and the results of the Company’s operations are regularly reported to the Chief Operating Officer on the segment basis.  The Chief Operating Officer of the Company focuses on operating income and on total assets as measures of performance to evaluate different

 

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segments and to make decisions to allocate resources to the reported segments.  These are common measures in the mining industry.

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA
Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate,
other and
eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

858.5

 

$

107.9

 

$

779.5

 

$

 

$

1,745.9

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

31.9

 

 

(31.9

)

 

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

 

307.5

 

87.3

 

334.4

 

(51.9

)

677.3

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

8.3

 

3.6

 

11.6

 

0.9

 

24.4

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

37.7

 

6.3

 

35.0

 

(6.5

)

72.5

 

Exploration

 

0.9

 

5.5

 

3.3

 

 

9.7

 

Operating income

 

$

504.1

 

$

37.1

 

$

395.2

 

$

25.6

 

962.0

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(43.1

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.4

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(252.5

)

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2.0

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

663.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure

 

$

112.0

 

$

9.8

 

$

30.5

 

$

1.1

 

$

153.4

 

Property, net

 

$

1,702.0

 

$

309.9

 

$

2,145.9

 

$

52.3

 

$

4,210.1

 

Total assets

 

$

3,125.5

 

$

746.9

 

$

2,970.2

 

$

1,157.0

 

$

7,999.6

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA
Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate,
other and
eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

430.5

 

$

77.7

 

$

749.7

 

$

 

$

1,257.9

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

 

22.7

 

 

 

(22.7

)

 

 

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

 

214.8

 

64.0

 

293.4

 

(21.4

)

550.8

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

7.6

 

3.2

 

11.7

 

0.7

 

23.2

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

30.5

 

5.6

 

34.4

 

1.6

 

72.1

 

Exploration

 

1.5

 

3.8

 

3.6

 

 

8.9

 

Operating income

 

$

176.1

 

$

23.8

 

$

406.6

 

$

(3.6

)

602.9

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(47.8

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(9.2

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(178.7

)

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2.0

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

365.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure

 

$

26.9

 

$

12.9

 

$

66.6

 

$

6.5

 

$

112.9

 

Property, net

 

$

1,565.3

 

$

280.0

 

$

2,140.5

 

$

56.8

 

$

4,042.6

 

Total assets

 

$

2,351.6

 

$

647.3

 

$

3,013.9

 

$

1,598.6

 

$

7,611.4

 

 

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA
Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate,
other and
eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

2,429.1

 

$

327.0

 

$

2,393.3

 

$

 

$

5,149.4

 

Intersegment sales

 

 

98.8

 

 

(98.8

)

 

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

 

835.1

 

230.9

 

1,134.7

 

(90.6

)

2,110.1

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

25.1

 

10.8

 

35.7

 

3.1

 

74.7

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

101.2

 

18.5

 

104.0

 

(7.7

)

216.0

 

Exploration

 

2.3

 

14.1

 

8.6

 

 

25.0

 

Operating income

 

$

1,465.4

 

$

151.5

 

$

1,110.3

 

$

(3.6

)

2,723.6

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(130.5

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.8

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(792.5

)

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5.9

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,799.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure

 

$

218.3

 

$

26.1

 

$

90.5

 

$

2.1

 

$

337.0

 

Property, net

 

$

1,702.0

 

$

309.9

 

$

2,145.9

 

$

52.3

 

$

4,210.1

 

Total assets

 

$

3,125.5

 

$

746.9

 

$

2,970.2

 

$

1,157.0

 

$

7,999.6

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA
Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate,
other and
eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales outside of segments

 

$

1,146.2

 

$

256.4

 

$

2,209.7

 

$

38.2

 

$

3,650.5

 

Intersegment sales

 

29.1

 

110.2

 

 

(139.3

)

 

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

 

579.1

 

234.1

 

876.0

 

(99.7

)

1,589.5

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

22.8

 

9.8

 

35.4

 

2.6

 

70.6

 

Depreciation, amortization and depletion

 

90.5

 

16.9

 

99.9

 

3.6

 

210.9

 

Exploration

 

3.8

 

10.9

 

12.7

 

 

27.4

 

Operating income

 

$

479.1

 

$

94.9

 

$

1,185.7

 

$

(7.6

)

1,752.1

 

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(113.3

)

Other income (expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(14.2

)

Income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(556.9

)

Non-controlling interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5.9

)

Net income attributable to SCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,061.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditure

 

$

49.8

 

$

23.1

 

$

201.1

 

$

7.2

 

$

281.2

 

Property, net

 

$

1,565.3

 

$

280.0

 

$

2,140.5

 

$

56.8

 

$

4,042.6

 

Total assets

 

$

2,351.6

 

$

647.3

 

$

3,013.9

 

$

1,598.6

 

$

7,611.4

 

 

NOTE 15 — STOCKHOLDERS´EQUITY:

 

Treasury Stock:

 

Activity in treasury stock in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows (in millions):

 

26



Table of Contents

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Southern Copper common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

$

461.0

 

$

460.7

 

Purchase of shares

 

258.3

 

0.4

 

Used for corporate purposes

 

(0.5

)

(0.2

)

Balance as of September 30,

 

718.8

 

460.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

161.7

 

142.7

 

Other activity, including dividend, interest and currency translation effect

 

3.2

 

14.4

 

Balance as of September 30,

 

164.9

 

157.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock balance as of September 30,

 

$

883.7

 

$

618.0

 

 

The following table summarizes share distributions in the nine months of 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Southern Copper common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Directors’ Stock Award Plan (shares in thousands)

 

14.4

 

13.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent Company (Grupo Mexico) common shares

 

 

 

 

 

Employee stock purchase plan (shares in millions)

 

7.5

 

10.9

 

 

Southern Copper Common Shares:

 

SCC share repurchase program:

 

In 2008, the Company´s Board of Directors authorized a $500 million share repurchase program.  On July 28, 2011, the Company´s Board of Directors approved an increase of the SCC share repurchase program, from $500 million to $1.0 billion.  The Board of directors also confirmed the Company’s purchases of 4.6 million shares of its common shares at a cost of $148.0 million in the second quarter of 2011.  Pursuant to this program, the Company purchased common stock as shown in the table below.  These shares will be available for general corporate purposes.  The Company may purchase additional shares of its common stock from time to time, based on market conditions and other factors.  This repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified or discontinued at any time.

 

Period

 

Total Number
of Shares

 

Average
Price
Paid
per

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of
Publicly

 

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

 

Total
Cost
($ in

 

From

 

To

 

Purchased

 

Share

 

Announced Plan

 

@ $24.99(1)

 

millions)

 

2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08/11/08

 

12/31/08

 

28,510,150

 

$

13.49

 

28,510,150

 

 

 

$

384.7

 

2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01/12/09

 

09/30/09

 

4,912,000

 

14.64

 

33,422,150

 

 

 

71.9

 

2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05/05/10

 

10/14/10

 

15,600

 

29.69

 

33,437,750

 

 

 

0.5

 

2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Quarter 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05/01/11

 

05/31/11

 

14,400

 

37.06

 

33,452,150

 

 

 

0.5

 

06/01/11

 

06/30/11

 

4,567,520

 

32.30

 

38,019,670

 

 

 

147.5

 

 

 

 

 

4,581,920

 

32.32

 

 

 

 

 

148.0

 

Third Quarter 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08/03/11

 

08/22/11

 

2,762,811

 

29.63

 

40,782,481

 

 

 

81.9

 

09/22/11

 

09/30/11

 

1,069,669

 

26.59

 

41,852,150

 

11,389,342

 

28.4

 

 

 

 

 

3,832,480

 

28.78

 

 

 

 

 

110.3

 

Total purchased

 

 

 

41,852,150

 

$

17.09

 

41,852,150

 

 

 

$

715.4

 

 


(1)          NYSE price at September 30, 2011

 

27



Table of Contents

 

As a result of the repurchase of shares of SCC’s common stock and AMC’s purchase of shares of SCC’s common stock, Grupo Mexico’s direct and indirect ownership is 80.8% as of September 30, 2011.

 

Directors’ Stock Award Plan:

 

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

 

The activity of the plan in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 is as follows:

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total SCC shares reserved for the plan

 

600,000

 

600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shares granted at January 1,

 

(256,800

)

(241,200

)

Granted in the period

 

(14,400

)

(14,400

)

Total shares granted at September 30,

 

(271,200

)

(255,600

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining shares reserved

 

328,800

 

344,400

 

 

Parent Company common shares:

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan:

 

In January 2007, the Company offered to eligible employees a stock purchase plan (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) through a trust that acquires shares of Grupo Mexico stock for sale to its employees, employees of subsidiaries, and certain affiliated companies.  The purchase price is established at the approximate fair market value on the grant date.  Every two years employees will be able to acquire title to 50% of the shares paid for the previous two years.  The employees will pay for shares purchased through monthly payroll deductions over the eight year period of the plan.  At the end of the eight year period, the Company will grant the participant a bonus of 1 share for every 10 shares purchased by the employee.

 

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

 

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

 

If the resignation occurs during:

 

% Deducted

 

1st year after the grant date

 

90

%

2nd year after the grant date

 

80

%

3rd year after the grant date

 

70

%

4th year after the grant date

 

60

%

5th year after the grant date

 

50

%

6th year after the grant date

 

40

%

7th year after the grant date

 

20

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

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

 

If the termination occurs during:

 

% Deducted

 

1st year after the grant date

 

100

%

2nd year after the grant date

 

95

%

3rd year after the grant date

 

90

%

4th year after the grant date

 

80

%

5th year after the grant date

 

70

%

6th year after the grant date

 

60

%

7th year after the grant date

 

50

%

 

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

 

The stock based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and the unrecognized compensation expense as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 under this plan were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation expense

 

$

1.6

 

$

1.6

 

Unrecognized compensation expense

 

$

6.9

 

$

9.0

 

 

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

 

The following table presents the stock award activity of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Shares

 

Unit Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2010

 

11,556,625

 

$

1.16

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(609,892

)

1.16

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2010

 

10,946,733

 

$

1.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2011

 

10,920,693

 

$

1.16

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(3,338,992

)

1.16

 

Forfeited

 

(128,986

)

1.16

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2011

 

7,452,715

 

$

1.16

 

 

During 2010, the Company offered to eligible employees a new stock purchase plan (the “New Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) through a trust that acquires series B shares of Grupo Mexico stock for sale to its employees, employees of subsidiaries, and certain affiliated companies.

 

The purchase price was established at 26.51 Mexican pesos (approximately $2.05) for the initial subscription.  The terms of the New Employee Stock Purchase Plan are similar to the terms of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

29



Table of Contents

 

The stock based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 and the unrecognized compensation expense as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 under this plan were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock based compensation expense

 

$

0.4

 

 

Unrecognized compensation expense

 

$

3.9

 

 

 

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

 

The following table presents the stock award activity of the New Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2011:

 

 

 

Shares

 

Unit Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at January 1, 2011

 

3,901,901

 

$

2.05

 

Granted

 

 

 

Exercised

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Outstanding shares at September 30, 2011

 

3,901,901

 

$

2.05

 

 

Executive Stock Purchase Plan:

 

Grupo Mexico also offers a stock purchase plan for certain members of its executive management and the executive management of its subsidiaries and certain affiliated companies.  Under this plan, participants will receive incentive cash bonuses which are used to purchase shares of Grupo Mexico which are deposited in a trust.

 

NOTE 16 — NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST:

 

The following table presents the non-controlling interest activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

$

20.0

 

$

18.0

 

Comprehensive income

 

6.4

 

5.9

 

Dividend paid

 

(5.0

)

(4.7

)

Other

 

(0.7

)

 

Balance as of September 30,

 

$

20.7

 

$

19.2

 

 

NOTE 17 — FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

30



Table of Contents

 

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

 

The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable (other than accounts receivable associated with provisionally priced sales) and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short maturities.  Consequently, such financial instruments are not included in the following table that provides information about the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of other financial instruments that are not measured at fair value in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

As of September 30, 2011

 

As of December 31, 2010

 

 

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying
Value

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

$

2,750.6

 

$

2,854.1

 

$

2,760.4

 

$

2,982.7

 

 

Long-term debt is carried at amortized cost and its estimated fair value is based on quoted market prices classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.  The Mitsui loan is based on the present value of the cash flow discounted at 11.3%, which is the Company’s weighted average cost of capital.

 

Fair values of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis were calculated as follows as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

 

 

 

Fair Value at September 30, 2011 Using:

 

Fair Value at December 31, 2010 Using:

 

Description

 

Fair
Value as
of

September
30, 2011

 

Quoted
prices in
active
markets
for
identical
assets

(Level 1)

 

Significant
other
observable
inputs

(Level 2)

 

Significant
unobservable
inputs

(Level 3)

 

Fair
Value as
of

December
31, 2010

 

Quoted
prices in
active
markets
for
identical
assets

(Level 1)

 

Significant
other
observable
inputs

(Level 2)

 

Significant
unobservable
inputs

(Level 3)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short term investment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Trading securities

 

$

528.3

 

$

528.3

 

 

 

 

 

$

66.9

 

$

66.9

 

 

 

 

 

- Available for sale debt securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate bonds

 

0.4

 

 

$

0.4

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

$

0.4

 

 

 

Asset backed obligations

 

0.1

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.3

 

 

 

Mortgage backed securities

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

8.6

 

 

 

7.4

 

$

1.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Derivatives – classified as cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap

 

35.3

 

 

35.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zero cost collar

 

32.2

 

 

32.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Derivatives – Not classified as hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provisionally priced sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper

 

224.2

 

224.2

 

 

 

 

 

60.7

 

60.7

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum

 

142.3

 

142.3

 

 

 

 

 

149.7

 

149.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability derivatives – Classified as cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(124.4

)

 

(124.4

)

 

 

Zero cost collar

 

 

 

 

 

(72.6

)

 

(72.6

)

 

Total

 

$

969.8

 

$

894.8

 

$

75.0

 

$

 

$

89.6

 

$

277.3

 

$

(188.9

)

$

1.2

 

 

31



Table of Contents

 

The Company classifies investments within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy in certain cases where there is limited activity or less observable inputs to the valuation.  Investments classified within Level 3 as of December 31, 2010, include mortgage-backed securities.  These investments are valued by the fund’s management advisor taking into consideration different factors and methodologies considered appropriate in the circumstance.  Factors can include the following or a combination of the following, observed transactions, broker quotes, cash flow analysis, vendor prices and other factors as appropriate.

 

Derivatives are valued using internal models that use as their basis readily observable market inputs, such as time value, forward interest rates, volatility factors, and current and forward market prices for foreign exchange rates.  The Company generally classifies these instruments within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.  Such derivatives at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, include copper swaps and zero cost collars.

 

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

 

The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 short-term investments (corporate bond, asset backed obligations, and mortgage backed securities) for the nine months of 2011 and 2010.

 

 

 

9 months ended September 30, 2011

 

9 months ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

Available for sale debt securities:

 

Available for sale debt securities:

 

 

 

Corporate
bonds

 

Mortgage
backed
securities

 

Total

 

Corporate
bonds

 

Mortgage
backed
securities

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of January 1,

 

 

 

$

1.2

 

$

1.2

 

$

1.7

 

$

1.4

 

$

3.1

 

Unrealized gain (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1.3

)

 

(1.3

)

Issuance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settlements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfers in/out of Level 3

 

 

 

(1.2

)

(1.2

)

(0.3

)

(1.4

)

(1.7

)

Balance as of September 30,

 

 

 

$

 

$

 

$

0.1

 

$

 

$

0.1

 

 

NOTE 18 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:

 

Dividends:

 

On October 27, 2011 the Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per share payable on November 29, 2011 to the Company’s shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2011.

 

32



Table of Contents

 

Part I

 

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

 

The following discussion provides information that management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Southern Copper Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, “SCC”, “the Company”, “our”, and “we”).  This item should be read in conjunction with our interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included in this quarterly report.  Additionally, the following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

 

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

 

We are one of the world’s largest copper mining companies in terms of production and sales with our principal operations in Peru and Mexico.  We also have an active ongoing exploration program in Chile and in 2011 we have started exploration activities in Argentina.  In addition to copper we produce significant amounts of other metals, either as a by-product of the copper process or in a number of dedicated mining facilities in Mexico.  In the nine months of 2011 approximately 77% of our revenues came from the sale of copper, 8% from molybdenum, 7% from silver and 8% from various other products, including zinc, gold and other materials.

 

We believe that our greatest strength lies in our copper ore reserves, which at December 31, 2010 totaled 59.7 million tons of contained copper, calculated at a copper price of $1.80 per pound.  In terms of copper reserves, we believe we hold the world’s largest reserve position.

 

One of our other key strengths is our cost competitiveness and efficiency which is evidenced by our nine months of 2011 operating cash cost of 37.4 cents per pound; one of the lowest in the industry.

 

At September 30, 2011 our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1.8 billion and we had $2.7 billion in total debt with no significant debt maturities in the near term.

 

Outlook:

 

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

 

·          Changes in copper and molybdenum prices.  The average LME copper price was $4.20 per pound in the nine months of 2011 about 29% higher than in the nine months of 2010.

 

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Average molybdenum, silver and zinc prices in the nine months of 2011 increased about 3%, 101% and 8%, respectively, over average prices in the nine months of 2010.

·          Late in the third quarter of 2011, metal prices decreased, the September 30, 2011 LME and COMEX copper prices were $0.99 and $1.12 per pound lower than the June 30, 2011 prices.  Prices for our by-products also decreased.   As a result, in the quarter we recognized a negative provisional price adjustment of $77.6 million.

·          We maintain our 2011 production guidance of 630,000 tons of copper, with third parties copper making up 7.0% of the total.

·          For 2012, we are currently expecting a copper production of 640,000 tons of which approximately 5% would be from third parties.

·          We also maintain our molybdenum production guidance of 17,500 tons for 2011.

·          Regarding zinc and silver production for 2011, we are estimating a production of 88,000 tons of zinc and 12.6 million ounces of silver. Silver and zinc represented 7% and 3%, respectively, of our sales in the nine months of 2011.

·          In the nine months of 2011, we spent $337.0 million on capital expenditures and for the entire year 2011 we are now estimating total capital expenditures of approximately $600 million. See “Capital Expansion and Exploration Programs” below.

 

Metal markets and prices: Metal markets have been affected by different macroeconomic events that are delaying recovery of metal demand. The most important of these are the following:

 

·          The continuing weakness of the US economic recovery, including, the high unemployment and the stock market volatility, which create concerns in the rest of the world.

·          The evolution of the European debt crisis, which affects the confidence of investors in the Euro and the economic stability of this region.

·          The impact of the mentioned events in the export oriented emerging economies, particularly China which according with CRU represents 36% of the world’s copper demand.

 

Any concern about the recovery of the world economy affects the basic metals demand and financial investment in them.

 

Copper Overview:  Even though we believe copper demand is being affected by the above negative macroeconomic outlook, we maintain our positive view of this metal’s fundamentals. Several sources, as well as our commercial internal sources, estimate that the copper destocking process is coming to an end in key markets and inventories of copper in process are tight, particularly in Asia. This should support demand growth for the next 12 months. Demand growth is estimated at 2% for the next 12 months.

 

On the supply side, production has underperformed badly in the third quarter of 2011 due to labor unrest, adverse weather and ore grade declines. We consider that these events are likely to continue in the last quarter of 2011 and the year 2012, maintaining the tight copper market. Currently, CRU estimates a market deficit of 300,000 tons for both, this year and 2012.

 

Molybdenum overview: Molybdenum, our major by-product, represented 8% of our nine months 2011 sales. Regarding market trends, we are currently seeing a surplus molybdenum market that affected molybdenum price through the third quarter. As a consequence, the average market price decreased by 12.5%, from the $16.50 per pound in the second quarter of 2011 to $14.44 in the third quarter 2011.  The demand for molybdenum has been affected by lower than expected stainless steel demand in the US and China as well as a weak recovery in Japan’s car production. We believe these are short term events and expect a rebound in demand for this metal in 2012.

 

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Earnings: Net earnings in the third quarter and nine months of 2011 were 81.5% and 69.5% higher than the comparable periods of 2010, principally as result of the full restoration of Buenavista production and higher average copper prices and the prices for our major by-products.

 

The table below highlights key financial and operational data for our Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

Net sales (in millions)

 

$

1,746

 

$

1,258

 

$

488

 

$

5,149

 

$

3,651

 

$

1,498

 

Net income attributable to SCC (in millions)

 

$

663

 

$

365

 

$

298

 

$

1,799

 

$

1,062

 

$

737

 

Earnings per share

 

$

0.79

 

$

0.43

 

$

0.36

 

$

2.12

 

$

1.25

 

$

0.87

 

Dividends per share

 

$

0.62

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.25

 

$

1.76

 

$

1.25

 

$

0.51

 

Average LME copper price

 

$

4.08

 

$

3.29

 

$

0.79

 

$

4.20

 

$

3.25

 

$

0.95

 

Pounds of copper sold (in millions)

 

343

 

289

 

54

 

963

 

802

 

161

 

 

Production: Third quarter 2011 mined copper production was 24.4% higher than the third quarter of 2010.  Molybdenum and zinc production in the third quarter of 2011 decreased 4.4% and 12.1% respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2010; while silver production increased 3.4% compared with the same period of 2010.

 

The table below highlights key mine production data for our Company for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Three months ended
September 30,

 

Nine months ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copper (in million pounds)

 

343.2

 

276.0

 

67.2

 

939.4

 

767.1

 

172.3

 

Molybdenum (in million pounds)

 

10.5

 

11.0

 

(0.5

)

29.9

 

33.7

 

(3.8

)

Zinc (in million pounds)

 

47.5

 

54.0

 

(6.5

)

138.7

 

169.2

 

(30.5

)

Silver (in million ounces)

 

3.2

 

3.1

 

0.1

 

9.4

 

9.4

 

 

 

Buenavista mine: The Buenavista facility is working at full capacity and focused on its $3.7 billion expansion projects, which include a new SXEW plant with a planned annual capacity of 88,000 tons of copper, a concentrator expansion with an increase in production capacity of 188,000 tons per year and two molybdenum plants with a combined annual capacity of 4,600 tons.  This investment program is underway and we expect to complete it in two phases, the first in 2013 with an increase in annual production of 88,000 tons and the second phase in 2015 with a further increase in annual copper production of 188,000 tons. With these investments, total production capacity at Buenavista will reach 456,000 tons.

 

Through September 30, 2011, we have spent $164 million on repairs, of this $97.5 million were capitalized and $66.5 million were charged to operating cost.  At September 30, 2011 the total estimated cost of repairs is $202 million including the amounts already spent.

 

Tantahuatay mine: This operation is located in the department of Cajamarca in northern Peru.  In 2010, we began development of this project to exploit the gold “cap”.  The mine started production in August 2011 and in the third quarter produced 17,700 ounces of gold and 98,800 ounces of silver.

 

 

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Tantahuatay is expected to have an average annual production of 90,000 ounces of gold and 425,000 ounces of silver for five years.  We have a 44.2% participation in this project. The remaining balance is owned by Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. and others.

 

Tia Maria project:  This project in our Peruvian operations was suspended by MINEM in April 2011.  This action was appealed by us to the Mining Council and we have provided to MINEM our answers to all the observations submitted by the concerned parties as part of the EIA approval process.

 

We have legal and valid title to the Tia Maria mining concessions and the over-lapping surface land in the area.  None of the latest activities have in any way challenged, revoked, impaired or annulled our legal rights to the Tia Maria mining concessions and/or the overlapping surface land titles acquired in the past.  All our property rights on these areas are in full force.

 

The Tia Maria project comprises an investment of over $1,000 million, which will generate 4,000 new jobs during the construction phase and 4,100 direct and indirect permanent jobs. The estimated annual production of the project is 120,000 tons of copper cathodes, all obtained through SXEW. The project would significantly increase Peruvian exports and generate important contributions to the Peruvian economy through income taxes and mining royalties, as well as payroll taxes, custom duties, mining rights and other levies.  In addition, we plan to invest in social responsibility programs in the Arequipa region similar to those established in the communities nearby the current Peruvian operations of Toquepala, Cuajone and Ilo.

 

We are confident that we will complete the Tia Maria project and will begin copper mining and production activities once the necessary approvals are received.  However, in view of the suspension of this project, we have reviewed the carrying value of this asset to ascertain whether impairment exists.  Total spending on the project, through September 30, 2011, is $434.3 million.  As the project is currently suspended much of the equipment is being used at our mining operations in Toquepala and Cuajone.  Should the Tia Maria project not restart we are confident that the project equipment will continue to be used productively, through reassignment to our other mining properties.  While we may incur additional costs due to the delay, we believe that an impairment loss, if any, will not be material.  See note 13-”Commitments and Contingencies - Tia Maria” for further information.

 

AMC’s exchange offer proposal: On July 22, 2010, we received a non-binding proposal from our parent company, AMC, offering to effect an all-stock business combination of Southern Copper and AMC, the parent company of Asarco, in which all stockholders of Southern Copper would receive 1.237 common shares of AMC in exchange for each share of SCC.

 

On October 28, 2011, AMC announced, in light of recent discussions with the special committee of independent directors, that it had withdrawn the proposed transaction to combine AMC and Southern Copper.

 

KEY MATTERS:

 

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

 

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Operating Cash Costs: An overall benchmark used by us and a common industry metric to measure performance is operating cash costs per pound of copper produced.  Operating cash cost is a non-GAAP measure that does not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures provided by other companies.  A reconciliation of our operating cash cost per pound to the cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) as presented in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings is presented under the subheading, “Non-GAAP Information Reconciliation,” below.

 

We have defined operating cash cost per pound as cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion), less the cost of purchased concentrates, plus selling, general and administrative charges, treatment and refining charges, net revenue (loss) on sale of metal purchased from third parties and by-product revenues, and sales premiums; less workers’ participation and other miscellaneous charges, including the Peruvian royalty charge, the special mining tax and the change in inventory levels; divided by total pounds of copper produced by our own mines.  In our calculation of operating cash cost per pound of copper produced, we credit against our costs the revenues from the sale of by-products: molybdenum, zinc, silver, gold and other minor by products and the premium over market price that we receive on copper sales.  We account for the by-product revenues in this way because we consider our principal business to be the production and sale of copper.  We believe that our Company is viewed by the investment community as a copper company, and is valued, in large part, by the investment community’s view of the copper market and our ability to produce copper at a reasonable cost.  We also include copper sales premiums as a credit, as these amounts are in excess of published copper prices.  The increase in recent years in the price of molybdenum, as well as increases in silver and zinc, have had a significant effect on our traditional calculation of cash cost and its comparability between periods.  Accordingly, we present cash costs with and without crediting the by-product revenues against our costs.

 

We exclude the cost of purchases of third party copper material.  From time to time we purchase copper concentrates on the open market in order to maximize the use of our smelter capacity or to take advantage of an attractive market situation.  We view these purchases on an incremental basis and measure the results incrementally.  We find that the inclusion of these purchases with our own production often creates a distortion in our unit cost.  Accordingly, we include only the net effect of these purchases as a by-product credit, so that only the net revenue or loss from the transaction is included in the calculation.  We believe this will allow others to see a truer presentation of our cash cost, which we consider is one of the lowest of copper producing companies of similar size.

 

We exclude from our calculation of operating cash cost depreciation, amortization and depletion, which are considered non-cash expenses.  Exploration is considered a discretionary expenditure and is also excluded.  Workers’ participation provisions are determined on the basis of pre-tax earnings and are also excluded.  Additionally excluded from operating cash costs are items of a non-recurring nature and the mining royalty tax and special mining tax.

 

Our operating cash costs per pound, as defined, are presented in the table below, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.

 

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Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Positive
(negative)

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

Positive
(negative)

 

(dollars per pound)

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

Operating cash cost per pound of copper produced

 

$

0.484

 

$

0.308

 

$

(0.176

)

$

0.374

 

$

0.152

 

$

(0.222

)

Less: by-product revenues and net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

(1.167

)

(1.158

)

0.009

 

(1.290

)

(1.357

)

(0.067

)

Operating cash cost per pound of copper produced without by-product revenues and net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

$

1.651

 

$

1.466

 

$

(0.185

)

$

1.664

 

$

1.509

 

$

(0.155

)

 

Our per pound cash cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 when calculated without by-product revenues was 18.5 cents and 15.5 cents higher than in the comparable periods of 2010.  These increases were primarily due to higher production cost caused by higher power, fuel and material repair costs which increased 38.4% and 33.8% in the three and nine-month periods of 2011 compared with the same periods of 2010. The unitary impact of these increases was partially diluted by an increase of 22.8% and 21.4% in copper production principally due to the recovery of production from the Buenavista mine.

 

Our operating cash cost, including by-product revenues, in the third quarter of 2011 increased due to 23.8% of higher by-product credit which was also diluted in unitary terms by the higher copper production.

 

In the nine months of 2011 by-products credit increased by 15.4% principally due to an increase of over 100% in the price of silver compared with the nine months of 2010.

 

Metal Prices: The profitability of our operations is dependent on, and our financial performance is influenced by, the international market prices for the products we produce, especially for copper, molybdenum, silver and zinc.  Metal prices historically have been subject to wide fluctuations and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control.  These factors, which affect each commodity to varying degrees, include international economic and political conditions, levels of supply and demand, the availability and cost of substitutes, inventory levels maintained by producers and others and, to a lesser degree, inventory carrying costs and currency exchange rates.  In addition, the market prices of certain metals have on occasion been subject to rapid short-term changes due to financial investments.

 

We are subject to market risks arising from the volatility of copper and other metal prices.  Assuming that expected metal production and sales are achieved, that tax rates are unchanged, giving no effect to potential hedging programs, metal price sensitivity factors would indicate the following change in estimated 2011 net income attributable to SCC resulting from metal price changes:

 

 

 

Copper

 

Molybdenum

 

Zinc

 

Silver

 

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

 

$

0.01

 

$

1.00

 

$

0.01

 

$

1.00

 

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

 

$

7.3

 

$

23.0

 

$

1.2

 

$

8.0

 

 

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

 

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

 

Segment information is included in our review of “Results of Operations” and also in Note 14 - “Segment and Related Information” of our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Inflation and exchange rate effect of the Peruvian Nuevo Sol and the Mexican Peso: Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Portions of our operating costs are denominated in Peruvian nuevos soles and Mexican pesos. Since our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, when inflation/deflation in Peru or Mexico is not offset by a change in the exchange rate of the nuevo sol or the peso to the dollar, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected to the extent that the inflation/exchange rate effects are passed onto us by our suppliers or reflected in our wage adjustments. In addition, the dollar value of our net monetary assets denominated in nuevos soles or pesos can be affected by exchange rate variances of the nuevo sol or the peso, resulting in a re-measurement gain or loss in our financial statements. Recent inflation and exchange rate variances are provided in the table below for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
 September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
 September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Peru:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peruvian inflation rate

 

1.4

%

0.6

%

3.7

%

2.0

%

Nuevo sol/dollar devaluation / (appreciation) rate

 

0.8

%

(1.4

)%

(1.3

)%

(3.6

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican inflation rate

 

0.9

%

1.0

%

1.2

%

2.4

%

Peso/dollar devaluation / (appreciation) rate

 

13.4

%

(1.2

)%

8.6

%

(4.3

)%

 

Capital Expansion and Exploration Programs: We made capital expenditures of $153.4 million and $337.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared with $112.9 million and $281.2 million in the comparable periods of 2010.  For year 2011, we are now estimating capital expenditures of approximately $600 million.

 

The approved capital budget of $1.7 billion for 2011 has suffered a delay due to the suspension of the Tia María project and the change in scope of the Toquepala mine expansion described below. Regarding the Mexican projects we have already committed $578 million, a portion of which will be spent in the fourth quarter of 2011.

 

Set forth below are descriptions of some of our current capital expenditure programs.  We expect to meet the cash requirements for these projects from cash on hand, internally generated funds and from additional external financing, if required.  All capital spending plans will continue to be reviewed and adjusted to respond to changes in the

 

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economy or market conditions.  In general, the capital expenditures and projects described below are intended to increase production and/or decrease costs.

 

Peruvian Operations:

 

Tia Maria project: On April 8, 2011, MINEM issued a resolution suspending the process of approval of the Tia Maria EIA.  While we do hope to resume this project in the future at present the project is shut-down.  See note 13-“Commitments and Contingencies - Tia Maria” for further information.

 

Toquepala concentrator expansion:  Through September 30, 2011, we have spent $142.4 million on this project mainly on mine equipment which is being used for initial stripping of the project.  The scope of the project has been defined as an increase in milling capacity of 60,000 tons per day. The EIA was presented to MINEM in July 2011 and project completion is scheduled in the second half of 2013.

 

As part of the approval process for the EIA a public hearing was held on September 21, 2011 at the Toquepala townsite.  Over 1,300 people peacefully participated in this public hearing. However, while this meeting was being held, protests and disturbances from some anti-mining groups were taking place at Lake Suches located 80 kilometers from the Toquepala meeting.  These protests raised concerns related to water usage and pollution.  At the behest of the Tacna regional president, the Peruvian government subsequently declared the townsite meeting invalid.  The Peruvian government has started conversations with the local communities and the regional authorities in order to solve this impasse.  The project will not use additional fresh water and therefore will not affect the availability of this resource for agricultural use. In fact, water currently used by us comes from deep wells drilled into the Capulline formation aquifer and does not take water from the population and agricultural communities of Tacna and Moquegua.   We are awaiting the outcome of these discussions and expect that the authorities will schedule a new date and place for the public hearing.

 

Cuajone concentrator expansion: Through September 30, 2011, we have spent $48.5 million on this project.  The purchase of mine and auxiliary equipment to support the work to optimize the Cuajone mine plan is in process.  As part of the expansion plans, the project contemplates a variable cut-off grade methodology, which started to increase copper and molybdenum production by the end of third quarter 2011.  When finished, the project will increase copper production by 22,000 tons per year for approximately 10 years. Project completion is scheduled for the third quarter of 2012.

 

Tailings disposal at Quebrada Honda: This project increases the height of the existing Quebrada Honda dam to impound future tailings from the Toquepala and Cuajone mills and will extend the expected life of this tailings facility by 25 years.  The first stage of the tailings disposal project was completed.  Construction of the drainage system for the lateral dam, started in June 2010, was finished.  The project has a total budgeted cost of $66.0 million with $47.4 million expended through September 30, 2011.

 

Mexican operations:

 

SXEW III plant at the Buenavista mine: This plant has obtained the environmental permits necessary to begin construction.  Basic engineering was completed and we are moving forward with the detailed engineering. Contracts have been signed for the earthworks and other preliminary activities, which will begin shortly. This plant will increase production by 88,000 tons per year and should begin operating in 2013.

 

Crushing, conveying and spreading system at Buenavista: Associated with the SXEW III project we are also building a Quebalix facility at Buenavista. This investment consists in a crushing, conveying and spreading system that improves the SXEW copper production

 

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by increasing recovery and reducing the required time to extract copper from mineral.  The Quebalix project is moving forward with the construction of the crusher building and earthwork for conveyor platforms.  Over all progress is 80% and this facility is expected to begin operating in the second quarter of 2012.

 

Molybdenum plant at Buenavista:  The 2,000 tons per year molybdenum circuit for the concentrator is in the equipment purchasing stage, under an engineering procurement construction and management contract. Environmental permits are expected to be awarded shortly and we expect to begin construction in the next quarter and production in the second quarter of 2013.

 

New Buenavista concentrator: This plant with a milling capacity of 100,000 tons per day is in process, as scheduled.  Basic engineering is 95% complete and detailed engineering is moving forward as scheduled. Environmental permits are expected to be awarded in the following weeks. We are evaluating several supplier proposals for the main equipment.  As indicated, the new concentrator will have an estimated annual capacity of 188,000 tons of copper and 2,600 tons of molybdenum. It is expected to begin operations by 2015.

 

Required infrastructure for these Buenavista projects, including power, water, roads, shops, laboratories, townsites, etc., are contemplated in the master plan. A preliminary study has been delivered and is being evaluated in order to define our immediate course of action.

 

Pilares project: This site, close to the La Caridad mine, is being evaluated.  Pre-feasibility studies have been completed and an open-pit mining alternative has been defined. We are expecting to increase copper production by 40,000 tons per year with this facility. It should begin operations by the third quarter of 2013.

 

Potential projects:

 

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

 

Exploration:

 

In March 2011, we announced the beginning of exploration activities in Argentina and we expect to initiate exploration activities in Ecuador shortly.  Besides these new efforts, we continue with our exploration activities in Mexico, Peru and Chile.

 

ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  Preparation of these condensed consolidated financial statements requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.  Management makes its best estimate of the ultimate outcome for these items based on historical trends and other information available when the financial statements are prepared.  Changes in estimates are recognized in accordance with the accounting rules for the estimate, which is typically in the period when new information becomes available to management.  Areas where the nature of the estimate makes it reasonably possible that actual results could materially differ from amounts estimated include: ore reserves, revenue recognition, estimated mine stripping ratios, leachable material and related amortization, the estimated useful lives of fixed assets, asset retirement

 

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obligations, litigation and contingencies, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, tax positions, fair value of financial instruments and inventory obsolescence.  We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

PRODUCTION

 

Copper mine production in the third quarter of 2011 increased by 24.4% to 343.2 million pounds compared to 276.0 million pounds in the third quarter of 2010.  This increase was mainly the result of 99.0 million pounds of production at our Buenavista mine, which restored full capacity in the second quarter of 2011, partially offset by a decrease of 17.9 million pounds at our Cuajone mine resulting from lower ore grades and lower recovery and a decrease of 11.2 million pounds at our Toquepala mine due to lower average grade.  Anode, cathode and rod production increased by 82%, 62% and 82.2%, respectively, in the third quarter 2011 compared to the same period of 2010.  Rod production increased due to higher demand, allowing us to earn copper premiums over the spot price.

 

In the third quarter of 2011, molybdenum production decreased 4.4% to 10.6 million pounds from 11.0 million pounds in the third quarter of 2010. The decrease was due to 1.8 million pounds of lower production at the Cuajone mine partially offset by 1.2 million of higher production at the Toquepala mine both due to changes in ore grades and recoveries.

 

Silver mine production increased by 3.4% in the third quarter to 3.3 million ounces from 3.1 million ounces in the third quarter of 2010.  This increase was principally the result of 0.5 million ounces of higher production at the Buenavista mine, partially offset by 0.2 million ounces of lower production at the Cuajone mine, and 0.1 million ounces of lower production at the Santa Barbara mine.

 

Zinc mine production in the third quarter of 2011 decreased 12.1% to 47.5 million pounds from 54.0 million pounds in the third quarter of 2010, principally at the Santa Eulalia and Santa Barbara mines due to lower ore grades and at the Charcas mine due to lower material mined.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following highlights key financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

%

 

2011

 

2010

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

1,745.9

 

$

1,257.9

 

38.8

%

$

5,149.4

 

$

 3,650.5

 

41.1

%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(783.9

)

(655.0

)

19.7

%

(2,425.8

)

(1,898.4

)

27.8

%

Operating income

 

962.0

 

602.9

 

59.6

%

2,723.6

 

1,752.1

 

55.4

%

Non-operating income (expense)

 

(44.5

)

  (57.0

)

21.9

%

 (125.7

)

(127.5

)

1.4

%

Income before income taxes

 

917.5

 

545.9

 

68.1

%

2,597.9

 

1,624.6

 

59.9

%

Income taxes

 

(252.5

)

(178.7

)

41.3

%

(792.5

)

(556.9

)

42.3

%

Net income attributable to non-controlling interest

 

( 2.0

)

  (2.0

)

 

  (5.9

)

  (5.9

)

 

Net income attributable to SCC

 

$

 663.0

 

$

  365.2

 

81.5

%

$

1,799.5

 

$

 1,061.8

 

69.5

%

 

42



Table of Contents

 

Average Metal Prices:

 

The table below outlines the average metal prices during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

2011

 

2010

 

% Change

 

Copper ($ per pound – LME)

 

$

4.08

 

$

3.29

 

24.0

%

$

4.20

 

$

3.25

 

29.2

%

Copper ($ per pound – COMEX)

 

$

4.07

 

$

3.30

 

23.3

%

$

4.20

 

$

3.26

 

28.8

%

Molybdenum ($ per pound)

 

$

14.44

 

$

14.86

 

(2.8

)%

$

16.04

 

$

15.58

 

3.0

%

Zinc ($ per pound – LME)

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.91

 

11.0

%

$

1.04

 

$

0.96

 

8.3

%

Silver ($ per ounce –COMEX)

 

$

38.76

 

$

18.98

 

104.2

%

$

36.30

 

$

18.08

 

100.8

%

 

Net Sales:  Net sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased by $488.0 million and $1,498.9 million, respectively, compared with the same periods of 2010.  These 38.8% and 41.1% increases were due to higher metal prices, higher copper sales volume due to the restoration of the Buenavista mine production, partially offset by lower molybdenum, silver and zinc sales volumes.  Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2011 include gains on copper hedges of $20.7 million; however net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 include losses on copper hedges of $23.7 million.  There were no copper hedges in 2010.

 

The table below presents information regarding the volume of our copper sales by segment for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

Copper Sales (million pounds):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

Peruvian operations

 

174.9

 

201.0

 

(13.0

)%

508.3

 

574.9

 

(11.6

)%

Mexican open-pit

 

168.5

 

87.5

 

92.6

%

455.1

 

226.3

 

101.1

%

Mexican IMMSA unit

 

3.8

 

4.0

 

(5.0

)%

11.7

 

16.6

 

(29.5

)%

Other and intersegment elimination

 

(3.8

)

(4.0

)

(5.0

)%

(11.8

)

(16.2

)

(27.2

)%

Total

 

343.4

 

288.5

 

19.0

%

963.3

 

801.6

 

20.2

%

 

By-product Sales:

 

The table below presents information regarding the volume of sales by segment of our significant by-products for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in million pounds except silver –
in million ounces)

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Peruvian operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum contained in concentrates

 

5.0

 

5.5

 

13.0

 

16.5

 

Silver

 

0.9

 

1.5

 

2.5

 

3.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican open-pit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum contained in concentrates

 

5.5

 

5.5

 

17.0

 

17.3

 

Silver

 

1.8

 

2.0

 

5.1

 

5.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican IMMSA unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zinc – refined and in concentrate

 

43.7

 

45.0

 

150.5

 

154.6

 

Silver

 

1.5

 

1.4

 

3.8

 

5.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other and intersegment elimination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zinc – refined and in concentrate

 

 

 

 

0.4

 

Silver

 

(0.4

)

(0.4

)

(1.2

)

(2.4

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total by-product sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Molybdenum contained in concentrates

 

10.5

 

11.0

 

30.0

 

33.8

 

Zinc – refined and in concentrate

 

43.7

 

45.0

 

150.5

 

155.0

 

Silver

 

3.8

 

4.5

 

10.2

 

11.8

 

 

43



Table of Contents

 

Sales value per segment (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2011

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

693.1

 

$

14.2

 

$

652.8

 

$

(14.2

)

$

1,345.9

 

Molybdenum

 

64.3

 

 

60.5

 

 

124.8

 

Zinc

 

 

46.3

 

 

(0.2

)

46.1

 

Silver

 

68.4

 

55.2

 

34.6

 

(15.4

)

142.8

 

Other

 

32.7

 

24.1

 

31.6

 

(2.1

)

86.3

 

Total

 

$

858.5

 

$

139.8

 

$

779.5

 

$

(31.9

)

$

1,745.9

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

295.1

 

$

10.5

 

$

633.4

 

$

(10.5

)

$

928.5

 

Molybdenum

 

80.1

 

 

76.3

 

 

156.4

 

Zinc

 

 

46.4

 

 

(2.8

)

43.6

 

Silver

 

40.1

 

25.3

 

24.4

 

(7.3

)

82.5

 

Other

 

15.2

 

18.2

 

15.6

 

(2.1

)

46.9

 

Total

 

$

430.5

 

$

100.4

 

$

749.7

 

$

(22.7

)

$

1,257.9

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

1,906.5

 

$

48.1

 

$

2,043.9

 

$

(48.2

)

$

3,950.3

 

Molybdenum

 

241.9

 

 

178.7

 

 

420.6

 

Zinc

 

 

164.1

 

 

(0.2

)

163.9

 

Silver

 

184.4

 

141.0

 

88.2

 

(45.4

)

368.2

 

Other

 

96.3

 

72.6

 

82.5

 

(5.0

)

246.4

 

Total

 

$

2,429.1

 

$

425.8

 

$

2,393.3

 

$

(98.8

)

$

5,149.4

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

 

 

 

Mexican
Open-pit

 

Mexican
IMMSA Unit

 

Peruvian
Operations

 

Corporate &
Elimination

 

Consolidated

 

Copper

 

$

754.6

 

$

46.9

 

$

1,863.3

 

$

(44.8

)

$

2,620.0

 

Molybdenum

 

275.4

 

 

237.0

 

 

512.4

 

Zinc

 

 

158.7

 

 

(3.8

)

154.9

 

Silver

 

103.5

 

92.5

 

56.8

 

(41.5

)

211.3

 

Other

 

41.8

 

68.5

 

52.6

 

(11.0

)

151.9

 

Total

 

$

1,175.3

 

$

366.6

 

$

2,209.7

 

$

(101.1

)

$

3,650.5

 

 

44



Table of Contents

 

The geographic breakdown of the Company’s sales is as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

United States

 

$

503.0

 

$

252.8

 

$

1,668.8

 

$

817.6

 

Europe

 

298.2

 

332.3

 

937.2

 

788.5

 

Mexico

 

408.2

 

231.4

 

950.8

 

697.5

 

Peru

 

70.0

 

74.2

 

200.8

 

155.3

 

Brasil

 

148.8

 

113.3

 

482.4

 

320.0

 

Chile

 

120.5

 

125.3

 

389.6

 

362.9

 

Other Latin America

 

22.5

 

31.5

 

73.6

 

120.4

 

Asia

 

154.0

 

97.1

 

469.9

 

388.3

 

Copper hedges

 

20.7

 

 

(23.7

)

 

Total

 

$

1,745.9

 

$

1,257.9

 

$

5,149.4

 

$

3,650.5

 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses:

 

Operating costs and expenses were $783.9 million and $2,425.8 million in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared with $655.0 million and $1,898.4 million in the comparable periods of 2010.  The increases of $128.9 million and $527.4 million were primarily due to higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) in the third quarter of 2011 was $677.3 million compared with $550.8 million in the same period of 2010.  The increase of $126.5 million was primarily due to the following: 1) $129.1 million of higher production cost including, $60.6 million of fuel and power cost primarily due to market prices, $16.2 million of higher labor cost and $68.5 million of higher operating material, contractors and other production cost, mostly due to the restoration of the Buenavista production, 2) $20.6 million of higher workers’ participation because of higher pre-tax earnings 3) $46.3 million of higher cost of copper purchased from third parties, 4)a $15.2 million gain in currency translation due principally to exchange rate fluctuations of the Mexican peso by 13.4% in the period 5)$38.5 million of capitalized leachable material principally at the Mexican operations and 6)$42.2 million of lower inventory consumption.

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $2,110.1 million compared with $1,589.5 million in the same period of 2010.  The increase of $520.6 million was primarily due to the following: 1) $313.8 million of higher production cost including, $150.4 million of fuel and power cost primarily due to market prices, $37.8 million of higher labor cost and $163.4 million of higher operating material, contractors and other production cost, mostly due to the restoration of the Buenavista production, 2) $35.7 million of higher workers’ participation because of higher pre-tax earnings 3) $267.1 million of higher cost of material purchased from third parties, 4)a $17.1 million gain in currency translation due principally to exchange rate fluctuations of the Mexican peso in the period, 5) $90.0 million of capitalized leachable material principally at our Mexican operations and 6) $94.3 million of lower inventory consumption.

 

Non-Operating Income (Expense):

 

Non-operating income and expense were an expense of $44.5 million and $125.7 million in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011, respectively, compared to an expense of $57.0 million and $127.5 million in the comparable periods of 2010.

 

45



Table of Contents

 

The $12.5 million decrease in the third quarter of 2011 is principally due to: 1)$7.8 million of lower other income (expenses), 2) $3.1 million of lower interest expense, net of capitalized interest, due to lower debt balance and lower interest rate and 3) $1.6 million of higher interest income due to higher average cash balance invested in third quarter 2011 compared to third quarter 2010.

 

The $7.8 million decrease in other expenses is principally due to: 1) $2.7 million of higher scrap sales, 2) $1.6 million of lower assets disposal value and 3) $3.5 million contribution to the regional development at our Peruvian operations in 2010, there was no contribution in 2011 as the obligation expired in 2010.

 

The $1.8 million decrease in expense in the nine months of 2011 is due to $21.7 million of higher interest expense, net of capitalized interest, due to higher average debt balance as a result of the $1.5 billion notes taken in April 2010 partially offset by, $19.0 million of lower other income (expenses) and $4.5 million of higher interest income due to higher average cash balance invested in the nine months of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010.

 

The $19.0 million decrease in other expenses is principally due to: 1) $9.4 million for a contribution to the regional development at our Peruvian operations in 2010, there was no contribution in 2011 as the obligation expired in 2010, 2) $6.9 million of higher scrap sales, 3) $4.8 million of net sales value of non-operating assets sold, partially offset by 4) $1.1 million of loss in fair value of short term investments and 5) in 2010, a $1.8 million recovery of previously written-off account receivable.

 

Income taxes: The income tax provision for the nine months of 2011 and 2010 were $792.5 million and $556.9 million, respectively.  These provisions include income taxes for Peru, Mexico and the United States.  The provision for income taxes was based on our effective tax rate of 30.5% for the nine months of 2011 as compared to 34.3% in the nine months of 2010.  The decrease in the effective tax rate for the nine months of 2011 was principally due to adjustments resulting from the finalization of the 2010 U.S. federal income tax return in the third quarter of 2011 and an increase in earnings from the Mexican operations, which have a lower income tax rate than the Peruvian and U.S. income tax rates. The Mexican operations higher earnings result from the restart of the Buenavista mine.

 

In March 2009, Grupo Mexico, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, AMC, became the beneficial owner of 80% of our common stock.  As a result of this new level of ownership, beginning in March 2009, our operating result is included in the AMC consolidated U.S federal income tax return.  In addition to now holding an 80% interest in SCC, AMC also owns 100% of Asarco and its subsidiaries.  Current and deferred taxes are allocated to members of the AMC group as if each were a separate taxpayer.  We provide current and deferred income taxes, as if we were a separate filer.

 

Segment Results Analysis:

 

Peruvian Operations

 

The following table sets forth net sales, operating cost and expenses and operating income for our Peruvian operations segment, for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Variance

 

Nine Months

 

Variance

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Value

 

%

 

2011

 

2010

 

Value

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

779.5

 

$

749.7

 

$

29.8

 

4.0

%

$

2,393.3

 

$

2,209.7

 

$

183.6

 

8.3

%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(384.3

)

(343.1

)

(41.2

)

(12.0

)%

(1,283.0

)

(1,024.0

)

(259.0

)

(25.3

)%

Operating income

 

$

395.2

 

$

406.6

 

$

(11.4

)

(2.8

)%

$

1,110.3

 

$

1,185.7

 

$

(75.4

)

(6.4

)%

 

46



Table of Contents

 

Third quarter:

 

Net sales in the third quarter of 2011 were $779.5 million compared with $749.7 million in the third quarter of 2010.  The increase of $29.8 million was primarily the result of higher market prices, partially offset by lower metal sales volume.  Copper sales volume decreased by 26.1 million pounds and molybdenum by 0.5 million pounds.  The third quarter 2011 period includes a realized gain on copper hedges of $10.5 million.  There were no copper hedges in 2010.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2011 increased by $41.2 million to $384.3 million from $343.1 million in the third quarter of 2010, primarily due to higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) for the third quarter of 2011 was $334.4 million compared to $293.4 million in the comparable 2010 period.  The principal elements of cost of sales, causing this increase, include the following: 1) $38.6 million of higher production cost, principally fuel and power cost due to change in market conditions and the cost of tires, labor and other repairs, 2) $27.8 million of higher cost of copper purchased from third parties partially offset by 3) $14.6 million of lower inventory consumption and 4) $7.4 million of lower sales expenses.

 

Nine months:

 

Net sales in the nine months of 2011 were $2,393.3 million compared with $2,209.7 million in the nine months of 2010.  The increase of $183.6 million was primarily the result of higher market prices, partially offset by a decrease in metal sales volume.  Copper sales volume decreased by 66.6 million pounds and molybdenum by 3.5 million pounds.  The nine months of 2011 period includes a realized loss on copper hedges of $12.0 million.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the nine months of 2011 increased by $259.0 million to $1,283 million from $1,024 million in the nine months of 2010, primarily due to higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) for the nine months of 2011 was $1,134.7 million compared to $876.0 million in the comparable 2010 period, an increase of $258.7 million.  The principal elements of cost of sales, causing this increase, include the following: 1) $194.6 million of higher cost of copper purchased from third parties, 2) $99.1 million of higher production cost, principally fuel and power due to change in market conditions and higher labor and repair material costs, partially offset by 3) $20.5 million of lower inventory consumption and 4) $14.1 million of lower workers participation.

 

Mexican Open-pit Operations

 

The following table sets forth net sales, operating cost and expenses and operating income for our Mexican open-pit operations segment for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Variance

 

Nine Months

 

Variance

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Value

 

%

 

2011

 

2010

 

Value

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

858.5

 

$

430.5

 

$

428.0

 

99.4

%

$

2,429.1

 

$

1,175.3

 

$

1,253.8

 

106.7

%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(354.4

)

(254.4

)

(100.0

)

(39.3

)%

(963.7

)

(696.2

)

(267.5

)

(38.4

)%

Operating income

 

$

504.1

 

$

176.1

 

$

328.0

 

186.3

%

$

1,465.4

 

$

479.1

 

$

986.3

 

205.9

%

 

Third quarter:

 

Net sales in the third quarter of 2011 were $858.5 million compared to $430.5 million in the third quarter of 2010.  The increase of $428.0 million was from higher metal

 

47



Table of Contents

 

prices and higher metal sales volumes due to the restoration of the Buenavista production and the processing and sale of material from IMMSA, which were previously processed at the San Luis Potosi copper smelter.  The San Luis Potosi copper smelter was closed in 2010.  Also the third quarter 2011 period includes a realized gain on copper hedges of $10.1 million. There were no copper hedges in 2010.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2011 increased by $100.0 million to $354.4 million from $254.4 million in the comparable 2010 period, primarily due to $92.7 million of higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) and $7.2 million of higher depreciation, amortization and depletion due to the restoration of the Buenavista mine.

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) increased $92.7 million to $307.5 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $214.8 million in the same period of 2010.  The increase in cost of sales included: 1) $95.5 million of higher production cost, principally due to the restoration of the Buenavista production and higher fuel and power cost, 2) $20.9 million of higher workers participation due to the increase in earnings, 3) $25.0 million of higher cost of copper purchased from third parties and 4) $11.8 million of higher sales expenses partially offset by 5) $29.8 million of lower inventory consumption and 6) $36.6 million of capitalized leachable material.

 

Nine months:

 

Net sales in the nine months of 2011 were $2,429.1 million compared to $1,175.3 million in the nine months of 2010.  The increase of $1,253.8 million was due to higher metal prices and higher metal sales volumes due to the restoration of Buenavista production and the processing and sale of material from IMMSA which were previously processed at the San Luis Potosi copper smelter.  The nine months of 2011 period includes a realized loss on copper hedges of $11.6 million.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the nine months of 2011 increased by $267.5 million to $963.7 million from $696.2 million in the comparable 2010 period, primarily due to $256.0 million of higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) and $10.7 million of higher depreciation, amortization and depletion due to the restoration of the Buenavista mine.

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) increased $256.0 million to $835.1 million in the nine months of 2011 from $579.1 million in the same period of 2010.  The increase in cost of sales included: 1) $229.1 million of higher production cost, principally due to the restoration of the Buenavista production and higher fuel and power cost, 2) $40.6 million of higher workers participation due to the increase in earnings, 3) $66.2 million of higher cost of copper purchased from third parties and 4) $36.8 million of higher sales expenses partially offset by 5) $75.4 million of lower inventory consumption and 6) $82.2 million of capitalized leachable material.

 

Mexican Underground Operations (IMMSA)

 

The following table sets forth net sales, operating cost and expenses and operating income for our IMMSA segment, for the third quarter 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Variance

 

Nine Months

 

Variance

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Value

 

%

 

2011

 

2010

 

Value

 

%

 

Net sales

 

$

139.8

 

$

100.4

 

$

39.4

 

39.2

%

$

425.8

 

$

366.6

 

$

59.2

 

16.1

%

Operating costs and expenses

 

(102.7

)

(76.6

)

(26.1

)

(34.1

)%

(274.3

)

(271.7

)

(2.6

)

(1.0

)%

Operating income

 

$

37.1

 

$

23.8

 

$

13.3

 

55.9

%

$

151.5

 

$

94.9

 

$

56.6

 

59.6

%

 

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Third quarter:

 

Net sales increased by $39.4 million to $139.8 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $100.4 million in the third quarter of 2010.  The increase of 39.2% was primarily due to higher metal prices partially offset by lower copper and zinc sales volume.  The copper sales volume decrease was primarily due to lower blister sales because of the closing of the San Luis Potosi copper smelter; copper concentrates are now processed at the La Caridad smelter.  The lower zinc sales volume was a result of no production from the Santa Eulalia mine and lower ore grades at the Charcas and Santa Barbara mines.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the third quarter of 2011 increased by $26.1 million to $102.7 million from $76.6 million in the comparable 2010 period.  This increase was primarily due to $23.3 million of higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion) increased $23.3 million to $87.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 from $64.0 million in the same period of 2010.  The increase in cost of sales included: 1) $9.9 million of higher production cost, principally due to higher fuel and power cost as well as, higher material repair and contractor cost, 2) $8.8 million of inventory consumption and $4.0 million loss due to the exchange rate fluctuation of the Mexican peso.

 

Nine months:

 

Net sales in the nine months of 2011 were $425.8 million compared to $366.6 million in the same period of 2010.  This increase of $59.2 million in net sales was primarily due to higher metal prices, partially offset by lower copper, zinc and silver sales volume.   The copper sales volume decrease was primarily due to lower blister sales caused by the closing of the San Luis Potosi copper smelter; copper concentrates are now processed at the La Caridad smelter.  The lower zinc sales volume was due to lower production as there was no production from the Santa Eulalia mine and lower production at the Charcas and Santa Barbara mines due to lower ore grades.

 

Operating costs and expenses in the nine months of 2011 increased by $2.6 million to $274.3 million from $271.7 million in the comparable 2010 period.  This increase was primarily due to $3.2 million of higher cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and depletion).

 

Intersegment Eliminations and Adjustments

 

The net sales, operating costs and expenses and operating income displayed above will not be directly equal to amounts in our condensed consolidated statement of earnings because the adjustments of intersegment operating revenues and expenses must be taken into account.  Please see Note 14 — “Segments and related information” of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

CASH FLOW

 

The following table shows the cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 (in millions):

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

Net cash provided from operating activities

 

$

1,586.0

 

$

1,368.9

 

$

217.1

 

Net cash used for investing activities

 

$

(810.8

)

$

(310.3

)

$

(500.5

)

Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities

 

$

(1,764.2

)

$

408.8

 

$

(2,173.0

)

 

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Net cash provided from operating activities:

 

The increase of $217.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 cash provided from operating activities, compared with the same period of 2010, was primarily due to an increase of $737.6 million in net income, net of $450.3 million in working capital needs.  The increase in net income was primarily due to higher metal prices.

 

The nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 change in working capital includes (in millions):

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

Variance

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

(59.8

)

$

1.6

 

$

(61.4

)

Inventories

 

(82.9

)

28.1

 

(111.0

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(299.6

)

74.8

 

(374.4

)

Other operating assets and liabilities

 

115.1

 

18.6

 

96.5

 

Total

 

$

(327.2

)

$

123.1

 

$

(450.3

)

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011:

 

In the nine months of 2011 net income was $1,805.3 million.  Significant items (deducted from), or added to arrive to operating cash flow included, depreciation, amortization and depletion of $216.0 million, which increased operating cash flow and $98.2 million of deferred income tax benefit, which decreased operating cash flow.

 

In addition, in the nine months of 2011 an increase in working capital decreased operating cash flow by $327.2 million.  The increase in accounts receivable was principally due to higher sales in the period as a result of added production from Buenavista and higher metal prices.  The increase in inventory was primarily due $12.4 million increase in copper in process and $39.6 million increase in finish goods, principally anodes at our Mexican operations due to the restoration of production at the Buenavista mine and a temporary increase of $19.1 million in concentrates and anodes in process at the Ilo smelter at our Peruvian operations. The decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities was primarily due to the income tax and workers’ participation payments.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2010:

 

In the nine months of 2010 net income was $1,067.7 million.  Significant items added to (deducted from) arrive to operating cash flow included, depreciation, amortization and depletion of $210.9 million, which increased operating cash flow and $46.8 million of deferred income tax benefit, which decreased operating cash flow.

 

In addition, in the nine months of 2010 a decrease in working capital increased operating cash flow by $123.1 million.  The decrease in inventory was principally due to $22.7 million of lower copper in process due to the closing of the San Luis Potosi copper smelter at our Mexican operations and $10.6 million of higher supplies consumption at our Peruvian operations.  The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities was primarily due to the workers’ participation provision both due to higher net earnings.

 

Net cash used for investing activities:

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2011:

 

Net cash used for investing activities in the nine months of 2011 included $337.0 million for capital expenditures.  The capital expenditures included $90.5 million of investments at our Peruvian operations, $1.8 million for the Tia Maria project, $19.4 million for the Toquepala expansion project, $7.2 million for the Cuajone expansion

 

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project and $62.1 million for various other replacement expenditures.  In addition, we spent $246.5 million for replacement assets at our Mexican operations, $218.3 million of which was at our Mexican open-pit operations, $26.1 million at our IMMSA unit and $2.1 million at our administrative office in Mexico City.  The nine months of 2011 investment activities also include a net purchase of short-term investments of $459.6 million, $24.4 million of our share of the investment in the development of the Tantahuatay gold project and $10.3 million of proceeds from the sale of non operating properties.

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2010:

 

Net cash used for investing activities in the nine months of 2010 included $281.2 million for capital expenditures.  The capital expenditures included $201.1 million of investments at our Peruvian operations, $115.0 million for the Tia Maria project, $24.4 million for the Toquepala expansion project, $16.9 for the Cuajone expansion project and $44.8 million for various other replacement expenditures.  In addition, we spent $80.1 million for replacement assets at our Mexican operations, $52.7 million of which was at our Mexican open-pit operations, $19.4 million at our IMMSA unit and $8.0 million at our other Mexican facilities.  The nine months of 2010 also include a net purchase of short-term investments of $35.7 million and $6.6 million of proceeds from the sale of non operating properties.

 

Net cash provided from (used for) financing activities:

 

Net cash used for financing activities in the nine months of 2011 was $1,764.2 million, compared with $408.8 million of net cash provided from financing activities in the nine months of 2010.  The nine months of 2011 include a dividend distribution of $1,491.7 million, compared with a distribution of $1,062.5 million in the same period of 2010.  Also, the nine months of 2011 include cash used to repurchase 8.4 million shares of our common shares at a cost of $258.4 million and $5.3 million used for the repurchase of Series B Yankee bonds.  Both periods include $5.0 million of amortization of the Mitsui loan.  The 2010 period also includes $1,480.8 million from the issuance of fixed rate unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Dividends:

 

On August 31, 2011, we paid a quarterly dividend of 62 cents per share, totaling $522.6 million.  On October 27, 2011, our Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend of 70 cents per share, expected to total $588.7 million, to be paid on November 29, 2011 to SCC shareholders of record at the close of business on November 16, 2011.

 

Concentration of cash:

 

As part of the cash management process at September 30, 2011 our cash and cash equivalent balance are invested as follows:

 

Country

 

Amount

 

United States

 

$

858.2

 

Peru

 

135.2

 

Mexico

 

249.7

 

Total

 

$

1,243.1

 

 

Share repurchase program:

 

Our Board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $1.0 billion.  Pursuant to this program in 2011 we have purchased 8.4 million shares at a

 

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cost of $258.3 million.  Through September 30, 2011, $715.4 million has been invested in this program.

 

Financing:

 

In February 2011, we repurchased $5.3 million of the Series B Yankee bonds at a premium of $1.4 million which is included in the condensed consolidated statement of earnings on the line “other income (expenses)”.

 

Capital Investments and Exploration Programs:

 

A discussion of our capital investment programs is an important part of understanding our liquidity and capital resources.  We expect to meet the cash requirements for these capital expenditures from cash on hand, internally generated funds and from additional external financing if required.  For information regarding our capital expenditure programs, please see the discussion under the caption “Capital Investment and Exploration Program” under this Item 7.

 

Contractual Obligations:

 

There was no material change in our contractual obligations in the nine months of 2011.  Please refer to item 7 in our 2010 annual report on Form 10-K for further information regarding our contractual obligations.

 

NON-GAAP INFORMATION RECONCILIATION

 

Reconciliation of operating cash cost to GAAP cost of sales in millions of dollars and cents per pound.

 

 

 

Third quarter 2011

 

Third quarter 2010

 

 

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

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

 

$

677.3

 

$

2.015

 

$

550.8

 

$

2.013

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

24.4

 

0.073

 

23.2

 

0.085

 

Treatment and refining charges

 

12.4

 

0.037

 

13.7

 

0.050

 

By-product revenue (1)

 

(386.2

)

(1.149

)

(313.9

)

(1.147

)

Net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

(5.9

)

(0.018

)

(2.9

)

(0.011

)

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workers’ participation

 

(75.6

)

(0.225

)

(57.0

)

(0.208

)

Cost of metal purchased from third parties

 

(93.1

)

(0.277

)

(46.8

)

(0.171

)

Royalty charge and other, net

 

(37.2

)

(0.111

)

(48.6

)

(0.178

)

Inventory change

 

46.6

 

0.139

 

(34.1

)

(0.125

)

Operating cash cost

 

$

162.7

 

$

0.484

 

$

84.3

 

$

0.308

 

Less by-product revenue and net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

392.1

 

1.167

 

316.8

 

1.158

 

Operating cash cost, without by-product revenue and net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

$

554.8

 

$

1.651

 

$

401.1

 

$

1.466

 

Total pounds of copper produced (in millions)

 

336.1

 

 

 

273.6

 

 

 

 


(1)           Includes net by-product sales revenue and premiums on sales of refined products.

 

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Nine months 2011

 

Nine months 2010

 

 

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

$ million

 

$ per pound

 

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

 

$

2,110.1

 

$

2.304

 

$

1,589.5

 

$

2.107

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

74.7

 

0.082

 

70.6

 

0.094

 

Treatment and refining charges

 

36.8

 

0.040

 

32.5

 

0.043

 

By-product revenue (1)

 

(1,165.0

)

(1.272

)

(1,010.7

)

(1.340

)

Net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

(16.2

)

(0.018

)

(12.7

)

(0.017

)

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workers’ participation

 

(198.1

)

(0.216

)

(168.2

)

(0.223

)

Cost of metal purchased from third parties

 

(471.8

)

(0.515

)

(204.7

)

(0.271

)

Royalty charge and other, net

 

(158.9

)

(0.174

)

(127.7

)

(0.170

)

Inventory change

 

130.8

 

0.143

 

(53.5

)

(0.071

)

Operating cash cost

 

$

342.4

 

$

0.374

 

$

115.0

 

$

0.152

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less by-product revenue and net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

1,181.2

 

1.290

 

1,023.4

 

1.357

 

Operating cash cost, without by-product revenue and net revenue on sale of metal purchased from third parties

 

$

1,523.6

 

$

1.664

 

$

1,138.4

 

$

1.509

 

Total pounds of copper produced (in millions)

 

915.8

 

 

 

754.5

 

 

 

 


(1)Includes net by-product sales revenue and premiums on sales of refined products.

 

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

During the nine months of 2011, the FASB issued the following Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”) to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “ASC”).

 

ASU No. 2011-08: On September 15, 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08 “Testing Goodwill for Impairment” an amendment of ASC topic 350 “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other”.

 

The objective of this ASU is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment. This update allows an entity to have the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test.

 

This ASU does not change the current guidance for testing other indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment.

 

This ASU is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted including for tests performed as of a date before September 15, 2011, if an entity’s financial statements for the most recent annual or interim period have not yet been issued.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

 

Metal price sensitivity:

 

We are subject to market risks arising from the volatility of copper and other metal prices. Assuming that expected metal production and sales are achieved, that tax rates are unchanged, and giving no effects to potential hedging programs, metal price sensitivity factors would indicate the following change in estimated 2011 net income attributable to SCC resulting from metal price changes:

 

 

 

Copper

 

Molybdenum

 

Zinc

 

Silver

 

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

 

$

0.01

 

$

1.00

 

$

0.01

 

$

1.00

 

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

 

$

7.3

 

$

23.0

 

$

1.2

 

$

8.0

 

 

Foreign currency exchange rate risk:

 

Our functional currency is the U.S. dollar.  Portions of our operating costs are denominated in Peruvian nuevos soles and Mexican pesos.  Since our revenues are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars, when inflation/deflation in Peru or Mexico is not offset by a change in the exchange rate of the nuevo sol or the peso, respectively, to the dollar, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected to the extent that the inflation/exchange rate effects are passed on to us by our suppliers or reflected in our wage adjustments.  In addition, the dollar value of our net monetary assets denominated in nuevos soles or pesos can be affected by exchange rate variances of the nuevo sol or the peso, resulting in a re-measurement gain or loss in our financial statements.  Recent inflation and exchange rate variances are provided in the table below for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2011

 

2010

 

2011

 

2010

 

Peru:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peruvian inflation rate

 

1.4

%

0.6

%

3.7

%

2.0

%

Nuevo sol/dollar devaluation/(appreciation) rate

 

0.8

%

(1.4

)%

(1.3

)%

(3.6

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexican inflation rate

 

0.9

%

1.0

%

1.2

%

2.4

%

Peso/dollar devaluation/(appreciation) rate

 

13.4

%

(1.2

)%

8.6

%

(4.3

)%

 

Change in monetary position:

 

Assuming an exchange rate variance of 10% at September 30, 2011 we estimate our net monetary position in Peruvian nuevo sol and Mexican peso would increase (decrease) our net earnings as follows:

 

Variance

 

Effect in net
earnings

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

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

 

$

12.0

 

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

 

(14.1

)

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

 

22.7

 

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

 

$

(18.6

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

Interest rate risk:

 

There have been no material changes in our interest rate risk in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.  For additional information please see Item 7A of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

Derivative instruments:

 

As part of our risk management policy, we occasionally use derivative instruments to (i) safeguard the corporate assets; (ii) insure the value of our future revenue stream, and (iii) lessen the impact of unforeseen market swings of our sales revenues.  To comply with these objectives we, from time to time, enter into commodity price derivatives, interest rate derivatives, exchange rate derivatives and other instruments.  We do not enter into derivative contracts unless we anticipate a future activity that is likely to occur that will result in exposing us to market risk.

 

Copper hedges:

 

In the last quarter of 2010 and in 2011, we entered into copper swaps and zero cost collar derivative contracts to reduce price volatility and to protect our sales value of a portion of our 2011 and first quarter 2012 copper sales as shown below.  These transactions meet the requirements of hedge accounting.  The realized gains and losses from these derivatives were recorded in net sales on the condensed consolidated statement of earnings and included in operating activities on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.  The unrealized gains and losses are recorded in other comprehensive income on the condensed consolidated financial statements until settlement.

 

As of September 30, 2011 we held copper derivative contracts to protect a portion of our copper sales for the fourth quarter 2011 and the first quarter 2012, as follows:

 

 

 

4th quarter
2011

 

1st Quarter
2012

 

Zero cost collar contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

Pounds (in millions)

 

105.8

 

46.3

 

Average LME cap price

 

$

4.84

 

$

5.18

 

Average LME floor price

 

$

3.02

 

$

3.50

 

Estimated % of copper sales covered

 

30.2

%

12.7

%

Accumulated unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income (net of taxes of $3.9 million and $8.6 million, respectively) (in millions)

 

$

6.3

 

$

13.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swap contracts:

 

 

 

 

 

Pounds (in millions)

 

59.5

 

 

 

Weighted average COMEX price

 

$

4.02

 

 

 

Estimated % of copper sales covered

 

17.0

%

 

 

Accumulated unrealized gain recognized in other comprehensive income (net of taxes of $13.6 million) (in millions)

 

$

21.6

 

 

 

 

Provisionally priced sales:

 

At September 30, 2011, we have recorded provisionally priced sales of 70.6 million pounds of copper, at an average forward price of $3.18 per pound.  Also we have recorded provisionally priced sales of 9.9 million pounds of molybdenum at the September 30, 2011 market price of $14.40 per pound.  These sales are subject to final pricing based on the average monthly LME or COMEX copper prices and Dealer Oxide

 

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molybdenum prices in the future month of settlement.  See Note 7 to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Short-term Investment:

 

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

 

 

 

At September 30, 2011

 

At December 31, 2010

 

Trading securities

 

$

528.3

 

$

66.9

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

1.71

%

1.14

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for sale

 

$

7.5

 

$

9.3

 

Weighted average interest rate

 

0.32

%

1.01

%

Total

 

$

535.8

 

$

76.2

 

 

Cautionary Statement:

 

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

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of September 30, 2011, the Company conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Disclosure Committee and the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness and the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.  Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2011, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is:

 

1.                                      recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and

 

2.                                      accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROLS OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

There was no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2011 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

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

 

We have reviewed the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet of Southern Copper Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2011, and the related condensed consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

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

 

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

 

We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Southern Copper Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated February 25, 2011, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

 

Galaz, Yamazaki, Ruiz Urquiza S.C.

 

Member of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited

 

 

 

 

 

C.P.C. Arturo Vargas Arellano

 

Mexico City, Mexico

 

November 9, 2011

 

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. — Legal Proceedings

 

The information provided in Note 13 “Commitments and Contingencies” to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in Part I of this Form 10-Q, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors:

 

The following contains information that supplement the risk factors included in our Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2011.

 

General Risks Relating to Our Business

 

Our new mining or metal production projects may be suspended or subject to additional costs due to community actions and other factors

 

As part of the approval process for the Toquepala concentrator expansion’s EIA a public hearing was held on September 21, 2011 at the Toquepala townsite.  Over 1,300 people peacefully participated in the public hearing. However, while this meeting was being held, protests and disturbances from some anti-mining groups were taking place at Lake Suches, located 80 kilometers from the Toquepala meeting.  These protests raised concerns related to water usage and pollution.  At the behest of the Tacna regional president, the Peruvian government subsequently declared the townsite meeting invalid.  The Peruvian government has started conversations with the local communities and the regional authorities in order to solve this impasse.  We are awaiting the outcome of these discussions and expect that the authorities will schedule a new date and place for the public hearing.

 

We are confident also that this situation will be resolved and we will go forward with this project.  However, we cannot assure you that the approval of the EIA for the Toquepala project will be received.

 

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

 

SCC share repurchase program:

 

In 2008, the Company´s Board of Directors authorized a $500 million share repurchase program. On July 28, 2011 the Company´s Board of Directors approved an increase of the SCC share repurchase program, from $500 million to $1.0 billion.  The Board of Directors also confirmed the Company’s purchase of 4.6 million shares of its common shares at a cost of $148.0 million in the second quarter of 2011.  Pursuant to this program, the Company purchase common stock as shown in the table below.  These shares will be available for general corporate purposes.  The Company may purchase additional shares of its common stock from time to time, based on market conditions and other factors.  This repurchase program has no expiration date and may be modified or discontinued at any time.

 

Period

 

Total
Number of
Shares

 

Average
Price
Paid per

 

Total Number of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of
Publicly

 

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

 

Total
Cost
($ in

 

From

 

To

 

Purchased

 

Share

 

Announced Plan

 

@ $24.99 (1)

 

millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08/11/08

 

12/31/08

 

28,510,150

 

$

13.49

 

28,510,150

 

 

 

$

384.7

 

2009:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

01/12/09

 

09/30/09

 

4,912,000

 

14.64

 

33,422,150

 

 

 

71.9

 

2010:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05/05/10

 

10/14/10

 

15,600

 

29.69

 

33,437,750

 

 

 

0.5

 

2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Quarter 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

05/01/11

 

05/31/11

 

14,400

 

37.06

 

33,452,150

 

 

 

0.5

 

06/01/11

 

06/30/11

 

4,567,520

 

32.30

 

38,019,670

 

 

 

147.5

 

 

 

 

 

4,581,920

 

32.32

 

 

 

 

 

148.0

 

Third Quarter 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

08/03/11

 

08/22/11

 

2,762,811

 

29.63

 

40,782,481

 

 

 

81.9

 

09/22/11

 

09/30/11

 

1,069,669

 

26.59

 

41,852,150

 

11,389,342

 

28.4

 

 

 

 

 

3,832,480

 

28.78

 

 

 

 

 

110.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total purchased

 

 

 

41,852,150

 

$

17.09

 

41,852,150

 

 

 

$

715.4

 

 


(1)         NYSE price at September 30, 2011

 

As a result of the repurchase of shares of SCC’s common stock and AMC’s purchase of shares of SCC’s common stock, Grupo Mexico’s direct and indirect ownership is 80.8% as of September 30, 2011.

 

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Item 6. — Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

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

 

 

 

3.2

 

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

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture governing U.S.$200,000,000 6.375% Notes due 2015, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York and the Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005) and incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

4.2

 

(a) Indenture governing U.S.$600,000,000 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, the Bank of New York and The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005) and incorporated herein by reference) (b) Indenture governing $400,000,000 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and between Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York and The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A.(Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.3

 

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

 

 

 

4.4

 

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

 

 

 

4.5

 

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

 

 

 

4.6

 

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

 

 

 

4.7

 

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

 

 

 

4.8

 

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

 

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4.9

 

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

 

 

 

4.10

 

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

 

 

 

10.1

 

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

 

 

 

10.2

 

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

 

 

 

10.3

 

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

 

 

 

15.0

 

Independent Accountants’ Awareness Letter (filed herewith).

 

 

 

31.1

 

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

 

 

 

31.2

 

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

 

 

 

32.1

 

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

 

 

 

32.2

 

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

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

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

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

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

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

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

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

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

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

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

 

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of

 

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Table of Contents

 

Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail.  Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Oscar Gonzalez Rocha

 

Oscar Gonzalez Rocha

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

November 9, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Genaro Guerrero

 

Genaro Guerrero

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

November 9, 2011

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

SOUTHERN COPPER CORPORATION

List of Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

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

 

 

 

3.2

 

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

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture governing U.S.$200,000,000 6.375% Notes due 2015, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York and the Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated by reference.

 

 

 

4.2

 

(a) Indenture governing U.S.$600,000,000 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and among Southern Copper Corporation, the Bank of New York and The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A. (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005) and incorporated herein by reference) (b) Indenture governing $400,000,000 7.500% Notes due 2035, by and between Southern Copper Corporation, The Bank of New York and The Bank of New York (Luxembourg) S.A.(Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 1, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.3

 

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

 

 

 

4.4

 

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

 

 

 

4.5

 

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

 

 

 

4.6

 

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

 

 

 

4.7

 

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

 

 

 

4.8

 

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

 

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April 19, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 

 

4.9

 

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

 

 

 

4.10

 

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

 

 

 

10.1

 

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

 

 

 

10.2

 

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

 

 

 

10.3

 

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

 

 

 

15.0

 

Independent Accountants’ Awareness Letter (filed herewith).

 

 

 

31.1

 

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

 

 

 

31.2

 

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

 

 

 

32.1

 

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

 

 

 

32.2

 

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

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document (submitted electronically with this report).

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

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

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

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

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

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

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

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

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

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

 

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Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010; and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements tagged in detail.  Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that this interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

67